Annual Commemorations –

(April)

ANNUAL COMMEMORATION
MERCHANT NAVY MEMORIAL & COLUMBARIUM, ROOKWOOD, SYDNEY

A PARTNERSHIP WITH METROPOLITAN MEMORIAL PARKS (MMP)
& COORDINATED BY THE MNWMF

2021 MERCHANT NAVY MEMORIAL & COLUMBARIUM

ROOKWOOD NECROPOLIS

In 1947 a section of the Necropolis at Rookwood in which seamen are interred was granted to The Merchant Navy War Memorial Fund by the Church of England Cemetery Trust. The Stone Wall enclosing the Merchant Navy section and the Columbarium erected thereon, were paid for by the Merchant Navy War Memorial Fund. The ongoing maintenance of the site, including the beautiful Memorial Rose Garden, continue to be undertaken by The Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust (RGCRT).

During 2014 the MNWMF & the RGCRT developed a Partnership Agreement, for the planning & delivery of the annual commemoration. The Board recognises with great appreciation all that the Trust has done to assist to ‘offset’ the cost involved. This support continues to also be much appreciated by Merchant Navy Veterans and the wider Merchant Navy community.

In 2024 a fundraising program was undertaken for new and remedial work at the Merchant Navy War memorial Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP) Rookwood. The centrepiece of the project was the installation of four (4) bronze plaques bearing the names & respective ships of the 862 Australian Merchant Mariners that sacrificed their lives for their country in WWI & WWII.

With the assistance of the Canberra Memorial’s Architectural firm, Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn, local trades people and the governing body, MMP, the works were completed within four months. The new & remedial works were officially opened on 14 April 2024 by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, AC, KC, Governor of NSW.

An annual commemoration is held each April to commemorate merchant seafarers who paid the ultimate sacrifice during World Wars I & II.

GUEST OF HONOUR DELIVERING THE ANNUAL MERCHANT NAVY COMMEMORATIVE ADDRESS
(Last 10 years only)

13/04/25 (60th) Commodore Christopher “Kit” Rynd, FNI

14/04/24 (59th) Her Excellency The Honourable, Margaret Beazley, AC, KC, Governor of NSW

16/04/23 (58th) Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, AM, CSM, RAN

The 2022 Commemoration cancelled due to COVID PANDEMIC

11/04/21 (56th) Commander Michael Oborn CSN, RAN, Commander Sea Force

The 2020 Commemoration cancelled due to COVID PANDEMIC

14/04/19 (55th) Mr. Peter Dexter AM, Chairman Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM)

08/04/18 (54th) Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods, RAN

09/04/17 (53rd) His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Rtd), 38th Governor of NSW

10/04/16 (52nd) Rear Admiral The Hon. Peter Sinclair AC AO KSsJ RAN (Red)

12/04/15 (51st) Ms Jennifer Collins, Deputy Commissioner NSW & ACT, Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA)

13/04/14 (50th) Captain Alan Tait OAM, Chairman, The Australian Mariners Welfare Society (AMWS) & Member Merchant Navy Association (MNA)

Sister Mary Leahy, OAM, Chaplain Stella Maris (formerly Apostleship of the Sea Ministry) has spent the past 20 years helping those who earn a living on the seas. And is affectionately, known by Seafarers as “Angel of the Waterfront”

52nd Rookwood Commemoration 10th April 2015, in the presence of General David John Hurley, AC, DSC, FTSE, the 38th and current Governor of New South Wales, serving since 2014 and former senior officer in the Australian Army

EVENTS CALENDAR

Current Year and previous two years copy of The Order of Commemoration (OOC) Program

Click to Download or view – 60th Rookwood Commemoration Sunday 13 April 2025.

Click to Download or view – 59th Rookwood Commemoration Sunday 14 April 2024.

Photos of recent commemorations can be viewed in our Photo Gallery (under construction)

Click to download or view: List of the Rookwood Plaques

Site Map and Directions to the Memorial

ENTERING FROM EAST ST. – THE LIDCOMBE ENTRANCE

Enter via East Street gates
Turn left onto Necropolis Circuit
Turn Left onto Necropolis Drive
Follow it all the way to Hawthorne Ave
Merchant Navy Memorial is on the corner of Hawthorn Ave & Necropolis Drive

Click Here for SITE MAP

ENTERING VIA CENTENARY DRIVE – THE STRATHFIELD ENTRANCE

Having come via Centenary Drive & turned into Weeroona Road

Enter into Strathfield gates
Go Straight onto Necropolis Drive
Turn Right at Hawthorne Avenue
Merchant Navy Memorial is on the corner of Hawthorn Ave & Necropolis Drive