Navy People: Loving the seagoing life
20 February 2010
Dan Matthews’ dad, sister, grandparents and aunt still live in the Forster Tuncurry area, but these days Dan feels just at home sailing the seven seas aboard one of the Navy’s latest warships.
The former Tuncurry Primary and Forster High School student joined the Navy in late 2008. He has specialized as an electronics technician, but he always looks forward to catching up with his family.
“I’ve only been in the Navy for twenty months,” says Dan, “but already I can see this was the right move for me.”
“I was doing an electrical apprenticeship but a mate from Forster, who is a Leading Seaman in the Navy, recommended I give the Navy a go.”
These days Dan is usually based in Sydney where his ship, the guided missile frigate HMAS Darwin, is home-ported.
Dan has completed his basic training but now he is definitely learning on the job. He and his shipmates are currently somewhere off the eastern seaboard on one of the Navy’s biggest exercises of the year.
The annual exercise is designed to improve crew skills for natural disaster relief operations or conflict.
“I will have to do TAFE courses and go back to shore to tackle some more study, but aboard Darwin it’s just like working with a bunch of mates,” he said. “Everyone in my department is so supportive and there is always someone around to lend a hand if I get stuck on a difficult problem.”
“I really want to work on the radar systems, so I am preparing to do all the courses I need to make sure that happens.”
Dan is also hoping to see more of the world. Not only has Darwin recently completed a trip to south-east Asia but Dan’s sporting skills could also open some doors. He used to represent New South Wales in underage basketball and now he is hoping to get another guernsey with the Navy.
“There is always the chance to get on a trip if you represent your branch of the Defence Force in a popular sport,” said Dan. “I’m hoping that opportunity might come up for me some time in the near future.”
