Australian Navy Foundation Day 2008
107th. Anniversary.
“CRESWELL ORATION”
presented by
Vice Admiral Matt Tripovich AM CSC RAN
Chief Capability Development Group
.
Mercure Hotel 13 Spring St., Melbourne
Saturday, March 1st., 2008
Creswell Oration - 2008
107th.Australian Navy Foundation Day ‘Creswell Oration ‘Luncheon
organised by
Australian Navy Foundation Day Organising Committee ANFDOC
Victoria Division, Navy League of Australia, Naval Officers Club in Victoria;
Naval Association of Australia Victoria Section, Naval Historical Society Victoria Chapter.
1230 Welcome: Chairman Australian Navy Foundation Day Organising Committee - Ray Gill JP
1235 Blessing & Grace: The Right Reverend Phillip Huggins, Bishop of the Northern and Western Regions, The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Chairman of the Mission to Seafarers Vic. Inc.
1240 Toasts:
Proposed by: CMDR John Wilkins RFD* - Navy League of Australia
i. HM Queen Elizabeth II - Queen of Australia
ii. Australia
iiiRoyal Australian Navy and all who serve
1245 Luncheon:
Main Course: Porterhouse, 150 day Grain fed, with Café de Paris butter,
green beans & wine ripened confit tomatoes
or
Chargrilled Spatchcock , with sweet garlic & rosemary roasted potatoes
Dessert: Classic vanilla créme brûlé or chocolate tart with cream
Drinks: Red & White Wine, Soft Drink, Water,
1335 Guest Speaker:
“Vice-Admiral Matt Tripovich AM CSC RAN”
‘Navy Capability from Creswell to Tomorrow’.
Introduced by: Christopher Creswell
Grandson of VADM Sir William Creswell KCMG KBE RAN
“Father of the Australian Navy” .
1410 Presentations:
Naval Association of Australia Vic.Section - Ray Gill JP.
Victoria Division Navy League of Australia - CMDR John Wilkins RFD*
1415 Closing Remarks: Chairman ANFDOC.
Coffee, Tea and mints
Australian Navy 1901 – 1911;
Royal Australian Navy 1911 – 2008
“The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”
The Australian Navy’s origins started with Royal Navy (RN) units based in Sydney from 1788. In 1859 the RN created the “Australia Station”. A decade later, 1870, local British Colonial fleets were approved and Victoria having led the way with the construction of HMCSS Victoria in 1856 and was about to acquire iron clad monitor HMVS Cerberus, was now joined by Queensland, South Australia, NSW and Tasmania.
Federation on 1st Jan. 1901saw all six colonies federate into a single Commonwealth of Australia, Melbourne becoming the National Capital City. Eight weeks later, 1st March, the Governor General, through his Order-in-Council, transferred fourteen Naval vessels from the now armed States of the Commonwealth, to the Commonwealth Government’s, equally new, Department of Defence, forming the Commonwealth Naval Force (CNF). The Permanent Secretary of the Department of Defence was CAPT Robert Muirhead Collins CMG CNF (exRN), the former Victorian Colonial Defence Secretary. Collins quickly organised the new Commonwealth Naval Force (CNF) officers’ promotions and managed his control of the dispersed Australian CNF ships and personnel in the various States. Australian Navy training was centred on the Williamstown Naval Depot it becoming the ‘Cradle of the Navy’ until 1921. Six of the fourteen CNF foundation fleet vessels were from the Victoria, which, according to Creswell, was the largest, most effective colonial Navy. Federal Government administration and legislation slowly developed until command and control of CNF was eventually transferred to Captain William Creswell CMG CNF, its first Director, his efforts earning him the title “Father of the Navy”.
On 3rd Sept. 1901, the Prime Minister of Australia, Edmond Barton, selected an Australian national flag design from a short list of 30,000 entries adjudicated by four RN officers. The design chosen was similar to the 1870 Admiralty approved Colonial blue Naval ensigns, Victoria - ‘Southern Cross’ in the fly and ‘Royal Crown’ above. Australia thus ended its first eight months of existence without a flag, and this new national flag was flown by the CNF fleet as its new naval blue ensign, the national flag being reserved for Government agency use.
During the following decade Creswell, and many others, battled to have the foundation Australian Naval fleet maintained and to have new units replace the aging units of the Foundation Fleet. Finance was the concern as States retained Customs and Excise revenues until 1910. As this date drew near the Government purchased two new Frigates. Then in 1911, two major events occurred - the first was the restructuring of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board on 1st March - the second when HM King George V granted his Dominions the right to refer to their warships as “His Majesty’s Ships” (HMAS) with the title “Royal” added to their Navy (RAN). He also approved joint use of the celebrated RN White Ensign, flown by Nelson’s fleet in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, and adopted by the RN in 1864. Then the first RAN College was founded at North Geelong, Victoria, on 1st March 1913, in Osborne House, a Victorian colonial Mansion.
When hostilities broke out in 1914, the command of the RAN was formally transferred to the Royal Navy, by Constitutional Order-in-Council, for the duration of hostilities. The RAN Expeditionary Force departed Williamstown and captured German New Guinea. An RAN Bridging Train was subsequently formed to support the Gallipoli campaign, the RAN protecting Australian ports, shipping and trade routes and as convoy escort.
In the 1939-1945 World War II, navy command was again transferred to the RN by Order-in-Council, and units of the Royal Australian Navy supported RN operations in the North, West and South Atlantic oceans, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Red Sea. When war against Japan commenced on 7th. December 1941, the RAN, with elements of the US, RN and Netherlands, took part in the Naval battles of Java Sea and Sunda Strait where they were defeated, many surviving crews becoming POWs. Over the next thirty months the RAN, with US Naval forces, pushed the enemy back in hard fought land, sea and air battles, with great loss of life on both sides, as they won the Coral Sea, Savo Island and Lingayen Gulf battles and the war.
The RAN, as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve, then distinguished itself in operations in the 1950s Korean Theatre, Malayan Emergency and later Indonesian Confrontation. They performed an important role in the Vietnam War but the joint use RN White Ensign flown for 56 years, could no longer be flown there for the UK Navy was not party to that conflict. So on 1st March 1967, Australia raised its own Naval White Ensign. The RAN in the decades that followed engaged in the first Arabian Gulf War operations in the Middle East and in the second Gulf War. The RAN’s numerous peacekeeping operations saw it operate in Somalia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bougainville, East Timor and Solomon Islands, including support for disaster relief operations.
War creates the possibility of the highest sacrifice through tragic loss of life of our men, women and civilian populations. This fact enhances our desire to restore freedom and peace. These devastating moments in wars and regional battles form special bonds among people who share the same high ideals and values of freedom and peace in human society. So we too encourage friendship among our members, in order to preserve the knowledge and traditions of all who served,and to honour their service to Australia.
OOS
AUSTRALIAN NAVY FOUNDATION DAY 2008
SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING
Piano Prelude: Mrs Barbara Swanton
Processional: The Congregation stands at the entrance of the ministers.
Clergy:
The Right Reverend Phillip Huggins, Bishop of the Northern and Western Regions, The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Chairman of the Mission to Seafarers Vic. Inc.
The Reverend Ken Cahill, Chaplain to the Port of Melbourne and Mission to Seafarers. Chaplain to the Merchant Navy Sub-Branch of the RSL.
ENTRY of RAN Representatives:
VICE ADMIRAL Matt Tripovich AM CSC RAN Chief Capability Development Group.
CAPTAIN Sheldon Williams RAN, Senior Naval Officer, Victoria.
RAN NAVAL WHITE ENSIGN Colour Party:
Ensign presented toBishop Phillip Huggins.
NAVAL ASSOCIATION & NAVY LEAGUE Colours etc:
Presented to Bishop Phillip Huggins.
HYMN: (Tune: Ode to Joy)
God who formed the mighty ocean,
Loosed the winds upon their ways,
Gave the circling planets motion
In their round of ceaseless praise,
Hear our thanks for hearts that love us
For the hour that gave us birth,
Heirs of starry skies above us
And the seas of all the earth.
Hold within your care unsleeping
All who face tempestuous seas,
Harvests from the waters reaping,
God be thanked for such as these.
Earth is rich beyond all measure,
May we prize her gifts the more,
We who find our work or pleasure
On the seas or by the shore.
Guard, when stormy waves are breaking,
Those who cross the ocean’s wide;
Share with them their watchful waking,
Be with them through wind and tide.
Christ our Saviour, friend unfailing,
As the seas of life we roam,
Chart our course and guide our sailing
Safe to harbour and to home.
Timothy Dudley-Smith b, 1926
Congregation is seated
WELCOME:
CHAPLAIN:The Lord be with you
ALL:And also with you
CHAPLAIN:This is the day the Lord has made
ALL: We will rejoice and be glad in it
CHAPLAIN:We have met together today to thank God for the many blessings we enjoy. We shall praise Him with music and with our voices for his acts of mercy, deliverance, and grace. We shall hear his holy Word. We shall remember those who go down to the sea in ships, and in particular those who did not return, and those who returned injured, and their families. To prepare ourselves let us draw near to the throne of our most gracious God and say together:
ALL:Most merciful God,
we humbly admit that we need your help.
We confess that we have wandered from your ways.
We have done wrong, and failed to do what is right.
You alone can save us. Have mercy on us.
Wipe out our sins and teach us to forgive others.
Bring forth in us the fruits of the Spirit
that we may live as disciples of Christ.
This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
The Bishop pronounces the Absolution
PRAYER: Vice Admiral Matt Tripovich AM CSC RAN
Eternal God, who alone spread out the heavens, and rules the raging of the sea, and who surrounded these waters with boundaries until the end of time, be pleased to receive into your almighty and most gracious protection all sailors, and the Fleet in which they serve.
Preserve them from the dangers of the sea, and from violence; that they may guard our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, and all her Australian subjects, and may make a secure passage for all who conduct their lawful business on the seas, so that the inhabitants of our land may serve you, our God; in peace and quietness; and that our sailors may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of this land and then, with thankful remembrance of your mercies, praise and glorify your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
NAVAL PSALM (Psalm 107 vv 23-32) read by CMDR John Wilkins RFD* RANR
Leader:Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters;
Peoplethey saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.
Leader:For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
People:They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity;
Leader:They reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits’ end.
People::Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress;
Leader:He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
People:Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
Leader:Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works
to humankind.
People:Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
Leader:Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
People:As in the beginning, so now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
READING: John 15. 9-17
Read by Captain Sheldon Williams CSC RAN, Senior Naval Officer Victoria.
Jesus said to his disciples: As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
For the word of the Lord.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
HYMN:
Guide me, 0 thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
hold me with thy powerful hand:
bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore.
Open now the crystal fountain
whence the living waters flow
let the fiery, cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan
bid my anxious fears subside,
death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side
songs and praises,
I will ever give to thee.
ADDRESS: The Right Reverend Phillip Huggins
A LITANY OF THANKSGIVING
Eternal God, you are ever ready to hear the prayers of your faithful people, hear the prayers we offer.
We pray for the Queen, our Prime Minister and all who hold public office in this land: that all things may be ordered in wisdom, righteousness, and peace, to the honour of your name and for the good of your church and people,
Lord, hear us,
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces throughout the world, and for all peacemakers, and especially for the safety of our Australian Defence Force personnel serving in places of conflict and unrest throughout the world,
Lord, hear us,
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For the members of the Royal Australian Navy and the Merchant Navy: that in defence they may know courage and purpose; in peace, industry and integrity; and in all situations faithfulness in carrying out their tasks,
Lord, hear us,
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
For the healing of memories of those who suffered as a result of war; for those who find it hard to forgive; for communities where past wrongs or violence persist; for all in pain or distress.
Lord, hear us,
LORD,HEAR OUR PRAYER.
For all chaplains and other support staff who work with our navy personnel and other seafarers, offering them hope, comfort and care.
Lord, hear us,
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
We here pause and give thanks for all those men and women who sacrificed their lives in the service of our country at sea, protecting our land and the values we hold. May their sacrifice strengthen our resolve to build communities of peace, trust and friendship.
Lord, hear us,
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
THE LORDS PRAYER:
Let us sum up these and all our prayers in the words that Jesus taught us -
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil,
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
ODE:by Ray Gill JP - President. Naval Association of Australia Victoria Section
They have no grave,
no flowers lay at their head,