Warship HMAS Anzac to host open day in ceremonial home port of Albany for Maritime Festival

Kasey GrattonAlbany Advertiser
Camera IconHMAS Anzac. Credit: LSIS Leo Baumgartner/Royal Australian Navy

Albany residents will have the rare chance to go inside an operational warship at the weekend when the crew of HMAS Anzac holds an open day in Albany — its ceremonial home port — as part of the Maritime Festival.

HMAS Anzac will arrive in Albany on Friday with about 170 crew members, ahead of an open day for the community on Sunday.

Royal Australian Navy Commander David McPherson said visitors would be able to explore the Anzac Class frigate, including operational and accommodation areas.

“We are trying to give a unique insight into what naval life is like, and an opportunity which may not come very often for people to visit an operationally available and ready warship,” he said.

Camera IconHMAS Anzac fires her 5-inch naval gun while conducting a high sea firing serial during BERSAMA GOLD 21. *** Local Caption *** Australia joined Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) nations, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and New Zealand for Exercise BERSAMA GOLD 21 (BG21) from 5 October 2021. During BG21, the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) will be marked. Conducted across Singapore, Malaysia and parts of the South China Sea, Australias involvement in the exercise includes HMA Ships Canberra and Anzac, a P-8A Poseidon and F/A-18F Super Hornets. This years exercise will involve contactless air and maritime scenarios and a virtual land-focused seminar. The ADF is complying with state and territory COVID-19 measures to ensure the safety of exercise participants, including compliance with international entry requirements. Credit: LSIS Leo Baumgartner/Royal Australian Navy
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HMAS Anzac has recently completed a major maintenance cycle at Fleet Base West in Rockingham, after it spent much of 2021 deployed throughout South-East Asia.

Many of HMAS Anzac’s crew members commemorated Anzac Day in Albany earlier this year, although the ship could not come with them.

However, Cdr McPherson said Albany would be the first port visit for about 40 of the ship’s crew — a special occasion due to Albany’s history as the departure point for Anzac soldiers during World War I.

“(Albany) is the home of the Anzacs, and we are proud to be on HMAS Anzac,” Cdr McPherson said.

Camera IconCommander David McPherson Credit: LSIS Ronnie Baltoft/RegionalHUB

“Albany is our ceremonial home port, so we are utilising this opportunity with the allowance of our program to come and bring the ship back to its ceremonial home port for a visit, which is the first time in over five years.”

After its trip to Albany, HMAS Anzac will return to Fleet Base West where it will undergo external evaluation, before it is redeployed in October.

City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said welcoming the ship to Albany would be an honour.

“The City’s Maritime Festival is about celebrating everything maritime in Albany which includes our naval forces,” he said.

Camera IconHMAS Anzac marched down York Street. Credit: Laurie Benson

“Few of us have experienced what it is like to be inside a navy warship or understand the life of a navy crew member, so this is a fantastic opportunity to get a valuable insight.”

HMAS Anzac will be open to the public from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday, with children welcome on board.

Access will be limited to shuttle bus transfers, scheduled to run from Albany Boatshed to HMAS Anzac every 15 minutes from 12.40pm, with the last bus leaving at 3.35pm.

Bookings are essential — Visit bit.ly/3cmsXFq.

Camera IconHMAS Anzac returns to Garden Island Naval Base. Simon Santi The West Australian Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

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