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Commanding Officer Ballarat Commander Antony Pisani, right, with the youngest crew member Seaman Christiaan Rijkaart during the cutting of the ship’s birthday cake at sea. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
News Royal Australian Navy 

Ballarat celebrates birthday as deployment ends

01/07/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1761 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Ballarat  celebrated its 17th birthday on the day the ship finished its Regional Presence Deployment off the coast of the

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HMAS Ballarat's Ship's Company heave in a messenger line during a replenishment at sea with USNS Big Horn. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
News Overseas Royal Australian Navy 

Ballarat refuelled by United States Navy

16/06/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2003 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Ballarat has been refuelled during a rendezvous with two United States Navy ships during its Regional Presence Deployment. CAPTION:

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HMAS Ballarat's ship's company wave farewell as Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Ship Murasame passes by after completing training together. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
Asia News Royal Australian Navy 

Ballarat trains with Japan

08/06/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1798 Views 0 Comments

The crew of HMAS Ballarat has successfully conducted training with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship Murasame during the Regional Presence

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Three United States Navy EA-18G Growlers from VAQ-132 Squadron in formation over HMAS Ballarat in a Cooperative Activity during the ship's Regional Presence Deployment. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
Asia News Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Growlers put Ballarat in a jam

08/06/202108/06/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2489 Views 1 Comment

HMAS Ballarat’s crew felt the full force of eight United States Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft when they flew overhead

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Leading Seaman Tayler Hawkins, left, and Able Seaman Katie Nattrass Russo conduct a stores muster on board HMAS Ballarat during the ship's current regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
Asia Royal Australian Navy 

Pandemic supplies new challenges

27/05/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1465 Views 0 Comments

Resupplying a Navy ship with essential fuel and fresh produce during an overseas deployment takes significant planning at the best

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HMAS Ballarat and her embarked MH-60R helicopter on the ship's south-east Asian deployment, May 2021. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.
Asia News Operations Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Ballarat serving short stint on NKorean sanctions patrol

17/05/202117/05/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 20064 Views 0 Comments

Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Ballarat has joined the international effort to enforce UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea.

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Able Seaman Claire Brown is all smiles as HMAS Parramatta departs Fleet Base East on Sydney Harbour for a two-month deployment to south-east and north-east Asia. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.
Asia News Overseas Royal Australian Navy 

Second Regional Presence Deployment of 2021

21/04/202121/04/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2523 Views 0 Comments

HMA Ships Ballarat and Parramatta and more than 350 personnel have departed on a two-month Asian deployment.

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Able Seaman Maddie Hohnberg conducts maintenance on HMAS Warramunga's gas turbine. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Petty Officer Yuri Ramsey.
ADF People 

Tinkering drives Navy career

26/10/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1402 Views 0 Comments HMAS Warramunga

Growing up on a farm outside the regional NSW town of Trangie, Able Seaman Maddison Hohnberg would spend hours tinkering

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HMAS Ballarat's MH-60R, Convict, launches from the flight deck during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Story by Lieutenant Commander Ryan Zerbe. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
News Royal Australian Navy 

Crew survive helicopter crash in Philippine Sea

14/10/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5704 Views 0 Comments

Three crewmembers of HMAS Brisbane’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter are safe after ditching in the Philippine Sea.

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Leading Seaman Combat Systems Operator Joshua Fordham operates an aircraft control console in the Operations Room of HMAS Ballarat during the ship's Regional Presence Deployment. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
News Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Exercise gets real for aircraft controller

01/07/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2648 Views 0 Comments

An activity in the South China Sea between the Royal Australian and United States Navies, and the RAAF, gave one

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Lieutenant Gary McHugh and Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez interview Able Seaman Matthew Hicks on the ship's bridge during a Regional Presence Deployment. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
ADF People 

Trying to shine spotlight on deployment

29/06/202104/07/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1960 Views 1 Comment

“If there isn’t a photo, then it never happened” – a saying taken almost literally by Navy PR, especially its deployed public affairs teams.

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HMAS Ballarat's Assistant Canteen Manager Leading Seaman Timothy Boyd serves Able Seaman Daniel Johnson during deployment. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
ADF People Asia Royal Australian Navy 

Ship’s canteen boosts morale on deployment

21/06/202122/06/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1877 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Ballarat’s ship’s canteen is one of the busiest compartments on the ship, especially as the Fleet embraces contactless, COVID-safe

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Able Seaman Avin Kulathum Meethal checks engine oil levels in the machinery space on board HMAS Ballarat during a Regional Presence Deployment. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
ADF People 

Social media inspires career change

15/06/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1291 Views 0 Comments

A video on YouTube inspired a former tool-maker to join the Navy as a marine technician. CAPTION: Able Seaman Avin

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Able Seamen Cerys Zurek and Abbi Greenaway, Seaman Tiago Torres and Able Seaman Richard New display their personalised dhoby bags in the laundry of HMAS Ballarat. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
Royal Australian Navy 

Dhoby bags add colour to deployment

10/06/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1691 Views 1 Comment

The laundry in HMAS Ballarat is a lot more colourful these days thanks to a range of personalised laundry bags.

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HMAS Parramatta sails in company with Royal Brunei Navy ship KDB Darulehsan while conducting maritime manoeuvres. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.
Asia Royal Australian Navy 

Training manoeuvres with Brunei Navy a success

04/06/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2203 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Parramatta joined Royal Brunei Navy ships Darulehsan and Syafaat for shared training during a recent visit to Brunei. CAPTION:

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HMAS Ballarat's Quality of Life administration team Able Seaman Adam Ballintijn, front left, Leading Seaman Reece Sturges and Leading Seaman Liam Anderson in the ship's junior sailors’ cafe. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Wi-Fi at sea boosts crew’s morale

15/05/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2866 Views 1 Comment

Back in the days of letters and stamps, a port visit for a Navy ship meant one thing above all

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Last year was an unprecedented year with bushfires and a global pandemic, but the ADF was up to the challenge of supporting Australia, while continuing its core role. Photo by Leading Seaman Kieran Dempsey.
ADF Australian History News Operations Overseas 

ADF up to the challenges of 2020

12/01/202112/01/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2932 Views 0 Comments

Last year was difficult and disruptive for our nation and was a defining year for Defence. FILE PHOTO: By Leading Seaman

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