HMAS Sydney Deployment

Prior to meals the tables are set, condiments and drinks are filled, dishes, cutlery and cups are washed and replaced back in the galley, garbage emptied and café cleaned and set for next meal. Petty Officer’s and Chief’s Messmen were responsible to prepare meal areas and clean Senior Sailors shower and toilet area, ensure overalls are washed and returned to various messes. Band members also assisted with the stores department mustering and storing equipment, and cleaning. Probably the favourite within the group was Watch on Deck. Working in a four watch system assisting Bosuns with Watch on Deck requirements, including Helm, Lookout, and Quartermasters assistant. Another necessary task was Operational Sentinel Anti Piracy Watches. Personnel with Steyr qualification were utilised for armed stern lookout. Force Protection Rolls and Duty Watch roles saw members carry out positions as armed upper deck sentries. The musicians fulfilled their weapons requirements. Those personnel who have Steyr qualifications were able to carry out training, trade testing and high sea firing to become weapons ready for individual readiness. It really was an interesting afternoon shooting waves. Three months away on the South East Asia Deployment enabled the musicians to integrate into the ships crew of HMAS Parramatta. Members of the ships company were very hospitable and assisted with the musicians learning the ropes. Overall, it was a diverse experience that enabled members to experience life in the sea going Navy aboard HMAS Parramatta.

HMAS SYDNEY DEPLOYMENT

Article by Petty Officer Kara Williams

Rather than a deployment of amassed quantity of achievements, I have come to think of the HMAS Sydney North American Deployment as a deployment of ‘firsts’ and ‘one off’ experiences. The once in a lifetime chance to sail to within miles of Alaska, witnessing the first firing of new weapons systems (including four missiles), a once in a lifetime chance to visit to many of the cities along the western seaboard of mainland USA and Canada on an Australian Warship, the first time across the equator for more than half of Ship’s company and possibly the first (and last!) time ‘Surfin’ USA’, ‘California Girls’, ‘Kids in America’ and ‘Viva Las Vegas’ have been played at an HMAS departure…… It is important for me to detail the achievements of the embarked musicians; however, at the risk of sounding more like a Lonely Planet guide throughout this article, the most memorable things have been those we have collectively experienced ashore. I certainly don’t intend to make our musical contributions to the North America deployment on HMAS Sydney any less important, far from it. The embarked musicians performed with the peels of applause accolades addressed to those producing noticeably high quality results; it is just that the extraordinary geographical positions this deployment has put us in has in my mind somewhat overshadowed our achievements in the more traditional sense. It would be remiss of me not to include input from each of the other nine members as each one of us takes something different; even from a singular event. So much richer is the experience told from different perspectives so; with the reporting of extremely well received Commanding Officer’s luncheons, Cocktail Parties, Marching Displays and Ceremonial Sunsets in each port through to Wakey Wakeys, Watch on Deck, Quartermaster, Quartermaster Assistant, Laundry and Café Party duties, Remembrance Day in Canada, Replenishments at Sea, Cup Day and Crossing the Line festivities, steel deck barbeques and public concerts there is another side to the achievements of the ten musicians posted to HMAS Sydney for the Northern America Deployment.

Leading Seaman Dana Moran

“Probably the highlight of the trip for me was spending my birthday in Seattle at the Jazz Alley watching Arturo Sandoval and his quintet perform live. Able Seaman Ashley Markey and I had a dinner table less than five metres away from the stage. After an excellent meal we were treated to an outstanding display of musicianship.

Arturo is known as a showman and his trumpet acrobatics but the depth of musical expression on show was outstanding. Fellow trumpet legend Al Vizzutti was part of the audience and we both met him after the show and Al even introduced Ashley to Arturo and we both got his autograph; a great night that’s for sure. Previously in Hawaii, we did our usual cocktail party and ceremonial sunset our first night in at Pearl Harbour. During the cocktail party I ran into Wing Commander Steve Kennedy (Consul Defence Liaison) and his wife. They had previously hosted our jazz group there last year at his residence when I participated in RIMPAC aboard HMAS Manoora. They were both very complimentary and mentioned the success of our performance at their function last year and invited us to visit when we stop in Hawaii again on the way home. Other highlights include catching up with old friends from the Pacific Fleet Band in Pearl Harbor who were once again very hospitable. Following this trend we were fortunate enough to be hosted by the local Navy Band in Esquimalt, Canada which is near Victoria, B.C. We marched with them on Remembrance Day and they served us lunch back at their band room before heading out to the Legion Club (like an RSL) for the first of many free beers. A good time was had by all. The locals loved the fact that we were in our sailor suits (W2s) as they stopped wearing that uniform back in the 60s and now wear something similar to our senior sailor winter uniform.”

Leading Seaman Grant Metcalfe

“As part of my responsibilities as a Kellick, I am required to keep a Quarter Master duty. As this was an entirely new experience for me there were a lot of new skills to learn on the job. One memorable experience was a “Safeguard: Man Over Board”. As part of ships training Man Over Board drills are carried out regularly to increase Whole of Ship procedures and response times to what is a very serious incident. Whenever a real incident occurs the phrase Safeguard, Safeguard, Safeguard precedes any pipe so that it can be perceived as a real incident. Whilst on watch as QM during 2000 to 2359 one day, a message came through to the bridge from the Life Buoy Sentry “…Safeguard, Safeguard, Safeguard … Safeguard: Man Over Board”. I was directed by the OOW to Pipe “Safeguard, Safeguard, Safeguard … Safeguard: Man Over Board. Standby to recover” within seconds of making the pipe the CO, XO NAV, all rushed onto the bridge along with about 10 other people. I could hear the rumbling of feet around the ship as every sailor on board rushed to gather life jackets, NVG’s, life buoys. The ships sea boat was launched at speed in order to minimise time that casualty would be in the water. The ship was piped to Leaving Ships Stations so that the MOB could be identified. Within about 15 minutes it was discovered that all personnel on board had been accounted for therefore the MOB was incorrect. The life Buoy sentry had sighted a Cylume stick in the water and correctly responded to the ramifications of that. The aspect that was most impressive was the entire ship’s company’s high speed and effective response to such an incident. It was clear that the drills which take place equip the ship’s company with the training to be effective in real time situations.”

Leading Seaman Aaron Geeves

“The best experience I have had so far has been when a few of us went out and saw a local band that featured Andrew Speight, a Sax player from Sydney. After the gig, we grabbed a cab and the cabbie took us up and down the streets of San Francisco full speed like they do in the movies. You know; the way they get airborne?! We saw some other great jazz in San Francisco- big bands and trios and the like. What a great place for live music.”

Able Seaman Jennifer Monk

“The most interesting thing I have done on the trip so far would probably have to be the visit to Alcatraz and a wine tour to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in San Francisco, California. On the first day I visited Alcatraz and it was excellent. We were guided through the prison via an audio tour that was narrated by four ex prison guards and four ex convicts. The stories were very interesting and they guided us to various parts of the prison where there were many displays and photographs to look at and read. (Ross thought the tour was so good that he bought a copy of it from the gift shop).

The Prison itself is situated in the middle of San Francisco Harbour on a small island making the views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge quite spectacular. The freezing water and strong currents made it an ideal spot for a high security prison, although there were a number of escape attempts throughout its working life. The following day, Able Seaman Chapman, Able Seaman Fisher and I went on a wine tour that explored the region up and around the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. The weather was excellent during the day though unfortunately the famous San Francisco fog made an appearance both as we crossed the San Francisco Bay Bridge on the way to the wineries, and as we crossed the Golden Gate on the way back making it impossible to see the view. We visited three wineries and had lunch in the town of Sonoma. The wineries were beautiful and unique. I could have bought a great deal of wine except for the annoying customs rules! Able Seaman Chapman was pretty determined that nothing is as good as South Australian wine yet he still bought quite a bit! Overall it was an excellent day and a great way to get out of the city and do some exploring.” “Unlike many, I am one of the rare breed of our branch that doesn't mind going to sea. I have actually quite enjoyed being away on deployment to the US and Canada on HMAS Sydney. By far my favourite part of the trip so far was Remembrance Day in Victoria, Canada. For the Canadians, this day is treated like we treat ANZAC Day, and which one of us would ever knock back the opportunity to have two ANZAC days in one year. From meeting our brothers in the Naden Canadian Forces Band, and being given the full extent of their hospitality, to doing one almighty rig run throughout the afternoon and evening, the whole day was just awesome. There were a large number of veterans to talk to, whom especially loved our junior sailor uniforms as they got rid of them back in 1968, and many very hospitable Canadians in town. Victoria was a beautiful city, especially their Parliament building, out the front of which we did the service at 1100. I also enjoyed visiting Alcatraz in San Francisco, attending a NFL game in Oakland, going through the Science Fiction museum in Seattle, walking across the Capilano suspension bridge in Vancouver, going to an Ice Hockey game in Seattle, and wine tasting in the beautiful Napa Valley outside of San Fran. Interspersed between all of these I've had some great nights, heard some great music, and met some awesome people, both on the ship and in the countries we've visited. I can only hope my memories of San Diego, where I will attend a Thanksgiving dinner at the invitation of some of the locals as well as visit the zoo and maybe even sea world, and then Hawaii, where I plan on playing some golf in the sun and visiting the Missouri and Arizona, will be just as good.”

Able Seaman Ashley Markey

“I have had many enjoyable moments aboard HMAS Sydney. It was great to be promoted to Able Seaman and it has been enjoyable seeing the ship’s company’s reactions to the vast array of wakey wakeys. I have enjoyed playing alongside other service bands and we have in both Hawaii with the Pacific Fleet Band and in Naden Band in Esquimalt. I have also enjoyed exploring the various ports we have visited.”

Able Seaman Iain Fisher

“To me the biggest thing about being at sea, is the necessity to look not weeks or years into the future; but instead to live in the moment and plan only four hours ahead. Looking to the immediate such as your next meal, watch or sleep is a relatively relaxed lifestyle within an otherwise stressful environment. Living in the moment and just noticing the number of those moments in which you are happy and how vastly they outnumber the moments in which you are not. Little things, like the reflection of the Canadian Mountains off the rippling water, a really hot shower after a wet and cold day or even just a coke and a mars bar (yes product placement but the money was good so... hey) at "canteen", make up the moments, not that you would necessarily write home about but it is the lesson to live within the moment which trips like these remind me of.”