I joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Chef when I was 18 on the 22nd May 2000; I served 22 years. I was medically retired on 2nd August 2022.
I’ve always had an adventurous soul and joining the Navy was the perfect fit. The most marvellous thing about my career in the Navy was the people I met and served with. The experiences, opportunities and challenges I have faced, absolutely shaped the woman I am today. To serve my country will forever hold great pride for me. Once a Sailor, always a Sailor.
To serve as a Chef in the Navy was so enjoyable for me purely because I could live my passion each and every day. Bringing joy to people through my food was and still is a highlight for me.
To serve my shipmates up to four times a day meant I experienced all their good days and all their bad days. This may sound a little odd but, serving them on their bad days was more favourable as their Chef. These were the days they may be missing home, just got off a tough watch or they simply were not feeling well. On days like this, my lasagne would bring a smile as it reminds them of a home cooked meal, they’re missing, my double choc brownies will make that tough watch worth it, and my chicken and corn soup will warm their belly when feeling unwell. Seeing my crew smile because of the food I’ve made and served will forever be one of most favourite accomplishments in the Navy.
Joining the Navy at 18 years of age meant I was thrust into a world where I would grow up very quickly, just how quickly was something I could never have prepared myself for.
In January of 2001, I joined HMAS Manoora for my very first time at sea. I vividly remember the excitement, the nerves and the willingness as I walked down the wharf at Garden Island Sydney to join her. I had been waiting for this moment for so long. We were deploying on a southeast Asia trip, a place I was very keen to visit. We had port visits to Manilla, and Vietnam before heading to Bangkok.
We never made it to Bangkok because overnight we were redeployed to assist with Tampa, later known as ‘the children overboard’ incident. The way I viewed the world as a young 19-year-old was about to change in a very big way. The next few months were long, arduous, emotional and tested every ounce of tenacity I had at the time. We took refugees: men, women children and babies onboard Manoora. We housed them, clothed them and fed them whilst the Australian Government decided what to do with them. My shipmates and I witnessed the worst of humankind throughout these months, our own moral compass was pushed to its limits. Watching people suffer, hearing the cries of women and their children whilst their husbands and fathers threatened to throw them overboard, the smells, the sounds, the screams, the violence, the hunger strikes, the innocent scared children and their tremendous fear will never leave me.
A lot was expected of the crew and myself, I’ve never worked as hard as I did back then. I went from cooking for just over 300 people to cooking for over 1,000 people overnight. A real shift in my work ethic occurred, setting me up for the rest of my life.
Whilst on this deployment, with the refugees still onboard, the world as we all knew it would change. The September 11 attacks were carried out, commonly known as 9/11. Our ship was quickly diverted to the island of Nauru where we disembarked the refugees and then headed back to our home port of Sydney to prepare for the next deployment ahead, post 9/11 – Operation Slipper (OP Slipper).
I never imagined in my wildest dreams that at 20 years of age I would be sailing out of Sydney Harbour away from my loved ones for the next seven months on an operational deployment to fight the war against terrorism. I would sail out of Sydney Heads that January and return six months later a very different person. I remember sailing back into Sydney Heads later that year and the feeling of immense pride that washed over me as I stood on the port side of HMAS Manoora in my ceremonial uniform wearing my medals for the very first time. I’ll never forget how proud I was, how proud my family would be and how proud I was to serve the country I loved so much. Tears still well in my eyes when I think of this day, it was exactly the reason I joined the military, to serve my country and its people.
As a young girl, my biggest idol was my grandfather who served in the Australian Army. I remember marching with him on Anzac Day through the streets of Sydney, whilst people lined George Street waving their Australian flags proudly. My grandfather passed away when I was 8 years old, and ever since his passing I knew I wanted to follow in his steps of serving our country, gee he would be proud.
It wasn’t until I marched down that very same street in my ceremonial uniform with people waving the same Australian flags with the same pride that I would feel exactly what my grandfather felt all those years ago.
I am a civilian now, an ex-servicewoman and the thing I miss the most is the people. The people who were my shipmates who became friends and who I now call family, what a blessing they are.
Throughout my time in service, I experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, I faced challenges daily, I witnessed the best and worst of humankind, I travelled the world, my resilience grew as did I.
I simply enlisted to serve my country so somebody else wouldn’t have to.
This is the story of Melissa Webb as told to Carla Edwards.
Petty Officer Melissa Webb
Service Number: W172584
PMKeyS Number: F8116221
Served on HMAS Ships:
- Manoora
- Leeuwin
- Melville
- Yarra
- Gascoyne
Served at Navy Establishments: HMAS
- Kuttabul
- Cairns
- Waterhen
