Life on a patrol boat can be challenging - long days, tight spaces and a crew of nearly 30 where women are often the minority.
For Medic Able Seaman Ainsley Whipps and Boatswain's Mate Leading Seaman Karin Smit, those challenges forged an unbreakable bond as the only two women on board HMAS Bathurst.
Both sailors joined the Navy for different reasons.
Able Seaman Whipps enlisted as a medic to push herself out of her comfort zone.
"I was a shy kid," she said.
"Joining the Navy was about growing as a person and my parents encouraged me to take the leap."
Leading Seaman Smit's motivation was simpler.
"I didn't want to go to university, and the idea of ropes, boats and guns sounded pretty good to me," she said.
After recruit school, Leading Seaman Smit headed straight to Darwin in 2018, serving on HMAS Pirie before moving west during the pandemic.
Able Seaman Whipps, meanwhile, honed her skills on major fleet units before volunteering for patrol boat service, a role that demands confidence and independence.
"As the only medic on board, you have to be assertive," she said.
"You're responsible for the health of the crew, and you need to speak up."
'She's got this energy, she knows her worth and doesn't let anyone push her around.'
When Leading Seaman Smit and Able Seaman Whipps first met, they weren't instant best friends.
"We just co-existed with each other," Leading Seaman Smit said.
"But as other women left the ship, we realised it was just us and that's when the friendship really grew."
That friendship became a lifeline.
"Being two women among 27 men, you stick together. We lean on each other, share the same cabin and support each other through everything," Leading Seaman Smit said.
For Able Seaman Whipps, Leading Seaman Smit's confidence has been inspiring.
"She's got this energy, she knows her worth and doesn't let anyone push her around," Able Seaman Whipps said.
"I've learned a lot from her."
The pair share laughs, late-night chats and the occasional venting session.
As Bathurst prepares for decommissioning, the sailors reflected on what they will miss most.
"The crew," Leading Seaman Smit said.
"You meet all kinds of people - some good, some bad, but the friendships you make are what matter."
Able Seaman Whipps agreed, saying it had been a privilege to serve on a ship with such a proud history.
"From Operation Resolute to countless other missions, these boats have done incredible work," she said.
Able Seaman Whipps said being part of that legacy and having "a sister by my side" had been unforgettable.
Looking ahead, she said she was excited for her next posting on Cape-class patrol boats.
"I'll have a whole sick bay to myself," she said.
