The base serves as Brisbane’s eyes and ears.

Balancing support for visiting warships and managing more than 1,000 permanent and reservist personnel is HMAS’s daily job. Morton.

SIGNATURE: Commanding Officer Rosemary Apikotoa of HMAS Moreton, Brisbane. Story and photographs by Corporal Luke Bellman.

The station’s role, located on the south bank of the Brisbane River, is to transfer fuel, supplies, maintenance, mooring and crew support for Navy operations from the Tropic of Capricorn to the New South Wales border.

Morton The commander, Commander Rosemary Apikotoa, said if a ship was seeking shelter from a storm they would always provide assistance.

“Turn it on as soon as possible, get them there, refuel, give the crew a break, and then get back out to sea when the weather improves,” she said.

Morton also plays a role during high-risk seasons.

“During the flood, we had people on the ground acting as headquarters and supporting all communications and naval operations,” Commander Apikotoa said.

Although the base is currently operating in peacetime, following the release of the recent Strategic Defense Review, Commander Apikotoa continues to maintain readiness levels to support expanded operations in the future.

“The strategic environment has changed so I have been actively involved in planning what this means for Brisbane and how to move the peacetime headquarters to support the growing fleet along the east coast,” she said.

“At the moment we have no home ships in HMAS. Mortonbut we have ADV Reliable moved home here to Brisbane. We also look forward to working with the Army and their water resources.”

It is also home to Australia’s only regional reserve center, which handles all administration, training, deployment and support for Navy reservists in south-east Queensland.

Commander Apikotoa said they were doing everything they could to ensure complete command and control of personnel.

“I deal with their administration, publications, contracts and making sure they are ready,” she said.

“We have two people who do this almost constantly. Now I live and breathe through the (reserve) members – they are the best.”

Morton operates with a small team of permanent employees and a predominantly reserve workforce.

SIGNATURE: Able Seaman Joseph Ahern at HMAS Moreton in Brisbane.

One of these is Able Seaman Reservist Joseph Ahern, who assists the visiting liaison team by providing accommodation and the provision of gangplanks and fenders when ships moor, as well as performing ceremonial and hospitality duties.

“The walkways are like a big staircase that people walk up from the dock to the ship,” he said.

“Fenders are like large rubber tires/devices that are placed between the dock and the ships to prevent them from hitting the dock.”

As part of the ceremonial team, Able Seaman Ahern also assists with veterans’ wakes and burials in south-east Queensland.

Latest modernization in 2019 Morton Construction of transit facilities for 52 people, a multi-user conference room and new office space has been completed.

The residential building is primarily used by Navy and Army cadets and personnel attending nearby courses.

Although they do not have a mess hall or infirmary, the building is given priority for operational needs.

The base has changed location, size and capabilities over time, moving from Alice and Edward Streets in Brisbane to New Farm and now Bulimba.

It served as Brisbane’s eyes and ears from 1942, and during the Second World War it served around 70 submarines on the Brisbane River.

The motto “Hold On” has been maintained ever since, reflecting the base’s enduring resilience.

“In 1942, Darwin suffered, Sydney suffered, Brisbane held the line,” Commander Apikotoa said.

“Hang on” is a nautical term meaning: hold on to your rigging, there’s a storm coming.

“Today we retain this motto as our leadership philosophy and remember this in times of peace.”

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