After two years at the helm of HMAS Toowoomba, Commander Catherine Hayes has relinquished command at a ceremony alongside at Fleet Base West, in Rockingham.
Commander Hayes took command of Toowoomba in July 2013 and has led the ship’s company through a busy deployment to the Middle East region, Operation SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN, Operation RESOLUTE twice, as well as assisting in HMAS Canberra’s first work up.
During 2015, Toowoomba assisted Canberra during her first work up, adapting and developing procedures which will be used in the future for ships to build on.
One of the major highlights for Toowoomba this year was exercising Freedom of Entry into the city of Toowoomba.
Toowoomba crew will now transfer to HMAS Ballarat under the command of Commander David Landon during her anti-ship missile defence upgrade period.
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Image: Australian Navy