The role of HMAS Cootamundra during World War II was remembered at the Anzac Day commemoration service at Albert Park yesterday by one of the most senior ranking officers in the Australian Navy, Commodore Darron Kavanagh.
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Canberra-based Commodore Kavanagh has overall responsibility for development and delivery of Navy's combat systems.
After delivering the commemoration address yesterday, he was watched by several hundred people as he tied "tally bands" onto Navy hats, then presented them to the president of the Cootamundra RSL, Garry James.
He explained that the black cap, worn during wartime, had a band with only "HMAS", to minimise information available to the enemy, while the white cap worn during peacetime carried the ship's full name.
"Cootamundra has a direct connection with the Navy through the Australian-built and Australian-manned Bathurst class corvette HMAS Cootamundra," Commodore Kavanagh said.
"It served in the protection of Darwin and in operations off New Guinea and in escorting troop ships in World War II.
"By April 1944, which is 75 years ago, it had already completed 20,000 nautical miles of operational steaming, which is considerable as she had only been commissioned 12 months before."
Cootamundra's Anzac Day service, in balmy weather, was marked by a flypast by a WWII Spitfire from Temora Aviation Museum.
Hat laying was performed by 256 Army Cadet Unit and dozens of wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph.
Prayers of thanksgiving were offered by the captains of Sacred Heart, E A Southee Public and Cootamundra Public Schools.