Navy People: Whyalla Local Helps Maritime Stability in Middle East
23 September 2009
Whyalla local Able Seaman Peta Chilton is performing an important role onboard the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Toowoomba in the Middle East, as a Communications Information Systems (CIS) sailor.
HMAS Toowomba is currently serving at sea on operations in the Middle East as part of Australia's military contribution to coalition efforts against international terrorism, countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and providing maritime security.
Although Peta enjoyed her school years at Whyalla High and Edward John High, she decided she didn’t want to go to university but wanted to travel. She joined the Royal Australian Navy in 2003 as a CIS sailor and currently holds the rank of Able Seaman.
Peta’s job includes the use of VHF, UHF and HF radios and looking after the ship’s local area network of computers, which HMAS Toowoomba relies heavily on to communicate, utilising emails both for work related matters and as a vital link to loved ones at home in Australia.
“In addition to radio and computers, I also use flags and flashing light to send and receive messages from other ships in close vicinity to us, interpreting those signals and messages to keep the Captain informed of operational intentions,” Peta said.
One of the things Peta loves about her career in the Navy so far is travel.
“I’ve been to East Timor where I helped in convents and taught children the basics of English; I’ve ridden camels in Broome, been on crocodile tours in Darwin and visited Luna Park in Sydney. Now I’m getting to see very different and interesting cultures here in the Middle East,” she said.
This operational deployment in HMAS Toowoomba means a lot to Peta and is providing her with new opportunities.
“I enjoy the interaction with other nations and the opportunity to see this part of the world. But most importantly, I’m finally getting to put into practice all the training I’ve done in the last six years in a real operational environment,” Peta said.
During her deployment so far, HMAS Toowoomba has operated with Navies from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Italy, which means Peta has been an integral part of ensuring messages get sent and received correctly between ships from different countries.
After the ship returns to Australia after her six-month deployment, Peta is looking forward to meeting a new member of her family.
“My little brother is expecting his first child, so I can’t wait to meet my first niece and catch up with friends and family,” she said.
HMAS Toowoomba is an Anzac Class frigate and her mission is to conduct Maritime Support and Counter Terrorism operations in support of coalition Task Force 150 in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. In the near future, Toowoomba will also be the first RAN ship to participate in Task Force 151 Counter Piracy Operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa. (UPDATE: HMAS Toowoomba recently successfully thwarted a pirate attack)
Toowoomba is due to return to her home port at Fleet Base West near Rockingham in Western Australia in early December.
