Toowoomba’s never far away for Garden City woman
TOOWOOMBA’S Lauren Birch is back on dry land, after spending seven months at sea onboard the HMAS Toowoomba - the second Royal Australian Navy vessel to be named after the Garden City.
HMAS Toowoomba recently returned to its home port of Fleet Base West, Rockingham, Western Australia, after the ship’s longest deployment to date, successfully contributing to seven Task Groups in as many months.
On board for the seven months deployment was Toowoomba-born Petty Officer Maritime Logistics-Personnel Operations Lauren Birch.
Excited to be back and seeing her family, she reflected on the past seven months at sea.
“I joined the navy to see the world, and I definitely got to see quite a bit on this trip”, Petty Officer Birch said.
“Exercise (Rim of the Pacific) our visit to Hawaii were some of my favourite experiences in my 13-year Navy career so far”.
Petty Officer Birch has a variety of tasks. “As the personnel officer on board Toowoomba, I manage the ship’s office as well as the pay and accounts office,” she said.
While on her deployment, Toowoomba participated in exercises, international engagements and training activities, including Exercise Ocean Explorer, the Principal Warfare Officer Assessment Week, South East Asian deployment, Exercise Bersama Shield, Indo-Pacific Endeavour and Exercise RIMPAC in Hawaii, where the ship successfully conducted multiple weapons and missile firings.
The ship’s company will enjoy leave before returning to Toowoomba, alongside Fleet Base West for routine maintenance.