The “Crossing the Line” ceremony is a tradition in the Royal Australian Navy when a vessel crosses the equator. It is an initiation ceremony to commemorate a sailor's first crossing of the Equator, but during the war in Vietnam it was done for the soldiers on board the HMAS Sydney (also known as the Vung Tau Ferry because it did 25 trips transporting soldiers between Sydney and Vung Tau or vice-versa). These equator-crossing ceremonies typically involve an initiation using water, carried out by King Neptune. Those who have yet to cross the equator are known as 'Pollywogs' or 'Tadpoles', while those who have been initiated are referred to as 'Shellbacks'. Yellowed page with line-drawing in black of King Neptune riding three fish at the top and a mermaid at the bottom. Text is in old fashioned font with details written in blue ink.Heading - Nept V NVS Rex/ Text/ Terence J Kevlin travelled on board HMAS Sydney/ Signed 23rd Dec 1967 by Captain of HMAS Sydney on behalf of King Neptune.crossing the line, hmas sydney, terence j kevlin., kevlin, vung tau ferry, equator, neptune