The pride of Australia’s navy, including the biggest vessel of the fleet, and two other warships have docked in Hobart after completing tactical training exercises on the east coast. DETAILS >
Nearly 900 sailors from the vessels are enjoying a rest from the sea and have ventured into Hobart to enjoy the markets, restaurants and scenery.
HMAS Adelaide captain Troy Duggan, HMAS Brisbane commander Kingsley Scarce and HMAS Sydney commander Andrew Hough have brought their personnel down for a break in Hobart until Tuesday.
“We’re very excited to visit Hobart,” Captain Duggan said.
“Most people have not visited Hobart before and it’s also an excellent opportunity for a bunch of people returning back to friends and family – including my executive officer Alastair Walsh.
Commander Kingsley Scarce Commanding Officer HMAS Brisbane, Commander Andrew Hough Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney, Captain Troy Duggan Commanding officer HMAS Adelaide aboard the HMAS Adelaide. HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Sydney and HMAS Brisbane are all docked in Hobart at the same time. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones
Aboard the HMAS Adelaide are army cadets Jason Millard 14 cadet of Hobart, Indigo Lewis 15 cadet of Hobart, Hunter Howe 16 cadet corporal of Hobart. HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Sydney and HMAS Brisbane are all in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones
“I picked up my wife yesterday afternoon. A lot of families have flown in to take advantage of the opportunity and the weather on offer this weekend.”
The warships travelled from Melbourne through the Bass Strait into Burnie, before travelling down the East coast before arriving in Hobart’s ports.
“The plan is to basically flood Hobart with just under 900 tourists and explore the delights,” Captain Duggan said.
“Some are getting further around the state as well. We dropped off 22 personnel off at Burnie and they would have made the overland trip to Hobart over the last three days.”
The HMAS Adelaide is 230.82m long and can hold up to 27,500 tonnes.
“It’s just like a little city, you have police, you have a hospital, fire services, sewerage services, fuel power and all the functions of a small city but we just get to move around and change the scenery,” Captain Duggan said.
“You also have the issues of a small city and it’s a complex one with lots of systems on board we have to maintain.”
It is the first time HMAS Sydney has visited Hobart.
HMAS Sydney arriving into Hobart. Picture: Rob Burnett/TasPorts
HMAS Sydney Commander Andrew Hough said most people join the navy to visit different parts of the world.
“The opportunity to see a new bit of Australia and ideally introduce some family and friends to what it is that we actually do,” he said.
While many of the naval crew will be returning home or visiting the city, The Australian Army Cadets got an exclusive tour of the HMAS Adelaide in a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Cadet corporal Hunter Howe, 16, was one the cadets visiting the biggest ship.
“It’s a great experience, not many people would be able to do this,” he said.
“I’m hoping to do combat engineering with the army, so working with explosives.”
Cadet Jason Millard, 14, joined the army cadets in Hobart to see what it was like and is considering pursuing a career with the defence force in the future.
“It’s taken me to places I wouldn’t have gone otherwise,” he said.
Cadet Indigo Lewis, 15, did a year as a navy cadet before transferring to the army cadets.
“I want to be a paramedic so potentially, I could do that through the Australian Defence Force Academy,” she said.