Rookie Sailor's 'Leap of Faith'
25 October 2010
Three rookie sailors from Rodgers Division took a huge leap of faith recently when they abseiled down Sydney’s 27-floor AMP Building to the busy street below.
The sailors overcame their initial fear of heights and concern of never having abseiled before by putting their faith in the equipment, their training, the RAN’s ‘best practice’ OH&S procedures and a Navy support team of specialists.
Faith in all things Navy enabled them to convert their fear into adrenaline for the first crucial step over the edge, and finally euphoria and pride when they reached the street below.
Seaman Stewart McBride, 20, was trembling with excitement after completing his first ever abseil which he described as “absolutely electrifying.”
“I certainly conquered my initial fears and the feeling of achievement and the good deed done for charity make it all worthwhile,” he said.
Seaman McBride said he focused on the training and his faith in the Navy support team which kept him from thinking about falling from such a great height.
“My faith in the Navy team and the training they provided really helped my concentration,” he said.
Seaman Matt Kirkland, 20, said he was very excited to take such a giant leap of faith for such a worthy charity as The Sir David Martin Foundation.
The rookie’s leap of faith was part of the fundraiser that contributed to more than $200,000 being raised for the Sir David Martin Foundation, which is HMAS Kuttabul’s adopted ship’s charity.
Kuttabul SWO, Warrant Officer Mark Donlan, said “The rookie sailors were part of a RAN team who ensured world class safety practices, for the scores of people who paid more than $1000 each for the abseil”
“Today was all about civilians enjoying the opportunity to abseil down the AMP Building, which we the Navy were happy to help them with,” he said.
WO Donlan said a team of sailors from Kuttabul were also involved in the promotional launch earlier this year, when they launched several media celebrities, including Kitti Flannigan, down the AMP Building.
Kuttabul adopted the Sir David Martin Foundation as its ship’s charity in recognition of Sir David Martin, a former RADM and also Governor of NSW, who died in 1990. His wish was to set up a foundation to help troubled youth.
One of the projects for troubled youth is the Triple Care Farm, in rural NSW, which provides an ideal environment of peace and healing for emotionally hurt and troubled young people aged 16 to 24 years.
Over a 12 week period, the Farm takes the first step in re-building broken lives, gently helping them to untangle their problems and equipping them with the skills to make a positive change in their lives.
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