Our People in NSW
Brett O'Neill - Forbes local keeps warship safe in Middle East
Forbes local, Brett O’Neill, is performing a critical role onboard Royal Australian Navy ship, HMAS Toowoomba.
The ANZAC Class Frigate is currently serving at sea on operations in the Middle East as part of Australia's military contribution to coalition efforts to international campaigns against terrorism, countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and maritime security.
Brett has been in the Navy for three years and is a Marine Technician currently holding the rank of Able Seaman. In his current role, Brett is responsible for all the equipment used in an emergency such as fire flood or toxic hazard, all of which can be catastrophic onboard a ship at sea.
“It’s not like you can call triple zero for help out here at sea, so we have a team onboard who responds to any sort of emergency, so I need to make sure that the equipment they need to use is working properly,” Brett said.
Although looking after the damage control and safety equipment onboard HMAS Toowoomba is Brett’s sole responsibility and primary duty, he is also working towards his Certificate 4 in Marine Engineering and works on the ship’s hull and structure as part of this progression.
Being a marine technician also requires Brett to work in the machinery spaces onboard Toowoomba where temperatures can soar up to 50 and 60 degrees.
Brett has seen many places during his short time in the Navy including South Korea and Singapore last year; this is Brett’s first operational deployment to the Middle East.
“I enjoy my job because you get to travel to various interesting places in the world with your mates. On this trip we’ve already been to the Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Salalah in Oman and Karachi in Pakistan”, Brett said.
Brett, 21, grew up in Forbes and his mum and dad, Helen and Garry O’Neill and his three sisters still live there. Attending Forbes High School and a former member of the Forbes Magpies and Forbes Platypi, Brett still has very close ties with Forbes.
“When I get home from this deployment I’m looking forward to going back to my hometown and visiting mum and dad and catch up with a few old mates from school for a beer at the Forbes Inn,” he said.
Toowoomba is due to return to her home port at Fleet Base West in Western Australia in early December.