Navy People: Using maths in real life
8 November 2010
Everybody had a mathematics teacher at high school telling them to pay attention, but not everyone gets to turn what they learned into a way of life.
But for Hornsby’s Claire Hodge, the consequences of getting the maths wrong could be catastrophic.
Claire is now learning how to navigate HMAS Warramunga, a 3600-tonne guided missile frigate, away from Qingdao in the South China Sea through the Straits of Taiwan.
It’s a long way from Qingdao to Hornsby, where she used to do gymnastics, but this is what being in the navy is all about.
“I’d been overseas before, but I had never had the chance to explore this part of the world. It’s been terrific to see so many different places and cultures.” said Claire.
A graduate of Hornsby Girls’ High School, Claire joined the Navy this year, only three months after finishing her HSC. She now holds the junior officer rank of Midshipman.
Her older brother David was already in the Navy and provided a real insight into the daily workings of Navy life.
“All of my friends were going to be doctors and accountants and I wanted an adventure, so Navy was my obvious choice.” Claire said.
During the four-month deployment, Claire and her shipmates took part in the re-enactment of the Inchon landings in South Korea, as well as a live fire exercise with a Chinese warship off the coast of Qingdao. It was the first time any western warship had been invited to do so.
Once the ship leaves China, it will be sailing for its home-port in near Perth in Western Australia and Claire and her shipmates will get the chance for some well-earned leave.
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