HMAS WARRAMUNGA Visit

After months of preparation HMAS WARRAMUNGA finally arrived for her port visit in TONGA. Yes, it was a short stop over for the crew and they left under sad circumstances. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the drowned sailor, a very sad day.

While the crew was in town though, they opened the boat up to the Expats and Ozzy High Comm staff for a look around a real war ship. The kids and Jodie had the arvo off to take the guided tour. The helicopter and five inch gun were a hit, as always. The crew even managed a game of cricket, Captains (CO) twelve V's The Executive Officers (XO) twelve. The CO's team got up in the end but had a local hand from Sione, the Tongan cricket rep. Sione was my Tongan connection who helped me organise the pitch. After the offical game Sione also gathered his local boys who gave the sailors a lesson or two supposedly? Pitch conditions were some what questionable, myself and a local sailor mowed it the day before inbetween the two rugby fields at a local school ground. A good day was had by all.

On the second night in we managed to get out to the local bar to watch the State of Origin but as you will see in the shots below crowds were low as it is the wrong code here. So we watched the Mighty Maroons get up in style. On a 50cm TV across the dance floor as the DJ belted out tunes and the sailors flopped all over the dance floor.

WARRAMUNGA with some local fishermen in the foreground and PANGIMOTU Is in the background.

Lyndon catching up with some old HMAS BRISBANE shipmates.

Soupy remember what this is? Dylan all smiles in the pilots seat of the ships helicopter.

The local cricket pitch (During school hours)
Some of the crew watching the entertainment.

Can you see the big screen?

Yep that's it behind the DJ.

Sal and Lyndon enjoying the extra room in the bar towards full time as the Blues supporters bailed early.