ISSUE 61 : Nov/Dec - 1986 - Australian Defence Force Journal

16 DEFENCE FORCE JOURNAL No. 61 November/December 86
General Purpose vessel HMAS Bass at Sea.
of the Fleet but primarily by training vessels
attached to HMAS Huon. For many years this
was provided by a Seaward Defence Boat followed
by the General Purpose vessel Bass. In
1982 the "Attack" Class Patrol Boat HMAS
Ardent was permanently based in Hobart and
now provides for most of the seagoing training
needs of the Hobart Port Division.
Today, the Hobart Port Division is active in
three main areas of Naval Operations. As well
as providing seagoing training, Ardent conducts
regular coastal surveillance patrols and Bass
Strait Oil Rig protection duties. She is a regular
visitor to many Tasmanian ports where she is
often required as the Flag Ship of the large
number of aquatic events conducted in the State.
An active Naval Control of Shipping cell
conducts the second of the Port Division's roles
while Diving Team 10 carries out their third.
Other RANR personnel are trained and experienced
in the use of radiation monitoring
equipment and safety checking of nuclear reactors,
a task they conduct whenever a nuclear
powered warship visits the State.
In 1986 the Hobart Port Division maintains
a strength in excess of one hundred men and
women who represent a broad cross-section of
the local community. On 10 July 1986, the 75th
Anniversary of the RAN, the close links between
the Division and the community was publicly
demonstrated when the Lord Mayor
granted Freedom of Entry to the City of Hobart
to the Hobart Port Division of the Royal Australian
Naval Reserve in recognition of their
long, dedicated and valuable service to the City
in peace and in war.
U
Commander Scott joined the Royal Australian Navy as a 15-year-old Cadet Midshipman in
January 1961 and, after training in Australia and the United Kingdom, he was promoted
Lieutenant in 1968 while the Navigating Officer of HMAS Derwenl.
In January 1970 he was posted in Command of the Patrol Boat HMAS Lae in Papua New
Guinea. A few days later, while on passage to Sydney, Lae rode out 'Cyclone Ada' in the
Whitsunday Passage and stayed on to conduct rescue operations in the devastated resort area.
In recognition of the part played by his ship, he was awarded the MBE and two of his crew
were honoured with the BEM.
In December 1980 he was promoted to the rank of Commander and posted to Navy Office
in Canberra as the Director of Navigation and Tactics. In April 1983 he took Command of
HMAS Jervis Bay and in November 1984 was made a Fellow of the Institute of Navigation.
In January 1985 he assumed the duties of Naval Officer Commanding Tasmania Area.