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HMAS
Otway in her resting place at Holbrook NSW
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HMAS
Oxley's fin outside the Submarine Training Systems Centre
at HMAS Stirling
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Photo:
ABPH Kade Rogers
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By
ABPH Kade Rogers
Holbrook was as good a town as any to eat lunch I thought, so
pulled my car over, and parked opposite the first café I saw.
‘I was about half way to Sydney now’ I mused. I congratulated
myself on the effort I’d made that morning waking up early to
beat the rush hour traffic in Melbourne, and I decided to treat
myself to a greasy meat pie.
Seeing as how I’d been making such good time, I figured that
taking a break was warranted. So I took my pie and went for
a walk.
Realising I’d left my car unlocked 20 or so paces ahead, I didn’t
bother going back.
I was the only person in the whole of the main street.
Somewhat oblivious to my surroundings in this sleepy country
town, sat down at a bench on the edge of a reserve of some sort.
‘Nice day’ I thought as I looked about me for the first time.
Something caught my eye across the reserve, a familiar yet confusing
shape.
I concentrated on this ominous visage that lurked behind a childrens
playground a few yards from where I sat. Confused by what I
thought I saw, I stood up and walked closer towards the dark
looming shape.
It hit me like a tennis ball to the face - the impossible form
that lay before me was completely out of place, yet it was still
here.
‘A
submarine?’
I thought, my mind trying to process a thousand questions at
once.
I moved towards a plaque that was set into concrete… ‘HMAS Otway’
Though it was obvious to me what I was looking at, I read the
plaque again, aloud this time, like I didn’t trust myself… ‘HMAS
Otway’.
Along with a generous donation of $100,000 by the widow of CMDR
Norman Holbrook, Otway was brought to Holbrook by local fundraising.
CMDR Norman Holbrook, (then LEUT) took submarine B-11 into the
Dardenelles and torpedoed the Turkish battleship Messoudieh.
He was awarded the first naval Victoria Cross, while his crew
earned the Distinguished Services Medal.
Other O Boats have also since retired in similar fashion.
The RAN gifted HMAS Onslow to the National Maritime Museum in
Sydney in 1999.
She has been restored and undergoes regular maintenance to keep
her in pristine condition for the hundreds of tourists who visit
her every year.
On the other side of the continent at the Western Australian
Maritime Museum in Fremantle, HMAS Ovens enjoys a similar fate.
In the city of Hastings near HMAS Cerberus in Victoria, plans
have been put into motion to develop a Naval Memorial park,
in which HMAS Otama will be the centrepiece.
This morning it is entirely possible you shaved with part of
HMAS Oxley.
She was scrapped not long after her decommissioning at HMAS
Stirling. Her bow was preserved and is on display at the WA
Maritime Museum and her fin stands as an inspiration to future
submariners out the front of the Submarine Training Systems
Centre at HMAS Stirling in WA.
Presented to the state of Western Australia after her decommissioning,
HMAS Orion remains tied up alongside HMAS Stirling.
Her
fate remains uncertain as she awaits a final decision by the
WA government.
