Jacob Belford Lui

I was born on the 5th day of May on Thursday Island in the year 1962. My cultural upbringing is of Torres Strait heritage. Ever since I was around 12 years old I would sit and listen to my father, grandfather, and uncles tell their stories of the sea surrounding our home and islands in the Torres Strait. I dreamed of life in the future where I would be telling my stories of yearning for that same sea and ocean to take me away and bring me home. Enlisting in the Royal Australian Navy was the next logical step in my life, following the example of my uncles and our other Indigenous Servicemen and women who had served in the Navy before me.

On joining in 1979, I did not know how wholesomely my life would change after ten years of Naval Service. I remember my first ship in 1980, the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne – she was a very majestic ship! After many and varied postings I finished my time serving on high-speed patrol boats before taking my elective discharge in 1990.

I see my return now in my later years to Thursday Island as coming full circle in my life, as coming home to Country. I mentor our Thursday Island Naval Cadets at TS Carpentaria, and I am involved with many other community, sporting, and cultural groups, participating in events and contributing to growth in our area.

I will forever be honoured and grateful to have known and served with others, and I continue to remember them. I understand now what this brotherhood and family I had within the service has given me. The sense of character, achievement, and mateship I have derived from my service in the Navy will stay with me until the end of time.

Having served, I realise for the continuation of the Naval Service creed, others must serve. And we must welcome them as now it’s their time to shine.

Always Navy