Twin passion for the sea

A KIAMA man has followed his twin into the Navy and was among 61 students who graduated from the new entry officer course at HMAS Creswell this month.

Midshipman David Barlow, 22, has followed the footsteps of his twin brother Midn Lachlan Barlow.

“We both wanted to be pilots from a young age; we both wanted to be in the military and we both ended up joining the Army. I was initially going to be an Army pilot since I was already in,” he said.

“We’ve done everything the same and liked the same things so it’s not unusual we’re following the same career path.”

He said seeing his brother doing the course at HMAS Creswell made him realise there were some advantages to changing forces.

Midn Barlow graduated with two other men from the Illawarra: Midn Gordon Burgess and Midn James Brandreth, both from Wollongong.

Midn Burgess, 19, set his sights on the RAN well before completing the higher School Certificate, having spent seven years in Australian Navy Cadets.

“I grew up on the beaches of Wollongong, forming a love for the ocean, its beauty and its unpredictability,” he said.

Midn Brandreth, 21, enters the Navy with a diploma in civil engineering and plans to specialise as a seaman officer and sub-specialise in hydrography.

The Chief of Navy, Vice-Admiral Russ Shalders, was the reviewing officer for the passing out parade. The graduates ranged in age from 17 to 43.