Kookaburra2011
RETROSPECTIVE: Feb. 1959 - Navy Minister John Gorton is transferred to QUICKMATCH at sea - Graeme Andrews.
3261. The newly-appointed Minister of the Navy, Senator John Grey Gorton [Prime Minister 1968-1971] made this jackstay transfer from the flagship HMAS MELBOURNE [II] during Operation Showcase off Sydney in February 1959, when he and a number of other MPs visited the Fleet.
Gorton, a former RAAF fighter pilot in WWII, had reason to hold the Navy in high affection. As already recounted, Gorton, severely injured in a flying accident in early 1942, was rescued from a raft by HMAS BALLARAT when his evacuation ship from Singapore was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine.
When he came aboard the navy's flagship 17 years later, however, it seems that he left a less-than-stellar impression on the men. In fact, it seems that only the wardroom's bar stewards were in any way impressed.
Contributor Graeme Andrews, author of a book on HMAS MELBOURNE, recalls: 'When Gorton came aboard he gave us the usual politician crap. We were all lined up on the flight deck. it wasn't 'his' Navy, it was 'ours.' Yeah, sure!. He stated that he would be getting around the ship and try to talk to as many of us as he could. Yeah!
Some days of relative invisibility later he appeared on the flight deck all ready to 'walk' the rope to 'QuickieMaru.' I was one of the many sailors who held the loose end of the hawser, keeping the tension on as the ships moved in and out off their track. Full of bonhomie Gorton came up to the PO in charge and said ' Good morning PO, I suppose this device really is safe?
The PO, The Bravest man in the World, said: 'Yes Sir, it is, but you might consider that it is being held by the sailors that you were going to get to know.'
The rest of us were trying to become invisible. I have often wondering if that PO has finished his jail sentence yet?
By the way, a Sydney Morning Herald photograph of Gorton's bosun's chair return to MELBOURNE later made the news, and it re-appeared on the front page of the March 6, 1959 issue of the Navy News soon after. It can be see here:
www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Navy_News-March-6-1959.pdf
This Photo: Graeme Andrews, RAN 1955-1968. From a private disc, with permission,
RETROSPECTIVE: Feb. 1959 - Navy Minister John Gorton is transferred to QUICKMATCH at sea - Graeme Andrews.
3261. The newly-appointed Minister of the Navy, Senator John Grey Gorton [Prime Minister 1968-1971] made this jackstay transfer from the flagship HMAS MELBOURNE [II] during Operation Showcase off Sydney in February 1959, when he and a number of other MPs visited the Fleet.
Gorton, a former RAAF fighter pilot in WWII, had reason to hold the Navy in high affection. As already recounted, Gorton, severely injured in a flying accident in early 1942, was rescued from a raft by HMAS BALLARAT when his evacuation ship from Singapore was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine.
When he came aboard the navy's flagship 17 years later, however, it seems that he left a less-than-stellar impression on the men. In fact, it seems that only the wardroom's bar stewards were in any way impressed.
Contributor Graeme Andrews, author of a book on HMAS MELBOURNE, recalls: 'When Gorton came aboard he gave us the usual politician crap. We were all lined up on the flight deck. it wasn't 'his' Navy, it was 'ours.' Yeah, sure!. He stated that he would be getting around the ship and try to talk to as many of us as he could. Yeah!
Some days of relative invisibility later he appeared on the flight deck all ready to 'walk' the rope to 'QuickieMaru.' I was one of the many sailors who held the loose end of the hawser, keeping the tension on as the ships moved in and out off their track. Full of bonhomie Gorton came up to the PO in charge and said ' Good morning PO, I suppose this device really is safe?
The PO, The Bravest man in the World, said: 'Yes Sir, it is, but you might consider that it is being held by the sailors that you were going to get to know.'
The rest of us were trying to become invisible. I have often wondering if that PO has finished his jail sentence yet?
By the way, a Sydney Morning Herald photograph of Gorton's bosun's chair return to MELBOURNE later made the news, and it re-appeared on the front page of the March 6, 1959 issue of the Navy News soon after. It can be see here:
www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Navy_News-March-6-1959.pdf
This Photo: Graeme Andrews, RAN 1955-1968. From a private disc, with permission,