Navy People: Keeping it in the family
17 September 2010
Rose and Steve Cunningham of Telegraph Point have a unique commitment to the Royal Australian Navy. Not only is son Adam now sailing aboard frigate,HMAS Melbourne for Persian Gulf duty, he’ll be taking over from his sister Melissa, who will be returning to Australia with her own shipmates aboard HMAS Parramatta.
Patriarch Steve spent 23 years in the Navy and he must be a great story-teller because their other two sons, Daniel and Matthew, have also followed their father’s footsteps into the Navy.
“It was Dad’s stories that inspired us, plus the chance to travel. Now I’m off on my first operational deployment,” said Adam.
Adam joined the Navy in 2000, straight after Westport Technology High School. After basic training, he decided to specialise as an electronics technician. Now he’s been promoted to Leading Seaman.
Onboard HMAS Melbourne, Adam is in charge of a group of four sailors who are responsible for maintaining the ship’s missile control radars and supporting equipment, as well as missile and gun engagements.
“I’m also a member of the ship’s boarding party. We conduct the physical searches of foreign ships suspected of illegal activity."
This isn’t Adam’s first overseas trip. He has visited ports in Japan, China, Philippines and Guam. He’s also been to every capital city in Australia as well as many other smaller ports nationwide.
“But my career highlight until now was a posting to San Diego, in California, where I conducted professional courses for 18 months and my wife and children came with me.”
“Now I’m looking forward to the opportunity to actually do what we train to do.
“We’ll be protecting civil liberties and supporting UN resolutions.
“But I’m already planning a holiday back to my parent’s property in Telegraph Point. I can run amok with my wife Nicole and our own kids Jack, Lucy, Max and Harry.
“Even more, I’m hoping to make it home in time to take five-year-old Max for his first day of school.”
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