'My Time On Galoa, HMAS Adelaide'- Fiji Sun Digital Journalist Visits Recovery Works
‘Children were seen playing on a landing craft parked on the shore, while others were playing and running around with the Australian soldiers. This was the spirit of the Vuvale’
Wednesday 20 January 2021 | 14:11
Fiji Sun Digital journalist Jennis Naidu onboard the landing craft heading to Galoa Island.
My first out of Viti Levu assignment landed me inside a helicopter, on an island that I had only read stories of, and onboard one of the largest navy ships to come out of Australia.
Over a year of working at the Fiji Sun, I can literally count on my fingers the number of assignments I have covered. The majority of my time was spent behind my computer screen, at my desk, in the office at 21 Gorrie Street, Suva.
When I was told that I will be covering the Galoa Trip/ HMAS Adelaide Tour, the first question that came to my mind was – will I get a chance to get on the chopper? Yes, I did!
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This was my first time on a helicopter. Mark the date- January 18, 2021. Not just any helicopter; a MRH-90 Taipan multi-role military helicopter.
Fiji Sun Digital journalist Jennis Naidu next to a military helicopter onboard the HMAS Adelaide.
Onboard the HMAS Adelaide
HMAS Adelaide is huge. After the heat of the island, it was really cool inside- a welcoming feel.
There are four main decks; heavy vehicle, accommodation, hangar and light vehicles and flight decks.
What was fascinating was that, once we stepped off the helicopters on the landing dock of the ship, all of the members of the media team were asked to stand in a line within a marked boundary.
Out of thin air, these barricades popped out of the dock, and we plummeted down to the heavy vehicle deck. A ship-lift, I would say.
After weeks and weeks of reading stories of the Australian Defence Force’s work on Vanua Levu in the wake of Cyclone Yasa; the capabilities of the HMAS Adelaide, I got to experience it first-hand.
This trip was made possible through the Australian High Commission. I would like to extend my gratitude for giving local journalists an opportunity to witness first-hand the efforts of the Australian Defence Force in partnership with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, as well as tour the HMAS Adelaide and all its commodities.
Edited by Jonathan Bryce
Feedback: jennis.naidu@fijisun.com.fj
