Navy’s training base opens its doors to the public

There are some exciting changes afoot at Crib Point. HMAS Cerberus Commanding Officer Captain Ainsley Morthorpe CSM RAN has invited the public to the base’s first open day in many years on Sunday, March 19, from 10am-4pm, giving everyone the chance to see the base after almost half a billion dollars was spent on its upgrade for future training.

HMAS Cerberus is the navy’s premier training establishment, covering more than 1500ha at Western Port’s Hanns Inlet. About 6000 personnel are trained there annually, with about 800 trainees on board at any one time. It’s also home to the HMAS Cerberus Heritage and Learning Centre, which is currently closed for renovations but will reopen in February in time for the open day so people can see the reimagining of the large naval heritage collection of artefacts, photographs and memorabilia.

The theme of the free open day is An Adventure And A Career Like No Other. “From the day of my enlistment I have been on a great adventure, which has taught me to be a better person and has taken me all over the world,” Capt Morthorpe said.

All training areas and schools will be open, with officers and sailors available to answer questions about life, work and study at HMAS Cerberus. The museum and many buildings will also be open, and visitors can wander at their leisure, take a guided tour, or hop on a shuttle bus to be transported around the base. There will be vintage aircraft displays, RAAF fly-overs, Navy Band Melbourne concerts, Navy Drone Racing Club, interactive displays, and much more.

The open day is expected to attract up to 25,000 people. Registration is required for everyone aged over 16. For more details, go to www.navy.gov.au/establishments/hmascerberus

For those who want a dose of naval history before then, Rosebud Library currently has an exhibition featuring historical artefacts from HMAS Cerberus, including training manuals and books that you can flip through.