NAVY PEOPLE: GALLIPOLI is by far the furthest i have travelled

This ANZAC Day local residents Margaret and Evan Cunningham will have something special to watch on TV.

Their son Luke, an Able Seaman in the Royal Australian Navy, will be part of the official Australia’s Federation Guard contingent at ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli.

The ceremony will be televised later in the day, as it happens live at dawn in Turkey.

“There’s been a Navy tradition in the family,” said Luke.

ANZAC DAY – HMAS SUCCESS

HMAS Success (Commander Ainsley Morthorpe CSM RAN) sailors joined with the crews of Ships Te Mana and Te Kaha, as well as the crew of HMS Richmond at a Dawn Service at the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

Kranji War Cemetery is the final resting place for Allied soldiers who perished during the Battle of Singapore and the subsequent Japanese occupation of the island from 1942-1945 and in other parts of Southeast Asia during World War II.

The ceremony was also attended by the Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore AM CSC RAN. It was a moving experience for all to watch the tropical sunrise over the surrounding graves of over 4,460 men.

CHIEF OF NAVY CALLS FLEET WIDE MEETING TO DISCUSS HMAS SUCCESS INQUIRY

Navy members from all over Australia have workshopped today to discuss the outcomes of the recent inquiry into unacceptable behaviour on board HMAS Success.

“Leadership Day” gatherings were coordinated by the commanding officers of all Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships and establishments. Members were provided a 15 minute video in which Vice Admiral Russ Crane outlined the findings and gave direction on how Navy’s culture must change to ensure such behaviour is not repeated.

“This report cuts to the heart of who we are as individuals as well as what we stand for as an organisation,” Vice Admiral Crane said. “All of us must bear some of the responsibility to fix this.”

OUTCOMES OF HMAS SUCCESS COI

Part one of the report of the HMAS Success Commission of Inquiry has been released by the Minister for Defence.

This report concerns alleged incidents of unacceptable behaviour involving members of the Ship’s Company of HMASSuccess between March and May 2009 and subsequent response to incidents.

The outcomes of this inquiry are disturbing and must be taken seriously by us all. It is clear from the report there were a number of members of the Ship’s Company in HMAS Success during its South East Asian deployment in 2009 who behaved in a manner which is clearly contrary to our values and signature behaviours.