Publication:The Fearless Times Issue 1 2009/A Family Reunion
A family reunion between two serving RAN members took place during HMAS Toowoomba's recent port visit to Bahrain. Having just deployed to the Middle East for Op SLIPPER, Toowoomba was visiting the home of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and Headquarters of the Combined Maritime Force Commander (CMFC) for liaison briefs and to take on stores and logistics. The sailors of Toowoomba knew they were going to be in good hands given that CPOSN Robert Thwaites of the RANLO Bahrain staff would be there to welcome his daughter ABSTD Meggan Thwaites of HMAS Toowoomba alongside. Meggan said that she was sure her dad would give the ship's arrangements some extra special attention. "We are a close family, so getting the opportunity to catch up with dad when I am deployed to the Gulf for six months is also a huge bonus" she said.
For the Thwaites family who live in Warnbro, Rockingham, the RAN is almost a family business. Not enough to have her dad in the Navy, Meggan's also has a sister in uniform. Lisa-Marie is a LSMED who is serving in the Sydney based Minehunter, HMAS Yarra.
As a child, Meggan and her sister grew up in Victoria, Western Australia and Singapore as the Thwaites family moved around following their dad's RAN postings. By the age of thirteen, Meggan had "the call of the sea" and from then on she started to develop her ambition to follow in her father's footsteps with a career in the Navy. Meggan finalised her plans during her last year of high school in Singapore before joining as a recruit in November 2006. After postings to HMAS Cerberus, HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Stirling, she joined Toowoomba in February 2008.
After wanting to join the Navy for such a long period, Meggan is pleased that her career is living up to her expectations. Finding her departmental and wholeship duties, varied and challenging, she also loves the excitement of life at sea. Although she found the ship's recent Unit Readiness and Mission Readiness work-up training and evaluation very demanding, Meggan says she always maintained an upbeat attitude and was known amongst the crew for catchcry "I like to make the best of every situation". Meggan says she has made some great friends onboard Toowoomba and is now looking forward to seeing and learning about the Middle East during her first operational tour to the Gulf. CPOSN Thwaites who is a member of HMAS Perth is currently on loan to the RANLO Bahrain for a six month posting. Meggan and dad Robert are both due to return home to FBW within a couple of weeks of each other, in time for Christmas.
The hard work of making a new bell rope for the Ship's Bell. It takes time, patience, a keen eye, steady hands and above all a bit of pride. Work and Images by LSBM Mace.
