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A.H.S. Centaur MemorialPrint Page Print this page

Caloundra AHS Centaur Memorial Nurses Plaque
Caloundra AHS Centaur Memorial Nurses Plaque

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Russell Byers / John Huth

The park commemorates those who were killed in the sinking of the hospital ship Centaur during World War Two. They were opened in 1968 by the Premier, Sir Frank Nicklin, and dedicated by Reverend Alcorn, Naval Chaplain.

New plaques were added on 14 May 1993, the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Centaur.

On 14 May 1943 the Australian Hospital Ship "Centaur" was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine 10 miles east of Cape Moreton. There were no patients on board but 229 crew and medical personnel lost their lives, while 64 survivors were rescued after 36 hours in the sea. Sister Savage , the only nurse of 12 to survive, described her ordeal, at first being sucked into a terrific whirlpool with the sinking ship which caused fractures and bruises.

On Remembrance Day 1995 Mrs Leneen Forde, Governor of Queensland, opened a walkway leading from Centaur Park to the main war memorial. Personal tributes are embedded along the edge of the walkway and also plaques to service personnel who served from World War One to Vietnam.

Note : Monument Australia believe the original plaque unveiled in 1968 is held by the Landsborough Museum
 

Location

Address:Esplanade, Centaur Park, Wickham Point, Caloundra, 4551
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -26.80283
Long: 153.14679
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Park
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2
Actual Event Start Date:14-May-1943
Actual Event End Date:14-May-1943

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1968
Front Inscription

Centaur Park

This park has been dedicated by the Rotary Club of Caloundra to the memory of those gallant members of the Australian Army Nursing Service, the Australian Army Medical Corps and the Merchant Marine who lost their lives in the sinking of the hospital ship Centaur

At approximately 4.10 A.M. on Friday May 14th 1943, the Centaur was torpedoed by an enemy submarine south east of Cape Moreton.

Of the 332 person on board only 64 survived.

May they rest in peace

Source: MIV,QWMR, MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au