Minutes of Annual General Meeting held at the RSL Geelong at

11 a.m. on Thursday 2 October 2008

Present :

President Brigadier Douglas Ball, Neil Webb, Stan Grimmer, Tom Stevens, Rex Ruwoldt, Pat Ruwoldt, Florence Grimmer, Monty Mills, Val Mills, John Skurrie, Archie Burton, Doreen Morrison, Bon Jackson FCA, Ray Kennedy, Ken Kemp, Alec Hilliard, Joy Palmer, Jenny Wright, Rex Howard, Frank Betts, Phyllis Betts, Len Osborne, Audrey Osborne, Ken Davison, Pat Leydon, Bob Andrew, Lesley McQuinn, James F Smith, Geoff Wisbey, Jack Power, Keith Martin, Peter Hill, Clarrie Nankervis, Fred Trebilcock, Robin Bell, Bruce Hyett, David Cowling, Joe Walker, Guest Speaker Bob Appleton.

Apologies :

Major General Frank Poke, Dorothy Poke, George Woodward, Gwen Woodward, Ken Picot, Peter Webb, Alan Proven, Syd Cook, Ellen Niewand, Ray Buttery, Tim Toleman, Dick Clayton, Lionel King, Frances Bedford MP, Rex Pullen, Max Spencer, Peter Lang, George Knight, Con Wilson, Kath Wilson, Aubrey Dans, Ron Forbes.

Welcome:

The President, on declaring the meeting open, extended a welcome to members, visitors and guest speaker Mr Bob Appleton. He thanked the RSL Geelong Sub Branch for their support, and the RSL Ladies’ Auxiliary for providing morning tea.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of fallen comrades, and the President recited the Ode.

Minutes: (previously circulated):

Confirmed on the motion of Bob Andrew, seconded Lesley McQuinn that the minutes as circulated be approved.

Business arising from the minutes :

Ken Davison, chairman of the Melbourne committee, raised the question of the Darwin memorabilia, at present on loan to the Broadmeadows museum. The Secretary replied that the items were on loan only, and would be available in the event the authorities at the Shrine of Remembrance decided to stage another ‘Darwin Exhibition’.

Previously the Secretary had reported on a telephone conversation with Mr Doug Berghart, President of the Darwin Mobile Forces Association who had been informed that there was not an exhibit for the bombing of Darwin. Enquiries were made which disclosed that there is such an exhibition but the attendant at the time of Mr Burghart’s enquiry did not know about it.

Reports :

The President and Secretary delivered their reports which were received on the motion of Tom Stevens, seconded Jenny Wright.

Financial Report (previously circulated) :

Moved Pat Ruwoldt, seconded Ken Kemp that the audited accounts be adopted, and appreciation recorded of the Honorary Auditor who has given generously of his time and expertise.. Carried.

Election of Officers & Committee:

The previous officers and committee members have signified their willingness to continue and as there were no further nominations received, the committee for 2008 – 2009 is :

President – Brigadier Douglas Ball

Vice-President – Neil Webb

Secretary – Rex Ruwoldt

Treasurer – Pat Ruwoldt

Web Manager – Margaret Ruwoldt

Ordinary members – Major General Frank Poke, Stan Grimmer, Tom Stevens.

Appointment of Honorary Auditor :

Moved Rex Ruwoldt, seconded Nail Webb that Mr Bon Jackson FCA be appointed Honorary Auditor. Carried.

Guest Speaker :

Neil Webb introduced the Guest Speaker, Mr Bob Appleton who served during World War II on His Majesty’s submarine Tempest, and was taken Prisoner of War by the Italians when his submarine was destroyed in enemy action. Mr Appleton’s address, illustrated by slides, was warmly received and greatly appreciated by his listeners.

The President presented the speaker with a copy of the book “Darwin’s Battle for Australia” as a memento of the occasion, and thanked him for his terrific presentation of the valuable role of submarines in the conflict.

Closing the meting at 12.30 p.m. the President thanked those attending.

The following is a transcription of the actual orders given to Lieutenant Colonel Nurse when he was appointed as Officer in Command of Darwin Fortress on 28th August 1942. His son Noel found the original copy of the orders amongst his father’s memorabilia, but due to age and deterioration it could not be copied satisfactorily. The same orders were issued to all Commanding Officers when they were allocated their respective defence areas in WW II.

HQ, NT FORCE.

(To the) Commander, DARWIN FORTRESS
===================================

NT FORCE OPERATING INSTRUCTION NO. 32
DEFENCE OF DARWIN FORTRESS

Ref. Map: DARWIN & ENVIRONS, 1 inch to 1 mile, Sheets 1 and 5.

1. Operationally you will command all personnel in the area of DARWIN FORTRESS.
2. The area defined as DARWIN FORTRESS is the area WEST of the 90 grid line from its intersection to its intersection with EAST ARM at 900008.
3. Your role is to defend this FORTRESS and to destroy enemy forced attacking it.
4. The FORTRESS will be defended to the last man and the last round. There will be no withdrawal unless orders are received by you from a superior authority.
5. You will ensure that, in your plan, provision is made for each post within the FORTRESS to continue to fight to the end.
6. The Forward Force will co-operate with you to the maximum possible extent consistent with its commitments elsewhere.
7. Such demolitions in the FORTRESS as are laid down in the NT Force Operating Instruction 35 will be carried out under your command.

(Signature indecipherable)

Major-General
Commander NT Force.

Much misinformation has been written and published about the attacks on Darwin on 19th February 1942. Reports that people panicked and fled have been misinterpreted to mean that everybody including the defence personnel fled. This is untrue.

Most of the civilians who had not been evacuated left Darwin to move south to safer climes; they were told to leave because the army had insufficient means to protect them in the event of the expected impending invasion. Some were able to get on the train; sadly, the rest of them had to make their way by whatever means they could find. To say they “fled” is an unkind assessment; they were justifiably concerned and in a state of shock. They had just witnessed an enemy force slaughtering hundreds of servicemen and civilians, their town had been devastated, their homes and possessions destroyed, and they had to leave and go south with whatever they could carry, to avoid an even worse situation if the Japs invaded. A number of them, including some occupants of the local gaol, stayed and joined the armed services. When the bombers struck, the court was in session, and Judge Nichols said later that he never did find out what happened to the fellow they had in the dock!

The Army stayed at their posts, prepared to defend them ‘to the last man and round’ (of ammunition) in accordance with the age-old Australian Army tradition. There were serious concerns about the shortage of arms and ammunition; the infantry had only 5 rounds per man, 2/14th Field Regiment had antiquated 18 pounder guns and 80 rifles between 800 men, our unit the 19th Machine Gun Regiment on the Beach Defences had ammunition for only 5 minutes. The Navy kept up a heavy anti-aircraft barrage and defended their ships. The Merchant Navy had few guns but they fought back with what they had.

The Heavy Ack Ack kept up a continual barrage with their 3” and 3.7” guns and fired over 1100 rounds that day. The noise from the guns was shattering; the gunners had no ear protection, and one gunner told me it was at least 3 hours later before he could hear what anyone said to him. Their “Darky” Hudson received a Military Medal for outstanding bravery in the handling of his antiquated Lewis Gun.

The RAAF ground staff members were in an invidious position. They were enlisted as technicians, they had no military training, no arms or ammunition, and the RAAF aerodrome was the most vulnerable target in the area. The aircraft they had to maintain were all destroyed. Their officers did not have the military training given to Army officers, but they showed some initiative and commonsense and instructed most of the staff to move about two miles south into the scrub, away from the target area.

The RAAF Meteorological section stayed at their post, the Civil Construction Corps carried out repairs on the runways, and Lockheed Hudson pilot Dick Overhue said that when he flew in from Port Moresby the next day, operations were normal.

For any ignorant uneducated idiot to say that any of these service personnel “fled” is a self-confession of the lack of that person’s own moral fibre. If you hear anyone making such accusations, you would be well advised to take more care in your choice of friends and acquaintances.

Rex Ruwoldt.

• Brief news story (Radio Australia, 19 February) describing arrangements for the Darwin ceremony (the same story appears on the ABC Darwin web site)
• Air raid mates meet by chance after 66 years: Bertie Wansley and Ron Ronson are reunited in Darwin (Northern Territory News, 18 February)
• Veterans’ Affairs Minister Alan Griffin announces that the first Wednesday in September will become an official commemoration day (Sydney Morning Herald, 18 February)
• The Leader of the Opposition in the Northern Territory says a proposed new military museum should be located at East Point (ABC News, 18 February)
• Brief news article about a commemoration at East Point Military Museum in Darwin (ABC News (17 February)
• Woman in homage to brave ancestor: article about Leading Seaman Physical Trainer Corinne Williams, who will lay a wreath in Darwin in memory of her great-grandfather, Petty Officer Frank Moore, who was fatally wounded in the first raid (Northern Territory News, 17 February)
• Darwin bombing to be remembered in Bankstown NSW: brief article including phone number for further details (St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 14 February)

More ABC News stories about topics related to World War II.

Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the Geelong RSL at 11 a.m. on Friday, 24 August 2007

Present : President Brigadier Douglas Ball, Vice-President Neil Webb, Secretary Rex Ruwoldt, Treasurer Pat Ruwoldt, Major General Frank Poke, Mrs Dorothy Poke, Stan Grimmer, Mrs Florence Grimmer, Tom Stevens, Michael Beavis OAM, Bill Huggins BEM, Jack Power, Vic Maurer, Rex Howard, George Nicholls, Lionel King, Mrs Isabel King, Bob Andrew, R.C.
Baker, Mrs Lesley McQuinn, Jim Connor, Patrick Connor, Syd James, Mrs Lois James, Hayden Shell (President of the Geelong RSL Sub Branch), A.J. Walker, Frank Betts, Mrs Phyllis Betts, Keith Martin, Geoff Wisbey, Frank Moore, Mrs Hazel Moore, Con Wilson, Ron Forbes, Bert Fenton, Reg Guest, Douglas Richens, David Cowling, Ken Picot

The President declared the meeting open and welcomed members and guests, some of whom had travelled from Melbourne, Ballarat, Ararat, Sebastapol and Tasmania, to the Annual General Meeting, called to meet our legal obligations as an incorporated body. Reports on the year’s activities will be presented, and the audited financial records tabled. The meeting also gives us an opportunity to catch up with friends and enjoy luncheon.
Our Guest speaker, to whom we offer a warm welcome, is Mr Brian Wrigley, Past President of Geelong Legacy.
Appreciation was expressed for the assistance and co-operation of the Geelong RSL Sub Branch over the past year, and we thank the ladies of the RSL Women’s Auxiliary for catering for our morning tea to-day.
A special welcome was offered to Ken Picot, a former foundation committee member, and to Major General Frank Poke. The President thanked both for making the effort to attend to-day.
The meeting observed one minute’s silence in remembrance of fallen comrades and the President recited The Ode:

They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.

Apologies: Mr & Mrs Bon Jackson, George Woodward, Mrs Gwen Woodward, Len Osborn, Mrs Audrey Osborn, Melbourne Committee Chairman Ken Davison, Mrs Peg Davison, George Kent, Alan Provan, Mrs Irene Watson, Alex Hilliard, Len Kemp, Neil Walker, Alan Birch, Pat Leydon, Mrs Thelma Leydon, Peter Webb, Charlie Ponting, Robyn Bell, Alan Day,

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 30 August 2006:
Moved Stan Grimmer that the Minutes, as previously circulated, be confirmed as a true and correct record. Seconded Ken Picot. Carried.
There was no business arising from the minutes.

Reports : The President and Secretary then read their respective reports. Moved Tom Stevens, seconded Vic Maurer that the reports be received. Carried.

Financial Report (previously circulated) : Treasurer Pat Ruwoldt, in moving that the audited financial statement be received and adopted, expressed appreciation of the Auditor’s help. Seconded Frank Poke and carried.

Election of Officers : The Secretary announced that the existing committee members had offered to serve for another year, and as there were no further nominations, the following appointments were confirmed :
President : Brigadier Douglas Ball, AM, RFD, ADC, FAIM
Vice President :Neil Webb
Secretary : Rex Ruwoldt
Treasurer : Pat Ruwoldt
Committee Members : Stan Grimmer, Tom Stevens
Major General Frank Poke, AO, KStJ, RFD, ED
Web Designer : Margaret Ruwoldt

Appointment of Auditor : Mr Bon Jackson FCA indicated that he would be willing to act as Honorary Auditor for the current financial year if required. Moved Pat Ruwoldt, seconded Neil Webb that Mr Bon Jackson FCA be appointed Honorary Auditor for the financial year 2007-08. Carried.

Guest Speaker : Mr Brian Wrigley, past president of Geelong Legacy, told of the history of the sinking of the Japanese prison ship Montevideo Maru, and personal stories of some of the captured prisoners and members of their families.
The President thanked Mr Wrigley for a most interesting talk, which was greatly appreciated by those present, and presented the speaker with a copy of the book, “Darwin’s Battle for Australia”.

The President thanked members and guests for their attendance, and declared the Annual General Meeting closed at 12 noon.

OPEN FORUM:

General discussion was then invited on relevant subjects.
Major General Poke advised that the Melbourne Committee held their AGM on Tuesday, 21 August, and were honoured by the presence of our Patron, Sir Zelman Cowen and Lady Cowen at the meeting and the luncheon which followed. Attendance at the meeting was in excess of 60. Reports were delivered by the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and noted that a donation of $2,000 was made to the Shrine of Remembrance Development Fund, and the Treasurer disclosed that a surplus of $100 was made over the year’s costs.
The Guest Speaker at the Melbourne AGM was Mr Dennis Baguley, CEO of the Shrine of Remembrance. In an interesting address he covered the history, current situation and activities, and future plans for the Shrine. A copy of the address will be sent to the National Secretary for inclusion in the Newsletter.
An interesting development has been the arrangement of an affiliation between the Melbourne committee and members with a Jewish Girls’ School, whose headmistress is very impressed.

Regarding the business of the Japanese troops in S.E. Asia and bicycles (referred to in the Secretary’s report), mobility provided by bicycles enabled the Japanese to spread down Malaya to Singapore. After the war it was discovered some Japanese prisoners of war had been merchant seamen on the Montevideo Maru.

Mr Hayden Shell, President of the Geelong RSL Sub Branch advised that his organization is beginning a 25-year plan for the future. The organization is over 90 years old and while it has been able to adapt to changing conditions, a new direction is being sought. Members of Darwin Defenders may be asked to give their recollections of the history of the RSL.

Secretary Rex Ruwoldt reported on a telephone call he had from Doug Berghart, President of the Darwin Mobile Force Association, which he joined in 1940. Recently he went to the Australian War Museum looking for a bombing of Darwin exhibit. He asked an attendant who replied they didn’t have anything at the moment but he believed there was something out on the road - nothing on a permanent basis – not important enough. Can we cooperate and arrange a permanent exhibition in the A.W.M.? The committee would be glad to have any ideas.

Rex Ruwoldt,
Honorary National Secretary.

SECRETARY’S REPORT ON THE YEAR 2006-2007

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,

One of the most important things when organising any project is to know what needs to be done and to get it right. The army in Darwin in WW2 was not always lucky enough to do that. Sometime about May or June 1942, Intelligence reports from Malaysia stated that one Japanese unit on their march south to Singapore advanced at the rate of 40 miles per day. Senior officers in the NT concluded that if the Japanese could do that, to win this war we had to be fit enough to match them. So we were started out on weekly route marches in full battle gear, which meant that each man carried about 40 lbs of equipment in temperatures up th 115 degrees Fahrenheit. We progressed from 15 miles a day up to 30 miles, which seemed to be the limit for the fittest of the men. By the end of 1943, the strength of the unit was down to about 40%, the others having been graded out as unfit.

Then a further Intelligence report stated that THE JAPANESE HAD BICYCLES!

I would like to express personal appreciation to our President, Douglas Ball. His commitment to our goals has been outstanding, and he has done much to gain us respect and recognition in many places.

I also want to thank our committee members, Vice President Neil Webb, Treasurer and Minute Secretary my wife Pat, Stan Grimmer, Tom Stevens and Major General Frank Poke, for their help and support over the past year, and to my daughter Margaret, for her help and for setting up and maintaining the Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc web site.

Special mention must be made of the contribution of Major General Frank Poke. His help and advice have been of tremendous value to the Melbourne Committee, and through our National Committee, to our members throughout Australia.

We all owe a special vote of thanks to President Hayden Shell and Committee of the Geelong RSL, their Manager Phillip Marshall, and all the other staff members, the Ladies Auxiliary and the caterers for providing us with such an excellent venue for this meeting, and for our regular meetings throughout the year.

Special thanks to the Committees in Adelaide, Bendigo, Horsham, Shepparton, Bankstown, Perth, and Melbourne. These committees all hold regular meetings and work to organise ceremonies in their areas each year.

Thanks also to the Darwin City Council and their CEO Alan McGill for the organisation of their annual Commemoration, and for the assistance and courtesy extended to any of our members who visit Darwin from time to time.

The Shrine Exhibition:
Melbourne Committees main project this year was the running of the Exhibition in the Shrine of Remembrance from 1st February to 10th March, and the Commemoration Ceremony at the Shrine on the 20th February. Both functions were very well attended and a credit to Ken Davison and his dedicated committee members.
Shrine staff said the Darwin Defenders exhibition was the best exhibition ever held at the Shrine and it should have been left there.

Membership:
Sadly, advice has been received that 42 of our veteran members have passed away since our meeting last year. At the current age of our veterans, this rate of attrition is to be expected. There are a number whose correspondence is returned marked “Left Address”. It is possible that some of these have passed on but we have no way of checking.

There has been some increase in membership largely due to the transfer of 74 members from the Darwin Commemoration Association in Sydney. Their long standing secretary Jack Lilly died in 2002 and after some 40 years their service at the Cenotaph in Sydney had to be abandoned for the lack of someone to organise it.
Eric Miller took up the job of secretary, newsletter editor and publisher and whatever else had to be done, but due to failing eyesight he is no longer able to carry on and there was no one else in their Association who was able or willing to take over from him. Their committee decided to make an approach to transfer their members to Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc.

There have been the usual losses by attrition, but some membership gains have been made through the publication of the book “Darwin’s Battle For Australia” and through distribution of the brochures “When War Came To Australia”. Whenever a book is posted I include several brochures and an invitation to join the association.

Brochures:
We usually keep a good supply of “When War came to Australia” brochures available. A further order for another 6000 is currently being printed.
It is interesting that most of our new members have joined because someone gave them one of these brochures, or lent them a copy of one of our newsletters. In other words, it depends largely on our existing members making personal contact with potential new members.

Newsletters:
Our Newsletters continue to attract strong interest and support, but getting enough material together for the newsletters is getting more difficult. If you have anything to contribute, please send it in.
The addition of colour has met with widespread approval, and it has given the publication a big lift.

“Darwin’s Battle For Australia”
The Book “Darwin’s Battle For Australia” has met with wide acclaim and continues to sell well.

The 12 Squadron Flag:
Darwin and the RAAF aerodrome and its buildings were devastated in the first raids on February 19, 1942.
One of the 12 Sqn men there on that day was the late Jim Wilkins, of Geebung, Queensland. Geebung achieved some fame when Banjo Patterson published his poem “The Geebung Polo Club”. If you have never read that poem your education has been sadly neglected.
There is one other thing about Jim Wilkins - his given name was not “Jim”. He absolutely hated his given name and would only use it on official documents. He said he courted his nearest and dearest for two years, and it was not until she saw his signature on their wedding certificate that she realised his name was not “Jim.”
The air raids set fire to the hangars and stores buildings at the RAAF aerodrome. Jim Wilkins had the foresight to salvage the fire damaged flag, and for over 60 years he kept it in an ice-cream container at his home. In 2004 he donated it to Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc with the express wish that we care for it in the future.
If you look closely at the white stars on the flag, you will see signatures. They are the signatures of the 12 Sqn personnel who were there on that fateful day. Jim and most of his mates are no longer with us, but their names will live for many years on the 12 Sqn flag.
It is one of Australia’s national treasures.
To preserve it for future generations, Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc have had the flag mounted in an air space within a frame, glazed with Perspex. The recommendation is that it be kept in a dry air conditioned atmosphere.
It was exhibited in the Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc Exhibition in the Shrine of Remembrance in February 2005 and 2006.
Our Committee then considered means of having the flag on public display. The feeling of our Committee was that the flag is really a historic relic of “Darwin’s Battle For Australia” and the suggestion was made that an approach be made to the Darwin City Council.
On behalf of Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc, assisted by Vice President Neil Webb and Tom Stevens, before an estimated gathering of about 1000 people at the Darwin Casino, I had the honour of officially handing over the 12 Squadron Flag to the custody of the Darwin City Council, on the evening of 19th February 2007.

This was 65 years to the day since the flag was salvaged from the ruins at the RAAF aerodrome in 1942.

Commemoration Ceremonies:
To maintain public interest and in honour of those Veterans who are no longer with us, we must keep organising the ceremonies on or about February 19th each year. The costs are small. It is largely a matter of organising the local people and facilities and we have to rely on members to organise ceremonies in their own areas.

Take care; there are not many of us left!

Rex Ruwoldt, Secretary.

During World War II, Englishwoman Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) is left in control of a cattle station in Australia. She is assisted by an Australian drover (Hugh Jackman), with whom she becomes romantically interested. He helps to drive the cattle across the property as they are under the threat of nearby Darwin being bombed.

The production team has purchased a copy of the Darwin Defenders book, for use as reference material.

Meet Natimuk’s Darwin Defender: Transcript of an ABC local radio interview with Tim Boehm, a Darwin Defender with the 19th Machine Gun Battalion, made up mainly of men from the Wimmera district of Victoria. “He [the Zero pilot] wasn’t very far away, certainly within vision. I can still see him now. It was close enough for me.”

Aussies remember Japanese air raid: Short article on DailyIndia.com news site.

F/A-18, sirens mark air raid anniversary: Short news item on ABC Northern Territory news site.

The Road to War: description of an ABC Radio program about the Stuart Highway’s role as a vital link between Alice Springs and Darwin during World War II. Includes photos and quotes from veterans.

Commemoration Service
10.15 am,
Sunday 18th February 2007
at The Chapel of the Repatriation General Hospital, Daws Road, Daw Park

Contact Ray H Buttery, Chairman
Phone 08 8297 2171

Bankstown, New South Wales

Ceremony at 9.58am
on Monday 19th February 2007
at the Cenotaph, Courthouse Reserve

Contact: Norman McMahon
Phone 02 9144 2645

Bendigo, Victoria

Commemoration Ceremony
Monday 19th February 2007
Assemble in front of the RSL Memorial Hall, Pall Mall, at 9.20 am

Contact: Bill Hosking, Secretary
Phone 03 5447 7188

Horsham, Victoria

Commemoration ceremony will be held on
Monday 19th February, 2007
at Horsham College Assembly Hall, Dimboola Rd, Horsham.

Assembly 9.30 am, ceremony commencing at 10.00 am

Contact: Frank Kelm, Chairman
Phone 03 5384 4253

Melbourne, Victoria

Ceremony will be held on
Monday 19th February 2007
at the Shrine of Remembrance, St Kilda Road, Melbourne

Assemble at 10.30 am at the top of the steps. There will be a short march to the forecourt where the ceremony will start at 11.00 am.

Chairs will be available for use by veterans and friends.

Contact: Ken Davison
Phone 03 9592 8629

Shepparton, Victoria

Commemorative Service to be held on
Monday 19th February 2007
starting at 9.45 am
at the Cenotaph, Memorial Park, Welsford Street, Shepparton.

Contact: Marven Mould, Secretary
Phone 03 5821 6770

Geelong, Victoria

Commemoration will be held in the
Anglican Christ Church, corner Moorabool and McKillop streets, Geelong
at 10.00am on Sunday 25th February 2007.

The Presentation of The Colours will be carried out by 427 Squadron, Air Training Corps. The Address will be given by Brigadier Douglas Ball, AM, RFD, ADC, FAIM. Light refreshments will be served by the congregation after the service.

Following the service, all are invited to attend a luncheon and social gathering at a venue to be advised.

Contact: Vice President Neil Webb
Phone 03 5278 3068

The 65th Anniversary Commemoration of the Bombing of Darwin will be held on Monday 19th February 2007 at the Cenotaph in Darwin.

The service will commence at 9.30 am with the WWII air raid sirens sounding at 9.58 am. The sounding of the siren at this specific time coincides with the commencement of the initial attack on Darwin by Japanese aircraft on 19 February 1942.

Accommodation

The following hotels are offering a discount. When booking please state you are attending for the Bombing of Darwin Commemoration. Your booking will need to be made direct with the hotel. Phone numbers are supplied below with each hotel.

Holiday Inn Esplanade Darwin (formerly the Carlton Crest)

122 The Esplanade, Darwin

Offering Superior Twin/Queen Superior Room for $115 per room per night including buffet breakfast for 1 or 2 persons. This Hotel features Sirocco Mediterranean / Seafood restaurant, a 24 metre pool, fitness centre, and entrance from both The Esplanade and Mitchell Street. All rooms feature a separate shower and bath.

Phone: 08 8901 0789

Holiday Inn Darwin – The Esplanade (formerly Travelodge)

The Esplanade, Darwin

Offering Superior Twin/Queen Superior Room for $115 per room per night including buffet breakfast for 1 or 2 persons. This hotel is a slightly older hotel but has a great reputation with its award winning Poolside restaurant and bar and fantastic views of the Esplanade and harbour. All rooms feature a private balcony and ceiling to floor windows. Holiday Inn Darwin also boasts one of the largest standard room sizes in Darwin and superb alfresco dining.

Phone: 08 8901 0789

Crowne Plaza Darwin (formerly Rydges Plaza Darwin)

Mitchell Street, Darwin

Superior Twin/King Superior Room for $135.00 – Room and Breakfast (1 or 2 persons). This is Darwin’s largest hotel and proudly holds the only five star hotel rating in Darwin’s CBD. Rooms feature 2 double or 1 king size bed and half of all rooms feature a harbour view. The hotel features a modern Steak and Seafood restaurant - Restaurant and a modern café / lounge bar. Crowne Plaza Darwin is located adjacent to two of Darwin’s leading restaurants Lewinsky’s Seafood Restaurant and Hanuman Restaurant which guests can charge back from their room.

Phone: 08 8901 0789

Quest Serviced Apartments

55 Cavenagh Street, Darwin

Winner of Quest Apartments National Franchise Awards 2005. The apartments feature separate living and dining areas, a fully equipped kitchen and a private laundry. All apartments provide the comfort of air conditioning, ceiling fans, kitchenette, television, work desk, direct dial phones with voicemail, dial up for internet and access to broadband wireless. A variety of Austar channels are available in all rooms at no charge to our guests. Prices from $135.00 single/double room. Please speak with Sonia or Tracey.

Phone: 08 8982 3100
Web site www.questdarwin.com.au.

Mirambeena Resort Darwin

64 Cavenagh Street, Darwin

All rooms have disabled access, except for the Townhouses, which have an upstairs bedroom and bathroom. Mirambeena Resort Darwin is in the centre of Darwin only 100 metres from the Central Post Office and a short walking distance to the City’s central shopping mall and restaurants. Prices from $89.00 single/double.

Phone 08 8946 0111 or email info@mirambeena.com.au

Proposed program

In extending Darwin’s hospitality to visitors, several bus tours to WWII sites and surrounds will be organised. Please note at this early stage (November 2006) the program is a DRAFT only.

Saturday 17th February 2007

9.00 am - morning tour:

• Aviation Museum
• WWII Military Museum
• 1934 Qantas hanger. The Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club will open up the Hangar at Parap to show their restored vehicles from different eras and vehicles under restoration.

1.30 pm - afternoon tour:

• Museum and Art Gallery of NT
• Australian War Memorial Exhibition – Australia under attack 1942-1943

Sunday 18th February 200

9.00 am to 2.30 pm - trip to Adelaide River:

• War Cemetery
• Railway Station (a gold coin donation will be required)
• Light lunch at Adelaide River Hotel before returning to Darwin. Lunch will be a Barra smorgasbord at the Adelaide River Hotel. You will be required to pay for your lunch.

Monday 19th February 2007

9.30 am - 65th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin:

• Commemoration Service at the Cenotaph, The Esplanade, Darwin
• Undercover seating provided

Evening - dinner or cocktail party

• Hosted by Lord Mayor of Darwin, Mr Peter Adamson

Tuesday 20th February 2007

8.30 am to 12.00 noon - Tour 1:

• Strauss Airstrip, Berry Springs or Noonamah/Howard Springs

1.30 pm - Tour 2:

• Coastline off Casuarina/Nightcliff
• Frances Bay Explosive dump
• Quarantine Station

TOURS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

16 February to 13 May 2007: Australian War Memorial Travelling Exhibition

The Australian War Memorial will be bringing an exhibition to Darwin from 16 February 2007 until 13 May 2007.

The exhibition outlines the location of attacks and puts the attacks into a context that younger Australian’s can understand. It will be displayed at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in the Ken Waters Gallery.

How to register

Due to the weather conditions in February, please wear cool clothing, and bring a sun hat and umbrella.

Please advise the Event Coordinator, Maxine Dowley, if you or your family will be attending Darwin for the commemorations to be held on the 19th February 2007. Please do not indicate which tour/s you wish to partake in. Once you have advised Maxine Dowley of your interest to attend the commemoration, a tour booking sheet will be forwarded to you.

Maxine can be contacted:

• by phoning 08 8930 0684
• or by email m.dowley@darwin.nt.gov.au

Darwin City Council looks forward in seeing you at the Commemoration.

2 February to 10 March 2007

“Darwin’s Unique Place in Australia’s History”

Visitor Centre
Shrine of Remembrance
Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra (Melbourne)

Please endeavour to view this significant exhibition. It will comprise a wide selection of historical photos and stories depicting the devastation of Darwin on 19 February 1942, and in more than 60 air raids that followed in the ensuing 18 months.

Volunteers needed

It is our intention to have at least one (preferably two) veterans in attendance on half-day shifts. These shifts will be from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm or 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.

Having a Darwin veteran representative on hand was most beneficial to those attending the 2006 exhibition.

Any veteran who served in the Darwin is welcome to volunteer as an exhibition attendant: please contact Ms Kristi Stone at Bentleigh RSL, telephone 03 9557 4547 or email admin@bentleighrsl.com.au with your available times.

A car-park permit will be available for rostered persons. Tea and coffee facilities will be available in the kitchen adjacent to the exhibition area.

Official opening

The exhibition will be officially opened on Friday 2 February 2007. Attendance at the opening is only by invitation from the Shrine Trustees.

The exhibition will be open to the public after 2.00 pm on 2 February 2007. The Visitor Centre is open daily from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm.

On Monday 19 February 2007 the exhibition can be viewed after the commemoration ceremony, between 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm. The room will then be used for a light luncheon (you must make a prior booking to attend this luncheon).

Getting to the Shrine of Remembrance

Location: Melway map 2F, grid reference J12 (view a Google Map or download a printable PDF from the City of Melbourne)

Car parking: kerbside on streets adjacent to the Shrine

Taxi: to Birdwood Avenue

Tram: along Swanston Street or St Kilda Rd, on route number 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 or 72. Disembark at tram stop number 19

The Darwin City Council will host the 65th anniversary commemoration ceremony on the Darwin Harbour’s shore. The Council is also organising tours of local museums and a trip to Adelaide River — see 65th Anniversary page on this web site for more details and contact Maxine Dowley (phone 08 8930 0684 or email m.dowley@darwin.nt.gov.au) to register your interest in attending.

Commemoration ceremonies will be held in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria — see the list of 2007 ceremonies on this web site, plus how you can organise an event in your local area. Letters to newspapers, local MPs and local radio stations are an excellent way for you to help raise awareness about this important part of Australian history.