In a ceremony aboard the wonderfully restored square rigger, James Craig, long-serving Commodore of the Sydney Heritage Fleet, Captain Tim Swales, was presented with the prestigious Merchant Navy Service Cross.

The presentation was made by Captain Ken Edwards RFD RD, executive master of James Craig, and recognises Captain Swales’ service to Royal and Merchant navies over an extended period. Tim Swales had a distinguished care as a submarine commander in the Royal Navy before coming to Australia with his wife Kathe and their family.

To date over 1150 awards of the Service Cross have been made in Australia to long serving individuals in the Merchant Navy such awards being irrespective of rank.

Captain Swales is widely known and highly respected on Sydney Harbour and was appointed Commodore of Sydney Heritage Fleet in 1990. He is a highly active volunteer member of the Fleet and chairs the Fleet Committee – the most important committee amongst the Fleet’s activities.

He is a regular master of Fleet vessels, steam tug Waratah and steam yacht Lady Hopetoun.

In addition to his volunteer service with Sydney Heritage Fleet he is a senior Captain (Master 3) in the Captain Cook Fleet and previously held a Master 1 Certificate when he was a fire tug master, operating out of Goat Island with the then Maritime Services Board from 1980 to 1994.

In making the Award Capt. Edwards congratulated Capt. Swales on his achievement which he stressed was well-deserved and long overdue. Capt. Edwards also made reference to Fleet Commodore Swales’ magnificent contribution to the Sydney Heritage Fleet since he joined in 1981 and, in particular, since taking over as Commodore in 1990.