HMAS Castlemaine Museum Ship

A 2025 Christmas get together tonight with some of the volunteers and friends to thank them for their support throughout the year.

Had a visit today by a group of Airforce Cadets based in Queenscliff who spent a couple of enjoyable hours onboard.

Our two recruits (mannequins) arrived today, the Commanding Officer LCDR Sullivan and our Radio Operator.

Last Thursday the 10th April, the grand children of crew member Robert Stone visited the ship. Cheryl is a Melbourne local but her brother Sam with his family travelled from Port Hedland WA. It was a pilgrimage to see the ship Robert served on and what he had told them about. We were able to show them his service records and photos. Where possible we have all the service records of all those that served on Castlemaine and photos where possible of each crew member.

A couple of weeks ago we hosted our local Federal member Tim Watts to look over the ship and discuss future options for docking etc. As it was his first visit he impressed and supportive of the work the volunteers have put into the ship over the years.

A number of visits by 100 Air Force Cadets over three days has been very well received by keen young people. In the past 4 weeks in addition to our regular open day visitors we have also had visits by 40 Navy Sea Cadets, the Police Legacy Group and the Werribee Scouts Group.

We had a beautiful evening to have the 2024 Christmas party for the volunteers and thank them for their work over the past 12 months.

On Wednesday 27th November we hosted 100 year old Arthur Johnson and some of his family (from Sydney).
Arthur served on the corvette HMAS Burnie during WW2 and was as an ASDIC (sonar operator).
His family said that visiting the ship enabled them to "picture" everything that Arthur had told them. The long watches being on ASDIC and on the bridge watch lookout.
He was thrilled to bring back all these memories and was amazed at the presentation of the ship as it would have been when he was on HMAS Burnie.

On Sunday 25th February 99 year old Mick Dexter who served on HMAS Deloraine visited our ship with his granddaughter Lara. He amazed us going up and down all the ladders. Well done Mick.

Volunteers Christmas party tonight.

Visited HMAS Whyalla Maritime Museum today and presented Ray, one of their tour guides, a copy of the HMAS Castlemaine book and also copies of the Bathurst Class Corvette books for which they were extremely grateful.

New scaffolding arrived for upper deck painting. Note: one worker Martin, and 6 onlookers!!!