Right back where they started from

Two Darwin-born sailors enjoyed a special homecoming and marked a proud milestone in their respective naval careers, as HMAS Canberra sailed into Darwin Harbour.

For LS Briana Adams and AB Jackson Chisholm, the ship’s arrival was far more than a routine operational port visit – it was a return to the city that shaped them.

LS Adams said growing up in Darwin, surrounded by Defence activity, sparked her interest in serving her country.

“Watching Defence operate in the region inspired me to consider a career in the Navy, and I haven’t looked back,” she said.

Across eight years in uniform, LS Adams has served in HMA Ships Adelaide and Canberra, met His Majesty King Charles III, and supported his stay at Admiralty House in Sydney.

As well as her primary role in the ship, LS Adams also serves as a first responder within Canberra’s Ship’s Medical Emergency Team.

She said returning home aboard one of Australia’s largest warships, knowing her family members were waiting on the wharf, was a moment she would never forget.

For AB Chisholm, the Darwin port visit followed a busy period supporting Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) where the ship’s company of Canberra worked alongside almost 400 United States Marines.

Raised in Darwin, AB Chisholm said he had come a long way from supporting Indigenous students in a 100-strong outback community school to marshalling MV-22 Osprey on Canberra’s flight deck.

“There have been so many ‘pinch-me moments’ since I joined this ship in January and seeing Mum and Dad on the wharf as we sailed in is definitely one of them,” AB Chisholm said.

“From marshalling aircraft to loading them on massive elevators, I feel lucky to do what we do, and I encourage everyone to give it a go – there’s no better way to learn while undertaking top-notch experiences with great people.”

AB Chisholm’s service has also inspired his younger brother to pull on a uniform, albeit a green one, after he recently joined the Army via the ADF Indigenous Development Program.

For LS Adams, the port visit carries added personal significance. She plans to return to Darwin in January 2027 on posting to Fleet Logistics Support Element, where she will continue planning her upcoming wedding.

Exercise Capital Reach, carried out in early August between Townsville and Darwin, was designed to enhance the ADF and US Marine Corps MRF-D’s integrated maritime capability, and demonstrated an enduring joint commitment to regional security and stability.