Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2007/Harry brightens the Gulf day

From CHAP Duncan Becsi on board HMAS Anzac

Every so often you experience something out of the ordinary. I guess most Australians would argue that working for six months on a warship in the middle of the Persian Gulf qualifies as just that.

When you're doing it, however, you soon realize how very ordinary it actually is. Don't get me wrong, it's a tremendous experience and something that gives you a sense of accomplishment. But it is, in almost every sense of the word, ordinary.

You get up, you eat, you work, you sleep, and the cycle begins again. The unexpected, however, does happen. Of course, this is what Navy prepares for in the months leading up to a deployment.

In a sense we expect nothing to happen but prepare for every possibility. That's what makes our Navy so capable.

What then happened on this deployment that lifted us out of the ordinary for just the briefest of moments and, for some of us, made our day?

In a word, "Harry."

Who or what then is Harry?

Harry, believe it or not, is a falcon. And Harry, quite unexpectedly, changed our ordinary day into something extraordinary.

As you may well know, falconry is very popular in many parts of the Middle East. Go to places like Bahrain or the UAE and you'll see a variety of post cards that depict magnificent portraits of man and bird working as a team.

What we never imagined was that HMAS Anzac was destined to become foster parent to one such falcon which had seemingly lost its way.

Whether it was blown off course or simply became curious as to what we were doing here we'll never know. What we do know is that those of us who were lucky enough to witness Harry's short, albeit, eventful stay (Harry flew away after a two day sojourn) experienced a moment in time that lifted our spirits out of the ordinary.

Life is many things. It could be argued that it is for the most part even mundane. Then when something like this happens you are reminded again how special those brief moments can be ... the rising of the sun and its setting ... that first embrace after a time of separation ... the hug of a small child ... the touch of a friend ... the encouragement of a mentor ... the kick after the siren ... even a visit from a small falcon affectionately known as "Harry".