Sydney Continues Its Proud Tradition Of Naval-gazing

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday April 13, 2001

Mike Carlton

Anchors aweigh, and all that. Sydney's love affair with ships and the sea began when Arthur Phillip sailed the First Fleet through the Heads in 1788 and discovered ``the finest harbour in the world, in which 1,000 sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security".

We have been a salty city ever since, demonstrated yet again by the tens of thousands who thronged to see the giant American carrier USS Constellation at Woolloomooloo last week. Even for Sydney, the turnout was truly astonishing.

But wait, there's more. In October, the RAN will be staging a spit'n'polish Federation review, the biggest show on the harbour since that memorable Bicentennial bash in 1988.

The Navy's Maritime Commander, Rear-Admiral Geoff Smith, hosted a slap-up media dinner on the destroyer HMAS Brisbane last Wednesday to reveal the details. For almost a week, at least 10 different navies will be on display from the Harbour Bridge to Bradleys Head, along with practically everything we have that floats or flies.

Sadly, it will be Brisbane's farewell appearance and the close of a naval era. The last of the RAN's steam-driven ships, she'll be off to mothballs after the review.