Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Saturday, 3 December, at 11.15 am, the 11th memorial service for merchant mariners will be held at Norah Head. This service is held on the first Saturday of December every year at the Norah Head Merchant Mariners Memorial to commemorate the significant role played by merchant mariners on the Central Coast in defending Australia during World War II. I have invited interested people to attend the service to remember and honour the invaluable service of merchant mariners. During the war, one in nine merchant mariners perished. We must all recognise the debt that all Australians owe regarding the great contribution made by our merchant mariners.

The service holds special significance for families and friends of those mariners who died when the MV Nimbin sank after striking a mine on 5 December 1940. The Nimbin was the first vessel to be sunk by enemy action off Australia’s east coast in World War II. In fact, we will have two survivors, Don Burchell and Mick Harris, from another ship that sank in local waters in 1942, the SS Iron Chieftan.

The Nimbin had struck a mine laid days before by the German raider Pinguin. Seven of the crew of 20 of the Nimbin, including its captain, Captain Byzantson, went down with the ship. On Saturday, the coastguard from Sydney Harbour, Cottage Point-Hawkesbury River, Swansea and Tuggerah Lakes, Terrigal Sea Rescue, Norah Head Search and Rescue and Hawkesbury River VRA, along with New South Wales Maritime and possibly the Water Police, will be in attendance.

The ceremony this year will be very special because a flotilla of boats will be assembled off the headland at Norah Head. The boats will move to the position where the MV Nimbin sank, place a wreath on the water and observe one minute’s silence. The service will be broadcast to ships up and down the coast of New South Wales. I would encourage people to attend, as I feel it is very important that Australians recognise the significant heroism of merchant mariners during World War II.

I would like to thank all those who have been involved in organising this service, particularly Graeme Bissaker from Tuggerah Lakes Volunteer Coast Guard, as he has been instrumental in helping to arrange for the coastguard to be located off Norah Head; members of the Merchant Mariners Organising Committee; the Norah Head Lighthouse Trust; Lyndal Bailey from the Gorokan High School band; the coastguard chaplain, Brian Jago; Father Hessey; the Gorokan High School band; Gregory Gould, who will be singing the national anthem; the Hawkesbury VRA; Lakes Anglican Grammar School; Malcolm Wright from the RVCP; Mannering Park Sea Scouts; the Maritime Union of Australia; Norah Head Search and Rescue; NSW Maritime; Soldiers Beach Surf Life Saving Club; Terrigal Sea Rescue; Toukley RSL Club Ltd; Toukley RSL Pipes and Drums; Toukley RSL Sub-branch; and Wyong Shire Council. (Time expired)