Laurence Charles Beaven was born on 25th February 1955 in Brisbane, Queensland.
Laurie joined the Navy in July 1971 as a Junior Recruit at HMAS Leeuwin in WA. He was then posted to HMAS Melbourne for training as an Ordinary Seaman Electrical Mechanic Air Weapons for three months at the end of 1972, before being posted to HMAS Albatross for category training. He served as an Air Technical Weapons Ordnance and Weapons Electrical maintainer on Macchi and Skyhawk aircraft, at both VC724 and VF805 Squadrons at HMAS Albatross.
Laurie was selected for officer training in May 1976 and joined No 6 Observer Course at RAAF East Sale, graduating in June 1977, before being posted to VC851 Squadron for Sensor Operator (SENSO) training on the S2E/G Tracker. This posting was not long after the devastating hangar fire at HMAS Albatross that destroyed all but three Trackers; so training was delayed somewhat pending the arrival from the USA of replacement aircraft. While a SENSO at VC851, he also undertook the advanced acoustic analysis course in Canada. After embarked tours in HMAS Melbourne with VS816 Squadron, Laurie underwent Tactical Coordinator (TACCO) training on the Tracker, before again embarking in HMAS Melbourne, including its final deployment before decommissioning.
Laurie commenced his Navigational Instructor Course (NAVIC) at RAAF East Sale in 1983, followed by two years of instructional duties. Immediately prior to his NAVIC, HMAS Melbourne had been decommissioned and the Government directed that the fixed wing component of the FAA was also to be decommissioned. In recognition of his performance at RAAF East Sale, the Air Force offered him a transfer of Service and an F-111 Navigator conversion at RAAF Amberley, on completion of his instructional duties. While at Amberley he also undertook the role of Intelligence Officer.
Fortunately for Navy, Laurie’s flirtation with the Air Force was brief and he was back in the FAA two years later in 1987, converting to rotary wing aviation on the AS350B Squirrel, before being posted as Flight Commander for AS350B Flight 1, embarked primarily in HMAS Darwin. He was promoted to LCDR in 1989.
In 1990, Laurie was posted to the Seahawk Introduction and Transition Unit (SITU), which would eventually commission as HS816 Squadron, for conversion onto the S70B-2 Seahawk, which included training in the USA. In August 1990 he embarked in HMAS Darwin in Australia’s initial commitment to the First Gulf War, conducting maritime surveillance and boarding operations, earning the Australian Service Medal with clasp Kuwait. He did a second tour of the Persian Gulf in mid/late 1991
On return to Australia, Laurie served at HS816 Squadron as the TACCO Training Officer and Squadron Senior Observer, before being selected for the USN Staff Course for International Students in mid-1994. Following the course, he was posted to the Seahawk trials unit which was part of the RAN Test, Evaluation, and Acceptance Authority in Sydney.
Shortly after his posting to Sydney, Laurie was diagnosed with cancer and died some 15 months later, on 8th December 1995. His ashes were scattered in Bribie Passage, close to his family home on Bribie Island in Queensland.
He is survived by his wife Lyn (married December 1977) and children Ben (who also joined the Navy), Claire and Ian.
