Blue Ridge, 7th Fleet Visit Cairns, Australia
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050601-09
Release Date: 6/1/2005 4:15:00 PM
From USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs
CAIRNS, Australia (NNS) -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and the embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff visited Cairns, Australia, during a four-day port visit May 26-30.
Cairns, known for beautiful landscapes and easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, made it the perfect venue for Blue Ridge’s adventure lovers.
Lithographer 3rd Class David Cox received a few tips on surviving in the “Outback.”
“I went on a tour to the Tjapukai (jap-oo-ky) Aboriginal Cultural Park. It was great,” said the Melbourne, Fla., native. “I got the chance to learn how to throw a boomerang and a spear.”
During the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)-sponsored tour, Sailors found out how these indigenous people took care of themselves and how they survived in the dangerous and unforgiving Australian wilderness.
“I learned that by using two warm rocks and a special leaf, you could possibly cure a poisonous snake bite,” said Cox.
Sailors also enjoyed the Australian wildlife through an MWR tour of the Cairns Night Zoo. Yeoman 2nd Class Marvin Harris, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., enjoyed the up-close interaction with the animals.
“It was really awesome," said Harris. "We got a chance to pet and feed kangaroos, and the staff at the zoo was very friendly and knowledgeable,” said Harris.
Many Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet Sailors took to water and got a fish-eye view of one of nature’s seven wonders, the Great Barrier Reef. Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Adam Robert took advantage of the chance to dive the largest reef in the world.
“It was an incredible experience,” said Roberts. “There were some amazing creatures. I saw a variety of fish, and I also got to see an eel for the first time.”
Some Sailors took a break from exploring to spend time with students at Peace Lutheran School and Cairns Christian School. Sailors spent an afternoon with the kids, answering their questions about life in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces.
Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) (SW) 2nd Class Thomas Zacher from Yuma, Ariz., said it was awesome that the Australian children were so curious about the Navy.
“They asked lots of interesting questions,” said Zacher. “It seemed like they put a lot of thought into what they were asking us.”
Zacher also felt very proud to represent his country and service at the schools.
“It makes me feel good to go out into the community in my uniform. I think that it is a great representation of the U.S. Navy in Australia,” said Zacher.
“I had a wonderful time,” added Postal Clerk 2nd Class Shemika Jeffries, of Memphis, Tenn., of her experience in Australia.
Commanded by Capt. J. Stephen Maynard, of Kettering, Ohio, Blue Ridge supports a variety of missions by providing a robust communications suite to allow U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert and his embarked staff to provide guidance and direction to U.S. Naval Forces in the region.
Blue Ridge is permanently forward-deployed to the western Pacific and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan.
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