The Canberra Festival was launched aboard a guided-missile frigate, The Canberra Times reported on this day 34 years ago today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The festival's production manager, Kim Stone, was transported navy style from HMAS Canberra to HMAS Darwin, hauled across by a rope and pulley.
This special festival opening celebrated three anniversaries: Canberra's 73rd birthday, the navy's 75th birthday and HMAS Canberra's fifth birthday.
Captain Bob Spencer said the festival opening was a good opportunity to demonstrate what the taxpayers got for their money, and to show how professional and capable Australian seamen were.
After the ceremony, Captain Spencer's crew began an impressive and demanding set of manoeuvres, which were performed precisely at the scheduled time without visible hitches.
The exercises demonstrated how military craft are co-ordinated. The Squirrel helicopters act as scouts and help in targeting by reporting craft positions. Submarines and ships hold the defensive-offensive capacity, and ships provide a carrier service. The crew of HMAS Canberra was set to visit Canberra to take part in further Canberra Festival activities.
