Toowoomba's emotional farewell

There were tears amongst the smiles and waves as loved ones said goodbye to the crew of HMAS Toowoomba before the frigate sailed from Garden Island on Thursday.

While families and friends milled around, the frigate with Lieutenant General Power in command, underwent final preparations before leaving for the Middle East for six months.

With the stark reality of their first parting painfully reflected on their faces Stacey Hill of Port Kennedy and SMN Gerard Reeves were reluctant to leave each other's arms but they both did their best to smile for the camera.

Gerard's mother Julie Reeves from Victoria said she and his father Jim and brother Matthew had all come to Perth to say goodbye.

Also on his first deployment, Dean Wilson of Wellard was seen off by his proud but teary father Daryl Wilson who travelled from Stuarts' Point, NSW.

Helicopter pilot Andre Van De Beek left his wife and children in Sydney about 10 days ago.

But his parents Tricia and Paul Van De Beek of Mandurah were there to see the ship leave HMAS Stirling.

Emma Winter of Safety Bay tearily waved a brightly coloured banner while her husband LS Phillip Winter stood on deck smiling back at her.

Tamara Middleton held her son Luke, 6 months, while her other son Adam, 3, who she said was already missing his father LCDR Jason Middleton avoided looking at the frigate as she sailed away.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said Toowoomba was last deployed to the Middle East in June, 2009 where she was the first Australian ship to commence anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

On this deployment she would be deployed to the US-led combined maritime forces, which patrols more than 2.5 million square miles of international waters to counter terrorism, prevent piracy and reduce the illegal trafficking of people and drugs.