HMAS PATRICIA CAM
75th Anniversary 2018
Palermo Park Site Visit - Friday 19th January 2018
PastMasters Michael Hermes - Tim Stone & Mike Owen made a preliminary site visit to establish whether archaeological remains persist at the site of Beattie's shipyard on Empire Bay where the Pat Cam was laid down. Local historian, Gwen Dundon, suspects that shipbuilding was being undertaken here during the 19th century as the steep profile, sheltered water and abundant forest provide ideal conditions. This is the only shipbuilding site on Brisbane Water that has not been built over in recent years and so offers a unique opportunity to reveal a vanished industry that was critical to the founding of the Australian nation and defence against Japan during WWII.
Low tide at the mouth of Cockle Creek looking North to the shipyard area.
Patricia Cam in frame at Beattie's Yard
Looking South West from Cockle Creek down to the bridge to St Hubert's Island
Brisbane Water Heritage Cruise - Saturday 20th January 2018
Boarding the Ferry at Davistown Jetty where the Pat Cam keel was sided out & floated down to the shipyard
Preparing the Pat Cam's keel at Davistown
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The Davistown foreshore
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Peter Rae & Mike Owen introduce the Heritage Tour
Peter Rae is vice-president of the Brisbane Water Historical Society & with assistance from the Rotary Club of Kincumber he organised a special History Ferry Tour which departed from Central Wharf, Davistown on the site where the keel for Pat Cam was sided out.
The ferry is equipped with a large A/V monitor to display a graphic presentation along with live commentary provided by Peter with assistance from Gwen Dundon OAM author of 'The Shipbuilders of Brisbane Water'.
The tour concluded at 11.30am at the historic Beattie's shipyard at Palermo Park before returning to Davistown with all proceeds going towards a HMAS Patricia Cam memorial and interpretive signage. Special thanks to Central Coast Ferries for their generous support.
The ferry is equipped with a large A/V monitor to display a graphic presentation along with live commentary provided by Peter with assistance from Gwen Dundon OAM author of 'The Shipbuilders of Brisbane Water'.
The tour concluded at 11.30am at the historic Beattie's shipyard at Palermo Park before returning to Davistown with all proceeds going towards a HMAS Patricia Cam memorial and interpretive signage. Special thanks to Central Coast Ferries for their generous support.
Peter Rae relates the maritime history of Brisbane water
Looking north to Gosford on Brisbane Water
The Ettalong Beach Resort
The Breakwater at Broken Bay - the entrance to Brisbane Water
Luncheon Davistown RSL
Michael Hermes & Debby Gairns
Many locals, with generational linkage to the shipbuilding industry, joined family and friends for luncheon at the Davistown RSL which was organised by Graeme Davies of Rotary International.
The image shows Michael Hermes, senior archaeologist with PastMasters, supporting the ship's beam knee which he found on Marchinbar Island during the 2013 Ancient Coins in Arnhem Land Expedition to the Wessel Islands.
With Michael is Debby Gairns, the daughter of Beaufort pilot Len Gairns who found the survivors of the sinking of the Pat Cam.
Debby has been working her way through her father's archive and has recently uncovered letters from the survivors expressing their gratitude for their rescue and delivery of urgently needed supplies.
Betty Stevens was the last family of crew contacted and whilst unable to come to Canberra she made a very special contribution to the weekend of commemorative events.
The image shows Michael Hermes, senior archaeologist with PastMasters, supporting the ship's beam knee which he found on Marchinbar Island during the 2013 Ancient Coins in Arnhem Land Expedition to the Wessel Islands.
With Michael is Debby Gairns, the daughter of Beaufort pilot Len Gairns who found the survivors of the sinking of the Pat Cam.
Debby has been working her way through her father's archive and has recently uncovered letters from the survivors expressing their gratitude for their rescue and delivery of urgently needed supplies.
Betty Stevens was the last family of crew contacted and whilst unable to come to Canberra she made a very special contribution to the weekend of commemorative events.
Betty Stevens, widow of Bert Stevens, the Pat Cam's Telegraphist, stole the show & tell with the message dropped to the castaways by Len Gairns (father of Debby). It poses a series of questions asking for the answers to be written in the sand which he photographed the next day when he returned to drop supplies
Message dropped to Pat Cam survivors by Len Gairns
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Betty Stevens, Jan Braund, Debby Gairns
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Image of answers to above questions - raft, graves above & survivors - photo by Len Gairns taken on following morning.
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Frank Harding painting from They Flew for the King - preserved at Naracoorte SA
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Unveiling the Plaque at Palermo Gardens - Saturday 20th January 2018
Palermo Park was recently cleared of undergrowth for the occasion - it is the only remaining site where may be found archaeological evidence of the once numerous Brisbane Water slipways. A ceremony was held to unveil the model of Pat Cam as a prelude to the unveiling of a plaque that has been specially cast with support from the N.T. Government for installation at Palermo Park to commemorate Beattie's contribution to Brisbane Water shipbuilding history - it will become part of the Rotary Club of Kincumber’s Shipbuilders Memorial.
Palermo Park - site of Beattie's Yard where the Patricia Cam was laid down
Across Empire Bay to St Hubert's Island
Sydney Harbour with the RAN Historical Society - Sunday 21st January 2018
The Opera House - Harbour Bridge - Ferry & Fort Denison with the Martello Tower at right
A wonderful tour of the Naval Establishments at Garden Island & Spectacle Island was organised by Walter Burroughs, editor of the Naval Historical Review & Captain David Michael RANR, President of the Naval Historical Society. Some 40 Pat Cam family & friends took the ferry from Circular Quay around the Opera House to Garden Island where men from HMS Sirius grew onions and corn for the nascent settlement in 1788. It became the base for the Royal Navy Australia Station in 1856 with the auxiliary squadron added in 1891. It was greatly expanded in 1945 with the addition of the vast Captain Cook Graving Dock and in 1951 a giant Hammerhead Crane which was dismantled in 2014. The dockyard continues to be fully operational whilst the historic area is open to public visits with a magnificent museum and glorious period buildings. It is a centre for research and preservation of the nation's naval heritage and well worth a visit with free entry to the Heritage Centre and public areas. It is where the Patricia Cam was fitted with armaments before heading north.
Garden Island
HMAS Success alongside at Garden Island Naval Base
Panoramic views from the Signal Tower
The services in the Garden Island Chapel during which individual plaques are dedicated.
Dates for 2018 are as follows;
22 July coincides with service for HMAS Hobart
14 October service organised by Federation of Naval Ship Associations
Families of service personnel who wish to dedicate a plaque can select either service. Attached below is the plaque order form and information on entry arrangements to Garden Island for these services.
Dates for 2018 are as follows;
22 July coincides with service for HMAS Hobart
14 October service organised by Federation of Naval Ship Associations
Families of service personnel who wish to dedicate a plaque can select either service. Attached below is the plaque order form and information on entry arrangements to Garden Island for these services.
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Spectacle Island
We were privileged to be taken aboard a RAN vessel for the trip under the Harbour Bridge and up the Parramatta River to Spectacle Island which is not open to the public but which houses the RAN Historical Society's collections. It is the oldest continuously operating naval facility in Australia having opened in 1884 as the armament depot for the Royal Navy’s Australia Squadron. Spectacle Island was transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia following Federation in 1901 and continued as the armament depot when the Commonwealth Naval Forces became the Royal Australian Navy in 1911.
For most of the twentieth century, Spectacle Island continued its armament role until it was transitioned into the repository for Navy's heritage collection in the 1980's. The island is also home to the Australian Navy Cadet's Training Ship Sydney. The Naval Historical Society is a credit to the RAN and the nation.
For most of the twentieth century, Spectacle Island continued its armament role until it was transitioned into the repository for Navy's heritage collection in the 1980's. The island is also home to the Australian Navy Cadet's Training Ship Sydney. The Naval Historical Society is a credit to the RAN and the nation.
Spectacle Island - home of the collections of the RAN Historical Society
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SCG - ODI England Vs Australia - Sunday 21st January 2018
Sydney Cricket Ground - One Day International Australia Vs England 21st January 2018 from atop the Noble Stand.
Last Post Ceremony -
Australian War Memorial - Canberra ACT - Monday 22nd January 2018
Janice Lee Braund (nee Cameron) having laid a wreath beneath the image of her father Percival James Cameron whose story exemplified the loss of HMAS Patricia Cam
Rev. Dr Noel & Coral Kentish
Olims Bar & Bistro - Mercure Hotel Canberra
RAN Tribute to HMAS Patricia Cam at HMAS Coonawarra Darwin
