Updated
Photo: The HMAS Sydney leads the ceremonial fleet into Sydney Harbour as part of the International Fleet Review on October 4, 2013. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts) 
Photo: HMAS Sydney sails under the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the International Fleet Review 2013 on October 4, 2013. (ADF: James Whittle) 
Photo: HMAS Sydney leads Australian warships Darwin, Perth, Parramatta, Bundaberg, Diamantina and Huon through Sydney Harbour, as part of the re-enactment of the original fleet arrival 100 years ago for the International Fleet Review 2013 on October 4, 2013. (ADF: James Whittle) 
Photo: The RAAF Roulettes fly over one of the warships in Sydney Harbour participating in the International Fleet Review, October 4, 2013. (Getty Images: Ryan Pierse) 
Photo: The crew of a Malaysian warship participating in the International Fleet Review salute the crowd lining the shore of Sydney Harbour, October 4, 2013. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: A line of warships make their way through Sydney Harbour for the International Fleet Review, October 3, 2013. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: The crew of the Chinese warship PLAN Qingdao line the sides of the ship as it enters Sydney Harbour for the International Fleet Review, October 4, 2013. (Getty Images: Ryan Pierse) 
Photo: A Royal Australian Navy helicopter flies over the Sydney Opera House trailing a banner for the International Fleet Review, October 4, 2013. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: A warship makes its way through Sydney Heads at the start of the International Fleet Review commemorating the centenary of the arrival of the first Royal Australian Navy fleet into Sydney, October 4, 2013. (Audience submitted: Maddie Borys) 
Photo: HMAS Sydney is followed into Sydney Harbour by other warships taking part in the International Fleet Review, October 4, 2013. (ABC News: Brendan Trembath) 
Photo: A multi-national fleet of ships participating in the International Fleet Review sail in formation off the coast of Jervis Bay on the south coast of New South Wales October 3, 2013. (RAN: ABIS Sarah Williams) 
Photo: A Seahawk helicopter flies the Australian White Ensign over a multi-national fleet of ships at anchor in Jervis Bay on the south coast of New South Wales October 3, 2013. The ships had gathered for the International Fleet Review commemorating the centenary of the arrival of the first Royal Australian Navy Fleet into Sydney. (RAN: ABIS Sarah Williams) 
Photo: The Young Endeavour sails into Sydney Harbour as part of a fleet of tall ships on October 3, 2013, as part of the International Fleet Review commemorating the centenary of the arrival of the first Royal Australian Navy Fleet into Sydney. (ADF: ABIS Cassie McBride) 
Photo: Tall ships moves through Sydney Harbour as part of the International Fleet Review commemorating the centenary of the arrival of the first Royal Australian Navy Fleet into Sydney, October 3, 2013. (RAN: ABIS Nicolas Gonzalez) 
Photo: A tall ship approaches the Sydney Harbour Bridge on October 3, 2013, ahead of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: A tall ship enters Sydney Heads on October 3, 2013, ahead of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: A tall ship passes through Sydney Heads on October 3, 2013, ahead of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: Several tall ships approach Sydney Heads on October 3, 2013, ahead of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: Two tall ships approach Sydney Heads on October 3, 2013, ahead of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: A tall ship makes its way towards Sydney Heads on October 3, 2013, ahead of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: The tall ship, Lord Nelson, approaches Sydney Heads on October 3, 2013, ahead of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time. (ABC News: John Donegan) 
Photo: Several tall ships make their way towards Sydney Heads on October 3, 2013, ahead of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time. (ABC News: John Donegan)
Gallery: Warships and tall ships arrive in Sydney
Prince Harry has arrived in Sydney to help celebrate 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet first entered the waterway.
The International Fleet Review visit marks the prince's first official trip to Australia representing the royal family.
This morning he and Governor-General Quentin Bryce will board the HMAS Leeuwin on Sydney Harbour, where people are already gathering at prime viewing points.
The prince will then head to Kirribilli House to meet a number of young Australians who have been recognised for helping others.
Jordan O'Reilly from disability support group Fighting Chance says he is not sure what he will say to the prince.
"I haven't planned anything yet - I've been given lots of suggestions from friends but I think it'll just be great to meet him and say hello," he said.
"I think, regardless of what you think of the royals today, the opportunity to meet with a member of the royal family is an incredible honour."
Ben Duggan will also meet the prince.
"At first surprised - I thought it must have been a joke. When it sunk in I was quite honoured," he said.
"Quite a few female friends have been asking for my ticket or if I can pass on a mobile number or two."
It is a fleeting visit for Prince Harry, who will fly out tomorrow morning.
Keen Sydneysiders are already setting up deck chairs and cameras, snaring the best spots around the Botanic Gardens, the Opera House, and Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
At 10.00am AEST, there will be a 100 gun salute from the north end of Garden Island, during which the minor war vessels will begin to enter the harbour.
From 10.30am the major war vessels from 17 nations will join them circling the harbour and being officially inspected by Ms Bryce and Prince Harry.
A series of 'Salute to Navy' air displays will take place from 2:15pm to 5:30pm.
A massive light show and fireworks spectacular, which will be broadcast on ABC News 24, will start at 7:40pm.
Yesterday, more than 20 warships from 17 nations glided into the harbour to the Navy centenary.
Leading Australia's ships in the ceremonial spectacle yesterday was HMAS Sydney, which emerged from behind Bradley's Head, followed by six others - Darwin, Bundaberg, Perth, Parramatta, Diamantina and Huon.
HMAS Sydney Commander Karl Brinckman says the first fleet review in 1913 signalled Australia coming of age as a nation.
"One-hundred years ago was the first Australianised fleet, if you like, our own ships that we could call our own," he said.
"Before that we very much relied upon ships, particularly from the UK.
"So the Australian fleet was very important in nation-building for the country. The nation was really only around 12 years old at that time."
Topics: navy, defence-and-national-security, defence-forces, royal-and-imperial-matters, sydney-2000, australia
First posted
No comments:
Post a Comment