MSA Brolga (1102)

MSA (Minesweeper Auxiliary) Brolga (1102) is a minesweeper operated by the Royal Australian Navy between 1988 and 2003. She was constructed in Fremantle, Western Australia by Australian Shipbuilding Industries (now Tenix) in 1975, and first served as the lighthouse tender "Lumen" for the Australian Department of Transport.

She was purchased by the RAN on 10 February 1988 and entered service as a Minesweeper Auxiliary (Small). "Brolga" was one of three Minesweeper Auxiliaries operating as part of the Craft of Opportunity (COOP) Program [Sharpe, Richard (ed), "Janes Fighting Ships 2000-2001", Janes Information Group, London, 2000. ISBN 0-7106-2018-7] under the command of the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group, along with MSA "Bandicoot" and MSA "Walleroo". [cite news |author=LEUT Michael Marley, RANR |title=HMAS Waterhen – we're about ships' influence |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/reserves_new/reserveNews/Reserve_News_7_November_2002_Vol9_No11.pdf |format=PDF |work=Navy Reserve News |publisher=Office ofDirector General of Reserves – Navy |page=pg 4–5 |date=2002-11-07 |accessdate=2007-01-15Dead link|date=September 2008] Dead link|date=September 2008

MSA Brolga saw operational service off Bougainville, supporting the Peace Monitoring Group during Operation Belisi. [cite news |author=POMW Andrew Hayward |title=Every thing she did was magic |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/2001/03_05_01/STORY17.HTM |work=NAVY News |publisher=Defence Public Affairs and Corporate Communication |date=2001-03-05]

In 2003, Brolga was sold at auction for AU$255,000. She was returned to Fremantle, Western Australia, where statements given at the time of the auction indicated that she was to be used as a mothership for a fishing fleet. Instead, the ship was used for recreational purposes for 2 years, such as in a local protest for Port Coogee, and then sold to a private customer. [cite news |author=LCDR Mick Gallagher |title=Brolga flys home to Freo |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4702/topstories/story19.htm |work=NAVY News |publisher=Defence Public Affairs and Corporate Communication |date=2004-02-26 |accessdate=2007-01-15] Converted to a diving and salvage platform, the renamed "Retriever 1" was suspected to be linked to the disappearance of conman Peter Foster in January 2007. She was detained and searched multiple times by Vanuatuan police, and three of the ship's eight crew were arrested on immigration and firearms charges. [cite news |first=Simon |last=Kearney |title=Three Australians held over missing conman |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21050724-2,00.html |work=The Australian |publisher=News Corporation |date=2007-01-13 |accessdate=2007-01-15 ]

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