In 1966, the Boonaroo was chartered by the Department of Shipping and Transport to carry Australian soldiers and supplies to Vietnam. She completed one voyage to Vietnam as a merchant vessel, leaving on 17 May 1966 and arriving back in Australia on 8 July 1966.
But, members of the Seamen's Union of Australia refused to sail the vessel for subsequent voyages to Vietnam in protest against Australia's involvement in the conflict.
To keep the ship operational, she was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in Melbourne on 1 March 1967, and became the first Australian ship to be commissioned under Australian White Ensign.
The unionised crew was replaced by Navy personnel.
https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/3353/Derailing+the+death+machine
https://www.navyhistory.org.au/ranships/hmas-boonaroo/
https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-boonaroo
https://www.navalofficer.com.au/boonaroo/
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