Josephine and Callum Reeves on the bridge of HMNZS MANAWANUI with the Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson. (WN09-0025-06tn)
3 February 2009
On Monday 2 February, Callum Reeves (aged 11) and his sister Josephine (aged seven) boarded the Navy's Diving Support ship HMNZS MANAWANUI, as Callum's prize in a competition on Classic Hits Wellington’s Classic Breakfast Show.
Callum has just started at Hutt Intermediate and thinks he would like to join the Defence Force as a Medic. Callum, Josephine and their parents, Dan and Sonya, were invited into the Commanding Officer's cabin where they had pancakes for breakfast, followed by a tour of the ship. Classic Hits Host Camille Guzzwell conducted live interviews with Callum and Lieutenant Commander Phil Rowe, the ship's Commanding Officer.
Prior to the ship’s departure for Auckland, the Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson and the Warrant Officer of the Navy, Warrant Officer Neil Roberts, embarked and the ship sailed into Wellington Harbour where the ship's company performed a 'Man Overboard' safety drill using a mannequin and the ship's seaboat.
After a circuit of Somes Island, the Reeves family were transferred by seaboat back to Queen's Wharf armed with a collection of happy memories.
"It was probably the best trip and the best thing I've ever done," said Callum who will be able to impress his new school friends with tales of his morning on board a Navy ship.
The children also met Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Ledson, who gave them his coin, and had their photo taken with him on the ship's bridge. Sonya Reeves said Callum had just written a postcard to his cousin saying "we were treated like Royalty".
"We all had such a lovely time. We were absolutely blown away," Sonya said.
ENDS
With thanks to the Commanding Officer and ship's company of HMNZS MANAWANUI and Classic Hits Radio.