Morning Tea for Chief Petty Office (Retd) Ashley Semmens RAN’s World-First Channel Fin

Assistant Minister to the Premier on Matters of State and New Citizens and Leader of the House in the Queensland Parliament, Dr Christian Rowan MP; Assistant Minister for Tourism, Early Learning, Creative Industries and Far North Queensland, Ms Bree James MP; British Consul-General for Queensland and the Northern Territory, Mr Richard Cowin MBE; Channel Finner, Chief Petty Officer Ashley Semmens RAN (Retd); your family members, friends and supporters; ladies and gentlemen. 

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging. 

Graeme and I welcome you all to Government House this morning, to celebrate the achievements of a truly remarkable individual—Ashley Semmens—who throughout his military career and in his personal life, has demonstrated incredible bravery and a driving commitment to serve others. 

Today’s event focusses on Ashley’s most recent triumph, finning on his back across the English Channel to raise vital funds and awareness for the Navy Clearance Diver Trust.  

His cross-Channel feat in June also provided an opportunity to draw attention to the bravery and skills he—and many accomplished, and amphibious, service personnel like him—employ to operate in some of the most hostile wartime environments. 

A glance at Ashley’s long list of professional pursuits and achievements suggests that this huge accomplishment is simply a continuation of a lifetime of focus, tenacity and leadership—and, of course, an affinity for the water. From the age of 19, as an elite clearance diver with the Royal Australian Navy, Ashley excelled in his duties, being deployed overseas multiple times to assist in the security and safety of his fellow servicemen and women, and our Defence Force assets. 

In 2012, while seconded to the Australian Army in Afghanistan, Ashley faced extraordinary challenges, including surviving two life-threatening incidents. After returning home, he continued his career in the RAN’s Human Intelligence Branch, where his expertise and professionalism earned him promotion to Chief Petty Officer before his distinguished service concluded with a medical discharge in 2021. 

It is an indication of Ashley’s selfless nature, and his dedication to serve others, that he summoned the courage to repurpose his painful experiences to promote a beneficial cause—through involvement with the Navy Clearance Diver Trust. 

When Ashley hauled himself up the beach at Normandy earlier this year, after a mind-boggling 11 hours and 49 minutes of battling tides, swell and water temperatures of around 12 degrees—for 37 long kilometres—he certainly earned his place in the record books.  

He also demonstrated that being a trailblazer sometimes requires acceptance that pushing your mind and your body can come at a price—and that asking for help is okay. Ashley himself has said that he set out to swim the Channel was, and I quote, “to show that from the depths of PTSD, depression and loss of identity…veterans with the right help can overcome their challenges and become valued, contributing members of society.” What an important and valuable objective this is.  

I commend the vital work of those connected with the Trust in supporting personnel from this highly specialist branch of the Royal Australian Navy, whose missions carry significant risk in service to our nation.  

On behalf of Queenslanders, I congratulate Ashley and his team on achieving this remarkable world first and thank him for his contributions to improving veterans’ lives, now and into the future.