Candlelit vigil for SS Admella

The Navigator memorial sculptor Karen Genoff, Merchant Navy Priest Ray Prettejohn, Port Adelaide Chaplain Robin Trebilcock and Keith Ridgeway, Merchant Navy Association spoke at the 5.30 am commemoration of the departure of SS Admella from Port Adelaide 150 years ago.

Descendants of cabin boy George Ward, who survived the Admella tragedy, and of rescuers the Portland lifeboat captain James Fawthrop and lighthouse keeper Captain Benjamin Germein, were among the crowd at Port Adelaide commemorations to mark the departure of the vessel on her last fateful voyage on August 5, 1859.

At precisely 5.30 am a ship’s bell was rung, candles were lit and a tot of rum was served to more than 30 souls at the SS Admella memorial ‘The Navigator’ at the Queens Wharf end of Timpson Street.

Keith Ridgeway rang the ship’s bell at 5.30 am as a Channel 7 cameraman recorded the 150th anniversary of the Admella tragedy.

Our photos by Cheryll Goodridge.

Admella tragedy rivals Titanic sinking

SCULPTURE MARKS THE LAST VOYAGE OF SS ADMELLA

The historic move of the major memorial to the vessel SS Admella from St Vincent Street to the Queens Wharf end of Timpson Street Port Adelaide has been completed on schedule for special commemorations on Wednesday, August 5.

With its large ship’s wheel, longitude and latitude, compass points and a new black granite block, The Navigator will be unveiled at a candle light vigil at 5.30 am marking the time SS Admella departed from Port Adelaide on her ill fated voyage 150 years ago.

The Admella was last seen at Semaphore, where she picked up three more passenger and one fireman making a total of 84 passengers and twenty nine crew, who were about to face a tragedy that rivalled the drama of the sinking of the Titanic.

Over the next 8 days, 89 people lost their lives, but miraculously 24 survived, most of them hanging onto the wreck in raging winter seas all that time.

At 11 am on August 5, The Navigator, sculptor Karen Genoff’s brilliant depiction of the tragic sinking of the SS Admella at Carpenter Rocks, will be commemorated.

Many of Port Adelaide and Semaphore’s maritime families will be among a large crowd expected to attend the commemoration.

This major South Australian history project follows an enormous amount of dedicated work by Karen Genoff, the Land Management Corporation (LMC), City of Port Adelaide Enfield and contractors Seacon and Tillets.

Karen has a diverse and widely acclaimed body of public art work across Australia.

The moving of The Navigator to Timpson Street was funded and project managed by LMC, after a meeting with the Port Seafarers Memorials Committee, founded by Mayor Gary Johanson.

Members of the committee include Keith Ridgeway, Rex Munn, Pat Perry, Kevin Jones, John Ford and Keith Shegog.

The refurbishment and moving of the major sculpture has only been made possible through the generosity and hard work of LMC and its project managers.

The commemoration is an opportunity for those involved in the Admella 150 Festival, which starts on August 6, to come to Port Adelaide to mark the start of the last voyage for SS Admella.

The SS Admella 150 Festival is being staged by the District Council of Grant, which includes Carpenter Rocks and Port MacDonnell, the Glenelg Shire Council, which includes the City of Portland in Victoria, the City of Mount Gambier, the Wattle Range Council, and the District Council of Robe.

The SS Admella was a 55.6 metres steam ship of 209 tons (212 tonnes) also fitted with three masts and sails. Her length was 55.6 metres.

The name Admella comes from the route it always sailed: Adelaide Melbourne Launcestan.

For the full story of the SS Admella tragedy, described in the Australian Press at the time as a national calamity, go to:

http://www.jaunay.com/admella.html

Our photos show:

A 50 ton crane, dwarfing the masts of the 90 year old ketch Failie, lowers the two and a half ton granite block into position.

Failie was on station at the entrance to Sydney harbour on the night of May 31, 1942, the evening three Japanese midget subs planned to attack shipping under cover of darkness.

In the opening moments of the strike, Falie grazed one of the submarines lurking under the surface off South Head and reported the contact to Command.

Failie will remain located at Queens Wharf as a fitting backdrop to The Navigator.

Sculptor Karen Genoff being interviewed by Ron Kandlelaars for Channel Nine's "Postcards" to be shown on August 9.

66th Anniversary of sinking of Centaur

This week marks the 66th anniversary of one of Australia's darkest moments in World War II.

Two hundred and sixty eight people died when the hospital ship Centaur was sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Stradbroke Island near Brisbane, in what was denounced as a despicable war crime.

Following the finding of HMAS Sydney, 12 months ago a story on ABC’s The 7.30 Report urged the Federal Government to begin a new search for the Centaur.

Victims' families said the time had come to put the Centaur's ghost to rest and find the wreckage of the vessel.

And the shipwreck hunter who discovered HMAS Sydney said he would love the challenge.

Now, with funding from the Federal and Queensland Governments, he is about to face that challenge.

"I think it's like the HMAS Sydney, a loss that has touched people and maybe scarred people for generations," David Mearns said.

In the early hours of Friday May 14,1943, the Centaur was steaming en route to Port Moresby to pick up casualties.

But lurking nearby off the coast of southern Queensland was Japanese submarine I177, which fired a torpedo.

It took only three minutes for the hospital ship to slip beneath the surface, taking 268 souls with it.

Sixty-three men and a nursing sister spent the next 35 hours drifting on rafts before being rescued.

It was Australia's greatest wartime disaster in the Pacific, a tragedy condemned by then Prime Minister John Curtin as a deliberate and blasphemous war crime.

"It's unspeakable, because the ship was lit up to glory.

“It was a hospital ship, it was accredited. The Japanese Government had recognized her immunity," maritime historian Captain John Foley said.

Sir Keith Jones could have been one of those on board the Centaur.

At 97 with a distinguished medical career behind him, Sir Keith and his brother Gordon were in the Army Medical Corps during World War II.

Posted to Cairns, then medical officer Jones was offered a berth alongside his brother on board the Centaur as it was about to set off from Sydney.

"I thought it over and said no, I'd prefer not to, I don't think brothers should be together in the same unit, and so he went off on the ship and I went up by train," he said.

"Halfway up the Queensland coast, a rumour went around the train that a hospital ship had been sunk."

Ted Leask's family suffered more losses on the Centaur than any other. His father and his three brothers were members of the second 12th Field Ambulance unit.

While his three uncles boarded the Centaur and perished, his father escaped.

"Yeah, it was Mum's ill health, actually [that saved him]," he said.

"Mum was six months pregnant with my eldest brother. So Dad's brothers implored the colonel of the unit to have Dad sent to Sydney on compassionate leave. That separated the brothers."

Captain Bernie Hindmarsh

Jan Thomas has never left the memory of her father Captain Bernie Hindmarsh fade. She set up the Centaur Association so other family members could tell their story.

"My father was one of the three doctors on the ship's medical staff who all lost their lives. I was six when it happened, and I remembered that I bellowed like a bull and I ran away," she said.

"It's important to know where their loved ones lie. But the Centaur also needs to be found for her own protection.

"She lies in fishing lanes off the most densely populated coastline in Australia.

"There was no need in the past. They were safe in Davey Jones's locker. That's not the case any more."

The Centaur Association is in touch with Mr Mearns about launching an expedition.

Two months ago Mr Mearns solved Australia's greatest maritime mystery, finding HMAS Sydney and the German raider Kormoran.

Both ships went to the bottom after a savage battle 66 years ago off the Western Australian coast.

The shipwreck hunter, who also discovered British battleship HMS Hood and the German battleship Bismarck, is churning through archives in the search for the Centaur.

"We know that the second officer on board, also reported the position as well. So on the face of it, it does look like there is enough information to be used to mount the search," he said.

Captain Foley says he thinks the Centaur is lying in about 1,800 metres of water - half the depth at which HMAS Sydney was found.

He has tracked the ship's last known location based on interviews with the navigator.

But he understands there are some who think the Centaur should be allowed to rest in peace.

"In the Centaur Association, there are people who have said we'd rather it was just left alone, but if they can at least find the wreck and identify exactly where she is, then it can be given a measure of protection that it doesn't have at the moment," he said.

It cost $4.5 million to find HMAS Sydney and the Kormoran, but David Mearns believes it shouldn't cost quite that much to locate the Centaur.

But he has a warning for those who believe that finding the hospital ship will be easy.

"Anybody who says I guarantee it will be found is either a liar or a fool - and I'm neither of those," he said.

Adapted from a piece by Mark Willacy for The 7.30 Report in May 2008

Lost three uncles

Alice Springs local Alex Leask, who lost three uncles, on the Centaur has grown up with the story as part of his family folklore.

Not long before the fateful bright and calm night in May Alex's father was working on the Centaur only to return home to look after his pregnant wife. At this stage Alex's uncles weren't working on the Centaur.

"My mother was pregnant with me at the time. She was ill and Dad's brothers, Harold, Alexander and Henry implored for dad to go home and look after my mother on compassionate leave.

"Dad didn't know that they were on the ship...the attack broke the Geneva connection about targeting hospital ships," said Alex.

“The effects of the sinking of the Centaur which went down in three minutes have continued to this day.

"The effect was huge on my parents, they could never talk about it, none of dad's brothers were married and they used to treat mum as a princess, the grief was overwhelming."

"The tragedy meant it was the end of the family on Dad's side."

www.abc.net.au/local/stories

Photographs:
Alex Leask lost three uncles when the hospital ship Centaur was sunk in World War Two. (ABC Local Radio: Nicole Lee)

Alex Leask's mother, father and uncles before the sinking of the Centaur. (ABC Local Radio: Nicole Lee)

Rare footage of Centaur

See rare footage of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur, rescuing the survivors of the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran after it had sunk and been sunk by HMAS Sydney.

http://www.hmassydney.com/kormoranrescue.html

Brisbane Courier Mail coverage

Courier Mail photo and story on Centaur model in a bottle at: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25404662-3102,00.html

Brave souls on stormy ANZc Eve

About 400 brave souls ventured out on a wet and windy night for ANZAC Light on the Water 2009 which paid tribute to the 268 Australians who were lost when the hospital ship Centaur was torpedoed off the Queensland coast in May 1943.

Strong winds prevented the lighting of candles in the 3000 cardboard replica lifeboats made by local Primary School students.

However, North Haven Lifesaving Club volunteers came to the rescue and valiantly managed to light some of the candles in the 268 lifeboats that bore the name of each of the victims of the wartime tragedy.

The small group of spectators were entertained by a smaller Bay Big Band, a larger than life Steve Foster, a lone piper and the hugely impressive Royal Australian Navy Guard and Ceremonial Unit.

Port Kids for Anzac Patrons Jack Buckskin, 22, welcomed everyone to the land of his Kaurna people and Paralympian Jay Dohnt, 19, spoke about the role of young people in the future commemoration of Australia's military forces, merchant navy and civilian support groups in many conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

"I encourage all young people to become more involved in ANZAC day events during this and future commemorations, many of the soldiers who fought to create this fantastic legacy of mate ship and patriotism were as young as 16, boys who changed the dates of their birth certificates for an opportunity to represent and protect this country.

"A sense of morality and pride that I believe still exists within Australian youth today.

"ANZAC day is an opportunity to enforce that very sense of pride we have simply by being an Australian.

"A sense of pride that steams back to the attitudes and achievements of the Anzacs, a sense of pride which optimizes Australia and Australians.

"Tonight’s ceremony is the first step for John Williams, Jack Buckskin and I in establishing “Port Kids for ANZAC” a group which is dedicated to reminding SA’s youth about the importance of the Anzac’s and ANZAC day.

"Together with Jack and John I hope to be able to recruit more young people from schools all over SA and fulfil the saying “lest we forget”.

Other speakers included South Australian Treasurer, Kevin Foley, local Federal Labor MP Mark Butler, Port Adelaide Mayor, Gary Johanson, and Rev Ali Wurm.

Because organisers were unable to light many candles, local community and visitors at the event took home most of the 3000 lifeboats and promised to return them for launching when David Mearns of Blue Water Discoveries and the Federal and Queensland Government Search Team locates the wreck of the Centaur later this year.

The organisers of ANZAC of Light on the Water thank all of those volunteers who worked tirelessly on the 2009 event.

Our photos show:

The incredible Centaur in a bottle, a priceless memento, which is actually made from some wreckage washed up on Bribie Island the morning after the hospital ship was sunk. Paul Minards drove to Port Adelaide to show it to everyone at the event, because it was his father, a Coast-watcher on Bribie Island in May 1943, who found the wreckage and then made the ship in the bottle. Paul believes it should be in the National War Memorial in Canberra and it is possible that David Mearns might take it out with him on the search for Centaur.

Photos: Jack Buckskin in Network Ten's Adelaide studios make up.

Jack, who is a dancer and teacher, is also highly skilled in traditional Indigenous body make up himself.

The three Js: Jay, Jack and John with the camera crew after a national interview with David and Kim for 9 AM.

Brave Lifesaver volunteers make every effort to keep the flame burning.

Proud merchant seamen Keith Ridgeway hangs the Red Ensign and Aussie flag.

Veterans widows watch the the RAN Guard and Ceremonial Unit.

Keith Ridgeway, one of the hardest working volunteers with RAN South Australia Commanding Officer, Craig Pritchard, local Federal MP Mark Butler, Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor, Gary Johanson, and lone piper Don Macaulay.

More boats with names

Premier Bligh accepts Centaur painting

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has expressed her gratitude for the gift of the new painting by John Ford F.A.S.M.A. of the Australian hospital ship Centaur to the State of Queensland from the organisers of ANZAC Light on the Water 2009, Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL.

Anthony Crack, Acting Executive Director, State Affairs Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Chairman of the Centaur Project Steering Committee accepts a special limited edition print on her behalf from Tony Williams of Port Adelaide.

Anthony also accepted safekeeping of a second print for David Mearns of Blue Water Discoveries, who will begin the search for the Centaur soon.

Tony presents a third print to Caloundra RSL President, Barry Johnson OAM.

Caloundra RSL has kept the flame alive for everyone aboard the Centaur on her final ill-fated voyage in May 1943 and the families left behind.

The original painting will be on display at ANZAC Light on the Water 2009 when 3000 candle-lit cardboard replica lifeboats will be launched on the Port River as a tribute to the 268 Australians who lost their lives when the Centaur was torpedoed and sunk off the Queensland coast.

ANZAC Light on the Water at Port Adelaide begins at 6.30 pm on April 24.