Our first Major vessel to visit this year was HMAS DARWIN on her way through to RIMPAC exercises in Hawaii. She stopped over for a few days R&R while in town they partook in some local community engagements (i.e. painted a few local government schools), played sports against the TDS, entertained royalty, held a cocktail party for us locals and supported the local bars ( and markets).
HMAS DARWIN coming alongside with Pangimotu Island in the back ground.
OH&S at it's best all non-tongans look away.
The TDS and RAN working alongside one another at a GPS school.
The school kids would have loved it as they got the day off to keep out of the road. A few hung around and ended up playing footy with the Ozzy girls.
Our lowest tides of the year. The new and the traditional, Tapa soaking in the foreground and a modern warship in the back.
The White ensign flying high. The weather wasn't the best for the stop over it was a tad windy.
The RAN band donated some instruments to the TDS.
Ceremonial sunset and it was all over.
Or was it?? They invited a few of us local riff raff back to the Wardroom.
They had a pretty flash setup and we informed them that it was probably better than any of the local bars and possibly cheaper too.
On the last day the King visited the vessel for a Captain's luncheon. Dylan and I snuck on just after for a look around.
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