The Trade by Rudyard Kipling - Royal Australian Navy

Perth City
to Surf
A Personal Account by ABEWSM Jason Mooney
HMAS STIRLING
personnel that
participated in the
2012 Perth City to Surf.
More than 42,000 runners including 56
RAN personnel from HMAS Stirling put on
their running shoes for Western Australia’s
biggest community sporting event the
38 th annual Perth City to Surf, which took
place on the 26th August this year. This
iconic event takes in the sights of Perth’s
Swan River foreshore, Indian Ocean and
iconic Kings Park. The race itself includes
a marathon (42km), half marathon (21km)
and 4km walk, as well as the famous 12km
walk, run and wheelchair races with team
Royal Australian Navy headed by CMDR
Manfield had members represented in four
of these distances the 42km, 21km, 12km
run and finally 12km walk.
THE TRADE
EDITION 2, 2012
2
My training for this race began in February
when I joined the RAN after a break of
nearly three years as a civilian. Being a
Lateral Transfer I was very familiar with the
fitness requirements of the Defence Force
but I didn’t realise how unfit I had become.
I had run the City to Surf on three previous
occasions whilst visiting Australia when
still serving in the Royal Navy and had
completed in two Marathons in the past as
well as countless half marathons but still,
after this break, even 21km was to prove a
challenge to me.
I had approached CMDR Manfield (TA-SM)
back in March of this year who pointed out
the Navy’s Running Club and the benefits
of joining, as well as the regular training
sessions that would be taking place over
the coming months. This in its self gave
me the initial drive to begin my training
in earnest. Additionally, the RAN’s fitness
policy to two hours of fitness weekly would
ultimately provide me with a spring board
in my road to regaining my past fitness.
However, sadly, due to my requirement to
attend classes I was unable to attend as
many of CMDR Manfield’s training sessions
as I would have liked. On the other hand,
the support given to me by the Submarine
School staff allowed me the flexibility in my
class programming to undertake personal
training during work time (always a
good option when juggling work and
family commitments).
I was amongst the 10 Submarine
Training and Systems Centre (STSC)
representatives and the support and
camaraderie I received was something
that over the coming months I would
come to rely on.
Early on in my training I had developed
what all runners dread….The head
cold and chesty cough, and this set
my training schedule weeks behind.
However, yet again with the support
from both CMDR Manfield and my
fellow trainees they pulled me through
it. Then, on the 27 th of July my wife
gave birth to our third child, which
again, understandably impacted on
my training and then when things
couldn’t get any worse I got the FLU.
This left me one week to go and not
enough training completed.
Days before the main event we had
a group photo and the atmosphere
within the running team was such
that I was swept along by it. This in
its self gave me the necessary drive
to forget what had happened in the
pervious months and get on with what
I had set out to do – join the RAN,
get fit and run in the City to Surf. The
race day itself could not have been
more perfect and finally I crossed
the line in little over 2hrs 20mins. Not
a great time, but in true testament
to the Training, Support and Team
work that being part of RAN and the
Submarine School provided me, I
was able to complete the race at all. I
have now set my sights on once again
completing that Marathon.
Paying Off - WOAWASM Duane Engi
A well- known mentor to the Acoustic Warfare community and a highly regarded
Submariner, after 20 years of distinguishable Submarine service WOAWASM Duane Engi
has decided it is time to call it a day, hang up his boots and pursue other avenues beyond
the scope of the Navy.
Having served on HMAS Ovens, HMAS Otama and HMAS Sheean, WO Engi has had a
commendable career, spanning qualifications in two classes of submarines and being the
recipient of the “Submariner of the Year” award in 2006 amongst other things during his
illustrious career in the Navy.
His professionalism, dedication and job knowledge will be sorely missed. We farewell
WOAWASM Duane Engi and wish him and his wife all the best for their future and his future
endeavours, whatever they shall be.
Answers from page 29
1 - CPOAWA Jeremy Hammond (NPCMA)
2 - CPOCTSSM Nathan Moore (EWTSS)
3 - CDRE John Chandler (DGSM)
4 - CMDE J J Cupples (CO HMAS COLLINS)
5 - Mr Danny Gorsch (SUBFOR ASM)
6 - WOAWA Justin Moore (STSC)
7 - WO(N) Holzberger (MHQ)
8 - CPOMTSM Rohan Pugh (STSC)
9 - POETSM Peter Wilcox (DNCM)
LIFESTYLE
ABEWSM Jason Mooney
settling in for the long haul.
THE TRADE
EDITION 2, 2012