HMAS Cairns will open its doors to the public for the first time in a decade
HMAS Cairns will open its doors to the public for the first time in a decade as the navy looks to lure in more recruits from the Far North. Meet the sailors, and see all the details.
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HMAS Cairns, home base for both the oldest and newest ships in the Australian navy, will open its doors for the first time in a decade on Saturday.
Navy’s Evolved Cape-class patrol boat Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Peron, was officially welcomed to its home port of Cairns in November, 2022.
The 58-metre aluminium monohull vessel will be used in constabulary operations,
primarily to the north of Australia, enforcing Australian sovereign immigration and
fisheries laws.
She is the second of six Cape-class vessels that will ultimately be based at HMAS
Cairns.
They will be maintained at the Regional Maintenance Centre North East in Cairns.
Opened in January 2022, the Regional Maintenance Centre brings together industry
and Defence to support and sustain Navy’s growing Far North Queensland fleet.
Cape Peron Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Webb said his
ship’s company was ready for operational tasking.
“The entire crew has worked hard to get to this point and we’re all eager to put our
extensive training into action,” Lieutenant Commander Webb said.
Able Seaman Boatswains Mate Daniel Shearsmith said Cape Peron was his first sea
posting and he was looking forward to being part of the team.
Able Seaman Shearsmith said he feels lucky to have been posted to the newest
vessel in the fleet.
“I also feel very fortunate to have been posted back to my home region as I grew up
in Edmonton and it’s great to be close to my family and friends,” Able Seaman
Shearsmith said.
“I’m really looking forward to progressing my career and honing my seamanship
skills, particularly in the various boarding operations I’ll be involved in.”
At the opposite end of the age spectrum is HMAS Shepparton II, commissioned on
24 January 1990.
HMAS Shepparton II, together with HMAS Benalla, is a Paluma-class survey motor
launch with a catamaran hull designed for hydrographic survey operations in the
shallow waters of northern Australia.
As the oldest ship in the fleet, she now holds the First Lady of the Fleet plaque which
is actually made up of pieces from previously decommissioned ships.
The voice pipe and base are from HMAS Sydney IV, the border from
HMAS Gladstone and the corner pieces from HMAS Duchess.
The plaque also features an image of Nancy Bentley, from Tasmania, who is
recognised as being the first female to serve in the navy.
The story goes that in 1920, six-year-old Nancy was bitten by a snake and was in
urgent need of medical treatment.
Looking for help, her father rowed her to HMAS Sydney I at anchor off Port Arthur.
At the time, medical treatment in the navy was reserved for members of the ship’s
company, so the commanding officer of Sydney ordered that Nancy be formally
enlisted in the RAN so she could receive medical care.
HMAS Cairns is home port for the ADV Cape Fourcroy, ADV Cape Inscription, ADV Cape Otway, ADV Cape Peron, HMAS Flinders, HMAS Leeuwin, HMAS Melville, HMAS Shepparton (II), and the HMAS Benalla (II).
HMAS Cairns primary responsibility is to provide maintenance, logistic and
administrative support for Cairns based units listed below. HMAS Cairns also
provides refit and training support for neighbouring Pacific Island nations (Pacific
Class Patrol Boats).
Far North mariner honoured in Australia Day Awards
Few technical trainers can boast a 100 per cent success rate, but a former Cape-class patrol boat chief engineer was commended this Australia Day for doing just that.
Chief Petty Officer Nathan Byast received an Order of Australia Medal for developing and implementing a process to train the next generation of patrol boat engineers while posted to Australian Defence Vessel Cape Inscription.
Over three years, he personally took on and qualified more than 50 marine technicians across all operator qualifications, a greater number than any other patrol boat in North Queensland.
All trainees went on to gain their operator qualification without any loss to operational capability, significantly contributing to readying the future work force – in particular Cape-class patrol boats and evolved Cape-class patrol boats.
Chief Petty Officer Byast said when he joined Cape Inscription, there wasn’t a clearly defined process to qualify marine technicians in good time and to a high standard in both electrical and diesel trades.
He developed a training package that included familiarisation, hands-on learning, written and verbal examinations.
“I was really excited to train the people who were going to replace the current patrol boat engineering workforce and knowing they were at a high standard,” Chief Petty Officer Byast said.
“The feedback I got was that these sailors were surprised at how simple the process can be when given clear expectations and guidance on what was required.”
As well as maintaining the complex engineering systems on the patrol boat, Chief Petty Officer Byast said teaching sailors had become part of his daily life and a part from which he gained great satisfaction.
He was humbled to learn he received a commendation.
“To be recognised by my superiors and peers among the engineering community is just unreal,” he said.
New Far North navy members
Name and Rank: AB Lachlan Johnston
Age: 19
Hometown: Mackay, Qld
Current role: Warehouse Operator/ Front Desk – Customer Service
What I love about navy: The opportunities that I can get in Defence that are unique to this working environment. Additionally, the health care and dental support.
Name and Rank: AB Tyla Alderson
Age: 25
Hometown: Burra
Current role: Gunners Yeoman HMAS Cairns Armoury
What I love about navy: The thing I love most about the navy are the people you get to meet and the lifelong friendships you make. No matter where I get posted to I know I’ll have friends and people I can rely on. The friendships you get in the navy or in the defence force are for life. Being in the navy has also given me the opportunity to travel abroad and more importantly explore our own country.
Name and Rank: AB Lauren Pugsley
Age: 20
Hometown: Newcastle, New South Wales
Current role: Maritime Personnel Operator
What I love about navy: The opportunities available, I enlisted as a Gap Year Sailor in 2020 and was afforded the opportunity to sail with ADV Cape Fourcroy on Operation Resolute, I have participated in multiple sporting events and expeditions funded by navy. I am fortunate enough to be completing the Kokoda Trek with navy in April 23.
Name and Rank: Leading Seaman Boatswains Mate Joseph Canning
Age: 28
Hometown: Caboolture, Qld
Current role: Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator
What I love about navy: You will form lifelong friends, No matter what section you work in and what ship you post to, the navy provides you with the opportunity to make lifelong friends. The sailors around you will become your family, and will always be there to have your back. You are a team. A family away from home.
Welcome to HMAS Cairns
Welcome to the Australian navy Base HMAS Cairns.
As Commanding Officer, it is my privilege and honour to be able to open the base to the Cairns community to see what we do behind the gate.
HMAS Cairns is home to almost 1000 Defence and civilian personnel. Our primary responsibility to provide maintenance, logistic and administrative support for Cairns-based Fleet units, including seven commissioned warships.
HMAS Cairns also provides refit and training support for neighbouring Pacific Island Nations Patrol Boats.
Often out of the spotlight, navy people diligently and humbly serve the people of Australia. With diverse skills, backgrounds and talents – our people are our competitive edge.
We also build great relationships, partnering with industry and other government agencies as we train and prepare to respond to threats.
Defence has a long and proud history in the far north. Cairns was a major staging area for US, Australian and allied forces during World War II.
The military occupied almost every building in Cairns at the time. They also undertook major infrastructure works including extending and sealing roads, and building railways and ports that are still in use today.
A naval base was originally established as a patrol boat facility in Cairns in 1971, before being commissioned as HMAS Cairns in 1974. The base took up its present location on the Northern shore of Trinity Inlet in 1982.
We continue to grow and evolve. Soon we will commence our next major upgrade — a $300m wharf redevelopment and associated works. This is to accommodate Navy’s future fleet of patrol boats. An exciting new chapter that will enhance the Navy’s capacity to protect our borders for the years to come.
We look forward to welcoming the Cairns community on to base to show everyone what we do and as a thank you for their great support.
We will also have displays and information at the Lagoon Plaza on the Esplanade featuring navy Cadets, the navy Indigenous Development Program and Defence Force Recruiting.
Our thanks go out to Defence community organisations, the RSL, Legacy, Cairns Council and others who have pitched in to make today a reality.
Commander Alfonso Santos
Commanding Officer HMAS Cairns
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