Top End students take it all in

Three students from Arnhem Land travelled more than 400 kilometres to have the opportunity of a lifetime on board HMAS Cape Pillar.

After an introduction from the patrol boat crew and a safety briefing, CO Cape Pillar LCDR Ben Couch welcomed Harvey Malibirr and Teshaun Wanybarrnga, from Ramingining School, and Keira Badarr, from Milingimbi School, on board.

“This is a unique opportunity to explore this vessel up close and get a glimpse into the daily life of RAN personnel and just see what life is like at sea,” LCDR Couch said.

The students visited the ship’s armoury and mounted weapon systems, followed by the medical bay and gym, to understand how the 31-person crew live, eat and sleep.

Working within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, the patrol boats contribute to border security, surveillance, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement.

“The RAN patrol boat force makes a substantial contribution to Australia’s national maritime security, from illegal fishing to counter-narcotics. Our community makes a real difference,” LCDR Couch said.

“As a small example, illegal fishing has seen Australia’s sea-cucumber numbers fished to dangerously low levels. A loss of even one small organism has serious impacts to the health of Australia’s maritime ecosystem.

“They’re considered a delicacy in some cultures and fetch a good price on the black market, but as non-migrating species, if one area is depleted, they don’t readily recover and we risk losing them forever.”

On the bridge, the students saw the navigation team drive the ship off the wharf without the assistance of tugs, highlighting how manoeuvrable patrol boats are for quick-response missions close to shore.

In the mixed-messing dining room, XO Cape Pillar LEUT Will Payne showed the students a photo board of the experiences the crew have had so far.

Some of the printed photographs included local wildlife, sailors in the small boat, an outing exploring the wreck of a WWII C-53 plane in the remote Kimberley, a swim in the ocean and physical training selfies.

“When we’re in the Kimberley Marine Park, sometimes you think to yourself, people pay thousands of dollars to cruise these waters, and here I am getting paid to do it,” LEUT Payne said.

The exclusive visit was eye opening for the students, as many Australians rarely have the chance to see the inside of a patrol boat unless they are family members or in the Navy.

While stretching their sea legs, the students were taken on two RHIB rides.

SGT Haslina Shaw, of Defence Force Recruiting, organised the tour.

“This was an experience the students will never forget,” SGT Shaw said.

“Through ship tours and experiences like this, we want to inspire the next generation to join the ADF and study for free, on the job getting a trade or through a degree at ADFA.”