Navy farewells Fremantles
4 June 2007 By Bernard O'Connor
HMA ships Townsville and Ipswich, the final two Fremantle Class Patrol Boats, decommissioned on May 11 marking the end of the Fremantle era.
The decommissioning at Trinity Wharf in Cairns was punctuated by bursts of rain.
Initially these waves of rain came, as if on cue, at the announcement of the approach of senior officers' cars. A murmur rippled across the assembled crowd at the apparent timing of each burst.
But the rain did not detract from the glamour and emotion of the night-time ceremony, nor dampen the high spirit of the occasion. All guests were under cover, as were the ships' companies.
The lowering of the commissioning pennants and the folding of the white ensigns were emotional moments for those who had served on these vessels.
The white ensigns were formally handed to the Commander Australian Fleet, RADM Davyd Thomas, by the respective commanding officers of the ships for safe keeping, until the names Townsville and Ipswich once again grace the fleet.
CO of HMAS Ipswich, LCDR Darren Grogan, said: " HMAS (Ipswich) has provided valuable and reliable service for 25 years. The current crew and myself are proud to say we have been a part of her history."
The Commanding Officer of HMAS Townsville, LCDR Andrew Hawke said:"After almost 26 years and in excess of 680,000 miles steamed, [Townsville's] legacy will be great memories and friendship. Being the last of the class is particularly poignant and the decommissioning closes a significant chapter of the RAN's history."
Mrs Dallas Hayden, the wife of the Honourable Bill Hayden and the commissioning lady of HMAS Ipswich along with the daughter of Townsville's first CO and the first child to be christened onboard, Ms Catherine Watts, officiated at the ceremony as guests of honour.
Also present were the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay, the Federal Member for Blair (which takes in Ipswich) Mr Cameron Thompson and the Mayors of the cities of Townsville and Ipswich.
The Navy representation included Chief of Navy, Vice admiral russ shalders AO CSC RAN; CDRE Steve Gilmore representing Deputy Chief of Navy; Head Maritime Systems, RADM Trevor Ruting; Commander Border Protection Command, RADM James Goldrick and Systems Commander, CDRE Peter Jones.
Even TV stars were in attendance. Ipswich (aka HMAS Hammersley) was used in the filming of Channel 9's upcoming television series Sea Patrol and stars of the show Lisa McCune, Ian Stenlake and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor came to bid her farewell.
Navy cadets performed a ceremony to mark the end of the Fremantle era, extinguishing a lantern flame as each name of the Fremantle Class boats was read aloud.
Townsville and Ipswich were the 3rd and 7th of 15 Fremantle Class Patrol Boats. Both ships were commissioned at Cairns - Townsville on July 18, 1981 and Ipswich on November 13, 1982.
Ipswich will be delivered to the disposal contractor Birdon Marine in Darwin. Her future will be determined by the contractor.
Townsville is being presented to the city of Townsville as part of their Maritime Museum and has already sailed to its new home.
The Fremantles are being replaced by 14 Armidale Class Patrol Boats and the first nine of these have already been commissioned.
The next to commission are NUSHIP Wollongong (June 2007), NUSHIP Childers (July 2007 in Cairns) and Nuship launceston (September 2007 in Launceston).
"The dual decommissioning of Townsville and Ipswich represents the end of an era," RADM Thomas said.
"The introduction of the next generation Armidale Class Patrol Boats will continue their roles and outstanding service."
