Pat Cam Memorial Yirrkala

THE HMAS PATRICIA CAM
MEMORIAL
YIRRKALA 24/04/2017

The Pat Cam Memorial captured by Mitchell Woolnough of ABC

Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre

The day began at the internationally renowned Arts Centre which hosted the commemorative event and was instrumental in ensuring that it was inclusive of the whole community. The loss of HMAS Patricia Cam touched every family group and especially the Rirratjingu & Gumatj Clans - who lost loved ones whose story is only now being told.

The Moffitt clan L>R - Neil McMeekin - Sheryl Pitman - Sharon Hoffmann - Nick & Bill Metcalf

Rev. Dr. Noel Kentish- son of Rev. Dr. Len Kentish

Boyan Yunupingu & family

Floral tributes & the order of service

Members of the Gumatj Clan with Banambi Wunungmurra (red shirt) Chairman of East Arnhem Regional Council

HMAS Patricia Cam Memorial Badge

Each of the families of descendants of those involved in the loss of the Pat Cam was presented with a memento of the occasion. A replica of the Mothers' and Widows' Badge in a presentation box with a commemorative plaque on the inside of the lid. For those who lost family members an additional plaque with the name of the deceased was affixed to the outside of the lid. A small token of remembrance as none of the Yolngu received any recognition for their service & sacrifice and their names were not recorded. It would appear that the families of the servicemen who lost their lives were unaware of their eligibility to apply for these badges.

The Mothers' and Widows' Badge of the Second World War was to be issued to the mother and/or widow of a member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), AIF (including the Australian Army Nursing Service), Citizens Military Forces, or Royal Australian Air Force killed in action, or died of wounds or from other causes whilst on service or as a result of such service.

The Second World War badge was round and silver-coloured. The obverse shows a raised image of a woman and part of a laurel wreath with the words "For Australia" in raised letters. The reverse has a hinged securing pin and raised lettering which reads "Issued by the C'wlth Govt" and the manufacturer's details. Suspended by two securing rings from the bottom of the badge is a flat rectangular bar where stars were added for multiple bereavements. (Details in document below)

Boyan Yunupingu & sisters - Stuart MacLean & Mike Owen at rear.

The commemorative plaque provided by PastMasters via NT Government grant.

L>R Margaret Leggoe, Angela & Naimh O'Connell, Toby Brown (Meldrum), Jan Braund (Cameron) Debby Gairns, Neil McMeekin (Moffitt) & Sharon Hoffmann (Moffitt).

Dangatanga Gondarra - nephew of Narritjin Maymuru by Mitchell Woolnough

Mandaka Marika nephew of Milirrma#1 Marika by Mitchell Woolnough

Commemorative Dinner at the Walkabout Hotel, Nhulunbuy. L>R - 1. Sharon Hoffmann - 2. Angela O'Connell - 3. Niamh O'Connell - 4. Margaret Leggoe - 5. Noel Kentish - 6. Debby Gairns - 7. Angela Burroughs - 8. John Moran - 9. Jan Braund - 10. Toby Brown - 11. Walter Burroughs - 12. Mike Owen - 13. Karen Dempsey - 14. Sheryl Pitman - 15. Neil McMeekin & 16. Nick Metcalf. Bill Metcalf is a career Travel Agent who has travelled to many countries with one exception - having been forbidden to do so by his widowed mother. The public dedication of the memorial - as a fixed repository for unresolved grief - released Bill who was on the the first plane out of Gove on his way to Japan.

DARWIN MILITARY MUSEUM 28/9/2017

Rev. Noel Kentish at Darwin's East Point Museum Wall of Remembrance

KURU - CITY OF DARWIN HARBOUR CRUISE 29/4/2017

To round off the commemorative events, City of Darwin Cruises put on a sunset cruise aboard their new catamaran KURU which was capped off by a most welcome close encounter with a RAN Coastal Patrol vessel based at Larrakia.