Queensland Maritime Museum Victory in the Pacific 75th Anniversary Commemoration

Ms Terri Butler MP; Councillor Owen; Commander Savvakis; Consul-General; Queensland Maritime Museum Chair, Captain Kuiper; CEO, Ms Di Muzio; Engineers Australia President, Mr Colin Mitchell; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure to join you today at the Queensland Maritime Museum to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific.  

I at once acknowledge the traditional owners of these lands and extend respectful greetings to Elders and emerging leaders.

The Japanese surrender, announced on the 15^th of August 1945, gave rise to joy and celebration among war-weary Australians after years of conflict, fear of invasion, courage and sacrifice. Peace at last! 

Today we are privileged to commemorate this major anniversary on the deck of an Australian frigate that served in the Pacific war, and in company with representatives of the Royal Australian Navy, including the RAN Band.    

HMAS Diamantina has impeccable Queensland connections – named after a Queensland river that bears the name of the wife of Queensland’s first Governor, and built, launched and commissioned in Queensland. 

The ship entered active service just four months before the end of the war but saw substantial service in that short time, including in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. 

And on this very deck the official surrenders of Japanese forces on Ocean Island in Kiribati, and on Nauru, were received.

Here, today, we are as close as we can be to the stories and the spirit of those who served on the Diamantina.

One such story belongs to William ‘Bill’ McDonald, who served as a stoker on this ship in 1945.  Bill is the last surviving sailor to have served on the Diamantina, and I am delighted to welcome Bill back to the ship today after his earlier visit on the 15^th of August itself.

We are able to commemorate VP Day on the Diamantina only because of the marvellous dedication and hard work of the Queensland Maritime Museum in preserving for posterity, and in such wonderful condition, a vessel of this size and significance.

Importantly, this achievement has been recognised by Engineers Australia with a well-deserved Engineering Heritage National Marker, which I look forward to unveiling in a short while along with a new interpretative panel. I thank Engineers Australia for awarding this honour.

As Patron, I extend my sincere thanks to all those who have contributed to the preservation of the Diamantina over the decades – members of the Museum Board and staff, the Museum’s volunteers, sponsors and donors.

Together, they have allowed us to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific in this remarkable fashion.  

And the Museum’s legacy project, in partnership with the ZeroDivide production company, will vividly remind current and future generations of the great debt we owe Bill McDonald and all those whose service and sacrifice at sea brought peace to Australia in August 1945.

Lest we forget. 

Thank you.