UOW plaque travels the high seas on board HMAS Wollongong

Jun 26, 2007

The newly-commissioned RAN Patrol Boat, HMAS Wollongong, will have a constant reminder of its close ties with the University of Wollongong as it begins its life on the high seas.

A plaque bearing the University's congratulations was officially presented to the ship's captain, Lt-Commander Mark Taylor, by the RAN's former Deputy Officer in Charge Fleet Condition Assessment (Patrol Boat Fleet) and current Manager of Maintenance and Energy at UOW, Mr Chris Hewitt. Mr Hewitt was representing UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, at the presentation ceremony.

In turn, Lt-Commander Taylor presented Mr Hewitt with a rare book about Australian defence force personnel serving in the Cairns area during World War II called "I Didn't Know That" by the author Vera Bradley.

Lt-Commander Taylor said he had a huge regard for the University and highlighted that earlier in his life he had planned becoming a student at UOW before opting to join the Navy.

Taking part in the presentation ceremony from UOW were Principal Research Fellow with ANCORS (Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security) and retired one-star Naval Commodore Jack McCaffrie; ANCORS Research Fellow, Dr Chris Rahman; and overseas naval personnel who are undertaking masters studies with ANCORS. Jack McCaffrie, who is undertaking a PhD with ANCORS, travelled specially from Canberra for the presentation ceremony.

Lt-Commander Taylor took the UOW visitors on an extensive tour of the state-of-the-art Patrol Boat which only arrived in Wollongong at the weekend following her commissioning in Sydney.

HMAS Wollongong, with its crew of 22, will be stationed in Cairns and used to intercept and apprehend vessels, while also performing a surveillance role.

An open day event will be held on board HMAS Wollongong this Saturday at Port Kembla before the 56.8 metre long Patrol Boat heads north to Cairns. The event was to have been last weekend but had to be rescheduled for this Saturday afternoon (30 June).