NEWS - Department of Defence

08 NEWS
REAT CHORUS LINE: Celebrities, Dulwich Hill school students and sailors from HMAS Waterhen belt out the Call To Greatness
horus from the bow of HMAS Gascoyne. Call to Greatness is a fund-raising initiative of four Australian charities.
Waterhen
heeds the
the Call to
Greatness
NAVY personnel from HMAS Waterhen in Sydney
heeded the Call to Greatness on April 23 and in doing
showed off their choral expertise and helped raise
much-needed funds for four children’s charities.
As the media looked on, 100 young Navy officers
and sailors sang the chorus to the Call To Greatness
anthem along with a choir of about 20 students from
Dulwich Hill High School and celebrities MC Blue from
the Potbelleez, Wallaby and ACT Brumbies rugby union
great Stirling Mortlock, Luke Jacobs from the TV series
Home and Away and Australian and NSW cricketer Burt
Cockley.
C2G, as Call to Greatness is known, is a fund-raising
initiative of four Australian charities (KidsXpress life,
Youth off The Streets, Inspire Foundation and Musicians
Making a Difference) that support young Australians in
need.
The CO of HMAS Waterhen, CMDR Jason Sears,
said that his personnel had become involved through one
of the sailors, LSMW James French, approaching the
welfare committee with the idea of supporting the rally.
The committee took it to the XO, LCDR Jaye Harris,
and it snowballed from there when everyone saw what a
great cause it was.
“It was a fantastically positive experience,” CMDR
Sears said. “Everyone got involved and felt really good
about supporting these worthwhile charities.
“Our welfare fund donated $500 to the cause.
“We’ve now also established a relationship with
KidsXpress life and will take some groups of them on
tours of the base and ships and perhaps offer some more
work experience opportunities to them.
“All the visitors donned Navy ball caps which we had
presented them with during the safety briefings.
“Margo Ward the CEO of KidsXpress life also gave a
great speech about the charity and how Call to Greatness
would make a real impact on the lives of thousands of
disadvantaged Australian kids.”
After filming of the anthem on the fo’castle of
HMAS Gascoyne and along the wharf, sailors lined up
to the whirr and click of lens shutters for photos with
celebrities and to obtain their autographs.
Cadets remember
Cadet AB Stephen Geniale, of TS Southport, lays
one of 135 remembrance crosses on the chapel
lawns at The Southport School (TSS) on April 23.
The crosses, bearing the names of old boys of
TSS who fell in battle, were planted as the Honour
Roll of those who gave their lives for their country
was read. The TSS ceremony included singing
of the National Anthems of Australia and New
Zealand. Photo: Angela Hughes
NAVY NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews May 13, 2010