Today Show Visits HMAS Cerberus
19 August 2009
On Tuesday 28 July Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus received a visit by the Channel Nine the Today Show Team and reporter Christine Ahern.
The purpose of their visit was to shoot a day in the life of a recruit. Christine felt that she was up to the challenge.
The day began with an introduction by the Commanding Officer of Recruit School, CMDR Jim Hillock where he provided Christine an overview of a typical Navy Recruit's day.
Still feeling confident and up to the challenge Christine left Recruit School where she faced the high ropes course and her fear of heights. After receiving a brief from the high rope instructor LS Wallace, Christine placed her life in the hands of fellow Recruits and climbed the 20 metre tower.
Next up was the mud run where she was put through her paces by the physical training staff and leopard crawled through the icy cold Cerberus mud. Of course the mud was everywhere; ears, hair and even up her nose.
After a quick tasty lunch provided by the Cerberus Main Galley Christine headed down to Survival at sea where she jumped off the wharf into the barmy 8oC Hanns Inlet, tested out the Navy's Thermal Protective Suits and climbed into the raft.
Feeling fighting fit Christine proceeded to the School of SSSS's to battle one of the Navy’s biggest dangers at sea, Damage Control. After getting kitted up and safety briefed Christine boarded Countersink where she shored up hatches, plugged holes and tried to save the ship from sinking. Realising that perhaps her talents were best served else where Christine got dressed into a fire fighting suit and donned an OCCABA ready for the challenge of fighting a fire at sea. After several unsuccessful attempts of putting the fire out she abandoned ship.
Tired, wet and homesick Christine reported back to Recruit School where the CO informed her that he would be in touch and that perhaps her skills were better served as a reporter at channel nine.
