HMAS CANBERRA - Key Persons
Commander Bryan Wilson was born in Melbourne on 17 January ,1939. He entered the Royal Australian Naval College in January 1953, after graduating in 1956, he continued his naval training as midshipman at the Royal Naval College,Dartmouth and HMA Ships FREMANTLE and DIAMANTINA in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant.
In 1960 he qualified as a Destroyer Gunnery Officer, was promoted to Lieutenant and joined the HMAS QUICKMATCH as Gunnery Officer until 1962 when he proceeded to the United Kingdom to undertake a long Gunnery Course at HMS EXCELLENT. The followed two years exchange service in the Royal Navy in HMS CASSANDRA which included operational service in the Far East during the Indonesian / Malaysian confrontation . Commander Wilson spent the later half of 1965 in the USA for further guided missile and gunnery training; then returned to Australia to take up a posting as Gunnery Trials Officer. In 1968 he spent six months in Holland working on a new fire control system project was promoted to Lieutenant Commander at the end of that year.
In 1969 he joined HMAS VENDETTA as Gunnery Officer and from September, 1969 to March 1970 saw operational service when VENDETTA was attached to the US Seventh Fleet for Gunline operations in Vietnam.
In 1971 he attended the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, London This was followed by two years as Deputy Directory of Surface and Air Weapons at Navy Office and one year as Executive Officer HMAS YARRA. He joined the staff of the Fleet Commander in 1975 firstly as the Fleet Gunnery Officer and then,promotion to his current rank in December, 1975, he became head of the Fleet Training Group. Prior to his current posting he served at HMAS CERBERUS Officer- in- Charge of RAN Gunnery School.
Job Titles:
- Officer at the RAAF Fighter Base Williamtown
Captain Brett Wolski, RAN was born in Kingaroy, Queensland and joined the RAN in 1986 as a Supplementary List officer. He underwent the typical postings for a Seaman Officer under training and was awarded his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in HMAS Brisbane (II) in 1989. A 12-month posting in the Destroyer Escort HMAS Stuart (II) as Officer of the Watch immediately followed.
Brett completed the Air Defence Controller course at RAAF Williamtown in January 1991 and joined HMAS Perth (II) for eighteen months as the Air Intercept Controller and Officer of the Watch. During this period Perth (II) deployed to Greece and Crete for the 50th anniversary of the fall of Crete during WWII. He then posted to RAAF Williamtown as an Air Defence Controller Instructor and was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant in 1993. He completed the Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) course in December 1995 and then joined HMAS Canberra (II) as the Direction Officer and Operations Officer. Brett was selected to instruct gunnery as a member of the PWO Directing Staff in July 1997 and he remained in this posting until joining HMAS Brisbane (II) as the Gunnery Officer and Operations Officer in August 1999.
Brett was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in January 2000. In August 2000 he posted to the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters in Brisbane as the RAN Liaison Officer giving him a close view of the Joint capabilities of the ADF during exercises such as Tandem Thrust 01 and Longreach 01. Brett was loaned overseas in January 2002 to fulfil the role of RAN Liaison Officer COMFIFTHFLT based in Bahrain. Following this he joined HMAS Manoora as Executive Officer in July 2002. Manoora conducted First of Class Flight Trials, several amphibious exercises and deployments to Operation FALCONER and ANODE during his tenure.
Promoted to Commander in January 2004, Brett undertook the workforce planning duties of Deputy Director Navy Establishments (2004-2005) and Director Navy Workforce Planning (2005-2006) at Navy Headquarters, Canberra. He assumed command of HMAS Tobruk in January 2007. The Ship took part in Operations CATALYST/SLIPPER and RESOLUTE and Exercises Talisman Sabre 07 and RIMPAC 08 during this period. Promoted to Captain in November 2008, Brett was appointed Director of Workforce Modelling, Forecasting and Analysis which resides in the People Strategies and Policy Group located in Canberra. On completion of this posting, he assumed command of HMAS Stirling and as Senior Naval Officer - Western Australia on 17 December 2010.
CAPT Wolski has completed a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, majoring in Bahasa Indonesia and is presently studying for an MBA in his own time. He is married to Sandra and is the proud father of two children (Alexander 14 and Elena 16).
Garry Williamson has been tragically killed in a Motor Vehicle Accident in LAOS on Wednesday 10 November 2010.
Garry Williamson was born in Boxhiil in Victoria and was raised in Chelsea, he joined the Royal Australian Navy as a recruit Underwater Weapons Sailor on the 03 April 1979, on completion of his initial training at HMAS Cerberus he transferred to the Clearance Diver (CD) Category, he was posted to HMAS Penguin and underwent CD Training in 1980, on completion of his Training he was posted to his first Clearance Diving team for 12 months.
Garry was a member of the Commissioning Crew of HMAS Canberra in 1981, he was affectionately know as "Baby Bubbles" and will be sadly missed by his former shipmates who along with his Family and Naval Diving Community are mourning his loss.
Chief Petty Officer Gary Wiliamson retired from the RAN 0n the 03 April 2002 after 23 years of dedicated and Loyal Service. Since his retirement from the Royal Australian Navy he has been working clearing Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company clearing land of unexploded Ordnance overseas.
Gavin was the Commanding Officer of Young Endeavour from January 2008 intil 23 July 2010. He began his Naval career in 1976, when he joined as a 15 year old junior recruit at HMAS Leeuwin and began training as an Under Water Control Sailor.
He completed his training at HMAS Watson before posting to HMAS Derwent. Following a shore posting to Nowra in 1989 he was posted to the commissioning crew of HMAS Canberra in Seattle, USA in 1981 and went on to serve on Canberra on three separate occasions throughout his career.
Promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1988 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the Navy. He was subsequently posted to HMAS Watson as the Senior Anti Submarine Warfare instructor in 1989. Promoted to Warrant Officer in 1994 he served as the Seaman Officers Application Course Manager for four years before accepting a commission to Lieutenant in 1999 and completed Seaman Officer training, later being awarded his Bridge Watch Keeping Certificate.
In 2002 He was posted as the Executive Officer of HMAS Betano and completed service in Bougainville in 2003 and the Solomon Islands in 2003/04. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander he was posted as the Deputy Master Attendant and Staff Officer Nuclear Powered Warships in June 2004.
Having previously served on the ship as Staff Crew, he is very knowledgeable when it comes to the ship, and he is enjoying his time in command. Gavin lives in Sydney with his wife Leanne and teenage daughter Jess.
Lee Webster was born in North Fremantle, Western Australia on the 26th of October 1959, Lee completed Year 10 at Balga Senior High School and joined the Royal Australian Navy at the age of 15 years as a Junior Recruit at HMAS Leeuwin on the 14 July 1975...More
Vice Admiral Matt Tripovich AO CSC RAN joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1974. As a junior officer he served in a number of large and small combatants before completing his warfare training in the UK in 1984. A series of sea and shore appointments subsequently allowed him to consolidate his professional skills.
As a Commander he saw operational service as Executive Officer HMAS BRISBANE during hostilities in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf war, and commanded the frigate HMAS CANBERRA in 1994-96. As a Captain he commanded the frigate HMAS ANZAC in 1999-2001, which included operational service off East Timor.
Promoted to Commodore in 2001, he was appointed Director General Naval Capability, Performance and Plans before returning to sea as Commodore Flotillas in 2002 to lead the Australian Fleet Sea Training Group and the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (Maritime), which provided deployed command staff for most of the major exercises and real world operations in which the RAN was involved, including operations in the Middle East and the Solomon Islands. In 2004, he moved ashore and became Director General Navy Personnel and Training at Navy Headquarters. He was promoted to Rear Admiral on 1 July 2005 and assumed duties as Head of Capability Systems in Australian Defence Headquarters. On 28 September 2007 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and assumed his current position as Chief Capability Development Group.
Vice Admiral Tripovich was awarded a Chief of Navy's Commendation in 1988, and the Conspicuous Service Cross for his service in HMAS BRISBANE during the 1990-91 Gulf War. In June 2005 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in the three appointments that he held as a Commodore.
Vice Admiral Tripovich was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service as Head Capability Systems and Chief Capability Development Group in the The Queen's Birthday 2010 Honours List
Vice Admiral Tripovich has made an enormous contribution to both the current and future performance and effectiveness of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Defence Force throughout his distinguished career. As Head Capability Systems and now Chief Capability Development Group he continually displayed outstanding leadership, integrity and dedication through a period of extraordinary change and development, culminating in the publication of the Defence White Paper of 2009. His leadership, vision and management of the Capability Development Group will have a profound impact on the operations and support of the Australian Defence Force far into the future
Vice Admiral Tripovich has a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). He is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program and a member of the Harvard Alumni. He and his wife have a son and a daughter, he rides a Harley Davidson and he is an enthusiastic fly fisherman.
Captain Ray Leggatt,CSC RAN Born and raised in country New South Wales, Captain Ray Leggatt, RAN joined the RAN in 1983 as a Seaman Officer.
Born 8 February 1960 in Sydney, Tony Aldred joined the Royal Australian Navy College on 17 January 1977 as a Senior Entry Cadet Midshipman, after completing secondary education at Mitchelton State High School in Brisbane, Queensland.
After graduating from the Naval College in July 1979, he undertook an exciting and fulfilling 29 year career in the Royal Australian Navy, which included numerous postings ashore and afloat.
Attaining the rank of Captain, Mr. Aldred specialised in Above Water Warfare and served in HMA Ships JERVIS BAY, STALWART, HOBART, SUPPLY, PERTH, DARWIN, CANBERRA, CERBERUS, KUTTABUL, WATSON and CRESWELL. He also undertook a three year exchange posting with the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, serving as Operations and Gunnery Officer in HMS APOLLO. Mr. Aldred's Naval career highlights include serving as:
The Fleet Gunnery Officer from November 1990 until December 1992, during Gulf War 1.
Officer-in-Charge Warfare and Tactical Development and Deputy Director of Operations Training in HMAS WATSON from October 1994 until November 1997;
Commanding Officer of the guided missile frigate HMAS CANBERRA from May 1999 until November 2000;
Commander Sea Training for Major Fleet Units from January 2002 until December 2003, during Gulf War 2 - this posting encompassed the most demanding operational tempo experienced by the Navy since World War 2; and finally
Commanding Officer of HMAS CRESWELL and the Royal Australian Naval College, including appointment as the Training Authority-Initial Training, Leadership & Management - this posting included a range of co-lateral functions including Special Magistrate and Coroner to the Jervis Bay Territory, member of the Booderee National Park Executive Board of Management, Associate member of the Jervis Bay Marine Park Authority and Superintendent of Naval Waters.
Mr. Aldred has been awarded the Australian Service Medal for service in the Middle East, the Defence Force Service Medal with two clasps, the Australian Defence Medal and, most recently in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours' List, the Conspicuous Service Cross for exceptional service to Navy training. He is also the recipient of two Navy Training Commander Commendations and a Chief of Defence Force Group Commendation.
After his retirement from the Navy early in 2006, Mr. Aldred was employed by the NSW Police Force for two years as the Commander Education Services, at NSW Senior Executive Service level 4. In this role Mr. Aldred led his team through an unprecedented period of change, which included the graduation of the largest single class of probationary constables in Australasian policing history and implementation of range of significant infrastructure and training policy initiatives in collaboration with the organisation's tertiary education provider, Charles Sturt University.
After completing employment with the NSW Police Force Mr. Aldred undertook a period of service with Royal Australian Navy Reserve then subsequently rejoined the Permanent Navy in July 2009, in the rank of Captain. Captain Aldred is presently seriving in Navy Strategic Command, Canberra.
He enjoys sketching and has a keen interest in Rugby Union football, although now limited to spectator status. He is married with three adult daughters and two grand-children.