Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 782 Issue Date: 29 Apr, 2024

In a presentation very fitting for Remembrance Day, Terry Stewart spoke on the HMAS Sydney II Memorial.

In November 1941, The HMAS Sydney while cruising off Steep Point WA returning from escort duties, met what it thought was a Dutch Merchant ship, the “Straat Malakka”.  It was in fact a German Raider, the “Kormoran” and the ensuing battle led to Australia’s worst naval disaster, with the total loss of the Sydney and its 645 crew.

The loss of the Sydney was a terrible blow to Australia, and was felt keenly here in Geraldton, where the crew had spent a number of visits, the latest a month before her loss. The loss of the crew was like the loss of family.

Very much aware of this, in 1998 Richard Larrera, then president of Geraldton Rotary Club, proposed the construction of a memorial to the sailors lost on the Sydney.  No doubt he had no idea how this original idea would develop into the magnificent structure we see today, thanks to the Smith family who designed it, and the vision and hard work of Rotarians to make it happen. Today we have a magnificent memorial that is listed number 8 on the Trip Adviser list in Australia and number 12 in the Pacific Basin.

There is nothing on the site of the memorial that just fills a space, every artefact and plant has a purpose Symbolic, a reference to the HMAS Sydney or maintaining the nautical theme.

The memorial is made up of five elements.

1. Walls of Remembrance

   Represent the arms of the Nation welcoming home the souls of 645 dead crew of the Sydney. Names of crew are in alphabetical order with no regard to rank. Pictures were computer generated and sandblasted into the black granite walls

2. Dome of Souls

   645 stainless steel silver gulls, 7 pillars. Anchor, port and starboard lights. Propeller from tug Rosecricia set in a nautical compass bearing the words “Lest we forget”

3.           Stele

   Represents prow of ship 70 ft high in stainless steel. Built 2000 but not till 2008 was it evident that the wreck had lost its prow. The illuminated Australian flag on top flies 24/7.

   4       Waiting Lady

   Much to say about the features of this lady but original design panning notes she would have the look of a mother who knew the whereabouts of her son. When the wreck was found, she was noted to be looking in the exact direction…

   5   Pool of Remembrance

   5 steps down to the water symbolic of the war grave in the sea. Map of WA with steep point most westerly point of Australia, 2 metre Silver gull set off the coast where wreck of Sydney lies, 644 gulls round bottom step Circumference matches Dome of Souls exactly.

   Terry was thanked by PP Kim Stokes and presented with…..a used glass tumbler!