Reunited with Distant Family
7 September 2009
Despite modern communications allowing the Officers and Sailors on Northern Trident 2009 (NT09) to stay in touch more easily than ever before, being far from family and friends can be one of the more difficult aspects of NT09. However for many lucky members of Ballarat's ship's company, NT09 has provided the rare opportunity for them to combine work with the chance to connect with family in far flung locations.
Many of the crew took the time to visit relatives while in the United Kingdom (UK), travelling from Plymouth and Portsmouth to London or further to meet their relatives. "My Godparents and extended family live in the UK and I haven't seen them for about 19 years so I was really looking forward to using NT09 as a chance to catch up with them" said LS Boatswain's Mate Naomi Wightman, who took her family on a personalised tour of Ballarat when she came alongside in Plymouth.
For others, such as LEUT John Corker and PO Electronic Technician Nathan Duke, the visit to the UK brought them back to their birthplace. For PO Duke who was born in Surrey in the United Kingdom, NT09 provided him with a chance to return to the UK for the first time in 22 years.
"We left England when I was 6 years old, so much has changed from how I remember it. NT09 has provided the perfect chance to catch up with my family again and also to meet my wife Cyan's extended family. She is also English and her trip out with my parents to meet Ballarat in Plymouth was the first time she has returned to the UK since moving to Australia."
The onward journey of the ships to the United States meant bidding farewell to family for some, but for others it brought them closer to the family that they were looking forward to seeing. For Seaman Officer SBLT Sally Blackmore having her cousin visit Ballarat whilst in New York was something that she was looking forward to for months.
"I have visited my cousin in New York before when on holiday backpacking but to visit him in New York with Ballarat gave me an opportunity to show him what I do. I took him through the ship and he was really interested, both in the ship and in my job as a Seaman Officer."
"Although he's only 6 months older than me, I've always been his little cousin. For him to see where I work allowed him to see me in a new light. Our visit on NT09 gave him the chance to see part of my life that he otherwise would not have got to see." Said SBLT Blackmore.
For AB Combat Systems Operator (ABCSO) Aumau Falepau, her family in San Diego were also amazed with the way in which she lives on board Ballarat.
"After touring the ship I think they really got a good grasp of what my life is like at sea, how we live and work on a day basis. They were really interested in seeing our living spaces, our bunks and the way we make the ship as homey as possible" she said.
The visit to San Diego was a chance for ABCSO Falepau to see her second cousin Lusi Porotesamo, whose wedding she missed while in Canada as part of NT09.
"It was great to catch up with Lusi and to also meet other relatives for the first time. It reminds me just how lucky I am to have such a great family and catching up with them has given me so much to talk about once I get back to Australia" she said.
And with about only a month of NT09 remaining, it will not be long before AB Falepau gets the chance to reunite with her Australian relatives and share her stories and photos of her meeting with the US arm of her extended family.
