AHS Centaur memorial service
On Tuesday 2 March 2010, a memorial service was held at St John's Cathedral in Brisbane to remember the victims of the torpedoed Australian Hospital Ship Centaur.
In addition to military personnel, survivors, relatives and members of the public, the service was attended by:
- Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of Australia
- Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO, Governor of Queensland
- Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister of Australia
- Honourable Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland and Minister for the Arts
- Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie AO DSC CSM, Chief of Army
- Vice Admiral Russell Crane AO CSM RAN, Chief of Navy
- Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall, Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane
The Prime Minister spoke of honouring the memory of lives lost and their commitment to this nation during a time of war. He also spoke of relatives, who waited two thirds of a century for the final resting place of their loved ones.
Premier Anna Bligh spoke of the hope that the Centaur discovery has brought peace for the victims and their relatives. She acknowledged the 268 men and women who died in the line of duty, and the devastation of this loss on families.
Centaur survivor Martin Pash (87) spoke about his experience of waiting for rescue on the night of May 14 1943.
The names of all 268 men and women killed were read out by students of the Centaur Primary School.
This service was the first of two commemorations. A further 'at sea' ceremony will take place later in the year.
View the images from the memorial service.
The wreck
In January 2010, a plaque from The Centaur Association was placed on the wreck. The plaque contained a CD with the names of everyone who served on the Centaur and personal notes from family.
The AHS Centaur has been declared a 'historical shipwreck' which means the vessel cannot be interfered with in any way.
Last updated Thursday, March 04, 2010
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