PHOTO GALLERY
The photographs contained within this section have been kindly supplied by commissioning crew members. Where possible, information pertaining to that photo is provided. However, if you wish to embellish the photo with a "warrie", provide additional photos and / or the identities of the culprits, please forward the material via email to the webmaster for inclusion. This page will be continually updated and will change as more photos come in.
Cheers and enjoy these special memories:
AT WORK
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For some it was a big deal to leave Oz, General's farwewell, Sydney Airport May 1984. |
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First week on Part of Ship, July 1984, Todd Shipyards. From left; Ian "Blue" Peters, Jim "Jimmy" McCall, Barney "PO" Hanson, Rob "General" Grant, John "Flag E" Flage. |
The indomitable "TOPS" Part of Ship - Winner of the 1984 "Best Snowman at Show" award1984. From Left: Barney Hanson, Harry Harrison (kneeling) Mac McHue, Trigger Tregonning, Eggy, Brett Mathews.
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Tell me I look good in blue?... The first, and possibly the last, RP let loose on the flghtdeck. Allan "Scooze" Grubb. Flightdeck training Todd Shipyards Aug 1984.
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| Commissioning Day, Greg Norman, Butch Cassidy (AUSTFASO), Bert Fisher and Jim Peters enjoy the day. Photo curtosy of Butch Cassidy |  |
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| 32nd Street Naval Base, San Diego 1984. On the flightdeck are Ian Tusti, Red Setter, Barney Hanson and Peter Day, at least two are having fun. |
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Bruce Kyle and Glyn Stringer take in the sun, Todd Seattle Shipyards. |
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AT PLAY We had a fantastic sporting life during the process of getting DARWIN ready for return to Australia. The ship, in its travels up and down the West Coast, enabled the crew to play many sports, including; Soccer, Rugby, Cricket, Volleyball and Darts... Even the HASH Club got a few runs in. The Navigator, LCDR Kit Morgan, was Captain , Coach, Trainer, Manager and best looking hooker of our extremely succesful Rugby side. We played were ever Kit could scrounge up a game, from Vancouver to San Diego and everywhere in between. We had the most expensive club bus going, what it lacked in wheels it made up for in tonnage. We were succesful in 27 of our 29 games, not counting the San Francisco Rugby Fest, where we still managed to win the "Best Dressed Team"! |
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| So keen were the yanks on swapping memorabilia at the after game parties that an official "HMAS DARWIN RFC" T-shirt was created. Very rare now but still highly prized among ra-ra supporters world wide |
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| One of the toughest games on tour was against Vancouver Trojans in 1985, after a year of easy victories we were thumped in our first encounter. On our return a few months later, we weren't so complacent and gave a little pay back. In this first game picture, the piggies were all most there, urged on by the scrum half Peter Day. Unfortunately, the ref (our own Rocky Collins) couldn't see the ball, can you... Looks good to me! |
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| The game is nothing without supporters and the DARWIN RFC were well cheered at every game. Here, Tony Pincott and Red Setter use some Junior Sailor ingenuity to keep dry during our clash with HMNZS CANTEBURY at Esquimolt, Canada in 1985. We won that one too. |
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Glen Bloomfield, a lttle dehydrated from the game, replaces those all important fluids at the after game smokie. The coach looks on approvingly. No gatorade in those days... |
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Straight to the point... |
| It wasn't all work, work, work for "Jack" on Ohh Four. Various festive activities were organised in order to break up longer periods at sea and to keep the lads out of trouble. Events, that today are frowned upon, were conducted with a minimum of fuss and hefty doses of humour. One such event was the Miss Darwin contest. For those not present and those that have chosen to forget, I give you the first - and arguably the best - Miss DARWIN. Hard luck Shirl... |
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ON THE HOME FRONT Accompanied members of DARWIN's crew were afforded private accomodation in and around Seattle. A great many were advised (ordered) to take up residence at Town Square Condominiums in Bellevue, 20 km East of the city. The numbers of Navy families residing within the buildings resulted in the nickname HMAS Town Square and the standing joke of who would be duty QM for the weekend. The condominiums pool facility became a mustering point for party goers over the warm weekends. During winter, rotational fireside parties were the norm. |
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| I couldn't help but visit when I was on exchange in 1999. The only thing that has changed is the paint scheme. Below is your typical "Condo" wing and yes, its still raining... |
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Sport is a big part of a sailors life, among other things... Brush Paynter Flash Lavis and Ian Doherty (AUSTFASO) compare helmets.Photo curtosy Butch Cassidy |
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Just a quick insight into those wacky carefree days. More photos and stories are keenly sought. To be continued...
Disclaimer - All photographs have been placed on this site with good intent. If you feel you do not wish to be displayed in any manner on this site please inform the webmaster