The ship arrived in Burnie, Tasmania on the morning of the 11th and all aboard were invited to attend the Remembrance Day Service being held at the Memorial Park, a short distance from the wharf. I suppose in the vicinity of a few hundred fellow passengers attended. We were cordially welcomed by the President of the Burnie RSL and also the Sub Branch, and here he made a few announcements. I was talking to my wife Helen and a few from the cruise when they announced that Allan Moffatt would Lay a Wreath/Poppy on behalf of the RAN. This came out of the blue, as I knew no one there, have never ever been to Burnie and at that stage didnt really know any other passengers.

Anyway it was a very well conducted Service and it would have been hard to estimate the numbers in attendance, but it was rather big.

HMAS SYDNEY Memorial Service.

Whilst on passage from Bali to Fremantle, and the ship would be transiting the area close to where the remains of HMAS SYDNEY ( coordinates 26 14 31 S 111 12 48 E) and HSK KORMORAN have been located, a Service would be held. I was contacted by the Cruise Director aboard and could I liase with him and also participate in some of the Service. At 0700am, the Service was held on deck 12, and all seating was taken and standing room only and also on deck 14 which looked down on the proceeding, and all in attendance were given a Order of Service which was very well done, and on the front page, a photo of the SYDNEY and a outline of her career before her loss along with 645 sailors, also shown on the big fixed screen was a photo of the late HMAS SYDNEY for all to see.

The Service was commenced by the Cruise Director Mark Turner, and then Officiated by a Retired Cleryman, also a fellow passenger, the Rev. John Ferrell. A Reading by Passenger Mr. Bill Woolmoore, whose Godfather had been lost aboard. I was then asked to Read the Poem, In Flanders Fields written by Lieut Col. John McCrae MD, Canadian Army 1918. the Closing Prayer was read by another passenger Mr. John Little which was taken from the 1941 Memorial Service for HMAS SYDNEY and HMAS PARRAMATTA held in St. Andrews Cathedral, Sydney. A Prayer for the Bereaved was then said by the Rev. John Ferrell.

I was then asked to do both the ODE's which I know by heart and needed no printout, Prior to saying them, I asked all in attendance if they could stand and also remain standing for the Last Post, a Minutes Silence and Reveille, but bearing in mind the ships movement. Even though it was quite a big ship, it still take a few hits from waves etc. To a person, they all stood. I also pointed out, prior to the Naval Ode, I think this ODE has a special meaning and could have been written for just this occasion.

They have no grave but the cruel sea,
No flowers lay at their head,
A rusting hulk is their tombstone
Afast on the ocean bed.

How appropriate I then recited the ODE which is taken from the poem, Ode to the Fallen by Laurence Binyon.

The Last Post and Reveille was played by the trumpet player from the ships Band, who was great.

I suppose it would have to have been one of the greatest moving Services that I have ever attended, and probably more so as we were so close to where the remains of SYDNEY and the 645 crew have now been located and remain buried for all time

LEST WE FORGET

Sincerely
Allan “Shorty” Moffatt OAM
President RANCBA (NSW)

Also during the cruise I had the great pleasure of meeting with some fellow Communicators and others that I had served. Stan and Lynne Mayne who I only found out prior to the voyage they would be aboard. In Tasmania met with Graham (Moby) & Iris Edwards, Bob & Jenny O’Hara, Joe & Monica Charlton. In Brisbane, Jim Carey organised a little “luncheon" along with Gayle Brady, Greg & Sue Palmer, Noel Chidgey, Tony Miles, Liz Grimes, Trevor & Jo Percival, John & Monica Horton with apologies received from Gareth "Tank" Evans in Hong Kong , Jim Eagles, Kev & Anne Ruwoldt - away, Patt Nuss and Jennie Rathbone (still in the workforce). Roger Garrett, Alan and Sonja Hellier, Gus Dodds (double booked) and Peter Leach also away.

Also in Darwin whilst walking down Smith Street, trying to remember the place, this man came up and grabbed, we had been on Patrol Boats together and he retired to live up there. So we had a great yarn about old times and what ever became of so and so etc..

In Melbourne, met with Ms Audrey Plant wife of the late Ex Yeo Gerry Plant and had a great day even though the skies opened up and it bucketed down.