Gallery | An era at sea: honouring HMAS Shepparton II

By Caleb Francis

Jun 22, 2023

End of an era: Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith, *HMAS Shepparton II* commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Stevenson, Seaman Libby Eden and Felicity Gaylard as they cut the ship’s decommissioning cake at HMAS Cairns, Queensland Photo by LSIS Shane Cameron

The HMAS Shepparton II bowed out of service last Friday, June 15, leaving a trail of 33 years of formidable duty.

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As the revered protector of our coasts, this naval sentinel, christened after our very own city, concluded its journey in a poignant decommissioning ceremony.

The responsibility of participating in this event fell on former City of Shepparton mayoress Felicity Gaylard.

Mrs Gaylard’s connection with the ship dates back to its inception, as she launched it on its inaugural expedition in 1990.

The event was a grand salute to a vessel that served the nation with unwavering dedication and etched the name of our city in the records of maritime history.