General News
13 March, 2026
Team spirit
SAILORS from across the Indo-Pacific took part in a friendly sports day on the Cairns Esplanade this week as part of Exercise KAKADU 2026, the Royal Australian Navy’s premier multinational maritime engagement activity.
Guardian Class Patrol boats from six Indo-Pacific partner nations are visiting HMAS Cairns before joining vessels, aircraft and personnel from Australia and eighteen partner nations for maritime warfare training.
Australian and visiting ship’s company personnel gathered at the Cairns Esplanade Sports Precinct last Wednesday morning for a series of friendly competitions, including basketball, volleyball and tug-of-war.
Commanding Officer HMAS Cairns Commander Andrew Thorpe said the event was designed to strengthen teamwork and connections between sailors from different nations.
“Today, we’re just running a sporting event as part of (our) exercise activity,” he said.
“Sports are a great way of really building the team spirit. Really helps you with communication and getting to know each and every one from the different countries.”
“It’s a really a good way to break down some of the cultural barriers.”
Commander Thorpe said HMAS Cairns regularly hosts visiting vessels from across the Indo-Pacific region.
“HMAS Cairns is a gateway to the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
“We support a lot of our Pacific island nation countries and when they do have the opportunity to visit this fantastic place, we try to make the most of it, engage in different activities like that.”
Among the visiting personnel was Annalieze Lene from the Samoan maritime police, who said the event helped strengthen regional relationships.
“The relationship really is most important, because you get to meet and interact with different cultures and get to know each other,” she said.
“It is very nice to interact, getting to know our friends, different navies and different agencies.”
Lieutenant Bartley Zigfried, officer of HMPNGS Francis Agwi, said understanding different cultures was key to cooperation across the region.
“Security comes in a lot of ways when you talk about things and people that we don’t want to come into our country,” he said.
“It’s about the Pacific nations feeling that they belong in this region and they feel safe when we are walking around hand in hand.”
Lieutenant Zigfried said 17 crew members from his vessel were participating in the sports day, with five remaining aboard the ship preparing for upcoming activities.
Exercise KAKADU brings together partner nations from across the Indo-Pacific to conduct maritime warfare training and foster regional cooperation.
This year’s exercise also marks 125 years since the formation of the Commonwealth Naval Forces, which later became the Royal Australian Navy.
