Roark (FF 1053) - Naval Cruise Book

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Overwhelming is the only way to describe the welcome received in New Plymouth, New Zealand. People came from miles around to tour the ship and meet the Americans. What was more, the city officials had planned a full schedule of activities for the four day visit. A group of local citizens played host to fifty crewmembers at a dinner in the town center on the first night in port. The officers were greeted by the mayor at a reception and dinner in the city council chambers. Two free buses took interested crewmen on day long tours through the New Zealand countryside. Everywhere the buses stopped, local officials came out to greet the American sailors. Each tour included stops at a cheese factory, sheepskin tannery and mountain resort. Beyond the activities planned by the city officials, were all types of unplanned happenings. The dial-a-sailor program brought invitations for everything from fishing trips to airplane flights. And for those who got to go, who can forget the jet boat trip? Typical of the many social gatherings in New Zealand, ROARK crewmembers mingle with the people of New Plymouth at a dinnerfreception in the town's memorial hall. 2 25 Ein School children at a New Zealand intermediate school listen to a talk on life in the United States Navy.

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sw' PM I 'E T, OSSR Simmons carries a load of school books to the embassy truck in Suva, Fiji. Books and medical supplies were sorted and repackaged in the embassy basement for presentation ceremonies scheduled for the following days. f V r c l , all Ula f i l'v,x X Volunteer workers stand beside the Handclasp truck after delivering medical y supplies to the Western Samoan National A Hospital. STG2 Bivas distributes dolls and toys to the children at the St. Christopher Home. S Most of ROARK's Project Handclasp material was presented to people in Apia, Western Samoa and Suva, Fiji. The task of removing the materials from the helo hangar storage area upon arrival in these ports had to be completed by hand, case by case and book by book. Everything, 'ncluding sewing machines, had to be carri' across the fight deck, down the ladder to the fantail, and across the brow to the truck on the pier. Those who helped with the offload will not forget the tropical heat. The Western Samoa National Hospital received a gift of supplies which helped ease a shortage of medical items needed to support the large number of patients using the 1 facilities. NATIONAL HOSPITAL fi, 6,1 - a 8 t V I A v',.i. , 'tif ,r A rl L 'JN K t ' sg , , ' f ..t 'A fi ? ' -ff 'wi 'if' 'f ':y 5. 1'- ., .V 'Q l,.,Sgf':l. . Ll A V .- -Q M sig- 2 ,1 '-- 1- ff, If-,'f5f'v ' yi -i.,':.-'QQRUT '4 l -'rf ,ff rf , yin' ' ' by f' x 5--L . - V , I V. if 4 , ,,, , WI , if ' L 'J '. 'B f A , 9 ' 'f ' ' p- - ff, j 7 . - - ' F Diffs - '- ,Q N-'uk 1 .t .Q ,i K'-' . ' Wi, , ,, ,,,, ,

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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.