Wishes granted on Rankin
24 August 2007 By John Martin
Affectionately known as The Black Knight, HMAS Rankin won a reputation in Melbourne and Brisbane recently as a white knight to a band of sick children.
The submarine came east from HMAS Stirling for Exercise Talisman Saber and some work with HMAS Perth.
In three months away from Western Australia, the submarine stopped in Melbourne, Sydney (twice), Brisbane and Jervis Bay.
One of the highlights on the voyage, according to CPO Christopher Rowley, was helping out the Starlight Children's Foundation.
The Starlight Children's Foundation of Australia is part of an international charity whose mission is to brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families.
It conducts a program granting the wishes of children aged four to 18 who suffer from serious illnesses.
About 20 children and members of their families went aboard HMAS Rankin in Brisbane and 20 more in Melbourne.
They were shown around and left the submarine with Navy caps, frisbees, stickers and happy memories.
CPO Rowley had another reason to be happy about the stop in Brisbane.
He was one of a dozen NSW supporters who watched on TV at a Brisbane hotel, surrounded by Queenslanders, as NSW won the final state-of-origin rugby league match.
