One of the country’s largest navy vessels, HMAS Adelaide, has docked in Hobart for a short break over the weekend.
The vessel has been undertaking training exercises off the coast of Sydney, and is in the state for a few days before heading for more training exercises in North Queensland later this year.
HMAS Adelaide has many intricacies including hallways named after streets from Adelaide among them, with an incredible capability – at full capacity it could hold more than 1400 people, and several military vessels, vehicles and aircraft.
The ship’s commanding officer, Captain Kane Mackey, says HMAS Adelaide has been undertaking mostly humanitarian missions delivering aid to the South Pacific, including Tonga and Fiji in recent years.
“[HMAS] Canberra itself did a Vanuatu assist, so really pushing those capabilities. Disaster relief throughout the South West Pacific is one of those key missions that we like to get after, and the team are pretty proud when they get the chance to get after it,” he said.
Fully stocked, the vessel is able to provide support for two to three months at a time. On board, there’s many amenities for the staff, including four gyms, as well as an on-site hospital and bakery.
“Air traffic controllers are one of the more unique capabilities we have, ” Capt. Mackey added.
“We have three air traffic controllers from the air force, the bakers on board, there’s fitters, turners, I have a pharmacist from the army on board, I’ve also got doctors, nurses – I don’t have any dentists but I have dentist capability.
“It’s a full remit of capabilities and that’s kind of the role of the ADF, the ADF allows people to choose their own journey and come and join us on the ship.”
One of those on board the ship is Amy Howarth, a Communications and Information specialist working in ICT on the system’s classified systems.
“I like what the navy provides me, the challenges we have to overcome working in a disconnected environment and pushing through that,” she said.
Howarth, who moved to Tasmania when she was six years old, joined the navy from Hobart’s Angelsea Barracks at age 18 and has enjoyed a variety of roles and deployments since – one key memory including taking part in Operation Resolute, a border security protection operation.
She says she’s looking forward to seeing her family while she’s down here, as well as meeting people taking advantage of the Open Day – encouraging young women to investigate a career with the navy and the wider ADF.
“Don’t be afraid to be yourself and bring that energy – your energy is needed.”
The HMAS Adelaide open day is sold out – however the ship can be viewed from the Hobart waterfront.
Photo & story by Ebony Abblitt.
