FORMER Nepean News Legend of the Nepean Garry Ayres was honoured with the presentation of a Quilt from Aussie Hero Quilts at The Royce on Saturday 26th October.
The quilts are custom-made to reflect the life experiences of the recipient – in this case, Garry, where it reflected his dedicated military service, firstly in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), then in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The presentation took place in front of about 40 onlookers and Garry’s wife Lesley set the scene with a marvellous synopsis of Garry’s military postings and exploits, followed by the actual presentation of the Quilt by Del Gaudry CSC, Western Sydney Coordinator for Women’s Veterans’ Network Australia (WVNA) and President of the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA).
Tony Fryer, Secretary, St Marys RSL sub-Branch then rounded off the event by detailing Garry’s various medals and awards, as well as reading Garry’s commendation from 1994 for a superb job in overseeing the transfer of RAAF Catering Services to a commercial contractor.
“Well deserved and well done, Garry. And thank you to Aussie Hero Quilts for a tremendous Quilt to recognise someone who has served our Nation so well,” Tony said.
Lesley Ayres said “The presentation (to Garry) was for his 36 years military career. There was one full circle life story I told when a 18-year-old Garry completed his Navy recruit training and trade training as a Steward in 1961 at HMAS Cerberus. He was transferred to the Commodore’s Lodgings, where the Commodore asked him to make a cup of coffee, but Garry stood there and the Commodore asked ‘is there a problem’? Garry replied ‘I don’t know how to make a cup of coffee, Sir’ and the Commodore said but you have just completed a Steward’s course. Garry said yes Sir but they didn’t show us how to make a cup of coffee and I come from a long line of tea drinkers, so the good Commodore showed Garry how he liked his coffee.
Decades later, when Garry was a Warrant Officer in the RAAF at RAAF Base Richmond, working his final dining-in night dinner in the Officers Mess before he aged retired at 55 yrs, the CO told Garry there would be two retired Naval Officers attending as our guests. Garry was introduced to the retired Naval officers and one of them said I knew a young sailor years ago called Garry Ayres.
Garry replied that probably would be me, Sir. The Commodore’s reply was ‘did you jump ship and join the RAAF?’ He started to walk away but turned around and said to Garry “l’m looking forward to my cup of coffee at the end of my dinner, and Warrant Officer Garry’s reply was ‘I will be honoured to serve you, Sir’.”
Garry’s Legend of the Nepean story in 2015, written by Greg (Harpo) Martin, covered Garry’s successful careers in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the NSW Correctional Services, then as a great servant to the Returned Services League (RSL), Lawn Bowls and Australian Rules Football (AFL) administrations.
During his service in the RAN, Garry was involved in two of the most momentous occasions in the history of the Senior Service, including the sinking of HMAS Voyager at Jervis Bay on February 10, 1964 – the Australian military’s most disastrous non-wartime loss of lives – and being aboard the first Australian ship – MV Boonaroo – to fly the new RAN Ensign on March 1, 1967.
He had been a crewman for just a month aboard the Australian flagship, HMAS Melbourne. The giant aircraft carrier and the ill-fated HMAS Voyager were both undergoing post-refit trials off Jervis Bay.
Garry helped man the Admiral’s Staircase, where he worked on the platform as the Melbourne’s small boats brought the survivors from Voyager back to the flagship. Of the Voyager’s complement of 314 seamen, 82 perished in the tragic incident.
The second incident was also memorable and interesting but far removed from the tragedy which occurred off Jervis Bay. With Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War escalating, the powers-that-be decided to send a cargo freighter, the MV Boonaroo, to Cam Rhan Bay loaded with munitions.
The Seaman’s Union refused to send merchant seaman into the dangerous waters so the Boonaroo was commissioned by the RAN on March 1, 1967 and a naval crew, including Leading Steward Ayres, replaced the regular crew.
And as such HMAS Boonaroo became the very first RAN vessel to fly the newly introduced Australian White Ensign.
Thank you for your service, Garry Ayres.
