The Trade by Rudyard Kipling - Royal Australian Navy

‘SUBMARINERS WALK’
Heritage Trail New Farm
– Queensland
“Defend Australia against Japanese invasion.” This was the simple but daunting mission of the six U.S. submarines that arrived in
Brisbane on 15 April 1942 with their tender USS Griffin. For three years during World War II, submarines sailing from Brisbane were at the
forefront of the war against Japan. The Brisbane task force made a significant contribution to Allied victory in the Southwest Pacific and
overcame disheartening hardships to achieve ultimate victory.
During WW2, the US Submarine Repair Unit 134 was located in a part of New Farm which is now public parkland. Councillor Peter Matic in
cooperation with the Brisbane City Council approved an interpretive community walk to be established to tell the story of submariners and
submarines and their crucial role in defending Australia.
On display will be a series of plaques telling the story of submarine events from WW1 through WW2 to contemporary times. Submarine
shaped benches designed by Street and Garden Furniture Co will be placed along the walk for the community to rest and reflect upon
these past events.
‘Submariners Walk’ is divided into several
sections. One will honour the five American
submarines lost from New Farm during
WW2. Plaques will be placed at the steps
leading down to the riverfront. Other
sections will honour Australia’s first naval
loss in 1914 – HMA Submarine AE1 which
went missing somewhere off Rabaul and
HMAS AE2’s sinking in the Dardanelles in
1915.
Plaques will be dedicated to the X and XE
Craft Miniature Submarines, the USN Gato
Class submarines and the repair ships USS
Fulton, Griffin and Sperry tendered at New
Farm during the war.
At the Beeston Street end, where existing
plaques for the US Navy Submarine
Operation and Maintenance Base and The
Engine Room already proudly stand, the
Submarine Association Australia Qld Inc will
place other plaques and submarine-shaped
benches providing information about HMAS
Oxley and Otway, the British J Class and
4 th Submarine Flotilla, Dutch K 9, Oberon
Class and Collins Class submarines. The
Submariners Prayer plaque will honour those
Submariners lost since 1914.
Brisbane resident Wanda Davis and her
husband Mike have been closely involved
with the project in honour of Wanda’s father
who served on the USS Peto when berthed
in Brisbane.
The ‘Submariners Walk’ will honour those
submariners that defended our Nation. The
estimated cost of the project is $50,000.
The Hon. Tony Burke MP and The Hon.
Warren Snowden MP approved funding
under ‘Your Community Heritage Grant and
Saluting Their Service Grants. This heritage
trail will be in readiness for when Australia
celebrates the Centenary of Submarines in
2014 and Anzac Day Centenary in 2015.
Donations to the project are welcomed by
calling Don Currell (07) 33451254, President
Submarines Association Australia Qld Inc.
THE TRADE
EDITION 2, 2012
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Aerial view that stretches from Hasting Street to Beeson Street New Farm Brisbane QLD. Notice we are installing 10
submarine shaped benches (red rectangles) along the walk way.
Where are they now?
No 31 ADVANCED ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS COURSE (February 2002)
Back: LS Croke, MS J Mathews, MAEOP S Gibellini, PO2 D Lapierre, PO2 G Lehman, LS Pfeiffer
Front: CPO P O’Callaghan, WOFF D Lloyd, LCDR R Neville, Mr K Robinson, FS P Southwood, FSGT T Tanner
Submit your caption via email to the editor
of ‘The Trade’ at andrew.bujdegan@defence.gov.au
Best captions will appear next issue.
LIFESTYLE
Farewell
POETSM
Josh
Myers
Early July saw POETSM Josh
Myers do his last day of work in
Western Australia. He will finish
his final days of service in the
RAN working in Adelaide for DMO
at Osborne, prior to seeking new
and exciting career opportunities
in South Australia.
This departure gave the
SUBFOR Tech cell a reason to
commemorate his combined
twenty one years service in the
ADF, having served over eleven
years in the RAAF (if that counts
as effective service!!) and ten
years in the Navy Submarine Arm.
POETSM Myers has served on
HMAS Farncomb and HMAS
Collins, as well as working at
numerous postings within the
squadron. He departs us with
fond memories of his time and he
will be missed. Josh’s decision
to discharge and settle in SA
is based on offering his family
support and geographical stability.
We are hopeful his skills will not
be totally lost to the Defence
Force as there are many and
varied Defence Contractors
located in Adelaide.
We all wish him and his family well
with his new career.
SUBFOR Tech Cell commemorate
PO Josh Myers years of Service
1
THE TRADE
EDITION 2, 2012