Navy People: Meet Liam Byrne from Jervis Bay

30 July 2010

As a young nipper, Jervis Bay’s Liam Byrne saw his father put on a Royal Australian Navy uniform every day, and now Liam is doing exactly the same. But being in the Navy means you get dressed in different countries from time to time.

This month Liam is in the Indonesian islands as part of a US-led multi-national humanitarian exercise known as Pacific Partnership.

As ship’s cook aboard HMAS Tarakan, part of Liam’s job is to feed the twenty-two medical and dental specialists from the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Indonesia who are now aboard.

“They are working ashore each day treating Indonesian locals so they need to be well fed before, during and after their efforts,” said Liam.

Most personnel involved in Pacific Partnership are based onboard the much larger United States Naval Ship Mercy, a 69, 000 tonne hospital ship.

“It was great to see a ship that was so different to anything we have in our Navy,” said Liam. “Its galley was huge and I was surprised at the amount of chefs they had.

“I have been to Indonesia before and it is great to be back. I love that I get to go to really remote places as part of my job.”

“I also like the fact that one minute I could be peeling spuds and the next I could be in a boat picking up passengers or fighting a fire in a damage-control exercise onboard,” said Liam.

But with the travel comes an increased appreciation for Liam’s own home town.

“I really miss my family and the beaches of Jervis Bay, so I am looking forward to a trip down south when I get home.”