Attached are some of the photos I took of the very successful commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the sinking of the Centaur. Several volunteers turned out early (7:30am on a Sunday is a real test of commitment!) and efficiently popped up 4 marquees, hammered in numerous steel pegs to hold same upright
Yours in Rotary
Chris
(thanks Stuart for finding the 3 main Norfolk Pine tree roots to ensure an overly secure trending on completely unextractable anchor point) and under the expert direction of Commander Warren - with site layout string - an orderly and perfectly spaced array of 268 white wooden crosses. The photos speak for themselves as to the outcome which was appropriate and impressive.
An approximate head-count suggested that between 80 and 100 people attended with the great and the good seated under shelter. The service was dignified with key speakers as per the program, put together by Deborah (to whom we owe a big vote of thanks for this and other coordination efforts) providing an appropriate background range of commentary of the events of that fateful pre-dawn catastrophe 80 years ago. We were only briefly showered on with the elements holding off until it was well and truly over.
Others may care to add commentary on this occasion but to me small but significant actions included:
- the two Coast Guard vessels keeping station just off shore behind the memorial in order to place a wreath "at sea" to commemorate lives lost at sea;
- the oration of the Ode for Sailors Lost at Sea, that we will not forget and remember them - as in that ANZAC Ode for lives lost during war time on land. Least We Forget;
- the tracing of the crew of the RAAF Anson convoy escort Light Bomber 50 years later. This crew first spotted the Centaur wreckage and survivors then contacted the US Navy convoy escort vessel in the area by flying low overhead and light signaling the need for rescue (radio silence was in force).
The 50 minute documentary on the incident, viewed later at the RSL, was sobering and poignant. This included commentary by the wreck finder specialist who, in 2009, located the remains using information gained from the research and face to face interviews that narrowed down the search area, significantly improving the odds of a successful outcome.
We have a strong link to this wartime event from the Club's previous activities in installing the memorial and I strongly support our continued link to the next stage of develoopment, through co-funding with other parties (e.g. RSL, DVA, SCCC), a memorial plaque of names of those lost plus those who survived. This has already been mooted and ticks all the boxes for a local project of community historic and current significance, with wider support from other local and wider community organisations.
