Ex-serviceman reflects on 21-year military journey

Mr Stanyer joined the Navy in 1964 as a 16-year-old marine engineering apprentice.

“I did an apprenticeship in the Navy for three and a half, four years. And then went to sea on the ships,” he said.

Talking to the Courier, he said there weren’t many job options in Tongala, where he lived, bar being a dairy farmer.

In the 1960s and early ’70s, Australia was fighting in Vietnam, and Mr Stanyer was inevitably dragged into the conflict first on HMAS Hobart and then HMAS Perth.

However, the Mr Stanyer admitted that his two stints in Vietnam weren’t terrible as, being on a naval ship, he was somewhat distanced from the brutal fighting on the ground and in the air.

“We were lucky, because in the job that we did, naval gunfire support, we never got on the land. We would support the troops ashore,” Mr Stanyer said.

“If they (the army) got into a situation where they couldn’t get artillery in or there were (enemy) soldiers that were hidden away somewhere in the forest ... we would give them (Australian or allied troops) naval gunfire support from the sea.”

Mr Stanyer said there were many great things about joining the military, including meeting his future wife at a military barbecue, but he did admit there were natural downsides.

“Being away from home is the hardest part of being in the military,” he said.

“You’re separated from your family.”

In 24 months, Mr Stanyer was away for 18 months,

However, he said in his role in the engineering department, he never stopped learning.

That learning saw him work on steam, diesel and gas turbine ships, rising from the lowest rank to becoming a warrant officer.

Even when he finally left the service, Mr Stanyer stayed with the military family, becoming a teacher at the Australian naval schools and imparting his wisdom to younger sailors.

As for anyone considering joining the military, Mr Stanyer said they should go for it.

“It’s a great life ... it’s a good career,” he said.