Roark (FF 1053) - Naval Cruise Book

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The job of serving as ambas- sadors of goodwill continued during the two port visits in New Zealand. ROARK was open each afternoon for general visiting from 1300 - 1600 and after hours for special group tours until taps. Scout troops held 'meetings on the flight deck at night and groups of handicapped children and adults were given special tours in the mornings. lt was busy times for the crew of the first American warship to visit these ports since World War ll. QMSA Trujillo discusses pieces of bridge equipment with a group of New Zealanders. At 1300, the word was passed, Commence Visit Ship, and the visitors began climbing up the brow. Q' GMG2 B. Wilson concluded what many called his Disco tour with a final talk on the flight deck fbelow topl. QM3 Barber explains shipboard signal- ing evolutions at the flag bag. f 1,1 by ' 124 Z :ff-H a.,b,.,..-m NV va, ,,.i N, g it W I 4 x U r

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-Tiif New Zealand Jaycees Honor Roark Crew ROARK received another warm welcome in Timaru, New Zealand. Once again the visitors flocked aboard and once again ROARK crewmembers were hard pressed to fill all the invitations received from the local citizens through the dial-a-sailor program. There were invitations to dinner, church, camping trips, antique car rallies, swimming parties, basketball games, and every sort of imaginable recreational activity. lt was with regret some of the invitations had to be turned down. ROARK just didn't have enough crewmembers to go around. There were enough crewmembers available though for a very unique activity. At a special meeting of the Timaru Jaycees, 20 ROARK crewmembers were made honorary members of the New Zealand Jaycees. The international service organization for young men and 14. Maurice McTique, President of the New Zealand Jaycees, speaks at the Jaycee inaugural in Timaru. 1' - XX --11 women took the unusual step following earlier meetings in New Plymouth with representatives from the ROARK crew. Presidents of Jaycee Chapters from throughout New Zealand, attended the meeting to present the ROARK Jaycees with gifts from their home chapters. The new president of the ROARK Jaycees chapter, FTG3 Overbay and LTJG Hein, presented some items of ROARK memorabilia to the local chapter presidents and awarded a ROARK jacket to Maurice McTigue, President of the New Zealand Jaycees. His wife, also present at the ceremonies, was given a ROARK Lover slumber shirt. As a final gesture of goodwill, local Jaycee members were presented with honorary USS ROARK crewmember cards. With days of constant activity behind them, ROARK left Timaru as it had done before in other ports and would do many more times in ports yet to come. Crewmembers assembled at topside quarters watched as crowds of well-wishers assembled on the pier to say goodbye. The lines were taken in, the ship began to move, the ROLLS ROARK house flag broke open, and the band played Rocky The Roadshow moved on. D! SN Bergant attends one of the receptions for the American Sailors in New Zealand. New Zealand Jaycee President, Maurice McTique, congratulates FTG3 Overbay on his honorary status at the Jaycee inaugural.

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s I 1 Australia, Australia And then there was Australia! Australia, the land down under. The land with a frontier, kangaroos, koala bears, Sydneys, Hobarts, Port Hedlands, and a Newcastle. When ROARK got underway from Timaru, it was with the knowledge the next two months would be spent in and around Australia. Four cities would be visited and two additional ports would see ROARK during brief stops for fuel. lt was the Aust-ralian people who really made the cruise. Here was a country of people who liked Americans. Here were Australian-American Associations, sporting matches, dinner invitations, receptions, dances and tours. ' ' i ht clubs, Sydney, the largest city on the continent, boasted of theatres, n g taurants and much more. Hobart had its casino and Port Hedland its parties, res frontier atmosphere. But of all the Australian cities visited it was Newcastle everyone remembered. For it was there ROARK took the opportunity to show the ' h t' a appreciation for the warm welcomes received throughout the area by os ing ship's party and inviting the local town folk. lt was a visit to remember and place to want to go back to.