*ANOTHER BOYHOOD DREAM FULFILLED- CLIENTS IN HIGH PLACES

H.M.A.S. MELBOURNE (III) READY FOR LAUNCHING
AT WILLIAMSTOWN VIC

IF YOU EVER GET THE CHANCE GO!

Ever since I was a little boy in World War II, I always thrilled to the sight - usually on Newsreel film ( ask your Grandparents!) - of ships being launched. And I hoped to see one launched one day!

We approach the stocks upon which she stood in waiting.

 I was invited as the representative of Banque Nationale de Paris , together with my Wife Robyn, to attend the launching of H.M.A.S.MELBOURNE on 5th May, 1989 at Williamstown Vic. So we planned a flying day trip from Sydney for the occasion.

All went well, and we hired a car to ensure the minimum delay from and back to the Airport. The day was overcast and as we looked across the Bay to the City it loomed grey-blue. The Dockyard was abuzz with excitement and the various groups of dignitaries, the Naval Officers, Politicians, Representatives of the Dockyard Company and the Dockyard workers themselves were all equally keyed up.

Seeming aloof from the nervous excitement about her,
she waits with austere dignity.

There was much milling around as friends greeted one another and it was noticeable that there was a particular anxiety evident among the Dockyard workers - totally absorbed in their concern that nothing should go wrong.

Close up of the cradle holding the bow section .

In preparation for the great day most of the heavier supports had been removed, the slipways heavily greased and the great check - chains laid out and attached to the hull to ensure that when launched she did not keep on going across the Bay. Finally there remained the trigger mechanism keeping all in place until THE MOMENT.

The Champagne Bottle is swung by Mrs.Hazel Hawke and the ship is named "MELBOURNE "

The trigger is released, and, imperceptibly at first she moves with garhering speed
down the slipway until the weight of the check chains leaves her gently rocking afloat
and waiting for tugs to move her to the fitting-out wharf.


Then there is a quickly-dawning realisation that it is all over, we have witnessed one of the grandest things that man can do the launching of a ship, but it is like an epitome of all human experience - greatly and rightly anticipated, brilliant in its happening but followed by a sense of disappointment that it cannot be continued. We were born for greater things and our hearts will not rest, until they rest in Thee. ( Thanks to St.Aloysius and St.Augustine)


N.B.There are two footnotes to this story :
Firstly, some Liberal Party fellow mistook me for the West Australian former Senator and former Minister for the Navy Fred Chaney - he must have been keenly celebrating because he took quite a bit of convincing that it was just me!
Secondly. at the time I was doing a fair amount of interstate flying and had "Golden Wing"Life Membership with Ansett ( Vanity of Vanities - soon to be swept away). When Robyn and I reached the Tullamarine Terminal we headed for the Golden Wing Lounge - normally a scene of  peace and calm  organisation - only to find that because of widespread industrial strife most flights were cancelled and the Lounge looked like Hanoi as the Americans departed!! We could not get a flight and so had to book in to a Hotel in Melbourne for the night - without baggage- and then get the earliest flight out next day to Sydney. Fortunately it left virtually as the Sun rose so our slightly crumpled "clothes from yesterday" were not as conspicuous as they might have been. It was also fortunate that our three children were old enough to look after themselves and our home in the overnight emergency!
BUT IT WAS WORTHWHILE -TO SEE A SHIP LAUNCHED!!!