THERE are few milestones more auspicious than that of a centenary, and the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Recruit School was no exception.
Held on 11 December 2025, the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN hosted an official reception and Ceremonial Sunset, honouring 100 years of Recruit School shaping Navy’s future.
The RAN Recruit School was opened in 1925 at HMAS Cerberus, continuing the work of the ‘Boys’ Training Ship’ HMAS Tingira, where recruits had been trained since 1912.
RAN Recruit School Commanding officer, Commander Ben McGrath, addressed the gathered guests.
“For 100 years this school has been the starting point for tens of thousands of men and women who have gone on to serve our nation with distinction, and we celebrate 100 years of shaping Australians into sailors,” he said.
“Whether they joined during the era of steam and Morse code, or in today’s world of cyber operations and autonomous systems, every sailor has crossed the same threshold at Recruit School.”
Numerous VIPs attended the event including Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Chris Smith AM CSM RAN, Head of Military Personnel, Rear Admiral Letitia Van Stralen, AM CSC RAN, and Warrant Officer of the Navy, Andrew Bertoncin OAM.
Also in attendance was former Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane AO CSM RAN Rtd, one of only two Chiefs of Navy (including our current CN) to graduate RAN Recruit School.
Special guests signifying the enduring relationship between Cerberus and the Mornington Peninsula were present, including Mr Luke Gosling OAM, MP, Federal Member for Solomon and Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs & Northern Australia, Ms Zoe McKenzie, Federal Member for Flinders, and Mr Paul Mercurio AM, State Member for Hastings.
Members of the most recent Recruit School graduating class, General Entry (GE) 443 Taylor Division also attended.
GE443 graduate Seaman Molly Bowman was chosen to represent contemporary recruits, and gave a speech bristling with pride and anticipation.
“The current cohort of sailors are as committed to serving our nation as those who joined 100 years ago,” Seaman Bowman said.
“It’s not, ‘I have to defend my country,’ it’s ‘I get to defend my country’.”
Moved by Seaman Bowman’s declaration, Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO, RAN spoke about the legacy of Recruit School, and the quality of Navy sailors.
“Since 1925, the sailors that have graduated from this, the RAN Recruit School, have gone on to serve with distinction all over the world,” VADM Hammond said.
“If only these walls could talk…the thousands of voices that would echo around this place in the still of night would be remarkable to listen to.
“The camaraderie, the teamwork, and the mateship that grows in this place, has been a timeless gift.
“Today, we celebrate the immense contribution of the RAN Recruit School to the most precious component of our Navy…our people.”
The celebration concluded in historical naval style with a Beat to Quarters and Ceremonial Sunset, performed by RAN Band Melbourne and guard comprising both Recruit School and Cerberus personnel.
First published in the Western Port News – 24 December 2025
