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Here's a great article I found at www.northwestnavigator.com: -- USS Shoup (DDG 86) recently departed the scenic southwest Australian city of Albany. The guided-missile destroyer took part in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Great White Fleet visit to the land “Down Under.” Albany was the third Australian port city, after Sydney and Melbourne, to welcome the U.S. Navy during the historic deployment in 1908. The Great White Fleet’s voyage began in December 1907, when Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, sent 16 battleships, all painted white, and 14,000 men on a global deployment that spanned 43,000 miles, and made port calls on six continents.  The people of Albany treated Shoup, and the crews of HMAS Sirius (OR 266) and HMAS Darwin (FFG 04), to a first-class reception during the port visit. Sailors enjoyed the opportunity to explore the historic city and beautiful surrounding countryside. Among the favorite activities were wine-tasting tours, shopping, and enjoying the unique wildlife of the area. Lt.j.g. Shaunnah Sopko, Shoup’s ordnance officer, greatly enjoyed her visit. “I was impressed with how friendly and receptive the people of Albany were,” Sopko said, adding, “They are so willing to share their part of the world with us.” Large crowds enjoyed watching Shoup’s crew march in a parade through town, side by side with their counterparts from the Royal Australian Navy. The visit also included a somber commemoration of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, attended by The Honorable Robert McCallum Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Australia, and Rear Adm. Nigel Coates, Commander of the Australian Fleet. During the port visit, Shoup Sailors took the opportunity to participate in community relations projects, including a friendly soccer competition and a skills session of Australian Rules Football with Australian Sailors from HMAS Sirius and HMAS Darwin.  The community relations project allowed U.S. and Australian Sailors to come together for fun and relaxation. Additionally, Shoup Sailors painted and renovated Albany’s 115-year-old Princess Royal Fort. The visit had a positive impact on the preservation and appearance of this historic site and created a high level of camaraderie and accomplishment for all involved.  As one Shoup Sailor said, “I wish all of our COMREL projects were as rewarding as this one. I really feel like we did a lot of good for this piece of history.” Shoup Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Mike Lehman, summed up the visit by saying, “It was an honor for Shoup to be chosen to represent the U.S. Navy in celebrating the positive impact the Great White Fleet had on our relations with our close friends and allies from Australia. The visit celebrated the long-standing tradition of cooperation and global partnership between our two nations. This type of cooperation is a key element in ensuring regional security and stability in the 21st century.” The purpose of the original Great White Fleet was a massive deployment designed to test naval readiness, establish global presence, generate international goodwill, and garner enthusiasm for the U.S. Navy.  The stops in Australia in 1908 had a significant impact on the people and government of the nation and the visiting Sailors alike, and served as an inspiration for the growth and development of the Royal Australian Navy. http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/regionalnews/uss_shoup_departs_albany/