Our People in WA
Troy Hurd - Perth local travels around the world with Navy
Perth man, Troy Hurd will soon return home from a 25,000km round-the-world voyage, and what an adventure he 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?”
Troy is a Weapons Technician in the Royal Australian Navy on board HMAS SYDNEY. He is responsible for the day to day operation and maintenance of all the ship’s weapons systems.
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.
Troy also got to visit Egypt and sail through the Panama Canal – something not many people ever get to do.
“I joined the Navy in 1994 when I finished year 12 as it provided solid career opportunities, the chance to get a trade as well as earn good money. I also wanted to travel and what better way than on a ship.
While this trip was not Troy’s first overseas trip with the Royal Australian Navy, (he has been deployed to the Persian Gulf twice and visited Antarctica, South-East Asia and the South-West Pacific), this trip is certainly one of his 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 have bought plenty of souvenirs to remind me of the places I visited as well as t-shirts, caps and jewellery for my daughter Alyssa, nine and Joshua, eight.”
And while being in the Navy has taken Troy away to all corners of the globe, his family couldn’t be happier.
“My family have always been really supportive about me being in the Navy and going away - although they are pretty jealous of all the places I have got visit on this trip! For now though, I am really looking forward to getting home to Perth, seeing my children and going Trout fishing at Foursprings Lake,” said Troy.