Another first for ‘fearless’ leader

Former Fahan student to lead 2500 troops in multinational naval exercise

AS a child, Phillipa Hay was described as fearless, adventurous and independent.

Now, the former Fahan School student has created history by rising up the ranks of the Royal Australian Navy to command a multinational naval force in complex warfighting exercises off the United States coast.

Captain Hay is the first Australian woman to be appointed to lead the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise and the first non-US military woman in the role since its 1971 inception.

She is commanding more than 2500 sailors and officers across 11 warships from Australia, Japan, Canada, US, France

and the Philippines. Parents Picton and Christina Hay, who live at Kettering, are brimming with pride at their daughter’s achievements.

“We think it’s great. She’s just the one to look after us I think,’’ Mrs Hay said.

“She is fearless and fair, certainly a team player. She has always been reliable and we feel confident she would always do her best for her colleagues and the nation.”

Mrs Hay said her daughter showed an intrepid character growing up and was confident in her own abilities. She was a keen hockey player and also competed in tennis, swimming and cross country running, along with performances in two big stage shows Oliver and Annie in younger years.

But it was her love of life on the water that was borne from a young age, including when the family sailed to London when Phillipa was 10.

“We knew at that time she would be a good navy officer,’’ she said.

Mrs Hay told how her daughter built up significant skills and knowledge while aboard the family’s yacht, which was called Beyond.

“Her time on Beyond has served her well, as on the warships apparently she can detect when the engine is not running smoothly,’’ she said.

“She is so sensitive to what is going on.”

Mrs Hay said when their yacht hit a whale, about 200 miles from Durban, damage was sustained to some planks and there was a substantial amount of water squirting in, as they worked to repair it.

“This took a few hours, and all that time Phillipa was head down in the stern of the boat, hand pumping getting the water out of the hull,’’ she said.

She kept pumping for 3½ hours, “with blisters covering the palms of her hands”.

Mrs Hay said her daughter explored the Defence Force as a career when she was in Year 11 and later got a scholarship to the Defence Force Academy.

Fahan humanities teacher John Williamson, who taught Phillipa, said she had a strong and upbeat character.

“She was optimistic, always so positive and cheerful … enthusiastic and very supportive of other people,’’ he said.

Mr Williamson said he was not surprised to hear she had risen up the ranks in the navy.

“I was thrilled for her and I think she will bring a lot to the role,’’ he said.

Captain Hay, a mother of three, has achieved a number of “firsts”, including being the first female to qualify as a naval ship’s diver and first female on an Australian “minor war vessel training group”.

“I hope my journey serves as an inspiration to all who wish to serve,” Captain Hay said.

“In the Royal Australian Navy, there are no limitations.

“We pride ourselves on richness of diversity and being a reflection of the Australian community.”

The biennial RIMPAC exercise provides training for allied nations to help maintain an open Indo-Pacific region.

SHE IS FEARLESS AND FAIR, CERTAINLY A TEAM PLAYER … SHE’S JUST THE ONE TO LOOK AFTER US I THINK

MOTHER CHRISTINA HAY