Centaur At-Sea Service

At 7am on 24 September 2010, almost 300 relatives of those who served on the Australian Army Hospital Ship Centaur departed on the HMAS MANOORA from Pinkenba, Brisbane to travel to the Coral Sea for a special At-Sea Service of remembrance and thanksgiving.

The service took place at 1pm above the actual site where the wreck of the Centaur lies 2,059 metres beneath the surface.

Secretary of the AHS Centaur Association Jan Thomas, who lost her father Dr Bernie Hindmarsh in the tragedy, said the At Sea Service was a huge step forward in the healing process.

“For the first and only time in our lives, we were able to visit the gravesite of those we lost all those years ago, bringing comfort and a degree of peace.”

Photos by Hugh O’Brien, Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas welcomed guests aboard the HMAS Manoora. He is pictured with Centaur survivor Martin Pash.

Almost 300 relatives of Centaur victims and survivors attended the At-Sea Service on the deck of the HMAS Manoora, held on 24 September 2010.

Army Chaplain the Reverend Jim Cosgrove and Navy Chaplain the Reverend Burt Johns conduct the At-Sea Service aboard HMAS Manoora.

Leading Seaman Troy Winter tolled the HMAS Manoora’s bell 268 times to honour each life lost on the AHS Centaur.

The Robb family paid tribute to Private Fred Denne with one of the many wreaths that were cast into the Coral Sea over the site of the AHS Centaur.

Andy Aitchison, flanked by his sons Kevin (left) and Brad plays the last post during the At-Sea Service. Andy’s uncle Private Garth Aitchison was lost on the Centaur. Andy’s grandfather was a medic at Gallipoli while his father was a veteran of Tarakan, Balikpapan and the Occupation Forces in Japan. Kevin served with the Australian Defence Force in East Timor.

Commanding Officer of the HMAS Manoora Commander Stephen Dryden (right) and Major Scott Lymbery from the Australian Army jointly throw a wreath into the Coral Sea above the site of the AHS Centaur.

Laurita Brown of Kenmore casts a wreath in memory of her grandfather Private Reg Carey who was lost on the Centaur.

The Red Cross wreath floats in the sea on the site where the Centaur lies. The AHS Centaur was clearly lit up as a hospital ship with large red crosses prominent.