Officers and sailors on board HMAS Toowoomba II awoke in darkness to the sound of the boatswain's call, a time-honoured tradition from the age of sail, signifying a new day at sea had begun.
Three months into her regional presence deployment through East and South-East Asia, currently participating in Exercise Balikatan, April 25 was the first day the ship was not a hive of activity at dawn.
Instead, the crew gathered on the flight deck to pause, reflect and remember all those who had served before them.
An Anzac Day dawn service on operational deployment while on board an Anzac-class frigate in the middle of the South China Sea was a sacred and poignant experience.
Commanding Officer Toowoomba Commander Alicia Harrison reminded her crew not only to commemorate those before them, but to embody and espouse the Anzac spirit every day in uniform.
"Today, as members of the Australian Defence Force, we continue the proud legacy of protecting Australia's interests, contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, responding to natural disasters and providing humanitarian aid worldwide," Commander Harrison said.
"We do so not for recognition, but to serve our home and those standing beside us."
Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officer (MSWO) Tamara Dunn also paid tribute to the officers and sailors of Bathurst-class minesweeper HMAS Toowoomba I, who deployed, fought and served in the Indo-Pacific throughout World War II.
"Eighty years later, we on board Toowoomba II have visited many of the same harbours, albeit with different names, and likely transited the same sea lanes during our regional presence deployment," MSWO Dunn said.
"Our service at this time, to uphold international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and freedom of navigation, continues the tradition of those that have served before us, on board Toowoomba I and other ships of the Royal Australian Navy."
Following the Ode to Remembrance, but before the final sounds of the Last Post, Reveille and the Australian National Anthem, the ship's horn blasted to signify it was time for the crew to crack on, and carry out the legacy of all of those who served before them.
