The barbecue sizzled, musicians played and the public kept on coming as HMAS Choules offered a taste of Australian hospitality in Samoa this month.
Held by the waters of Apia harbour, the public barbecue and concert featured performances by the Republic of Fiji Navy and Royal Australian Navy bands.
Locals wandered through the picturesque arena as the Fijians played a mix of traditional Fijian and Pacific-themed music before the Australians took to the stage with rock and pop classics including It Ain’t Over by Lenny Kravitz, Africa by Toto, Daryl Braithwaite’s Horses and the timeless Australian favourite Down Under by Men At Work.
Meanwhile, Choules’ chefs impressed by cooking and serving about 800 sausages as well as lamb chops, many kilograms of onions and hundreds of bread rolls.
The arrival of tropical rains did nothing to deter the public, who kept the barbecue serving line busy for nearly two hours.
Choules maritime logistics officer Lieutenant Commander Joshua Atherfold said it was rewarding to see locals enjoying the event.
“People were pleased to be offered free food and entertainment in central Apia’s main public park,” Lieutenant Commander Atherfold said.
“It was very satisfying for the team to represent Australia by offering up Australian hospitality and entertainment to Samoans as Choules’ deck lights shone across the harbour.
“It was a great way to celebrate the friendship between our two nations.”
Choules’ visit to Samoa was part of its south-west Pacific regional presence deployment. The ship delivered Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles and associated equipment to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
It also participated in an International Fleet Review in Tonga, and celebrated the 65th birthday of King Tupou VI and 50th anniversary of the Tonga Royal Navy
The Royal Australian Navy maintains a near continual presence in the Pacific and wider Indo-Pacific region via regional presence deployments that demonstrate its commitment to regional security.
