Three students from Arnhem Land travelled more than 400 kilometres to have the opportunity of a lifetime on board HMAS Cape Pillar.
After an introduction from the patrol boat crew and a safety briefing, Commanding Officer Cape Pillar Lieutenant Commander Ben Couch welcomed Harvey Malibirr and Teshaun Wanybarrnga, from Ramingining School, and Keira Badarr, from Milingimbi School, on board.
"This is a unique opportunity to explore this vessel up close and get a glimpse into the daily life of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel and just see what life is like at sea," Lieutenant Commander Couch said.
The students visited the ship's armoury and the mounted weapon systems, then visited the medical bay and gym to understand how the 31-person crew live, eat, exercise and sleep on board.
Working within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, the patrol boats contribute to border security, surveillance, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement.
"The RAN patrol boat force makes a substantial contribution to Australia's national maritime security, from illegal fishing to counter-narcotics. Our community makes a real difference," Lieutenant Commander Couch said.
"As a small example, illegal fishing has seen Australia's sea-cucumber numbers fished to dangerously low levels; a loss of even one small organism has serious impacts to the health of Australia's maritime ecosystem.
"They're considered a delicacy in some cultures and fetch a good price on the black market, but as non-migrating species, if one area is depleted, they don't readily recover and we risk losing them forever."
On the bridge, the students saw the navigation team drive the ship off the wharf without the assistance of tugs, highlighting how manoeuvrable patrol boats are, making them ideal for quick-response missions close to shore.
'Through ship tours and experiences like this, we want to inspire the next generation to join the ADF and study for free.'
In the mixed-messing dining room - where officers and sailors eat together - Executive Officer Cape Pillar Lieutenant Will Payne showed the students a photo board of the experiences the crew have had so far.
Some of the printed photographs included local wildlife, sailors in the small boat, multiple pet animals, an outing exploring the wreck of an old World War II plane C-53 in the remote Kimberley, a swim in the ocean and physical training selfies.
"When we're in the Kimberley Marine Park, sometimes you think to yourself, people pay thousands of dollars to cruise these waters, and here I am getting paid to do it," Lieutenant Payne said.
The exclusive visit was eye opening for the students, as many Australians rarely have the chance to see the inside of a patrol boat unless they are family members or in the Navy.
While stretching their sea legs, the students were taken on two rigid-hulled inflatable boat rides.
The boats are known for their high speed and manoeuvrability, and are used in boarding operations, searches and transport between ship and shore.
As Cape Pillar headed off to deploy for surveillance in the waters off the coast of the Kimberley region in Western Australia, the students were returned to shore at HMAS Coonawarra.
Sergeant Haslina Shaw, of Defence Force Recruiting, was in charge of organising the tour for the students.
"This was an experience the students will never forget," Sergeant Shaw said.
"Through ship tours and experiences like this, we want to inspire the next generation to join the ADF and study for free, either on the job getting a trade or through a degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy."
