Publication:Sea Talk Autumn 2007/Endeavouring to keep everyone healthy
By LCDR Antony Underwood
Two Naval Reserve medical officers, LCDR Emma Giles and LEUT Elizabeth Livingstone, recently grasped the opportunity to cover for the shortage of PN medical officers in the Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour.
The barquentine, operated by the Navy for the Government, normally gives young Australians the opportunity to gain sail training experience in Australian waters.
When deploying overseas, however, the ship must carry a medical officer.
LEUT Livingstone - an opthalmologist in her civilian life - and LCDR Giles undertook Reserve service on, respectively, the outgoing and return journeys.
"I have a passion for sailing and do twilight and weekend races on Sydney Harbour with the CYCA (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) and RANSA (RAN Sailing Association)," said LEUT Livingstone before departure from Sydney in the ship, a Bicentennial gift from the United Kingdom.
During her 30-day cruise Elizabeth was both the ship's MO and well placed to hone her sailing skills on the 44-metre sail training vessel.
"When the opportunity was there to be the MO in Young Endeavour - I jumped at it," Elizabeth said.
LEUT Livingstone joined the ANR in August 2006 from Sydney and completed the Reserve Entry Officers Course (REOC) before doing her initial sea training in HMAS Tobruk.
"REOC gave me the challenge of working together in a different environment with new acquaintances that soon became friends," said Elizabeth, who had previously thought of joining the RAN as an undergraduate but decided to pursue a career as an eye surgeon.
"In recent times I found that vacancies existed as a Reservist of my age and qualifications, so I decided to join up."
CO of Young Endeavour CMDR Chris Galloway spent six years as a Reservist before transferring to the PN in 2001. His XO is LEUT Ian Hubbard has been in ship's company for three years.
Young Endeavour departed Sydney on Feb 13 to visit Nelson, Marlborough Sounds, Wellington and Auckland.
In Auckland there was a crew change, which including 24 youths aged 16 - 23. Elizabeth flew back to Sydney about the time of going to press and was replaced by LCDR Giles.
With Emma aboard Young Endeavour is scheduled to sail to the Bay of Islands and return to Sydney in mid-March.
