Aye, aye captain

by Mel Austin | 23 Feb 2016

Following several previous successful combined outings, the Booragoon (WA) Men's Club invited the Booragoon Ladies Club to join them in a luxury coach tour of HMAS Stirling Naval Base situated on Garden Island in WA.

Members and partners of both clubs boarded Elite Tours' coach on a rather warm 40C day for the trip to the island via Rockingham.

Morning tea was provided in Rockingham before we were joined by two young sailors who were our tour guides on the coach. We then obtained our security clearances and crossed the 4.3km causeway to Garden Island. Many of our participants had memories of excursions to the island on an old vessel called the "Zephyr" many years before the Naval Base was established.

Our first visit was to an elevated position called Cliff Head. The area had first been surveyed by Capt. James Stirling in 1827, who returned the next year with Capt. Fremantle and 450 Swan River free colonists. Garden Island (originally called Bauche Island) was used as a staging post where the group encamped at Cliff Head during the winter of 1829.

We were then taken on a coach tour of the many naval facilities on the island and the ships in harbour. Naturally, for security reasons, no photos are allowed in these areas.

Following this, we visited the Base's museum which contained many interesting artefacts and photos (including one of a ship that I served on in 1957). 

The enthusiasm and dedication shown by our nautical guides were outstanding and they were thanked accordingly. The day concluded with a delicious roast lunch at the old Rockingham Hotel. Despite the weather, we all considered it a very "cool" event indeed.