For Warrant Officer Jason McGraw, being on HMAS Newcastle for its final departure from the port of its namesake city was more than being part of history.
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This was history repeating.
As a young man, Leading Seaman McGraw, as he was in 1993, was on board the Newcastle for its first voyage into the city.
"Some twenty six years later, to sail out of Newcastle for the final time on board HMAS Newcastle, having entered the harbour for the first, it doesn't get much better than that, I don't think," Warrant Officer McGraw said.
The harbour town's face may have changed in the time between the frigate's first and final voyage out of Newcastle, but what has remained constant is the connection between the city and the ship that carries its name.
Hundreds gathered along the waterfront to watch the Newcastle slip its lines at West Basin at 10am and glide out of the harbour, after being in port for a week.
The frigate was bound for Eden, on the NSW south coast, then it was heading to Sydney, where it would be decommissioned on June 30.
Standing on the bridge wing, issuing orders, was the ship's commanding officer, Anita Sellick. But she kept an eye on the shore. For Commander Sellick is a Novocastrian, growing up in Merewether and joining the Royal Australian Navy in 1994.
So this final departure of the Newcastle from her hometown was not just momentous but emotional for Anita Sellick.
Read more about the Newcastle: HMAS Newcastle crew unveils one final gift before it leaves city of its name
"When you look out at the harbour and you see, from the waterside, Fort Scratchley, you see the breakwater, you see the family and friends, you've got Nobbys Head there as well, it's just such a beautiful harbour," said Commander Sellick.
"Knowing there won't be another HMAS Newcastle for a while ... makes it a bit emotional when you're leaving, because you know it has an impact on the community, the people waiting, seeing us off. They're family and friends, they're people who have a love for the navy and a love for the fact that is an icon that we have in HMAS Newcastle, and it will be the last time they farewell it for a while. And that makes it more emotional."
The ship's company knew one Novocastrian waving farewell would be Margaret McNaughton, the former Lady Mayoress of Newcastle. Margaret McNaughton was the ship's "launching lady" in 1992 and has maintained a close relationship with the crews of the Newcastle ever since.
A group of female officers watched a woman waving from the balcony of an apartment at Honeysuckle and thought it was Mrs McNaughton.
"No, it's not Margaret," said one, after looking through binoculars. "It's another lovely lady."
Margaret McNaughton was waving, but from Fort Scratchley. She was with the volunteers from the fort's historical society, who farewelled the Newcastle for the final time with a seven-gun salute. The ship returned the salute by firing back seven shots.
"Very special, I had goosebumps," said society president, Frank Carter. He described watching the Newcastle leave as "sad, but good".
On board the Newcastle, Commander Anita Sellick explained to the ship's company how significant that seven-gun salute was.
"When HMAS Newcastle, and only HMAS Newcastle, comes into port, we have a seven-gun salute," Commander Sellick said from the bridge.
"That is recognition for the relationship and the respect they have for the namesake ship for their city.
"They'll not fire another seven-gun salute until the next HMAS Newcastle. So today you're all part of history."
Firing the ship's gun to return the fort's salute was Petty Officer Shane Bellingham. He was the only other person on board for this final voyage who had sailed on the ship into Newcastle on its first entry to the port in 1993.
"That was my final hurrah from here," Petty Officer Bellingham said of the "privilege" of firing the gun. "She's such a fine ship, such a fine city we just left, and it's just great the bond we've both had over that period of time, it's exceptional."
Petty Officer Bellingham said he found the departure from Newcastle in this ship very moving and was saddened its service in the RAN was about to end.
"I knew it was coming," he said. "I've always been prepared for the end of Newcastle, but this morning it really took hold, especially being on the gun, something you don't get to do all that often.
"But to get to do it on the way in and on the way out just brought up all the feelings about how emotional I am personally about this ship departing our navy."
On the Newcastle for the final voyage were 210 officers and sailors. As the Novocastrian commanding officer Anita Sellick pointed out, 10 per cent of the ship's company were from Newcastle.
One of those Novocastrians, Lieutenant Ben Liddell, was on the bridge as the Newcastle cruised out of the port. He was officer of the watch. But he was also watching out for family members.
"I think they were standing on the Stockton side," Lieutenant Liddell said.
The officer, who grew up in Port Stephens, delighted in seeing a trailing tug do a ceremonial "burnout" in the water, churning up the surface by turning quickly. Lieutenant Liddell viewed that as an honour being bestowed on the Newcastle.
"It was very special," he said of the farewell departure. "Probably a lot more emotional than I thought it was going to be."
Commander Sellick also noticed her mother and father standing on the breakwater, just near Nobbys, waving to their daughter.
"I think they're getting a little bit more used to it," Commander Sellick said. "But out of the city of Newcastle when I'm in command, that's an extra special one for them."
Others on board who were not from Newcastle had been beguiled by the city during their visit.
"I want to move here," said Sub Lieutenant Abbie Thatcher, who was originally from Cairns.
Her shipmate, Sub Lieutenant Meg Powson, from Melbourne, was also won over by the harbour city.
"This is the first time I've been here, but I'd like to come back every weekend," she said. "I love the atmosphere of it, like a small coastal town, full of life."
As it slipped past Nobbys, the Newcastle let out one long mournful cry from its horn. Perhaps it was a bellow of appreciation.
"Great visit, great job," said Commander Sellick over the ship's PA system. "We now need to move forward and eventually decommission the ship."
Yet between Nobbys and the decommissioning ceremony at Garden Island lay an open ocean for HMAS Newcastle.
After almost a quarter of a century on the seas, this was a ship filled with a deep sense of pride of the place it held in RAN history - and in the hearts of Newcastle people.
"It's real bookends," said Warrant Officer Jason McGraw, as he reflected on being part of that first entry to Newcastle almost 26 years ago, and now the last.
"To commission a ship and decommission a ship, it's an absolute privilege, to be honest."
