By BRIDGET COOK
DURING a long career with the Navy, Cranbourne sailor Paddy McKeag has had many feats.
He has sipped coffee with Prince Charles, swam directly over the Marianas Trench (nearly 11km deep) and watched three of his ships be decommissioned – HMA Ships Canberra, Adelaide and Manoora.
The Chief Petty Officer and experienced electronics technician recently added another achievement to that list when he celebrated his 30 year anniversary in the Navy.
The milestone was celebrated in fitting style, with Mr McKeag on deployment conducting counter terrorism operations in the Gulf of Aden, on-board the Australian warship HMAS Newcastle.
His shipmates held a small celebration on-board to celebrate the occasion.
Mr McKeag, 45, said he joined the Navy when he was 15-years-old as he wanted to travel, get a trade and he had family in the service.
“This is the best job I have ever had,” he said.
“Come to think of it – it’s the only job I have ever had.
“Seriously though, this has been an absolute dream job. If it was at all boring, I wouldn’t still be here.”
In his 30 years, Mr McKeag has served on HMAS Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Manoora and Newcastle.
He is currently on his fifth deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations and has also served in East Timor in 1999, Fiji on 1986, Timor-Leste on 2006 and on Operations Warden and Resolute.
Mr McKeag said he has a lot of memorable moments during the past 30 years.
“Like sailing across the Atlantic Ocean in thick fog at 3am – it was low light and the sea state was zero,” he said.
“All I could hear was the gas turbines. That experience takes your mind to some interesting places.
“And taking part in the Bicentennial Naval Salute in 1988. That was a great time to be a sailor.”
Mr McKeag said a lot had changes since he first joined the Navy.
“I have gotten much older and have less hair and more weight,” he joked.
“The only thing that has been constant is, in fact, change.”
Mr McKeag said he was not ready to leave the Navy yet and still had more things he wanted to accomplish before he did.
“I do want to be around for the 100 Anniversary of Anzac Day in 2015,” he said.
“I hope to be either in Gallipoli or involved in the service at the MCG.”
