Publication:Sea Talk Summer 2006/Navy live on the Today Show
Nine Network's swinging, wet weatherman
By Lieutenant Barbara Butler*
Being winched out of Sydney Harbour by helicopter is all in a day's work for Navy clearance divers but it was a first for Nine Network television personality Steve Jacobs.
Jacobs volunteered to experience the Navy lifestyle aboard Anzac frigate HMAS Stuart on October 23 and he certainly experienced what few civilians would.
It was all part of a Today Show dedicated entirely to Navy that was telecast live nationwide from the flight-deck of Stuart. The show was months in the planning, and rehearsals proved invaluable - especially for Jacobs!
For starters, the ship had to be secured to the Man o' War buoys in the middle of Sydney Harbour to make the most of telegenic landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Today Show hosts Jessica Rowe and Karl Stefanovic initially found the rocking motion somewhat disconcerting but got their sea legs in time to interview Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson who, having visited many RAN fleet units in his first year in the job, was quite at home.
Dr Nelson officially launched the Navy Lifestyle website, a computer animated website that gives prospective recruits the opportunity to spend a virtual day aboard HMAS Anzac and allows them to follow 25 different members of ship's company.
The site offers more than 100 video files, using 3D animation and flash technology to deliver a truly interactive experience for the user. Users can also get a holistic view of what our Navy does by following the fleet's activities around the world over the course of a year.
One highlight of the show was the arrival of an armed boarding party from HMAS Ballarat who came alongside, swiftly boarded the ship, searched for and apprehended Steve Jacobs. He was later dropped into Sydney Harbour, winched aboard a Navy helicopter and whisked away commando-style for interrogation.
Maritime Commander RADM Davyd Thomas, headed up an all-star cast of Navy interviewees including CO of Stuart CMDR Peter Leavy, SBLT Lauren Rago, who hosts the Navy Lifestyle website, and Medic, PO Nicole Grundy.
The RAN Band provided a great play-off for the show. Ship's company headed for home, the landlubbers retreated to their desks at Nine Network offices, except for Steve Jacobs ... he was still towelling down.
 CO of HMAS Stuart, CMDR Peter Leavy enjoys a chat with co-host Karl Stefanovic as they prepare to go live in a segment of the Nine Today Show. |  Today Show co-host Jessica Rowe interviews (from left) LSCIS Amy Ryan, POMED Nikky Grundy and ABCIS Sarah Cruikshank |
| CO of HMAS Stuart, CMDR Peter Leavy enjoys a chat with co-host Karl Stefanovic as they prepare to go live in a segment of the Nine Today Show. |  Karl Stefanovic interviews LEUT Tor Sorensen on the role and uses of clearance divers within the RAN. |
All pics by ABPH Brenton Freind
- LEUT Barbara Butler is Manager Navy Internal Communication
