New HODs Take Charge of Toowoomba (for the day!)
11 November 2010
In time honoured tradition HMAS Toowoomba (Commander Ivan Ingham) organised a ‘HOD for A Day’ fundraising event where bids were received from the ship’s company to have the honour of becoming Head of Department for the day during the passage from Kuantan, Malaysia to FBW. All monies received went to the official HMAS Toowoomba charity, The Toowoomba Flexi School.
Bidding was fierce and eventually the lucky winners were ABCIS Travis Knowles as XO (LCDR Simon Howard), ABMT Clinton Allen as MEO (LCDR Guy Lewis), LSWTR Lauren Tanzer as SO (LCDR Anthony Case), ABBM Ewan McDonald as WEEO (LCDR Jason Middleton) and ABET Samantha Whitfield as Chaplain (CHAP Rainer Schack).
Whilst the day provided each of the participants the opportunity to experience life in another’s shoes, all involved had a great time with many challenges presenting themselves throughout the course of the day.
AB Travis Knowles stated that he loved making pipes including the classic “Do you ear hear there XO speaking...........That is all!" Jokes aside Travis stated that it was "good seeing the ship’s day to day running as part of the command team and how busy and challenging that can be". He has also believed the rank slides suited, so a new career path may beckon.
Despite numerous requests from the ship’s company for an issue of Tim-Tams, LS Lauren Tanzer showed she was a natural Pusser by denying all requests. Moreover, ABBM Ewan McDonald was presented with numerous technical challenges, none more important than re-establishing satellite television for the following day’s Melbourne Cup.
Toowoomba departed South East Asia in company with HMAS Arunta and HMAS Success having just completed Exercise BERSAMA PADU off the Malaysian Coast. All three ships arrived back at FBW in early November.
blog comments powered by Disqus
