Occasional Paper 122: Royal Australia Navy 75th Anniversary Celebrations, 1986: Planning

By CMDR Ken Swain AM RAN Retd – Staff Officer RAN 75^th Celebrations 1985/86

I was sitting in my real estate agency in Seaforth on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in July 1985 when I received a phone call from my old boss from HMAS Torrens, now Rear Admiral Martin and Flag Officer Naval Support Command (FONSC) located in Liverpool Street, Sydney. David asked me if I could call on him within a week or two to discuss re-entering the RAN to coordinate the RAN 75th Birthday Celebrations in Sydney to be held through 1986 including the “big show” in October 86. I had previously resigned in mid 1980.

I arranged to meet Admiral Martin a few days later in his office at Level 22 Liverpool St. We discussed the 75^th in broad terms. It was then that I asked him about sponsorship for we would require big dollars for what I had in mind for the Anniversary week. He called his college classmate and now Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Mike Hudson to discuss this aspect. Hudson called Kim Beasley, Minister of Defence. The short answer was a sponsor could say, “The Sponsor Salutes the RAN” but could NOT say “The RAN uses the Sponsors Product” ie. The CBA salutes the RAN but not RAN personnel bank at CBA etc.

Having discussed several other matters such as additional staff and the funding situation I advised Admiral Martin that I would require a couple of weeks to rearrange my real estate business and visit the Clothing Store to acquire new summer and winter uniforms. David agreed with that and I was posted from Shore to Support Command as Staff Officer 75^th Anniversary on 1^st August 1985.

The “state of play” from my point of view in August 1985 was that Navy Office had appointed Captain Ben Dunn to head up preparations for the RAN 75^th Anniversary in Jan 85. Ben had already worked on and had completed, an excellent logo for the 75^th Anniversary. Both he and Fleet Headquarters had already formulated a plan for the week of events in October 86, and Navy Office, via Navy circles, NOT Govt to Govt, had invited ships from UK, USA, NZ, Canada, France, Netherlands, Italy and PNG. This aspect was vitally important as governments or navies require at least two years (preferably more) to ensure either has sufficient time to assign ships for the visit i.e. CINCPACFLT for USN visit or 1^st Sea Lord for RN Ships to visit etc. Also, via the Governor General, CNS requested a member of the Royal Family attend the event, as our Reviewing Officer for the Fleet Review. Prince Philip attended. I visited Ben each month from August to December 85 discussions on progress. In Nov 85 Ben advised me he was going to call on CNS to update him on the 75^th and also to hand in his resignation to CNS on completion.

Ben returned to his office where I waited. He advised me that, he told CNS that Swain had the Sydney end of the planning “by the throat” and therefore I have no problems in handing you my resignation. I said to Ben, “what did he say?”  Ben’s reply indicated that CNS had expressed his severe displeasure in less than appropriate language which cannot be repeated here. A few weeks later Captain David Ruffin was appointed to replace Ben Dunn. I had known David since we both brought the “sweepers” back from UK in 62, myself as Squadron LRO in HMAS Hawk and David as a midshipman in Gull.

I turned my thoughts to staff additions soon after arrival in August 85. Through discussions with Director of Sailors Postings (DSP) within reason, I could seek out retired staff and bring them “back in”. As an Ex-Communications Officer I had no hesitation asking WORS’s Gordon Paris and Max Stokoe to join our band plus a very well-known and experienced ex Admiral’s Secretary, POWTR Rosemary Rodwell. I had just learned to use a computer but Rosemary was an expert. CPOPHOT Steve Dent soon became a vital addition, as did the services of Ross Gillett, Navy Public Relations. I also managed to grab a staff car (due for auction) from Captain Murray Forrest, Chief Staff Officer Administration, FONSC.

So now our mini stage was set. I searched out the NSW Public Relations Budget for 1986 and read, “Based on previous years and notwithstanding the size of the 75^th Anniversary, it is not expected the budget allocated needs to exceed $17,000.” I was mortified at this almost zero budget and took my case to David Martin. He was also shocked and advised, with a smile, ‘then you will have to work hard on seeking sponsorship’.

I have always been an enthusiast and energetic officer. My two great external loves in life have been the city of my birth Sydney and its harbour and my love of the Navy. Since being invited as Staff Officer 75 (SO75), I would have the opportunity to put the Navy and Sydney “on the map”. I was determined that the city should have a birthday, thus to involve its citizens in our birthday. I did NOT want just the Navy to have an exclusive birthday party surrounded by ships and naval officers sharing “pink gins”, but to excite Sydney and stage an event rarely seen on Sydney Harbour.

Luckily for me, Admiral Martin totally agreed with me. He had already completed almost two years as Support Commander and was keen to get on with promoting the Navy to corporate executives within the City of Sydney. Later in 1985, David asked me to accompany him to meet Sir Asher Joel at Asher’s Media Headquarters in Clarence Street. Sir Asher had previously been involved in Australia’s 150^th Anniversary, organised the Pope’s visit to Sydney and staged the opening of the Sydney Opera House in 1974. He was or had been a member of the NSW Parliament for 24 years, so knew his way around Sydney. Admiral Martin and I briefly discussed our plans for the Review and Fireworks on Sydney Harbour the following year. We finished our discussions, with Asher saying to me. “Ken, wherever I am you can have one hour of my time every week, from now until October 1986.”

I arrived at Asher Joel’s office around 10am the following week. I advised him I had written to the Governor General via CNS, asking him if he would take the salute at the Sydney Town Hall for 2,500 marching sailors from nine nations. Asher dived on the phone and said “Hello Ninian, Asher here”.

He advised the GG of my problem and gained the response, “of course I will”. Details were to follow. One down two to go. I then advised him about the Lord Mayor’s involvement. Same response:  “Hello Doug (Sutherland). Have you heard about this BIG event the Navy is holding in October next year? Bigger than anything I have ever done (I loved Asher for saying that). You should put on a Luncheon for the GG and PM and the many Admirals witnessing the March plus… “(“Ken, how many sailors do you want to attend the luncheon? I whispered 300.”) Asher immediately responded to the Lord Mayor, “Five hundred. letter follows”.

Asher then said, “What’s Premier Neville Wran doing for you?” (As a young solicitor, Wran had been Asher’s private legal advisor for 20 plus years). I said I had been trying to see him for over a month. Again, Asher dived onto the phone. “Hello Neville, have you heard how big this Navy 75^th Anniversary is going to be? Bigger than anything I have ever done.” (With a smile to me). Asher put his hand over the phone and said to me “How many do you want at a State Reception at the Opera House?” I immediately said 300. Asher took the phone away from his mouth and said to the Premier, “I think about 500 would satisfy Admiral Martin. Ok, I’ll get David’s Staff Officer, Ken Swain to write and confirm it all.”

Well, I just couldn’t believe anyone could do what Asher had just done. He said, “Well that’s 55 minutes. What else can we get you in the next five minutes?” Sir Asher Joel was true to his word and gave me one hour of his time every week for the next 12 months. Of course, I wandered back to Liverpool Street, told no one except David Martin about Asher’s involvement. David advised me, for my own sake, to keep Asher’s involvement quiet. I then went out to the Chief of Staff’s (COS) Office (CDRE David Thompson) and advised him and others that I had “locked in” the Governor General, Lord Mayor and Premier for the three events. David Martin had a rye smile on his face just as the COS stated, “Just let Ken get on with it”.

From that day on I never had any interference from either Support Command or Fleet Headquarters concerning any matter to do with the 75^th Anniversary. But I did look forward to my weekly mini lunches with Asher Joel every week from then on. This lasted even when I left the Navy and didn’t stop until Asher passed away in 1998. Many may not be aware that Asher Joel was a Lieutenant in the RAN during WWII. At one stage he joined the staff of General MacArthur and travelled with MacArthur from Townsville right to the Philippines during WWII. MacArthur awarded Asher the Bronze Star on his departure from MacArthur’s Staff. I was fascinated with Asher’s WWII stories.

Toward late 1985 a sailor showed me a photograph of a small plane in Victoria towing a small flag. I thought, why not a big flag, the biggest in Australia. I made enquiries of the Fleet Air Arm at NAS Nowra and asked if it would be possible to tow a 66ft x 33ft Australian White Ensign under a Sea King Helicopter from 817 Squadron. They advised they would certainly like to “try it out”. Being an Ex-Communications Officer responsible for flags, I called up the man in charge of the flag budget at Zetland. Prior to asking him the question he said, “Not you again Swain, what do you want this time?” I advised him I wanted to get a “BIG” White Ensign made up at a cost of $6,000. He said that would just about clean out the bunting budget for 85/86 so I would require Admiral Martin’s approval. Approval obtained, so off we went, first in making up the giant flag, then to have NAS Nowra test, then to get approval from Civil Aviation (NSW) to fly it under a helicopter. All this took a couple of months, for the pilot had to get the weights correct (eventually 450kg) to ensure the helicopter, with flag and heavy weights underneath, for stability, could fly in perfect safety, but only over water!

Except for Admiral Martin, I told no one about the flag-flying helicopter which we intended to parade on 26 Jan 1986. To launch the 75^th Anniversary, Fleet Headquarters planned to enter Sydney Harbour with six warships, led by HMAS Hobart with the Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Ian Knox embarked. At the other end of Sydney Harbour, near the bridge, was the Governor General, ready to take the Salute, CNS (Mike Hudson), FONSC (David Martin), Fleet Operations Officer (Commander Roger Cawthorn) and myself located in a small Patrol Boat.

As the six destroyers rounded Bradleys Head the flag-flying helicopter took off from HMAS Watson to sea before turning left into Sydney Heads, then flying up Sydney Harbour with a massive Australian White Ensign in tow. The people watching, the Press and in particular the GG said to CNS “that’s a fantastic sight Mike”. Neither David Martin nor myself knew how CNS would take this flag-flying helo. But on hearing the GG’s remark, CNS turned around and said, “Swain, get six more of those flags made up as soon as possible, three large white ensigns and three ANF’s (Australian National Flag). Thus, the story about large flag-flying helicopters was born. Since 1986 almost all of the world’s navies tow large national or naval flags under helicopters.

Now that we had Australia Day 86 out of the way, it was time to concentrate on the Fleet Review and Fireworks. We had no money to pay for advertising, so it was a case of public speaking on a grand scale. I and some staff telephoned every second Rotary, Probus and other clubs to seek their individual permissions to speak at their regular monthly meetings. In addition, Ross Gillett, Navy Public Relations in Sydney, telephoned ALL the major Sydney Newspapers and TV Stations seeking permission for Ross and/or myself to have an interview with individual editors or CEO’s to discuss the RAN 75^th Anniversary in Sep/Oct that year. I had discussions with the “big boss” of television, Mr Sam Chisholm from Channel 9. Sam was very keen on televising both the Review and Fireworks, but I later had a call from the Fleet Commander, Admiral Ian Knox, saying he had secured Channel 7 as the TV broadcaster for both events. The main thing was the Navy was going to have both the Review and Fireworks televised Nationally. As an aside, Admiral Knox hosted a small luncheon onboard HMAS Stalwart to announce the television coverage. I thoroughly enjoyed the luncheon having sat opposite Channel Seven’s Operations Officer. It turned out he was the brother of my very best friend who grew up in Ryde, like I did.

I gave a 30-minute talk to Sydney Rotary. Over 500 attended at the Sydney Town Hall. On completion of my talk about the 75^th, a man came up to me and handed me his card. He asked me if I could visit him at his office at the top of Martin Place the following Monday and to bring my charts and any information on the Anniversary. I arrived at his office to be met by a gaggle of executives. After introductions, Bill Widerberg asked me to provide him and his executives with a mini presentation of the Navy’s 75^th Anniversary. I really had no idea who Bill Widerberg was, so prior to starting, I asked him what was his position in the Bond Brewing Division. Bill replied, well Ken, Bond Brewing has Swan Brewery in Perth, Toohey’s in Sydney, XXXX in Brisbane and a separate brewery in the USA. I nodded wisely, before Bill said, “Ken, each of those breweries has a General Manager (now CEO).” I nodded again before Bill said, “Well I own all the General Managers, so how can I help you and the Navy?” After I recovered, I laid out our Review and Fireworks plans. I want $250K for Fireworks, $50K for a wrap around in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday 4 October displaying what ships and where they were on Sydney Harbour, $100K for advertising.” Bill looked at his executives, who all nodded so Bill said, “You’ve got it all Ken, on the proviso that Alan Bond and wife “Big Red” would get an invite to the Dinner Party at Tresco for HRH Prince Philip and all visiting Admirals”. I went back to Admiral Martin to advise him of my meeting and the proviso. I was surprised when he did not wish to invite Bond and his wife, saying,” After all Ken, he is only a bloody signwriter”. After much wrangling between CNS and David Martin, I got upset and said, “Its ok Boss, we can cancel the major Fireworks Display over Sydney Harbour”. Bond and “Big Red” got their invitation to the dinner. As another side issue. XXXX Brewing sponsored the major Fireworks Display for the Bicentennial Naval Salute in October 88. McWilliams Wines bottled a 75^th Anniversary Port the same year and the Commonwealth Bank sponsored the Band Concert.

During the planning period I always wanted to have fireworks from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I had written many letters to the Secretary, NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, seeking permission to close the Cahill Expressway (two lanes) for two hours to enable Syd Howard’s fireworks company to place the fireworks on the eastern side of the Harbour Bridge to so that a “Niagara Falls” could be fired from the Bridge. I even got the Bridge workers to give Syd Howard and myself a tour under the Bridge roadway for positioning of fireworks – a frightening experience. I received a polite knock back to each of my request letters. I discussed the matter with Admiral Martin and Bill Widerberg. Bill said he could arrange a Bond Airship (big at the time) to convey David, Bill, Laurie Brereton, Minister for Roads and Traffic and myself up in the air and park it directly in front of the Harbour Bridge. I spoke to the Minister’s Secretary to offer Minister Brereton an invite in the Airship which he gladly accepted. When the Airship was parked immediately in front of the Harbour Bridge, Minister Brereton said “Ken, what do you want?” I told him of our plan to explode fireworks off the Bridge and would require the Cahill Expressway Lanes to be closed for two hours to allow fireworks to be set in position for a Niagara Falls to be fired from the Bridge. We discussed the matter for a few minutes over a champagne or two before Minister Brereton advised “You’ve got my approval so call the Secretary and tell him what you require”. I can’t repeat here what the Secretary RTA said to me when he found out.

I was surprised at how much support there is in Sydney for the Navy. After all, sailors founded Sydney and the first four Governors of NSW, Phillip, Hunter, King and Bligh, were all captains of the Royal Navy. As an example, I called to seek an appointment with the GM of Grace Bros City Store, Mr Horrie Robson. I asked Horrie and his Marketing Manager if they could “dress up” the city store windows with a nautical flavour during the week of the Review. I showed them photographs of the USN “Great White Fleet” visit in 1908 and how the city looked during that visit. After discussion, “No problem Ken, to this and other promotional activities by Grace Bros”. Horrie asked me to join him for a working lunch in his office. He then introduced himself to me:  “Sir, I’m Able Seaman Robson RAN and ex HMAS Napier, Tokyo Bay, 1945”. His and others support was overwhelming.

I was aware the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious was attending the Review and would like to fly off VSTOL aircraft while in Sydney Harbour. David Martin made an appointment for him and I to see the General Manager of the Department of Civil Aviation, NSW, Mr Dick Thompson. To every question I posed he and his assistant just nodded their heads in unison. Even to my request for a 747 Qantas Jumbo Jet plus the largest jets in the TAA and Ansett fleets to join each other and fly up Sydney Harbour at “stall speed” 220kts at 400ft. “‘No problem Ken I’ll give the approval but you will have to ask each airline”. As Dick and I walked to his office door, he said privately to me, “ABSIG Dick Thompson RAN, Fairmiles during WWII”. We remain good friends to this day.

The list of ex naval personnel in senior civil management positions offering support went on and on. I even received an invitation from all Owner/Managers of Rocks hospitality venues and other Sydney Hotels to join them for lunch, for me to provide them with details of the RAN 75^th celebrations. They had become aware that thousands of sailors were about to invade Sydney and each wanted a share of the spoils. My later talk to the Rocks Chamber of Commerce was standing room only. Of course, all this added more interest in the BIG Sydney Harbour event later in 1986. I also visited the Mayors of North Sydney, City of Sydney including King Cross, Woollahra and South Sydney to prepare them for the Review and major Fireworks Display in Oct 1986.

Our small Anniversary management team quickly realised we would require a much larger staff and office space to coordinate the Review and Fireworks. After gaining approval for a further 15 personnel, including a Supply Officer Lieutenant Ian Paltridge to monitor our spending, LCDR Louise Scullion to act as Protocol, Procedures and Invitations Coordinator, which became a huge task. We had grown so fast we were moved to level 20, 185 Liverpool Street to take up a quarter floor with resultant desks, tables, chairs and computers etc.

As we moved further into 1986 it became necessary to hold regular monthly meetings with Naval Attachés and senior staff of countries/navies sending ships to the Anniversary celebrations. In addition, the main players such as NSW Police, NSW Transport, Premiers Department and others also had to attend. Around June of 1986 it was necessary for this group to expand further and relocate to a larger meeting room at HMAS Kuttabul.

Early in 1986 I was also required to attend Fleet Headquarters each week for the Friday Fleet Briefing. This was no problem. However, I certainly got the feeling that the “young turks” at the “sharp end” of the Navy at FHQ thought little of “The old grey men” located in Support Command. Having served in nine, minesweepers, destroyers, frigates and two aircraft carriers, I was well aware of the tensions and “fun and games” which often took place between the Fleet and Support Commands, In  fact, after 24 years, this was my first posting away from the Fleet and FHQ. I was also aware that the Fleet and FHQ staff would do a superb job of organising the Fleet Review, sporting events, ship open to visitor programs etc. My concern was to stage a specular event for the citizens of Sydney. Of course the ships of the Fleet would be the “Actors on the Stage” to excite those citizens, which they did !

As mentioned earlier as things got closer to October 1986, our monthly meetings now at HMAS Kuttabul grew larger and larger. They now included all Canberra representatives of visiting navies, HMA Establishments Kuttabul, Watson, Penguin and Waterhen plus a host of representatives from NSW Government Departments.

About a month prior to the event the 75^th Anniversary team was now close to 60 officers and sailors. We were offered the empty Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo. The choice of this site was excellent as it was extremely spacious and the entire team was now much closer to the action, including having four large destroyers berthed at the finger wharf. I decided to select the top floor as our Operations Centre. Shortly afterwards WO Gordon Paris suggested he fill half the lower floor with Anniversary goods for sale from about 40 Sydney sellers of merchandise such as that found at Paddy’s Market – key rings, table cloths, Australian tourist merchandise etc. This grew into a massive operation, all supervised by WO Paris. He subdivided the entire area into single or double lockable shops and had them all boarded up. He then sold each shop at the price which it cost us to turn the space into 40 shops which would be completely packed with tourist merchandise. Eventually Kim Beasley, Minister for Defence, Admirals Martin and Knox, toured the site, and WO Paris received a well-deserved “Bravo Zulu” from the Minister for Defence for his efforts.

The Operations Centre on the top floor of the Finger Wharf was subdivided as with the lower floor. Apart from my office, complete with Secretary, the other big space was devoted to Operation Dial a Sailor. At little cost to the RAN, but a lot of negotiation, Telstra arranged for 12 Dial a Sailor Lines to be sited in a small area. All 60 anniversary staff were fitted with a phone, as well as the 40 merchants operating underneath. I am sure Telstra got well compensated for their work by charging the 40 merchants for their telephones plus the mostly RN ships alongside the Finger Wharf. Telstra also set up many international direct lines throughout Garden Island and the Finger Wharf. This enabled officers and sailors to phone home to Europe, UK and the USA by using the coin-operated phones provided by Telstra.

WO Max Stokoe was manager of the huge Dial a Sailor Programme. This was operated by six female and six male sailors from Kuttabul between 8am and close at midnight. WO Stokoe often said he was in possession of the biggest “Black Book” in Australia, with thousands of young (and sometimes not so young) ladies wishing to take a sailor home for dinner or be taken out for dinner. Our team also organised dances for RAN and visiting sailors such as the Round House at NSW University and other spaces in the city. Another busy person was LCDR Louise Scullion, in charge of receptions and cocktail parties. All of the visiting ships wanted Louise to provide them with invitation lists of who they should invite to their individual reception or cocktail party. Apart from the obvious Premier, Lord Mayor, CNS, FOCAF and FONSC, the lists were huge. Much of this was obtained from respective embassies, secretaries of FOCAF and FONSC, but addressees and invitations had to be sent out, often by the 75^th Team picking up invitation cards from visiting ships and forwarding them without the knowledge of the ships’ COs. A huge undertaking.

Another big undertaking was that of Garden Island’s Master Attendant, Commander John Moore, RAN. He had to berth 41 ships. Then on the following Friday or Saturday, reposition all ships in the harbour, usually by “cold” move, then have them all back alongside for Ship Open to Visitor Day on the following day. He also had to ensure their individual departures went to schedule. Getting 41 warships out of Sydney Harbour including the battleship USS Missouri and Carrier HMS Illustrious, was no mean feat by the Master Attendant and his Staff.

The ship programs for the week went roughly like this:

Ross Gillett and I had visited editors of most major Sydney newspapers and I made several calls to Channel 7 for discussions about the outside broadcast of the Review and Fireworks. The newspapers and TV stations were completely onside and had the Navy and its visitors on the front page of their newspapers throughout the week. Front-page spreads of the Review and Fireworks appeared in all major newspapers on Sunday 5 October. Naval activities were constantly on TV throughout the week.

During the week prior to ship arrivals, I had been advised by the Prime Minister’s Office that the PM would not be attending the Review and Fireworks. No reason, just the fact! I went home that evening quite upset, for the team and I had worked damn hard for almost a year to ensure the event went off well. I sent the following telegram directly to the Prime Minister from my home telephone:

Dear Sir,

I have just been advised that you will not be attending the Naval Review to be reviewed by HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh on Sydney Harbour on 4 October. If this is so, may I express my personnel disappointment and request you reconsider using the following points of which you may not be aware as the basis for my request. 

1. 41 Allied warships from nine nations will be present.
2. 8,000 visiting and 5,000 Australian sailors will participate
3. Over 5,000 naval veterans will be in attendance.
4. The Harbour foreshores will be lined with in excess of 100,000 Australians (1 million attended).
5. The harbour will be filled with thousands of small craft.
6. The Event will be televised live and be of a magnitude rarely seen in this country.
7. Your non attendance could be seen as a snub to the 15,000 members of the Royal Australian Navy the many ex naval personnel who served this country in War and Peace for 75 years.

I forward this communication, not as a serving Naval Officer but as an Australian citizen who believes his Prime Minister should devote three hours of his valuable time to celebrate the Navy’s 75^th Anniversary Celebrations. May I take the liberty of suggesting the exposure would certainly do you no harm!

Commander K A SWAIN
Co-ordinator RAN 75^th Anniversary Celebrations

The following morning, I handed my telegram to David Martin with an apology that I hoped it would not hurt him. He winced a little and said he would have to discuss with CNS. I got called into David’s Office soon after.

CNS Vice Admiral Hudson wanted to sack me “on the spot”. David, his Naval College classmate, pleaded with CNS not to take such a dramatic step for a day or two. CNS agreed. The same afternoon David again called me in to advise me that the PM Bob Hawke had called CNS to let him know that he had “no idea” (I suspected as much) that the event would be so big and of course he would attend both the Review alongside Prince Philip, and the Reception and Fireworks in the evening. My wife and I attended the Fireworks later that evening. I was requested to speak with the PM who thanked me very much for my telegram. Almost every RAN Rear Admiral and Commodore onboard Stalwart for the Reception came up to me, shook my hand and gave me a wink of congratulations. Their wives were even more congratulatory in their thanks for my telegram.

The Review wasn’t finished yet. A few months earlier I had spoken to the RAAF at their F111 base at Amberly, QLD. I asked if they could “Open the Fireworks”, by flying three F111s up Sydney Harbour from HMAS Watson straight over the Sydney Harbour Bridge with afterburners on to “light up the sky”. They did, to the shock of all onboard Stalwart and the million Sydneysiders and children surrounding the foreshores. I had already changed the “fireworks start” from the usual midnight to 9pm to enable the children to enjoy the spectacle. Immediately following the F111 flight “up the harbour”, we “let go” the “Niagara Falls” from the bridge. It was quite spectacular. Even I was busy igniting fireworks electronically from the bridge wing of Stalwart.

Immediately after the Fireworks, the VIP Party of about 35 including Prince Philip, Governor General, Prime Minister, Premier, CNS, FOCAF and FONSC with wives excluding the Prince, headed off by car to “Tresco”, the home of the Admiral in Sydney since the Navy had vacated Admiralty House, at Kirribilli, in 1901, now the Sydney home of the Governor General of Australia. Tresco is a superb home, with magnificent views of Sydney Harbour but regrettably sold by the Government of the day in the 1990’s. The Naval Photographic section, then headed by WOPHOT Steve Dent (75^th Anniversary Team) took many beautiful photographs of the Review, Fireworks and an excellent shot of Prince Philip, completely relaxed at Tresco with many fellow Admirals.

On Sunday 5^th October 1986, all ships were “Open to Visitors”. Ships were dressed overall with naval flags and looked splendid. As David Martin said of the Review and Fireworks, ‘the only flaw in our program was the failure to foresee the hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders who flocked to the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Garden Island and the Woolloomooloo wharfs to see the ships and meet the men’. We had planned for a full-capacity MCG on Grand Final Day but were overwhelmed by more than double that number. I have viewed many of the newsreel and photographs of the event, they were horrific. Better to cut this short by saying the TV stations and newspapers really did look after the Navy by not printing almost all of the damaging material they could have.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the Italian cruiser “Ciao Guilio”. The ex-Italian immigrants, and now Australian citizens, simply flooded onboard every day. The Italian Ambassador, Consul General and even the Papal Nuncio (Pope’s Ambassador) could not stop Italian/Australians from coming onboard. The ship even held a reception at the Apia Club near Leichhardt. Although it was a “seated affair”, it was standing room only all around the reception Centre. HMS Illustrious and USS Missouri also welcomed huge numbers of visitors, as did every ship.

After the last cocktail party on the last day, my wife and I were completely exhausted by the week’s events. I called into the Operations Centre at the Finger Wharf for a last check on how things were going. All staff were also exhausted but splendidly happy that all events had gone off without a hitch. At about 10.30pm I received a phone call from the CO of the Dutch Squadron Leader Witt de Witte, alongside Garden Island. The Captain asked me kindly if I could pop over for discussions with him. I got the impression these discussions might take a long time so I sent my wife June home in a car with driver. I then drove around Garden Island to where the three Dutch destroyers were berthed alongside. I made my way to the Captain’s cabin. On opening the door to the small dimly lit CO’s Cabin it was was completely full of cigar smoke crammed with the Dutch Ambassador, Consul General and CO’s of all Dutch ships present. The entire cabin smelled heavily of the finest Cognac. After brief introductions the Ambassador advised me the Captain of the Netherlands Tanker/Supply Ship had died of a heart attack a little earlier that evening and could I help with the funeral arrangements. None of us knew if a ship anchored in Sydney Harbour was actually in Australia. Regrettably, my mother had passed away a few months earlier and the funeral arrangements were made by a very large company in Sydney. Around midnight, the Duty Funeral Director advised me the company could only fly the casket and remains overseas under the signature of the Ambassador. He received quite a shock when I said, “I’ll put him on”. He thanked me and stated he regretted the documents must be countersigned by the Consul General. Again, I said, “I’ll put him on”. The Duty Funeral Director said, “Christ, have you got the King of the Netherlands with you as well!!”. On completion I went back to my office and sent an “Immediate” signal to all 41 ships, advising that the Dutch CO would arrive at the end of Garden Island in a casket atop of the Admiral’s Green Barge at 9am. I requested all CO’s be present in No 1 uniforms complete with sword and medals. All 41 CO’s plus TF/TG Admirals formed a Guard of Honour at the end of Garden Island. This was all filmed and forwarded to the deceased wife in the Netherlands.

After the Ship Open to Visitors Program and the final cocktail party by the small French ship (packed) the 75^thAnniversary celebrations were coming to a close. The city’s street sweepers had been through and there was very little debris left lying around. An ABC reporter Prakash Mirhandani called me to advise he had miles and miles of TV film footage all over the ABC floors. He asked if he and the ABC could edit the entire Anniversary week and turn it into a video for sale prior to the visiting ships’ departure. I had no objection and still have my copy. The ABC turned it around in record time and sold thousands of copies to visiting and RAN personnel.

David Martin best sums up the week in his Executive Summary to Navy Office as follows;

Hits:

1. The Navy without outside assistance, coordinated a spectacular series of events rarely seen in this country.
2. The Navy projected to the Australian people in a persuasive way, the diplomatic strength of sea power.
3. The messages of the anti-military and anti- nuclear lobby were put into perspective by the public and were largely ignored.
4. Australians showed public pride in their Navy not experienced since WWII.
5. Visiting personnel, many of them very senior, were impressed by the RAN’s ability to stage a most impressive event. The smooth command and control, coordination and implementation did not go unnoticed by our visitors.
6. Morale and confidence in Fleet and Support Command personnel lifted.
7. An excellent working relationship was established with many State Govt Ministers, senior public servants, Police MSB, RTA, Dept of Aviation, and a wide cross section of State and Local Govt personnel.
8. Perhaps for the first time in many years, Navy put a human face to the corporate sector and public, and showed its professionalism and integrity.
9. New Public Relations methods and attitudes were tried and were successful, which led to positive help and support from the media.
10. Federal, State and Local Government representatives took note and were impressed.
11. The public showed that Defence is an interesting topic; the traditional apathy was swept away.

Misses:

1. The crowd control on Sunday 5 Oct during Ship Open to Visitors was serious and could have been disastrous.