Our People in NT
Genevieve Richardson - Genevieve's high seas adventure
Darwin girl, Genevieve Richardson will soon return home from a 25,000km round-the-world voyage, and what an adventure she has had.
“The trip was amazing and an experience that I will never forget. How many people get to go around the world on a warship?”
Genevieve is an Able Seaman Writer in the Royal Australian Navy on board HMAS Sydney. She is responsible for administration of the pay and allowance on board. Genevieve is also part of the Ship’s Medical Emergency Team (SMET) which provides first aid support in a variety of situations such as a man overboard incident.
HMAS Sydney, together with HMAS Ballarat left Australia in April on Northern Trident 09 – a deployment aimed at supporting Government of Australia priorities such as diplomacy, international security and defence industry interests in selected Western European, Northern American and Asian countries.
The deployment has had plenty of highlights, from rescuing a merchant vessel under attack from pirates, visiting ports in India, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada as well as the United States where the ship sailed past the Statue of Liberty before berthing in New York for a four day official visit.
Genevieve also got to visit Egypt and sail through the Panama Canal – something not many people ever get to do.
“I joined the Navy in 2005 hoping to see the world and this trip has certainly helped achieve that goal. Being part of this deployment really opened my eyes to many different cultures and made me really appreciate how great Australia is. The main highlights for me were going to the baseball and seeing the stage show Chicago in New York, visiting Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, seeing the Lion King in London and of course plenty of shopping!
This was not Genevieve’s first overseas trip with the Royal Australian Navy. She visited USA and Canada in 2007, however it will be the most memorable.
“The experiences that I had during the time I was away will definitely not be forgotten in a hurry, that’s for sure. I bought lots of souvenirs, perfume for my family and friends and took heaps of photos so the memories really will last a lifetime.
And while being in the Navy has taken Genevieve away to all corners of the globe, her family couldn’t be happier.
“My family have always been really supportive about me being in the Navy and going away. My father Len is extremely proud of what I have achieved, while my mother Maree, whilst also proud, always carries that motherly worry with her about the prospect of me potentially being deployed one day for war.
“For now though, this trip has been a fantastic experience and it will be great to see my family - especially my nephew, and tell them all about the trip when I return home to Darwin.”