Sea Battle Pauses for Navy Birthday Celebrations
3 March 2010
There was a brief pause in the ‘battle’ off the NSW coast this week as the officers and ship’s company of HMAS Anzac (Captain Peter Quinn, CSC) celebrated the Royal Australian Navy’s 109th birthday.
Australia’s navy was established on 1 March 1901, when the states transferred their naval forces to form the Commonwealth Naval Force, renamed 10 years later as the Royal Australian Navy.
In true naval tradition it was Anzac’s youngest sailor, 18-year-old Seaman (SMN) Combat Systems Operator Matthew Donaldson who joined Captain Quinn, to cut the birthday cake.
SMN Donaldson joined the navy in April last year from Bundaberg, Queensland and began his first sea posting in Anzac just under a month ago.
“It’s really good, very easy to get along with everyone. I’m really enjoying it,” he said.
But while one young, eager 18 year-old helped cut the cake, another Anzac sailor was quietly sharing his birthday with the navy he has served in since he was 18.
41-year old Chief Petty Officer (CPOET) Jim Lovett joined the navy 23 years ago and has served in Anzac three times, including three deployments to the Arabian Gulf.
Like SMN Donaldson, the bonds of friendship are the highlight of CPOET Lovett’s naval career.
“The friendships you make with the people you serve with are bonds that last forever. Yet, today was the first time anyone has picked up on my birthday being the same date as the Navy’s,” CPOET Lovett said.
Anzac is currently participating in the Navy’s annual Fleet Concentration Period, a comprehensive five week training program that is honing the skills of officers and sailors of the Royal Australian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy and the men and women on the Royal Australian Air Force in the waters off the NSW south coast and Townsville, Queensland.
