Emotional scenes as families farewell frigate for Timor

By Chris Daniels

Despite being back with family and friends for less than a week the 245 men and women of the frigate Canterbury set sail again last night for what could be their most dangerous mission.

More than 250 people gathered at the Devonport naval base to farewell the crew of HMNZS Canterbury, who set sail for East Timor on a three-month mission.

The ship has been back in port only a few days, after finishing its last three-month mission, exercising off the coast of Australia.

Many of the crew had planned leave and holidays with families, partners and friends, but this was cancelled soon after arriving. They are now unlikely to be home for Christmas. "Bye Daddy," was squealed out across the water by one small girl as the ship was towed out by a tug into the Waitemata just after 7 pm.

One father learned for the first time yesterday what it was like to say goodbye to a young family before heading to a war zone.

Surgeon Lieutenant Chris Sanes had to farewell his daughter Hannah, aged 5, and son Alex, 1.

"I am a bit nervous, it is my first deployment I am just unsure of what is going to happen."

Surgeon Lieutenant Sanes was a GP in Blockhouse Bay before joining the Navy last year.

"It is not a very nice feeling," said wife Sandra, comforting their children on the dockside." Sending your husband off to sea, the thought of it being an active area - going to the Gulf would have been better."

"I'm very proud of my boy," said a tearful Rihari Wiki, who drove for six hours from the Far North town of Te Kao to see his son Melvin J. Wiki leave for East Timor. "He's been away for about three months and now he is going again."

A week ago, Lisa Downe was among hundreds of Aucklanders marching in support of an independent East Timor.

Last night, she found herself making an even greater commitment to the cause when she farewelled her husband, Pete, a chief petty officer.

While pleased he would be part of the international operation, an issue of neck tag identification labels to all crew members drove home the danger faced. "I'd feel worse if Pete wasn't going," Mrs Downe said.

Commander Warren Cummins, captain of the Canterbury, became visibly emotional when asked what effect such a short time back in port would have on families.

"The Navy is itself a family, my crew is a family and I've got my own family. It is a big thing, it is very hard on them and it's hard on all of us."

He said his young crew, despite all their training with the Australian Navy and their experience, were still feeling apprehensive about the mission. "This is not something we do every day."