OITF Staff HMAS Creswell
Lead Instructor Leadership
Lieutenant Shane Wallace, RAN
LEUT Shane Wallace grew up in Nowra on the South Coast of NSW where he completed his Higher School Certificate in 2003. In 2004, LEUT Wallace attended the Australian College of Physical Education, completing his Bachelor of Physical Education at the end of 2006. In 2007, he worked as a Physical Education teacher until late 2008. In 2009, LEUT Wallace joined the Navy as a Training Systems Officer, completing the New Entry Officer Course (NEOC) 40 where he was awarded the Commander Grey prize for sporting achievement.
On completion of NEOC, LEUT Wallace was posted to HMAS Cerberus to undertake the Training Systems Application Course where he was awarded dux of the course. In 2010, LEUT Wallace returned to HMAS Creswell working as the Training Development Officer where he was involved in the development of the Lieutenant Commander Promotion Course. Currently LEUT Wallace is in the Lead Instructor Leadership role.
During his time in the Navy, LEUT Wallace has been heavily involved in RAN Cricket and was selected to captain the ADF Cricket team in 2010. LEUT Wallace also enjoys adventure training and is a qualified Unit Adventure Training Leader in abseiling.
LEUT Wallace is engaged to Summa. He enjoys travelling with his family and most sports although his main sport of interest is surfing.
Course Implementation Officer
Lieutenant Andrew Nicholls, RAN
Lieutenant Andrew Nicholls was born in Mona Vale, NSW and grew up on the northern beach suburbs of Sydney. He joined the Royal Australian Navy on the 2nd of April 1986 as a General Entry recruit within the Marine Technical Propulsion category. On successful completion of recruit and category training in HMAS Cerberus he commenced Submariner training in HMAS Platypus before proceeding to sea in HMAS Orion in 1987.
After a short stint in the Australian Submarine Squadron, Lieutenant Nicholls proceeded to sea in the Guided Missile Destroyers HMAS Hobart and HMAS Brisbane. He was posted to HMAS Nirimba to undertake the second phase of the technical training continuum before returning to HMAS Brisbane in 1990 where he was promoted to Leading Seaman.
Leading Seaman Nicholls continued serving in HMAS Brisbane until 1992 until posting again to HMAS Nirimba for the final phase of the Technical Training Continuum. His next posting was to HMAS Kuttabul for service in the Fleet Intermediate Maintenance Activity where he undertook the role as I/C of embarked maintenance teams. After a brief period ashore he was posted to HMAS Hobart and in 1994 he was promoted to Petty Officer Marine Technician.
Petty Officer Nicholls enjoyed the posting as the regulator and watch leader for Junior Officers Under Training proceeding to sea in HMAS Kanimbla and HMAS Tobruk. He also enjoyed the position of firefighting and leak stop, repair instructor at the RAN School of Survivability and Ship Safety before returning to HMAS Brisbane in 1997 for the last time.
He resigned from the Navy and transferred to the Naval Reserve in 1999. He was accepted for commissioned rank in the RAN reserve and promoted to Lieutenant in 2001. Lieutenant Nicholls was employed as a Divisional Officer for the New Entry Officer Course in HMAS Creswell in 2001. He successfully completed three courses as a Divisional Officer before taking up the position of Deputy Officer in Charge of the RAN School of Survivability and Ship Safety from 2002 to 2005.
Lieutenant Nicholls was the Course Implementation Officer for Aviation Technicians in HMAS Albatross before transferring to the Permanent Navy in 2009. He then undertook the position of Training Development and Quality Control Officer for Naval engineering in HMAS Cerberus. He commenced his current position at the Royal Australian Naval College as the Course Implementation Officer for the Officer Initial Training Faculty in 2011.
Lieutenant Nicholls’ Naval service has provided many career highlights which include: active service on operation Damask to liberate Kuwait whilst in HMAS Brisbane; numerous South East Asian and South Pacific deployments, including RIMPAC (Hawaii); completion of maritime trade qualifications and gaining professional qualifications in Education.
Lieutenant Nicholls has been married to Lisa for over 22 years and they have two children, Luke and Katie. He enjoys coaching Katie’s 14yr girl’s soccer team, although getting a word in or being heard is sometimes a real challenge. He enjoys all sports however; his favourites
College Regulator
Chief Petty Officer Peter Hilton, RAN
CPO Hilton was born in Dubbo NSW on 24 May 1961 and completed school at Ginninderra High ACT in 1977. CPO Hilton joined the Royal Australian Navy from school and undertook his basic training as a Junior Recruit, in HMAS Leeuwin in Western Australia. Following graduation from HMAS Leeuwin, CPO Hilton posted to HMAS Cerberus where he successfully completed his training as a Marine Technician. In 1978, at the age of 17, CPO Hilton was posted to his first sea posting onboard HMAS Torrens.
Subsequent postings for CPO Hilton included HMAS Kuttabul, HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Harman and HMAS Stalwart as a Marine Technician. In 1987 CPO Hilton changed category to Naval Police and on completion of his training he enjoyed postings which included RANAD Newington, Zetland and Garden Island. In 1991 the Naval Police category merged with the Coxswain category. This merger opened up a vast array of posting opportunities, including sea postings which were not previously available to Naval Police. CPO Hilton undertook postings to HMAS Penguin, HMAS Gladstone (during this posting he qualified as an Officer of the Watch), HMAS Harman, HMAS Bendigo, HMAS Labuan, HMAS Bunbury, HMAS Ballarat, HMAS Stuart and HMAS Creswell. During these postings Hilton conducted the role of the Senior Police member borne and the Whole Ship Coordinator.
During his posting to HMAS Harman Hilton was awarded a Naval System Commanders Commendation for his role as the Base Coxswain.
In 2008, CPO Hilton completed the Australian Defence Force Investigation Course to become a fully qualified ADF Investigator.
CPO Hilton has conducted boarding’s on foreign fishing vessels as well vessels smuggling people. He completed a circumnavigation of the world during Operation Northern Trident in 2009 onboard HMAS Ballarat. During Trident, CPO Hilton enjoyed port visits to Italy, Spain, UK, Canada, East and West coast of the USA, Trinidad, Hawaii and Japan.
During operational service whilst conducting Op Slipper in 2011 he celebrated his 50th birthday whilst off the coast of Yemen. During this deployment he also had the opportunity to land on the deck of a US carrier in a fixed wing aircraft therefore becoming a member of the famous Tail Hooker's Club.
In 2011 CPO Hilton joined the Officer Initial Training Faculty as the Regulator.
CPO Hilton is married to Linda, who is also a serving member with the RAN. CPO Hilton is the proud father of Jennifer aged 12 and Robert aged 11. He enjoys sailing with his children, rugby league and raising his chooks.
