SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence
Saturday, 19 September 2009
028/2009
HMAS SYDNEY WELCOMED HOME FROM MAJOR
INTERNATIONAL DEPLOYMENT
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Sydney
has returned to her namesake city
today following an international deployment that took her ship’s company to ports
across the globe.
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, joined families and friends to
welcome home the 230 members of the ship’s company from a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for many of the crew.
Senator Faulkner said that while the deployment provided extensive training and
development for the crew individually, the ship itself provided an excellent platform to
promote Australian products and export trade.
“I congratulate the crew of Sydney
on their professionalism during the deployment
which saw the ship undertake a range of tasks in support of Australia’s diplomatic,
international security and defence industry interests in Western Europe, North
America and North Asia,” Senator Faulkner said.
“I am confident that this deployment has provided the ground work to assist
Australian Defence Industry exports as well as a variety of national interests.”
The Adelaide Class frigate sailed from Sydney in April and in-company with HMAS
Ballarat
made her first port visit to Cochin India, where the ships further enhanced
Australia’s close relationship with India.
The Commanding Officer of HMAS
Sydney, Captain Peter Leavy said while the
deployment was an exciting opportunity for members of Sydney to see the globe, the
program kept everyone on board very busy.
“One highlight for the crew was the opportunity to sail past the Statue of Liberty and
berth in the middle of the New York as part of Great White Fleet reciprocal
commemoration events. As part of the commemoration the ship hosted the great-
grandsons of President Theodore Roosevelt and Prime Minister Alfred Deakin,” said
CAPT Leavy.
“The ship’s companies of Sydney and Ballarat will always remember their success in
deterring pirate attacks upon two merchant vessels while transiting the Gulf of Aden,
a tense but significant achievement.”
HMAS Ballarat will return to Sydney on Friday 09 October 2009, after visiting Japan
to take part in 150th
celebrations of Yokohama port and to exercise with Japan’s
Maritime Self Defence Force.
Media contacts:
Colin Campbell (John Faulkner):
02 6277 7600 or 0407 787 181
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
