Official Press Releases

On 19th November 2008, the Finding Sydney Foundation (FSF) and the Naval Association of Australia (NAA) jointly announced the launching of an internet based perpetual tribute to the 645 men lost with HMAS Sydney II on 19th November 1941.  Today, 23rd December 2009, the two organisations completed the legal and financial arrangements for the NAA to accept the lifetime development and maintenance of the Virtual Memorial.  The memorial is now fully owned and managed by the NAA.

The Naval Association of Australia began its life in 1920 as the Ex-Navalmen's Association and is the premier organisation outside of the Navy looking to the interests of both serving and ex-naval members and their families.  It is the most obvious host for the Virtual Memorial and its officers put their hands up to do so early in its development during 2008.

Les Dwyer, National President of the Naval Association said “It is a great honour for the Naval Association to provide the perpetual means for future generations to remember ‘Sydney’ and her brave crew, as well as share in the unique personal histories of the sailors who died in Australia’s greatest maritime tragedy.”

The Finding Sydney Foundation, a group of five committed Australian volunteers, managed the highly successful search for Sydney in March 2008, an historic event and one which has been of immense comfort to the relatives of the brave men lost with Sydney.  The establishment of a permanent, web-based memorial to tell the stories of the men, their families and friends was the secondary objective of the Foundation.

Foundation Chairman Ted Graham AM said: “We are providing a unique experience accessible globally for those wanting to learn more about the human loss of HMAS Sydney II and honour the memory of the individual sailors through shared stories and images.  We are very grateful to the Naval Association for accepting the task of carrying the ‘Sydney’ banner into the future. ”

The website located at www.sydneymemorial.com features an Honour Roll with individual pages of information for each of the 645 sailors lost and families have submitted stories, images and other related content to feature on their sailor’s pages.  A description on how to submit content is included on the website.

The website will also house HMAS Sydney II historical information and an extensive set of archival photographs courtesy of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian War Memorial.

Video footage can also be viewed.  It includes previous commemorations; the search for the wreck; scenes of the ship and crew in Queensland (1936); Egypt (Jul 1940) after the successful engagement with the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni; the triumphant welcome home to Sydney (Feb 1941); and scenes aboard the ship taken during the months before her loss.

Website:  www.sydneymemorial.com
 
Media Images:
http://www.sydneymemorial.com/press/vm.zip  (jpg high resolution)

Media Contacts:
Naval Association of Australia
Les Dwyer, National President
Phone: +61 1300 780 054
Email: NationalPresident@NavalAssoc.org.au
Web: www.navalassoc.org.au

Finding Sydney Foundation
Ted Graham AM, Foundation Chairman
Phone: +61 8 9261 7749
Email: media@findingsydney.com
Web: www.findingsydney.com

The Chairman of the Finding Sydney Foundation (FSF), Ted Graham AM, said today that the Foundation  is proud and pleased to congratulate the Australian and Queensland Governments, Search Director David Mearns and all those involved in today's discovery of the wreck of AHS Centaur. 
 
Ted Graham said “We are pleased because we know from our experience in finding Sydney that the discovery will bring a measure of peace to families of those lost on AHS Centaur."
 
He added that "The success in finding HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran in 2008 set a precedent which gave the two Governments the confidence to fund the successful search for AHS Centaur.“
 
The Foundation's successful search for HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran resulted from its persistent work over many years beginning with its research in the early 1990s and complemented by the engagement of David Mearns as its Search Director in 2004. 

Media Contacts:
media@findingsydney.com
Ted Graham AM: +61 (0) 409 611 606
Commodore Bob Trotter OAM: +61 (0) 418 487 158

The Finding Sydney Foundation and the Australian War Memorial today announced that all video and photographs from the sea bed, showing the wrecks of HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran will be donated to the Australian War Memorial.

Mr Ted Graham AM, Chairman of the Foundation said its members and its Search Director David Mearns, were proud to give the records to the Australian public, where they rightfully belong.

“The imagery is an important historical record of the discovery of the ships and of the final fate of HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran and forms the only objective evidence of the result of the battle between the two ships,” Mr Graham said.

“It is important that this record be made available to the public for future research purposes at the Memorial. The donation includes over 1400 photographs and 50 hours of film, so it is important that this large amount of material receives careful and expert management to protect its integrity and authenticity,” Mr Graham said.

Ms Nola Anderson, Assistant Director of the Australian War Memorial was pleased to accept the donation on behalf of the Memorial.

“The video and photographs of the HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran are an important part of Australia’s naval military history. The Memorial is delighted to accept this donation, so that it can be conserved and be available for future generations at the Memorial,” Ms Anderson said.

The photographs and film will be accessioned by the Memorial into the National Collection

What: Signing of paperwork
          Photographs (digital) and film (digibeta) of sea bed available
          Media backgrounder available at www.awm.gov.au/media

When: 9.30am, Tuesday 17 November

Where: Western Courtyard Gallery (entry via western glass doors) Australian War Memorial Treloar Crescent Campbell ACT

Further Information:

Australian War Memorial
(02) 6243 4575 media@awm.gov.au

Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
Ted Graham AM    0409 611 606
Bob Trotter   OAM 0418 487 158

16 November 2009

A DVD slideshow of photographs of the wrecks of HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran  is being made available by the Finding Sydney Foundation to the families of the men lost in November 1941 and shipmates who served in the ship prior to her tragic wartime sinking.  

Mr Ted Graham, Chairman of the Finding Sydney Foundation said the Foundation is proud to provide this DVD free and exclusively to HMAS Sydney II family members and shipmates as a gesture to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice the crew made to protect Australia and our way of life.   

“Through this DVD slideshow, family members and shipmates have the opportunity to easily reflect on the final resting place of their loved ones or former crew members respectively,” Ted Graham said.

The Royal Australian Navy has kindly agreed to contact people registered with them as a Sydney II family member. Family members will receive a letter or e-mail asking to confirm they would like a DVD. The Foundation is seeking the assistance of ex-service organisations to reach as many HMAS Sydney II shipmates as possible.

The high resolution imagery taken by cameras on the Remotely Operated Vehicle controlled from the Foundations chartered search vessel, SV Geosounder, during April 2008 is being gifted to the Australian people. The Finding Sydney Foundation is presently in discussion with the principals of a major national collection to receive the extensive still and video imagery and manage it in perpetuity. It is anticipated this will be achieved by the next anniversary of the battle on 19 November 2009.

“The imagery is an important historical record of the discovery of the ships and of the final fate of HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran and form the only objective evidence of the result of the battle between the two ships,” Ted Graham said.

“It is important that this record also be made available to the public for any future research purposes but, as the total imagery is an extremely large digital dataset, access to it needs careful and expert management to protect its integrity and authenticity.”

Media Contact:

Commodore Bob Trotter OAM RAN (Ret’d)
Director, Finding Sydney Foundation
0418 487 158
photos@findingsydney.com

DVD Offer Acceptance Form

A PDF version of the DVD Offer Acceptance Form for Families and Shipmates can be downloaded here.
(free PDF reader available here)

We have been asked several questions by various people what our intentions are in relation to the still photographs and videos that were taken during the inspection of HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran.

We have summarised the questions and comments below for your information. 

(1) How many (a) photographic images, and (b) minutes of video footage, were taken as part of the discovery and investigation into the wreck of the HMAS Sydney (II).

(1) The Finding Sydney Foundation holds photographic images, and video footage taken as part of the discovery and investigation into the wreck of the HMAS Sydney (II).

The material consists of:

ROV Photographs

HMAS Sydney (II) and surrounding debris field       1,139 photographs
HSK Kormoran and surrounding debris field              241 photographs
Discounted Battle Site (Geological Outcrops)             50 photographs

ROV Video Footage

HMAS Sydney (II) and surrounding debris field    39 hours,   1 minute and  30 seconds in duration, 469 Files
Discounted Battle Site (Geological Outcrops)       3 hours, 45 minutes and 55 seconds in duration,  46 Files
HSK Kormoran and surrounding debris field          7 hours  56 minutes and 33 seconds in duration,  95 Files

Further technical information is provided at the bottom of this media release.

(2) Will more photographic images be released to the public; if so, (a) how many, (b) when, and (c) will they be able to be used free of copyright restrictions; if not, why not.

(2) The Finding Sydney Foundation is following a request from The Cole Commission of Inquiry not to release further photographic images or video footage.

ln accordance with its Funding Agreement with the Commonwealth, all search material, including the photographs and video imagery was handed over to the Commonwealth and the West Australian Museum in May 2008.  Under the Funding Agreement, the Finding Sydney Foundation granted the Commonwealth a permanent, free, worldwide, non-exclusive licence to use the material for any Commonwealth purpose.

The Finding Sydney Foundation is currently winding up its operation, having completed its objectives by locating HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran and setting up a Virtual Memorial.

The Foundation's Board has recently decided that it will gift the rights to the material to the Australian people and assigning Copyright to an appropriate national institution and providing all material to that institution.  Accordingly, the Finding Sydney Foundation is currently having discussions with an appropriate national institution to achieve this goal as soon as practicable and hopefully before the end of 2009.

Note: Media Release updated from initial release 5th of July 2009, to include video statistics.

Media Contact:
 
Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
(+)61-8-9261 7749

Technical Data

ROV Photographs

Camera: Kongsberg Maritime OE14-208 & associated flash unit (contains Canon G5 Powershot)
JPEG Format (5 Megapixel), 2592 pixels (width) x 1944 pixels (height)

HMAS Sydney (II)

3rd April 2008             79 Wreck Photographs
4th April 2008           332 Wreck Photographs
5th - 6th April 2008    421 Debris Field Photographs
7th April 2008             43 Wreck Photographs
7th April 2008           264 Debris Field Photographs

Total 1,139 Photographs

Discounted Battle Site (Geological Outcrops)

6th April 2008             50 Photographs

Total 50 Photographs

HSK Kormoran

7th April 2008           145 Wreck Photographs
7th April 2008             96 Debris Field Photographs

Total 241 Photographs

Total 1,430 ROV Photographs

 

ROV Video Footage

MPEG-2 Format, 704 pixels (width) x 576 pixels (height)

AWST = Australian Western Standard Time

 

HMAS Sydney (II)

Wreck Footage

3rd April 2008  15:07:00 to 17:31:25 AWST  Duration  2 hours 24 minutes and 25 seconds,  29 Files
4th April 2008  08:30:00 to 20:32:00 AWST  Duration 12 hours  2 minutes and  0 seconds, 144 Files
7th April 2008  22:48:57 to 23:48:24 AWST  Duration   0 hours 59 minutes and 27 seconds,  13 Files

Total Wreck Footage:  15 hours 25 minutes and 52 seconds, 186 Files

Debris Field Footage

5th April 2008  11:17:21 to 17:53:39 AWST  Duration  6 hours 36 minutes and 18 seconds, 79 Files
5th April 2008  18:46:15 to 00:00:00 AWST  Duration  5 hours 13 minutes and 45 seconds, 63 Files
6th April 2008  00:00:00 to 04:39:11 AWST  Duration  4 hours 39 minutes and 11 seconds, 56 Files
7th April 2008  15:42:33 to 22:48:57 AWST  Duration  7 hours   6 minutes and 24 seconds, 85 Files

Total Time Debris Field Footage: 23 hours 35 minutes and 38 seconds, 283 Files

Total HMAS Sydney (II) ROV Footage Time: 39 hours 1 minute and 30 seconds, 469 Files



Discounted Battle Site (Geological Outcrops)

6th April 2008  10:50:25 to 14:36:20 AWST  Duration  3 hours 45 mins and 55 seconds, 46 Files



HSK Kormoran

Wreck Footage

6th April 2008  20:19:27 to 21:19:39 AWST  Duration    1 hour  0 minutes and 12 seconds, 12 Files
7th April 2008  00:45:30 to 04:31:14 AWST  Duration  3 hours 45 minutes and 44 seconds, 45 Files

Total Wreck Footage:  Duration 4 hours 45 minutes and 56 seconds, 57 Files

Debris Field Footage

7th April 2008  05:46:30 to 07:26:49 AWST  Duration  1 hour 40 minutes and 19 seconds, 20 Files
7th April 2008  09:12:10 to 10:42:28 AWST  Duration  1 hour 30 minutes and 18 seconds, 18 Files

Total Debris Field Footage:  Duration 3 hours 10 minutes and 37 seconds, 38 Files

Total HSK Kormoran ROV Footage Time: Duration 7 hours 56 minutes and 33 seconds, 95 Files


Total ROV Footage (HMAS Sydney (II), Discounted Battle Site, HSK Kormoran)
Duration 50 hours 43 minutes and 58 seconds, 610 Files

 

 end.

On this Wednesday 19th of November 2008, the Finding Sydney Foundation and the Naval Association of Australia will launch an internet based Virtual Memorial at www.sydneymemorial.com, to commemorate the 645 men lost with HMAS Sydney II on 19th November 1941.

The Finding Sydney Foundation, a group of five committed Australian volunteers, managed the highly successful search for Sydney in March 2008, an historic event and one which has been of immense comfort to the relatives of the brave men lost with Sydney.  Having found the wreck, the Foundation now lives up to its second promise of creating a permanent, web-based memorial to tell the stories of the men, their families and friends.

The Naval Association of Australia began its life in 1920 as the Ex-Navalmen's Association and is the premier organisation outside of the Navy looking to the interests of both serving and ex-naval members.  The Naval Association has agreed to manage the site throughout its lifetime.

The Virtual Memorial launch is timed to coincide with services all over Australia, especially the historic Sunset Memorial Services at Geraldton, WA and on HMAS Manoora at sea over the wreck site on the first anniversary of the ship’s loss since the discovery of her wreck.  The formal launch will be at a function to held by the Mayor of Geraldton following the Sunset Service, in the company of the Governor General and representatives of the Federal and State Governments, families and friends.

Foundation Director Bob Trotter said:

“We are providing a unique experience accessible globally for those wanting to learn more about the human loss of HMAS Sydney II and honour the memory of the individual sailors through shared stories and images.  We are very grateful to the Naval Association for accepting the task of carrying the ‘Sydney’ banner into the future. ”

Les Dwyer, National President of the Naval Association said

“It is a great honour for the Naval Association to provide the perpetual means for future generations to remember ‘Sydney’ and her brave crew, as well as share in the unique personal histories of the sailors who died in Australia’s greatest maritime tragedy.”

The website located at www.sydneymemorial.com features an Honour Roll with individual pages of information for each of the 645 sailors lost.  Families are invited to submit stories, images and other related content to feature on each sailor’s pages.

The website will also house HMAS Sydney II historical information and an extensive set of archival photographs courtesy of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian War Memorial.

Video footage can also be viewed.  It includes previous commemorations; the search for the wreck; scenes of the ship and crew in Queensland (1936); Egypt (Jul 1940) after the successful engagement with the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni; the triumphant welcome home to Sydney (Feb 1941); and scenes aboard the ship taken during the months before her loss.

Website:  www.sydneymemorial.com

Print Version of this Media Release: http://www.sydneymemorial.com/mediareleases/vmrelease1.pdf  (412Kb) (Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader) 

Media Images:
http://www.sydneymemorial.com/press/vm.zip  (jpg high resolution)

Media Contacts:

Naval Association of Australia
Les Dwyer, National President
Phone: +61 1300 780 054
Email: NationalPresident@NavalAssoc.org.au
Web: www.navalassoc.org.au

Finding Sydney Foundation
Bob Trotter, Foundation Director
Phone: +61 8 9261 7749
Email: media@findingsydney.com
Web: www.findingsydney.com

A Commemorative Sunset Service will be held at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial - Geraldton, Western Australia, commemorating the HMAS Sydney II and her 645 crew on the 67th anniversary of the ship’s loss.

Service starts on Wednesday November 19 2008 at 6.30pm sharp.

For further information please view PDF files below (free Adobe Reader required):

Flyer
http://www.cgg.wa.gov.au/SydneyMemorialService/Sunset_Service_2008_Flyer.pdf

Order of Service
http://www.cgg.wa.gov.au/SydneyMemorialService/Order_Of_Service_2008.pdf

Media Contact

Trish Palmonari for the City of Geraldton-Greenough
Event Coordinator
0409 915 506

Port Pays Homage to HMAS Sydney on Remembrance Day

World War II veteran Ean McDonald from Gooseberry Hill, who served on the HMAS Sydney II, will be among hundreds of people attending a moving Remembrance Day Service at Fremantle’s St Patrick’s Basilica starting at 5pm, to commemorate the crew of the ill fated navy ship.  

The 11th of November 2008 will be the 67th anniversary of the ship’s final departure from Fremantle (on November 11), 1941 from which is never returned.

For further information click here.

Media Contacts:

The Finding Sydney Foundation is pleased to advise that the report on the Search for HMAS Sydney II can be downloaded from its official website findingsydney.com.
 
The report contains a précis of the Foundation, search records including research and supporting wind and current leeway analyses, offshore records from deep tow sidescan sonar, all equipment and personnel, and search results.
 
Please find a contents listing below with links to downloadable archives, in PDF format.  Free Adobe Acrobat Reader available here.
 
Media Contact:
 

Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com

 
 
HMAS SYDNEY II DOWNLOADABLE REPORT CONTENTS:
 
VOLUME 1
Final Report
 
http://www.findingsydney.com/report/volume1.zip
4.1Mb
 
 
VOLUME 2
Appendices A & B
 
http://www.findingsydney.com/report/volume2.zip
28.8Mb
 
Appendix A  Leeway Analyses
 Appendix A1 Len van Burgel Report
 Appendix A2 CSIRO Report by Dr David Griffin
 
Appendix B  Offshore Search Logs
 Appendix B1 DoEWH&A Historic Shipwrecks Act Permit
 Appendix B2 Offshore Search Diary
 Appendix B3 Daily Operations Search Reports
 Appendix B4 Survey Runline Logsheets
 Appendix B5 ROV Dive Logs
 Appendix B6 Search Directors Daily Log
 Appendix B7 Williamson & Associates Party Chief & Watch Lead Daily Log
 Appendix B8 ROV Supervisor Log
 Appendix B9 Survey Engineer Log
 
 
VOLUME 3
Appendices C to G
 
http://www.findingsydney.com/report/volume3.zip
48.6Mb
 
Appendix C1 to C2 Side Scan Sonar Wreck & Debris Field Image
 Appendix C1 HMAS Sydney II Wreck & Debris Field
 Appendix C2 HSK Kormoran Wreck & Debris Field #1 & #2
 
Appendix D1 to D2 Equipment Calibration
 Appendix D1 Gyrocompass Calibration Results
 Appendix D2 Veripos GcGPS Verification Results
 
Appendix E1 to E4 Specifications
 Appendix E1 Survey Vessel Specifications
 Appendix E2 Equipment Integration Flow Chart
 Appendix E3 W&A Equipment Specifications
 Appendix E4 DOF Subsea ROV Specifications
 
Appendix F1 to F2 Safety
 Appendix F1 DOF Subsea Management Plan
 Appendix F2 Safety Incident Reports
 
Appendix G1 to G7 The Finding Sydney Website
 Appendix G1 HMAS Sydney II
 Appendix G2 Roll of Honour
 Appendix G3 Media Releases
 Appendix G4 The Foundation
 Appendix G5 The Management Team
 Appendix G6 Featured Sponsors
 Appendix G7 Credits

end.

CPA 134/08                                                         Wednesday, 14 May 2008

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF HMAS SYDNEY II – INITIAL HEARING

What:  Initial hearing of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the loss of HMAS Sydney II.

Who:  The President of the Commission, The Hon. Terence Cole AO, RFD, QC, will convene the initial public hearing of the Inquiry. The President will make an opening statement. Administrative arrangements will be addressed as will any applications for leave to appear before the Inquiry.

When:  10am on Friday, 30 May 2008.

Where:  Hearing Room 1, Level 5, 55 Market Street, Sydney.

Background

The Commission was appointed by the Chief of Defence Force to inquire into and report upon circumstances associated with the loss of HMAS Sydney II in November 1941 and consequent loss of life and related subsequent events.HMAS Sydney II was lost with all 645 crew on 19 November 1941 following an engagement with the German raider, HSK Kormoran off the Western Australian coast.  HMAS Sydney II was found on 16 March 2008 following the discovery of HSK Kormoran, approximately 112 nautical miles off Steep Point, Western Australia, lying in 2,560 metres of water.Media Notes:  A pooling arrangement will be organised prior to the hearing for Mr Cole’s opening address.  No other television cameras will be granted access inside the hearing room.   Pooling arrangements will be advised closer to the date by Public Affairs Regional Manager – NSW, Raveena Carroll-Kenney.  Media will be advised of final arrangements prior to the hearing. Navy will provide still images via the Defence website at www.defence.gov.au/media/download. Further information is available on the Inquiry’s website at www.defence.gov.au/sydneyii/
 
Media Contact:

Defense Media Liason: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 489 664
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/AlertTpl.cfm?CurrentId=7724

The Australian Broadcasting Network (ABC) will be broadcasting the HMAS Sydney II Commemorative Service for the crew of the HMAS Sydney II, on Thursday 24th of April 2008. The service will be on air nationally between 10.59.a.m. and Midday.  During which the The Finding Sydney Foundation has provided permission for the broadcaster to display images taken during the recent search and find of the HMAS Sydney II.

Don Lange, State Editor, for the ABC (NSW) stated:

"Thank you for giving permission to use some of the Finding Sydney Foundation's images during this Thursday's live broadcast of the memorial service for the crew of HMAS Sydney. They will considerably enhance the coverage and the ABC appreciates your generosity in allowing us to use them."

Media Contact:
 
Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
(+)61-8-9261 7749

Determination of Location of HSK Kormoran (and HMAS Sydney II)
 
HMAS Sydney Search Pty Ltd, as Trustee for The Finding Sydney Foundation utilised the search box determined by the Search Director David Mearns and his research, when searching for the HMAS Sydney II.
 
This search box included the location of the secondary target the HSK Kormoran, which provided an excellent datum point for the subsequent locating of the Sydney nearby.
 
There have been numerous researchers, academics and related professions such as oceanography and drift analysis, both in Australia and overseas that have worked on the determination of the area of the search box and ultimately the location of both vessels.
 
In the late 1990s/early 2000s academics Kim Kirsner and John Dunn of the University of Western Australia specified a location for the HSK Kormoran, this proved to be close to the actual location of the Kormoran when found by the Foundation.
 
Their work included a paper provided to the HMAS Sydney Search team in 2003, nominating their location for the HSK Kormoran.  This work, together with that which was done by David Mearns and Peter Hore in the United Kingdom, independently of Kim Kirsner and John Dunn, was crucial to obtaining the Australian government's support for the Foundations search.
 
The Finding Sydney Foundation acknowledges the work undertaken by Kim Kirsner and John Dunn of the University of Western Australia and all Australian and Overseas researchers and related disciplines.  Their valuable research contributed to the determination of the position of the HSK Kormoran and subsequently the location of the HMAS Sydney II.
 
Media Contact:
 
Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
(+)61-8-9261 7749

THE FINDING SYDNEY FOUNDATION SEARCH TEAM RETURNS HOME - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 

The Finding Sydney Foundation will hold a media conference in Fremantle following the successful filming of the wrecks of HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran.

Where:  NWS Shipping Theatre, WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay, Fremantle

When:  12.30 hrs Thursday 10th April 2008

Background

HMAS Sydney II was tragically lost in November 1941 in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia with its entire crew of 645, following a fierce engagement with the German raider HSK Kormoran.  HSK Kormoran was damaged and consequently scuttled, with 317 of her nearly 400 crew surviving the engagement.

On Wednesday 12th March, the wreck of HSK Kormoran was located approximately 112 nautical miles off the West Australian coast.  Subsequently on Sunday 16th March the wreck of HMAS Sydney was located some 12.2 nautical miles from the German wreck.  Filming of HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran was successfully completed 8th April and the vessel is currently in transit back to Geraldton to complete demobilisation activities.

Media Notes

1. The Directors of The Foundation (Ted Graham, Keith Rowe, Bob Trotter, Don Pridmore and Mrs Glenys McDonald); Commodore Rick Shalders, RAN, Senior Naval Officer WA; Ms Diana Jones, Acting CEO WA Museum; David Mearns Foundation Search Director; Dr Michael McCarthy, Curator Maritime Archaeology, WA Museum; and Lieutenant John Perryman, RANR, will be available for interview after the media conference.

2. The SV Geosounder is returning to the Port of Geraldton on Wednesday 9th April, following the successful discovery and filming of the HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran.  Filming of this will be completed by WIN TV and made available on a pool basis.  No media interviews will be conducted onboard the vessel or at the quayside upon arrival. 

Media Contacts: 

Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
(+)61-8-9261 7749

Mr Gary Booth
Defence Public Affairs (WA)
+61-418 223 807

Ms Caroline Lacey
WA Museum
+61-417 970 239

First Photographs Of the Wreck Of the Sydney

Media Release from The Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel 

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon today congratulated the Finding Sydney Foundation following the release of the first pictures of HMAS Sydney II.

“The incredible photos of the underwater wreckage bring home how fierce the battle must have been for the brave men onboard the Sydney,” said Mr Snowdon.

“Seeing these pictures for the first time will be very emotional for the relatives of the crew of HMAS Sydney II and my thoughts go out to them.”

“The search team continues to work under difficult conditions, so to capture these revealing pictures with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is an outstanding achievement.”

“The wreck-site and resting place of the crew of the Sydney continues to be treated with the respect and dignity it deserves and I can confirm that the ROV has not touched the wreck nor has anything been retrieved from HMAS Sydney II,” said Mr Snowdon.

Further examination of the wreck of the Sydney, the battle-field site and the Kormoran is expected to continue over the coming days, subject to acceptable weather conditions and operational issues with the ROV.  The search vessel is expected to return to Geraldton later this month.

“I am also pleased to announce that the Navy has received 536 registrations from relatives of 236 crew members of HMAS Sydney II via the toll free number and web site.”

Planning continues for a private Navy commemorative service onboard HMAS Anzac over the site of the Sydney and Kormoran on 16 April and the national memorial service on 24 April at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.

Media note: Images of the HMAS Sydney II can be found at: www.findingsydney.com Vision of the HMAS Sydney II is expected to be available to Australian media networks later today. Further information on the HMAS Sydney II can be found at: www.navy.gov.au or by phoning 1800 005 867

Media contacts:

Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon):  02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689

Defence Media Liaison:  02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

Patrick Flynn (The Finding Sydney Foundation):  0488 555 008

Ted Graham, Chairman of the Finding Sydney Foundation, on behalf of his fellow Directors, Don Pridmore, Glenys McDonald, Keith Rowe and Bob Trotter and on behalf of the whole onshore and offshore team said he was elated to hear of the success in obtaining the first photographic images of HMAS Sydney II.

“ It’s a very pleasing afternoon, we have been plagued by weather and ROV technical problems for around 10 days – I wish to thank all on board our vessel for their tireless efforts and to all who have been patiently waiting for this to occur – well done all.  I also again acknowledge the ongoing support of the RAN and the Australian Government.”

“We are working in deep water – around 2600 metres – and its always very difficult to achieve success – it requires a major team effort and the weather to be kind to us. Since our search for HMAS Sydney II started we have experienced two cyclones, a third quite strong low pressure system and very rough seas”. We thought it would be challenging and were proven correct."

Media Contact:
Ted Graham
Chairman
The Finding Sydney Foundation
media@findingsydney.com
(+)61-8-9261 7749