31 May 2024
HMAS Adelaide doctor Lieutenant Commander Katharine Mitchell knows a thing or two about staying healthy.
When at sea, you’ll find her lunging, lifting and running at early morning group gym sessions.
Run by the ship’s physical training instructors, group training brings sailors of all rates and ranks together to get their sweat on.
It’s just one of the activities helping sailors deal with the stress of long deployments at sea.
While the benefits of getting her heart pumping are obvious for the HMAS Adelaide medical officer, physical fitness is only part of the picture.
“It’s social, it’s exercise and structure to my day,” Lieutenant Commander Mitchell said.
“I work by myself a lot of the time so it’s a good way to get to know people outside of work.”
Adelaide’s physical training instructor Leading Seaman Jay Lymbery noticed a change in the crew’s demeanour when group training was paused because of operational requirements.
“When people don’t get that physical outlet and an opportunity to get away from work, they can deteriorate mentally fairly quickly,” he said.
“Command will do their best to make sure it runs so the crew have a chance to get the endorphins going and hang out with their mates.”
Leading Seaman Lymbery runs different activities for sailors at sea, to promote both physical and mental wellness.
There’s trivia and bingo for a bit of fun, nightly meditation for the chance to be mindful, and sports days bring out a sailor’s competitive spirit, to name a few.
“People get wrapped up in all the things going on and forget to slow down,” Leading Seaman Lymbery said.
“The big trips can take a toll on people. If they don’t look after themselves physically and mentally then they might not realise that their health could be deteriorating.”
Maritime health researchers identified sport as a key contributor to reducing physiological stress in seafarers.
Social isolation, home sickness and fatigue also affected wellbeing.
The physical training instructor role takes more of a holistic approach to health when at sea, according to Leading Seaman Lymbery.
When alongside they were more focused on fitness testing and general fitness.
At sea, activities to foster team cohesion and boost morale were just as important.
Lieutenant Commander Mitchell looks forward to games of Uckers in the wardroom.
Uckers is a traditional Navy game similar to Ludo, where up to four players must get their pieces around the board before their opponent.
“They have it on every ship – it can get quite rowdy,” Lieutenant Commander Mitchell said.
