Former Fahan student Phillipa Hay to lead 2500 naval troops in exercise

As a child, Phillipa Hay was fearless, adventurous and independent. Now, the former Fahan School student has created history by rising up the ranks of the Royal Australian Navy to command a multinational naval force. READ HER INCREDIBLE STORY >>

AS A child, Phillipa Hay was fearless, adventurous and independent.

Now, the former Fahan School student has created history by rising up the ranks of the Royal Australian Navy to command a multinational naval force in complex warfighting exercises off the United States coast.

Captain Hay is the first Australian woman to be appointed to lead the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise and the first non-US military woman in the role since its 1971 inception.

She is commanding more than 2500 sailors and officers across 11 warships from Australia, Japan, Canada, US, France and the Philippines.

Parents Picton and Christina Hay, who live at Kettering, are brimming with pride at their daughter’s achievements.

Royal Australian Navy Task Group 637 Commanding Officer, Commander Phillipa Hay, inspects the Vanuatu Police Mobile Force Guard during a welcoming ceremony at Lapetasi Wharf, Port Vila, Vanuatu.

“We think it’s great. She’s just the one to look after us I think,’’ Mrs Hay said.

“She is fearless and fair, certainly a team player. She has always been reliable and we feel confident she would always do her best for her colleagues and the nation.”

Mrs Hay said her daughter showed an intrepid character growing up and was confident in her own abilities.

She was a keen hockey player, and also competed in tennis, swimming and cross country running, along with performances in two big stage shows Oliver and Annie in younger years.

But it was her love of the water that was borne from a young age, including when the family sailed to London when Phillipa was 10.

Executive Officer HMAS Coonawarra, Lieutenant Commander Phillipa Hay, RAN, talks about her personal experience as a female in the Royal Australian Navy to a group of young Territorian women, who are looking into a career within the Australian Defence Force through the Defence Work Experience Program.

“We knew at that time she would be a good navy officer,’’ she said.

Mrs Hay told how her daughter built up significant skills and knowledge while aboard the family’s yacht, which was called Beyond.

“Her time on Beyond has served her well, as on the warships apparently she can detect when the engine is not running smoothly,’’ she said.

“She is so sensitive to what is going on.”

Mrs Hay said when their yacht hit a whale, about 200 miles from Durban, damage was sustained to some planks and there was a substantial amount of water squirting in.

“We hurriedly had to move everything from the forecastle to get the bow well clear of the water so that Picton, her father could repair the damage from the inside,’’ she said.

Former Fahan School student Phillipa Hay. Picture: SUPPLIED

Former Fahan School student Phillipa Hay. Picture: SUPPLIED

“This took a few hours, and all that time Phillipa was head down in the stern of the boat, in a most comfortable position, hand pumping getting the water out of the hull.

“From 6pm until 9.30pm we were so occupied that we forgot about her. When we had cleaned up and put things back into place so we could move around the cabin, and could think about eating our evening meal, poor little Phillipa was still pumping steadily, with blisters covering the palms of her hands.

“Not a sound had been heard from her for the 3½ hours.”

Former Fahan School student Phillipa Hay. Picture: SUPPLIED

Former Fahan School student Phillipa Hay. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mrs Hay said her daughter explored the Defence Force as a career when they visited Fahan when she was in Year 11 and later secured a scholarship to the Defence Force Academy.

Captain Hay, a mother-of-three, had already achieved a number of “firsts”, including being the first female to qualify as a naval ship’s diver and first female on an Australian “minor war vessel training group”.

“I hope my journey serves as an inspiration to all who wish to serve,” Captain Hay said.

“In the Royal Australian Navy, there are no limitations.

“We pride ourselves on richness of diversity and being a reflection of the Australian community. I look around and see only proud sailors and officers serving the RAN and Australia.”

The biennial RIMPAC exercise provides critical training for allied nations, combining land, air and sea battle groups to help maintain an open Indo-Pacific region.