Parramatta ready for any challenge
18 August 2008
As HMAS Parramatta (CMDR Jonathon Sadleir, RAN) sailed from Sydney's Fleet Base East for Op Catalyst the 185 members of her ships' company expressed supreme confidence in being ready for any challenge.
The crew are committed to getting the job done and weren't feeling pressured by the success of Parramatta's previous deployment to the MEAO in 2006, where she set the benchmark for RAN operations. "We have worked hard in preparation for this deployment and are ready for any challenge or opportunity to raise the benchmark for RAN operations," said the Ship's Warrant Officer, WOPT Steve Downey.
Raising the benchmark will be no easy feat considering Parramatta was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation in the 2007 Australia Day Honours list for her outstanding service in 2006. However, in what marks a positive start to the deployment, Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, praised the crew's rigorous training program over the past few months as he joined a large gathering of Government officials and Navy Officers as well as family and friends to farewell Parramatta.
" Parramatta is well prepared and mission ready for the important job before them," Mr Fitzgibbon said. "I congratulate the ship's company for their commitment in building upon the outstanding reputation of the ADF in the Middle East."
Mr Fitzgibbon also thanked the families and friends of the personnel deploying to the Gulf for their ongoing support and wished those deployed on Op Catalyst continued success and ongoing safety.
CMDR Sadleir said Parramatta will replace HMAS Stuart which is due to return home in late September. " Parramatta's deployment to the MEAO marks the Navy's nineteenth rotation since September 2001," he said.
This deployment is the third and hopefully last occasion that CPO Rob Seymour will serve on Operation Catalyst. "Saying goodbye to your family gets harder each time," he said with misty eyes. CPO Seymour told Navy News that he plans to 'carry favour' with the wife and two kids he is leaving behind with a treasure trove of presents and souvenirs when he returns home in February 2009 for a late Christmas.
WO Downey told Navy News that he is ready for the challenge of the deployment but is a little sad that he will not see his son, Jacob, march into HMAS Cerberus next month – exactly 27 years to the day that he joined the RAN. "It appears that all my stories about the Navy have inspired my son to answer the call of the sea," said WO Downey.
Parramatta's farewell was a highly emotional affair for the ships company and their family and friends. The family of one young sailor were left 'marooned' at Harry's Cafe De Wheels, when they discovered that their son had sailed on Parramatta with the car keys in his pocket. Only the hasty actions of a Navy launch which retrieved the car keys spared the family from having to leave the car at Woolloomooloo for the next six months.
Parramatta will be stationed in the Gulf as part of Australia's commitment to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq, where she will contribute to Coalition maritime operations through providing protection to offshore oil platforms and training of the Iraqi Navy.
During her previous deployment, Parramatta conducted 186 boardings and security patrols, 1,111 boat evolutions, 330 flying hours in its embarked Navy Seahawk helicopter and 653 investigative queries of merchant vessels.
