On This Day
1976-1999 > Post Vietnam
On This Day - 1976-1999
- April 14, 1989
The Governor General and Commander in Chief, the Honourable Bill Hayden, AC, presented the new Queen’s Colour to the Australian Fleet at the Fleet Base, Sydney.
- April 1, 1989
HMAS Whyalla II grounded off Hamilton Island prior to the start of the island’s annual yacht racing carnival, necessitating a two week stay in dockyard hands to repair both propellers.
- February 27, 1989
The survey motor launch HMAS PALUMA, was commissioned.
- February 3, 1989
The Premier of WA, Mr. Peter Dowding, officially opened the ship-lift facility at Jervoise Bay. This site became the RAN’s repair base in the west.
- February 1, 1989
The Lee Enfield .303 rifle completed a century of service. It was last used in the RAN on an official occasion at the Anzac Day Ceremony in Canberra in 1985.
- January 20, 1989
Mr. Kim Beazley, Minister for Defence, announced the basing of patrol boats at a forward base at Port Hedland, WA. This never actually occurred and within ten years all patrol boats were permanently in Darwin or Cairns.
- January 3, 1989
The RAN won the Australian Tasar Sailing Championship held at Port Stephens.
- December 1, 1988
Three RAN cooks were part of the Australian Defence Force, (ADF), team to compete in the Culinary Olympics held in Frankfurt, West Germany. They were:
- PO Cook Murray McAuliffe,
- PO Cook Tom Clarke, and
- LS Cook Bill Matthews.
The ADF team won several medals in this competition.
- November 21, 1988
Principal Anglican Naval Chaplain John Jones, retired after 22 years service in the RAN, to become Rector of Sydney’s historic St. Philip’s Church.
- November 8, 1988
RAN Spokesman, CDRE Tim Cox, denied a naval vessel had been involved in the running down and sinking of the 50 ton steel yacht PATANELA. The only naval unit to pass through Sydney Heads was HMAS OTWAY, (submarine), seven hours after the yacht was reported missing.
- November 3, 1988
The $4.4 million Shark Point degaussing range at Sydney was officially accepted by the RAN.
- October 3, 1988
HRH, the Duke of Edinburgh, unveiled the HMAS PARRAMATTA Memorial at the northern extremity of Garden Island, Sydney.
- October 1, 1988
The International Bicentennial Fleet, with over 50 warships from 16 nations moored in Sydney Harbour, was reviewed by the Duke and Duchess of York, embarked in HMAS COOK, (oceanographic research vessel). An estimated 2 million people witnessed the historic review.
- September 27, 1988
HMS ARK ROYAL, (aircraft carrier), arrived at Sydney to participate in the Bicentennial Celebrations.
- September 26, 1988
One of the largest fleets to operate in Australian waters, more than thirty warships, led by the USS New Jersey, (battleship), made a ceremonial entry into Sydney Harbour.
- September 23, 1988
The first National Submarine Reunion was held at HMAS PLATYPUS, (submarine base), Sydney
- September 21, 1988
The Australian Submarine Museum was opened at HMAS PLATYPUS, (submarine base),in Sydney.
- July 22, 1988
RADM Peter Sinclair directed the Combined Exercise Agreement Force of RIMPAC 88, from Pearl Harbour. The force was composed of 45 ships, 200 aircraft and 50,000 sailors, airmen and marines.
- June 10, 1988
Mrs. Sheila Kenworthy, (nee McClemans), CMG, OBE, first Director of the WRANS died in Perth, WA.
- June 2, 1988
Cairns Port Division, of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, was established under CMDR I. W. Hall, RANR. The Division was established to operate HMAS TARAKAN, (landing craft heavy), and provide support to Fleet units based on Cairns.
- May 19, 1988
Wreckage from a RAN Sea Venom aircraft, which crashed into the sea off Nowra on 20 May, 1959 was recovered by a CSIRO research vessel.
- May 11, 1988
While on exchange with the Royal Navy, LCDR N. Wallace, RAN, was appointed in command of HMS OLYMPUS, (submarine).
- February 21, 1988
HMAS JERVIS BAY, (training ship), rescued 12 Korean fishermen from a raft in the Cook Strait, (New Zealand).Their vessel, the DONG CHANG, with a crew of 15, sank in heavy seas after it’s engine had failed. A search for the remaining three crewmen over the next 24 hours was unsuccessful.
- February 19, 1988
The office of Hydrographer in the RAN was upgraded from Captain to Commodore.
- February 10, 1988
The ex lighthouse tender MV LUMEN, was renamed MSA BROLGA, (auxiliary minesweeper), and commenced service in the RAN.