The Navy Vol_37_Part2 (Aug-Sep-Oct, Nov-Dec 1975-Jan 1976)

ECUMENICAL
Interested Members
of the Public are
invited to Attend
and Parking Facilities
will be available
within the Dockyard
By THE CHAPLAIN
Interior oj the Garden Island Dockyard Church showing the
memorial window honouring Australia's First Submarine Flotilla.
The Ecumenical Service for Navy Day, 1975, will be held at 10.30 am,
Sunday, 5 October, in the Garden Island Dockyard Church.
We will meet to worship together
as an outward demonstration of our
essential unity as Christmas.
Together we shall thank God for
those who have given so much in
securing the protection and safety of
our Country, and pray that we may
be responsive to his will and
guidance in the years to come.
This special service has been
arranged by the Senior Naval
Chaplains. Monsignor F. Lyons will
preach the occasional sermon and
the choir will comprise brothers of
the Order of St Gerard Magella
Other clergy participating in the
service will include Chaplain W. J.
Bates (Presbyterian) and Chaplain
Walter Wheeldon (C of E).
The Flag Officer Command-ng East
Australia Area. Rear Admiral N. E.
McDonald, will read the Naval
Prayer, music will be provided by the
RAN East Australia Area Band
So far as is known, the first Service
to be held in this Church was in
1902. and was a thanksgiving
Service for peace at the end of the
South African War
The first stained glass windows
were installed in 1904. Since then
the Church has been beautified by
many Memorials, all of which tell
their own poignant story.
Garden Island Dockyard Church showing the altar and honour rolls. For many years the Church has
been used for all Church Services
held in Garden Island. Protestants
and Roman Catholics have come to
feel that it is their Church.
An ecumenical spirit has always
existed in the working relatibnships
between serving Chaplains. But this
has grown in the new atmosphere of
unity and trust which we believe is
God's will for His Church. It is appropriate
therefore that we should together
thank God for His grace and
pray for His guidance in the future.
There are a number of groups
which hold their Annual Church
Services here — amongst them are
Sydney Legacy, the Naval Association
of Australia. The Naval Reserve
Cadets. Sea Scouts and Sea Rangers.
We hope that some from these
organisations as well as interested
members of the public will join with
us in this Service.
Navy Week is one week in each year when Australians
from coast to coast are urged to pay grateful tribute to those
who have served and those now serving Australia at sea.
During this week it is fit and proper nucleus of what they hoped would be
that a nation of free men and women their own Fleet,
give well-deserved honour and recog- The Squadron comprised the
nition to the patriotic and victorious Battle Cruiser AUSTRALIA; Light
achievements of its men of the sea. Cruisers ENCOUNTER. SYDNEY. MEL-
It is the week for Australians to re- BOURNE and the Torpedo Boat
dedicate themselves to those prin- Destroyers WARREGO. PARRAciples
of freedom and self-govern- MATTA and YARRA.
ment which they cherish. It is a week It is appropriate at this time to
i.i which grateful citizens should recall the words expressed by the
salute their Royal Australian Navy then Prime Minister of Australia. The
and make sure that it is adequate to Honourable Sir Joseph Cook:
fulfil its contribution to our national "Since Captain Cook's arrival, no
security.
more memorable event has hap-
In the Royal Australian Navy the pened than the advent of the Ausmonth
of October has always held tralian Fleet. As the former marked
special significance. The 21st com- the birth of Australia, so the litter
memorates the 170th anniversary of announces its coming of age. its
the victory of the Battle of Trafalgar, recognition of the growing respon-
Fought in the Atlantic, off the sibilities of nationhood, and its
southern coast of Spain, it was the resolve to accept and discharge
last great Naval battle to be fought them as a duty both to itself and to
under sail alone.
the Empire. The Australian Fleet is
Sixty-two years ago. on 4 October, not merely the embodiment of
1913. the Australian Fleet steamed force. It is the expression of
into Sydney Harbour. Navy week. Australia's resolve to pursue, in
1975. was planned to coincide with freedom, its national ideals, and to
the anniversary of the Fleet's entry.
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