11 July 2024
Hundreds of sailors and musicians from 10 nations came ashore in the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa for a combined parade, marking the 65th birthday of His Majesty King Tupou VI and 50th anniversary of the Tonga Royal Navy.
The Tongan formation led the parade, with crew members of Tonga’s two Australian-gifted Guardian-class patrol boats, sea cadets, the Tonga Royal Corps of Musicians and former serving members of the Tonga Royal Navy.
Following them were the international participants, comprising contingents from all visiting ships and a massed band.
Royal Australian Navy Band and Republic of Fiji Navy Band members were already well-acquainted, having travelled together from Fiji aboard HMAS Choules.
The parade snaked its way through downtown Nuku’alofa, cheered on by the Tongan public until all participants made their formal salute with “eyes left” as they passed the Royal Palace before dispersing for official functions.
Tongan-born Royal Australian Navy Chaplain Simote Finau led the Australian contingent and considered it a special honour to hold such an important role in the parade.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be sent back to my home country in Choules for the occasion,” Chaplain Finau said.
“Leading the march through the streets of Nuku’alofa was special for me, and a moment I won’t forget, both as a Tongan and as a member of the Royal Australian Navy.”
HMAS Choules’ time in Tonga was part of a month-long Pacific deployment that included delivering the Republic of Fiji Military Forces' 14 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles and visiting Samoa ahead of its deployment later this year in support of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
Australia maintains a near continual presence in the Pacific and wider Indo-Pacific region via regional presence deployments.
These deployments play a vital role in regional security by strengthening cooperation and relationships with partner nations.
