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Geraldton's HMAS Sydney Memorial
High on a hill, in the heart of Geraldton,
Western Australia, a memorial has been built that will help ease
the legacy of pain for many Australians. This pain has lasted
since the loss of 645 men from HMAS Sydney on November 19, 1941.
Mount Scott has been chosen as the site for a nationally
significant memorial to these men and their families.
Tragic loss of HMAS Sydney
The HMAS Sydney was sunk somewhere off the coast
of Western Australia after a sunset encounter with the German
raider HSK Kormoran.
The men who were lost came from all over Australia and the
nation has never reconciled its grief at the sudden loss of this
vessel. The people of Geraldton had an affinity with HMAS
Sydney. They hosted three ship visits for three-day R and R, the
last being only some four weeks before the ship was lost. During
that visit the men put on a concert for the local community,
attended a dance, went on picnics, played football and escorted
children from every school on a guided tour of the ship.
Geraldton was also mobilised during the search phase through its
RAAF. base and the Port facilities. Trucks were confiscated to
cart aviation fuel.
Rotary Club of Geraldton
initiative
The project to build this memorial was initiated
by the Rotary Club of Geraldton. The Rotary club started working
on the project, through their HMAS Sydney Memorial Steering
Committee on July 1, 1998. The club has been joined in its quest
by the City of Geraldton, the Shire of Greenough, the Geraldton
RSL, the Batavia Coast Maritime Heritage Association and the Mid
West Development Commission.
The Governor of Western Australia, Lieutenant-General John
Sanderson, A.C., is the patron of the Sydney Memorial project.
Dedication of Memorial
The memorial was dedicated on the 18th
November 2001 and the eternal flame lit on the 19th
November 2001 60 years to the day after the tragic loss.
Sculptors
The HMAS
Sydney Memorial design is the work of world-renowned sculptors
Joan Walsh Smith and Charles Smith. The Smiths have also
designed the National Memorial to the Australian Army in Anzac
Parade, Canberra, and ACT.
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