Our People in QLD
Margaret Madden - Our warship hosts Toowoomba local
HMAS Toowoomba, currently serving in the Middle East Area of Operations, has just completed a three day visit to Karachi, Pakistan and found some surprising links with the City of Toowoomba during her interaction with the locals.
The primary reason for the visit to Karachi, was to develop cooperation and promote understanding and friendship between the Royal Australian Navy and the Pakistan Navy and this included a program of professional, cultural, sporting and social interaction.
HMAS Toowoomba hosted an official reception onboard the first evening of the visit attended by the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, His Excellency Tim George, the Defence Attaché Islamabad and Kabul, Captain Mel Schmidt RAN, as well as a large group of senior Naval Officers from Pakistan Navy, and local business and community members.
One of the special guests was Sister Margaret Madden, a Sister of Mercy, who was previously an education consultant with the Catholic Education Office in Toowoomba between 1980 and 1989. She was thrilled and delighted to get an invite to the Official Reception.
“When I received my invite, I couldn’t believe HMAS Toowoomba was visiting Karachi. Even though I have lived here in Pakistan for 15 years, I still have family who live in the city of Toowoomba,” she said.
Sister Margaret said it was great to set foot on “Australian soil”, HMAS Toowoomba, in Karachi and said it was a rare treat for her to get together with other Australians in this part of the world.
“Things I miss about Toowoomba are the blue skies, clean streets, organised life and family and friends – my sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Peter Kenny still live in Toowoomba,” she said.
After a successful visit to Karachi, HMAS Toowoomba has now resumed her patrols as part of Operation Slipper, Australia’s contribution to maritime security and counter-terrorism in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. Early next month she will commence anti-piracy duties in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and waters off the Horn of Africa, a first for a RAN ship.