ANNUAL COMMEMORATION
NATIONAL MERCHANT NAVY WAR MEMORIAL, KINGS PARK, CANBERRA
A PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL CAPITAL AUTHORITY (NCA)
& COORDINATED BY THE MNWMF
The picture shows the completed installation in bronze of four new panels with the names & respective ships of the 862 Australian Merchant Mariners that sacrificed their lives for their country in WW1 (184) & WW11 (678). The inscription is on the centre black granite panel.
The extensive new & remedial works were unveiled by the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC, Minister for Defence, at the 30th Annual Commemoration on Sunday 20th October, 2019.
An Annual Commemoration is held each October, AT THE MERCHANT NAVY NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL, KINGS PARK, CANBERRA, to honour and reflect, on the memory of those brave and courageous merchant navy men who gave their lives in the service of their country during WWI and WWII. It is also an opportunity to give thanks to those who were able to return to the love & care of their families. Also acknowledged are those within today’s Merchant Navy, who are away from their families for long periods and may face loneliness and ill-health or injury.
In the late 80’s the Fund responded to a request from The Merchant Navy Association (MNA) together with the RSL Merchant Navy Sub-Branch and The Company of Master Mariners of Australia (CMMA) to construct a National Merchant Navy War Memorial on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. The Fund provided a grant of $100,000 to enable the project to succeed. With government and several public and shipping company donations, the Memorial was completed in October 1990 and unveiled on 7 October 1990 by His Excellency the Hon. Bill Hayden AC, 21st Governor-General of Australia. The Annual National Commemoration is held in October, with significant financial support from the Fund.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEMORIAL
The Memorial was designed to provide an appropriate monument and place to remember those members of the Australian Merchant Navy who gave their lives at sea during WWI and WWII. The Memorial includes a number of maritime themes which relate specifically to the Merchant Navy and to War. The Architect was, The Late Professor Alastair Swayn AO Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Pty Ltd, Canberra.
These themes are brought together as a plan in the shape of part of a globe on North-South spindle or axis symbolising navigation, in the use of bow-shaped concrete panels representing merchant ships, and in the paving of the dais representing the patterns and colours of wartime ship camouflage.
The Plan as the Globe: The plan can be seen as a part of a globe with the main axis oriented to due North, and with a small East-West cross axis described in black. The globe is described in plan by the semi-circular dais to one side of the principal North-South axis. The projections of semi-circular walls include circular eyes to represent the anchor hawse pipes of ship bows. At each end of the North-South axis are concrete drums which represent a compass in the case of the Northern drum, and a bollard in the case of the Southern drum.
The Panels: The vertical elements of the Memorial consist of six upright white pre-cast concrete panels which are shaped in the form of the bow of a ship. The inner panels also include wave forms on the bow. The positioning of the concrete panels around the circular edge of the Memorial is intended to play a game of perspective for the visitor in a similar way in which perspective can easily change the perception of objects at sea. The panels in a group also represent the use of convoys in war time. The concrete bow panels flank the centrepiece of the Memorial which is a black granite faced panel containing the Merchant Navy Badge cast in bronze. Black granite is used to symbolise sacrifice and remembrance.
Paving: The dais is paved in coloured ceramic tiles in an abstract design representing the dazzle colours used on merchant ships during the First World War to disguise their real form, and which was intended to make them less vulnerable to submarine attack. Four red crossed are also incorporated in the paving design to symbolise the part played by the Merchant Navy in providing and manning Hospital Ships.
Flag Mast: The Flag mast has been designed to represent the types of mast used on merchant ships. It is complete with yardarm and gaff. The mast is painted white in a similar manner to the way in which ships’ masts are painted.
GUEST OF HONOUR DELIVERING THE ANNUAL MERCHANT NAVY COMMEMORATIVE ADDRESS
(Last 10 years only)
20/10/19 (29TH) SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS CSC, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
20/10/19 (29TH) SENATOR THE HON. LINDA REYNOLDS CSC, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
21/10/18 (28TH) COLLIN ACTON RAN TO THE NAVY – ARCHDEACON TO THE NAVY
22/10/17 (27TH) REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL NOONAN, AM, DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVY
23/10/16 (26TH) VICE ADMIRAL TIM BARRETT AO, CSC, RAN, CHIEF OF NAVY
18/10/15 (25TH) THE HON. DR. BRENDAN NELSON, BMBS, FRACP (HONS), FAMA , DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
19/10/14 (24TH) VICE ADMIRAL RAY GRIGGS AO, CSC, RAN VICE CHIEF OF DEFENCE FORCE
20 /10/13 (23RD) REAR ADMIRAL KEN DOOLAN AO RAN (I) ) -NATIONAL PRESIDENT, RETURNED SERVICES LEAQUE OF AUSTRALIA (RSL)
28/10/12 (22ND) BRIGADIER WILL TAYLOR OBE, ROYAL MARINES – DEFENCE & NAVAL ADVISOR BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
23/10/11 (21ST) REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL UZZELL AM, RAN – HEAD OF NAVY ENGINEERING
24/10/10 (20TH) MR. MICK KINLEY, DEPUTY CEO (NOW CEO) – AUST MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY
2019 MAJOR NEW & REMEDIAL WORKS TO FACILITATE THE INSTALLATION IN BRASS OF THE NAMES & RESPECTIVE SHIPS OF THE 862 AUSTRALIAN MERCHANT MARINERS THAT SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN WWI (184) & WWII (678)
Working with the Memorials Architectural firm Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn, Construction company MANTEENA & other advisors a detailed Project submission, was approved by the governing body, the National Capital Authority (NCA) in February 2019. The new works provided for the addition of four (4) new concrete blades in an outer circle to the existing blades, on a new section of pavement. The new blades (2 on each side) bear the 862 names. As we continue to encourage a younger generation to become involved in the recognition of the Merchant Navy, the new works will add significant additional meaning, especially at the time of the annual commemoration.
As was the case when the Memorial was built in 1990, a National Fund-Raising Appeal, was launched in April 2019, as the project could not be fully funded without the support of individuals & organisations, who ‘hold dear’ the recognition of the Australian Merchant Navy as an important part of Australian Maritime history and our Social Culture.
We also recognise the following organisations who were the major donors, who funded the construction of the Memoria in 1989/1990.
25th Anniversary Commemoration, National Merchant Navy War Memorial, Kings Park, Canberra, Sunday 18th October 2015. The Guest of Honour, delivering the 2015 Address and unveiling the 25th Anniversary Plaque was The Hon. Dr. Brendan Nelson, BMBS FRACP (Hon) FAME, Director, The Australian War Memorial