Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2007/SE Qld cadets visit Albatross

By Keeli Cambourne

Australian Navy Cadets from South East Queensland visiting 817 Squadron at HMAS Albatross with LS Caitlin Walsh and AB Eve Fleming in the front row and LS Sylvia Wood, sixth from left in the second row. Pic by Able Seaman Craig Owen.

Eve Fleming, Caitlin Walsh and Sylvia Wood had never actually seen a navy base despite spending a few years in the naval cadets.

But for 10 days over the June/July school holidays, the 15 and 16-year-old cadets got to see just about everything navy bases have to offer as part of Operation Adventure.

Operation Adventure was a unique program initiated in Mackay in Far North Queensland to introduce its naval cadets to life in the Navy - albeit while on land.

The 40 cadets, more than half of them girls, went from Mackay to Canberra visiting bases.

But the highlight of the tour was no doubt getting up close to the helicopters of the 816 and 805 Squadrons at HMAS Albatross.

Cadet liaison officer, CPO Trevor Bellamy, who had the task of co-ordinating the tour which took in eight Navy establishments, said the students were all keen to visit the home of the Fleet Air Arm.

"There are quite a few aspiring aviators among the cadets and they are all eager to get inside a hangar and up close to some helicopters," he said.

For Caitlin, Operation Adventure reinforced her desire to join the RAN when she leaves school.

"My grandfather was in the Navy and he used to let us in on all the secrets," she laughed.

And while Eve was a little undecided about her future, seeing the choppers up close and what was on offer in the Navy has made her a little more curious about her options.

"I didn't even know you had to 'come onboard' a navy base that was on land," she said.

Although Sylvia is determined to pursue a career as a vet, she conceded that she may be able to do something like it within the ranks of the RAN.