One of Navy’s longest running and most prestigious awards, the Gloucester Cup, has been awarded to the crew of HMAS Arunta for excelling in all areas of operation at sea and alongside.

CAPTION: Governor-General General (retd) David Hurley, centre, and his wife Linda Hurley present the 2020 Duke of Gloucester Cup to Commanding Officer HMAS Arunta Commander Anthony Nagle. Story by Acting Sub-Lieutenant Jack Meadows. Photo by by Leading Seaman Richard Cordell.

On April 19, the Governor-General General (retd) David Hurley on presented the cup in a ceremony at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.

“Arunta has had an outstanding year, capped off by her support of the ADF’s commitment throughout the Indo-Pacific region, specifically in the South China Sea and in support of the United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea,” General Hurley said.

“You are worthy recipients of the Navy’s prestigious Duke of Gloucester’s Cup. Congratulations. It’s a great Navy day and, today, you are the pride of the fleet.”

The Gloucester Cup was instituted in 1946 by then-Governor-General, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, to recognise exceptional contribution to the Royal Australian Navy each year by a unit deemed to have displayed the highest level of overall proficiency.

The award has been adapted into the modern Navy to recognise the unit, crew, squadron, clearance diving team or establishment that has excelled in all aspects of their tasking.

This includes mission effectiveness, lethality, safety, reliability, efficiency, currency and competency.

Leading Seaman Luke Gibbons, who is serving in Arunta, said the crew was proud to be awarded the cup following a challenging but highly rewarding year that included seven months at sea.

“It’s great to be a part of a winning team and especially rewarding to be recognised for our contribution to the Navy and the nation,” Leading Seaman Gibbons said.

“The CO really instilled a sense of pride in our ship and I think that had a flow-on effect leading us to achieve strong results in both RIMPAC (Exercise Rim of the Pacific) and our regional presence deployment.

“Winning the Gloucester Cup is a big achievement and I think this award will be a point of inspiration for our ship’s company for years to come.”