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Ballarat is the hometown of HMAS Ballarat crew member Angus Phasey, a maritime logistics support operations sailor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first joined the navy four years ago, I didn\u2019t even know there was a ship called the HMAS Ballarat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce I joined and learned a bit of history about the ship, it\u2019s been something I\u2019ve been fighting to get on. It took me three-and-a-half years to get on, but I\u2019m finally here.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been able to travel the world. I\u2019ve been to Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia, and I\u2019ve loved every minute of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been such an honour to represent Ballarat on the ship. I wouldn\u2019t change my career for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat RSL president Alan Douglass said the sub-branch has always been supported by the navy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have supplied guest speakers, and marched in the Anzac Day parade,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2017, they led the parade, and I have invited them, if they are able to, to march and lead again in the near future.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt depends where they\u2019re posted, but the commander has accepted my invitation and hopefully we can get them back again to lead the march soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
The crew of HMAS Ballarat also visited regional Victorian navy cadet units in Bendigo and on the Mornington Peninsula.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FOR the first time in six years, the Royal Australian Navy\u2019s HMAS Ballarat crew has returned to their namesake city for a visit. With leadership from Commander Benjamin Dalton, the sailors held a memorial service and wreath-laying at the Ballarat Cenotaph on Thursday, contributed to an Australian Defence Force careers event, and took some time […]<\/p>\n