![June 8, 1985: Fremantle Class patrol boat HMAS WOLLONGONG [II] in a Mum and Dad dockyard down at Eden - RAN. | by Kookaburra2011](http://live.staticflickr.com/7006/6518690965_2c6f66a9b3.jpg)
Kookaburra2011
June 8, 1985: Fremantle Class patrol boat HMAS WOLLONGONG [II] in a Mum and Dad dockyard down at Eden - RAN.
5305. A grounding is the cause of this. It's down at Eden, almost East of Eden - a port famous for its rambunctious fishermen on the NSW-Victorian border, and a place into which the RAN - or any other outsider - dares call but occasionally.
This photo looks like some local wrecker women and children have come down from the caravan parks to the beach to see if there are any 'pickings.' Notice the camper van on the other side of her.
The story behind the matter is this: Seeking shelter from bad weather in the lee of Gabo Island WOLLONGONG grounded on rocks there on the night of May 31, 1985 - a much photographed embarrassment the next day. The damage was extensive, and the 220 ton patrol boat had to be taken back to her builders, North Queensland Engineers and Agents [NQEA] in Cairns for final repairs, and did not return to service until late 1986.
Before then she had been one of the boats used in the television series 'Patrol Boat,' and it may have gone to their headfs. We had a photograph of her gounding accident - one of thousands, it sometimes seems, sort of 'publicity' shots - at pic NO. 1689. There's also some details of the court martials, etyc., that followed for endangering the vessel. It's here:
www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4590537229/
This photo: RAN Historical, Navy Heritage Collection, image ID NO. 04727.
.
.
.
.
June 8, 1985: Fremantle Class patrol boat HMAS WOLLONGONG [II] in a Mum and Dad dockyard down at Eden - RAN.
5305. A grounding is the cause of this. It's down at Eden, almost East of Eden - a port famous for its rambunctious fishermen on the NSW-Victorian border, and a place into which the RAN - or any other outsider - dares call but occasionally.
This photo looks like some local wrecker women and children have come down from the caravan parks to the beach to see if there are any 'pickings.' Notice the camper van on the other side of her.
The story behind the matter is this: Seeking shelter from bad weather in the lee of Gabo Island WOLLONGONG grounded on rocks there on the night of May 31, 1985 - a much photographed embarrassment the next day. The damage was extensive, and the 220 ton patrol boat had to be taken back to her builders, North Queensland Engineers and Agents [NQEA] in Cairns for final repairs, and did not return to service until late 1986.
Before then she had been one of the boats used in the television series 'Patrol Boat,' and it may have gone to their headfs. We had a photograph of her gounding accident - one of thousands, it sometimes seems, sort of 'publicity' shots - at pic NO. 1689. There's also some details of the court martials, etyc., that followed for endangering the vessel. It's here:
www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4590537229/
This photo: RAN Historical, Navy Heritage Collection, image ID NO. 04727.
.
.
.
.