1982 - a Time Capsule of a year's events in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Ships Visit - a maritime spectacle. The Ships Visit was part of the big event of the Commonweath Games. As the Duke of Edinburgh was arriving by sea, on the Royal Yacht it was decided to make the occasion one of maritime significance and the largest collection of warships at one time was assembled in the port of Brisbane, to escort and welcome the Royal visitor. Thousands of people turned out to greet him, including many small boat owners as shown in these two photos of the 'amateur' flotilla escort. I took these photographs from Hamilton Wharf in Brisbane. When the Royal Yacht Britannia came up the river I was at Maritime Wharf and took this photo. I was lucky enough to obtain these two photos of two of the 'rooms' onboard the Royal Yacht. I have to say that this room bears little resemblance to the room we had on the RMS Windsor Castle 15 years earlier, but then I am not entitled to travel on the Royal Yacht! The cover below bears the Royal Yacht cachet, and the yellow sticker which was the theme for the whole period from 'Festival 82' to the Games, and it appeared on everything from T-shirts to carrier bags. It was the last line of the song used to publicise Brisbane and was sung at the Games The Professional escort was headed by the Australian Navy, but there were also the British R.F.A. 'Gold Rover' , one New Zealand vessel and 4 Canadian representatives. The next section is of covers (bearing the ships's cachets and signed by the Chief Officer), and photographs (where obtainable) of these vessels which were part of the "Ship Visit". The information on these pages was accurate at the time of writing, but may well be out of date now, 25 years later. The first is of H.M.A.S. Torrens in the Bulimba reach of the Brisbane river. The guided missile destroyer H.M.A.S. Hobart is one of three which make up the RAN's First Destroyer Squadron. Their main task is air defence of the Fleet, but they also have formidable anti-submarine and surface gunnery capabilities. The Hobart was first commissioned 18.12.65 and completed a weapons up-date in April 1978. All three destroyers were in service in Vietnam serving with the US Navy's 7th Fleet. Next the HMAS Tobruk L50 - an amphibious Heavy Lift Ship The Tobruk with a motto of FAITHFUL AND STRONG has a complement of 130 Officers and Men. A flight of 3 Wessex 31B helicopters can be embarked, up to 550 troops, numerous wheeled vehicles and a squadron of Leopoard tanks. one of the helicopters from HMAS Tobruk Ships visit - Australian ships continued click here for more images Ships Visit - Foreign ships click here for more images Anpex 82 click here for information Scout Jamboree 75 years of Scouting click here for information Previous page

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