Austal Australia supports Flying Angel Club Fremantle with A$15,000 Donation

MEDIA RELEASE

31 MARCH 2021

Austal Australia Supports Flying Angel Club Fremantle with $15,000 Donation

Austal Australia has made a donation of $15,000.00 to the Flying Angel Club in Fremantle, Western Australia to support the renovation of sailors and seafarers accommodation at the facility.

Operated by the Anglican Church in conjunction with The Sailors Society and The Mission to Seafarers, the international seafarers centre is managed by The Reverend Canon Dennis Claughton AM. The Flying Angel Club provides private and shared accommodation, recreational facilities and catering, including meals and shopping to sailors through the facility located in Queen Victoria Street in Fremantle. The centre also offers a chapel and welfare services to visiting sailors.

The Flying Angel Club is utilised by all visiting ships’ crews from Pacific Island nations completing training at Austal Australia as part of each Guardian-class Patrol Boat delivery under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project.

Speaking at the donation presentation, Austal Program Manager for Defence Acquisitions Matthew Klingberg said it was a privilege to help support a great local service to the maritime community and thanked the Flying Angel Club for all the assistance they provided.

“Austal has been very fortunate to have the professional support of the Flying Angel Club in Fremantle to ensure all the visiting crews from our Pacific Island neighbours are well looked after during their stay in Australia,” Mr Klingberg said.

“Reverend Claughton and the team at the Flying Angel Club are to be congratulated for the exceptional service they provide, not only to the crews visiting Austal, but all visiting seafarers from around the world who arrive into Fremantle.

“Austal is very pleased to make this donation towards the ongoing development of accommodation at the Flying Angel Club and we thank them sincerely, for all the support they provide to the community.”. 

Austal Australia is delivering 21 Guardian-class Patrol Boats (GCPB’s) to the Australian Department of Defence, which are being gifted to 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor Leste, over 2018-2023, as part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program. Nine GCPB’s have been delivered since December 2018.

Crews from each Pacific Island nation attend training on vessel operations and maintenance at Austal Australia’s Henderson shipyard prior to the handover of each vessel, staying in Australia for a period of approximately four to six weeks.

For more information on the services provided by the Flying Angel Club please visit https://www.flyingangel.org.au/ or connect via Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/flyingangelclub/, call +61 8 9335 5000 or email facfremantle@yahoo.com .

Austal Australia’s Program Manager Defence Acquisitions Matthew Klingberg presented Reverend Canon Dennis Claughton AM with a cheque for $15,000 to support the Flying Angel Club in Fremantle.

Austal Australia’s Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project Team leaders joined Reverend Canon Dennis Claughton AM and Peter Claughton at the Flying Angel Club to present a donation of $15,000. From Left: Peter Claughton, Savannah Ogborne, Matthew Klingberg, Rev. Dennis Claughton AM, Kevin O’Kelly, Steven Lally.

One of the renovated lounge areas available for guests at the Flying Angel Club. 

The Flying Angel Club’s self-catering kitchen facilities available for guests.

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Media Contact:

Cameron Morse

+61 433 886 871

cameron.morse@fticonsulting.com