About Us
SAA Qld Inc. is a Branch of 'Submarines Association Australia' the Branch is Incorporated in the State of Queensland to represent the interests of members who are serving or former submariners of all nations their families and supporters.
Objectives of the Association are to: (a) Foster the unique "esprit de corps" of the submarine service.
(b) Represent the interests of members in political, welfare and social contexts in so far as it affects or is affected by service as a Submariner.
(c) Provide support and input to the National Executive of Submarines Association Australia on matters which affect the wellbeing of members.
(d) Develop, construct, and maintain memorials to submariners and other service personnel.
(e) Encourage Social Activities.
(f) Liaise with kindred National and International submarine and other ex-service organizations.
(g)Provide support but retain a position of neutrality to all members of the organization in the event of any claim of impropriety made against any member by an outside organization. Any member subject to such claim or claims from organizations other than SAA Qld Inc. shall have the continued support of SAA Qld Inc. until said claims are deemed to be either legitimate or proven false.
Objectives of the Association are to: (a) Foster the unique "esprit de corps" of the submarine service.
(b) Represent the interests of members in political, welfare and social contexts in so far as it affects or is affected by service as a Submariner.
(c) Provide support and input to the National Executive of Submarines Association Australia on matters which affect the wellbeing of members.
(d) Develop, construct, and maintain memorials to submariners and other service personnel.
(e) Encourage Social Activities.
(f) Liaise with kindred National and International submarine and other ex-service organizations.
(g)Provide support but retain a position of neutrality to all members of the organization in the event of any claim of impropriety made against any member by an outside organization. Any member subject to such claim or claims from organizations other than SAA Qld Inc. shall have the continued support of SAA Qld Inc. until said claims are deemed to be either legitimate or proven false.
Constitution and By-Laws
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Link to SAA Policy Documents for guidance to National and Branch Executives in accordance with the SAA Constitution. (recently published on the National Website)
www.submarinesaustralia.com/SAA_Policy.html
www.submarinesaustralia.com/SAA_Policy.html
Submarine Walk Heritage Trail
Honour Roll Wall
Honour Roll Wall
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The SWHT and HRW venues are located on the Brisbane River at Teneriffe and are used for holding commemorative events such as the Anzac Day Dawn Service and Remembrance Day service. For the latest information regarding applications to have a plaque erected on the Honour Roll Wall and for spreading of Ashes at the Model Submarine located at this venue.
Use the following email links for Michael White at [email protected] or Don Currell at [email protected] if the answers to your requirements/questions are not listed in the following SWHT HRW Report dated 23/2/2026.
Use the following email links for Michael White at [email protected] or Don Currell at [email protected] if the answers to your requirements/questions are not listed in the following SWHT HRW Report dated 23/2/2026.
SUBMARINES ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA QUEENSLAND Inc.
A State Branch of SUBMARINES ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA
SWHT Honour Wall Sub-Committee Report for SAA Qld Meeting on 28.3.26.
The SWHT Honour Wall Sub-Committee was established by the SAA Qld General Committee in 2022 and it currently comprises:
Dr Michael White OAM KC Chairman
WOCOXNSM Barry McKeown Vice-Chairman
CPOETPSM Don Currell OAM Manager
Cdr Ian Roberts (X) RAN Rtd Honorary Secretary
Leut (MEO) Gus Mellon RAN Rtd Honorary Research Director.
Current Status of the Honour Wall
Members will recall that, driven by Don Currell, the concept, design, approvals and fund raising began in 2013 and an initial dedication ceremony for the Submariners Honour Wall was conducted in November 2019 for the one Wall. Since then, Don has raised funds and supported by the Brisbane City Council, especially local Councillor Vicki Howard, two further Walls have been added.
Memorial plaques have been uploaded on the Wall each year on the extended three Walls. The current position is that the three Walls combined have a capacity for 156 plaques of which 128 plaques have been installed and the balance of spaces has been reserved and pre-paid, so they are taken up so there are no spaces for any further plaques. The remaining plaques in the Wall that have been prepaid will be uploaded as the relevant submariners die.
A State Branch of SUBMARINES ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA
SWHT Honour Wall Sub-Committee Report for SAA Qld Meeting on 28.3.26.
The SWHT Honour Wall Sub-Committee was established by the SAA Qld General Committee in 2022 and it currently comprises:
Dr Michael White OAM KC Chairman
WOCOXNSM Barry McKeown Vice-Chairman
CPOETPSM Don Currell OAM Manager
Cdr Ian Roberts (X) RAN Rtd Honorary Secretary
Leut (MEO) Gus Mellon RAN Rtd Honorary Research Director.
Current Status of the Honour Wall
Members will recall that, driven by Don Currell, the concept, design, approvals and fund raising began in 2013 and an initial dedication ceremony for the Submariners Honour Wall was conducted in November 2019 for the one Wall. Since then, Don has raised funds and supported by the Brisbane City Council, especially local Councillor Vicki Howard, two further Walls have been added.
Memorial plaques have been uploaded on the Wall each year on the extended three Walls. The current position is that the three Walls combined have a capacity for 156 plaques of which 128 plaques have been installed and the balance of spaces has been reserved and pre-paid, so they are taken up so there are no spaces for any further plaques. The remaining plaques in the Wall that have been prepaid will be uploaded as the relevant submariners die.
Honour Wall on Anzac Day 2025.
Scattering of Ashes over the Model Submarine
Submarine families who wish to scatter ashes over the submarine model in the water beside the wharf, as well as have the relevant plaque uploaded, liaise with Don Currell and a ceremony is held by the Sub-Committee to do it. The Sub-Committee has a standard format where the ashes of the deceased are transferred to a ceremonial container, and the Certificate of Service is read out followed by the Submariners Prayer. On the command to “dive” the submarine the klaxon is sounded, and the ashes are scattered into the river above the model submarine. The ceremony then moves from the wharf area to the Honour Wall, and the family places a poppy alongside the plaque of the deceased submariner. If possible, a framed copy of the Certificate of Service is then handed to a family representative and a ceremonial “tot” drunk. Recent ashes services have been conducted for submariners Ted Affleck, Peter Jensen, Jimmy Dorante, Wayne Smith, Jerry Lewis and Barney Sullivan.
Maintaining Contact with Families of Deceased Members whose Plaques are on the Wall.
For many years Don Currell has been doing great work in sending an email to members of those families whose details he has in his records on the anniversary of the death of the submariner whose plaque is on the Wall. These reminders are much appreciated by the families and many warm and thankful replies are received.
Scattering of Ashes over the Model Submarine
Submarine families who wish to scatter ashes over the submarine model in the water beside the wharf, as well as have the relevant plaque uploaded, liaise with Don Currell and a ceremony is held by the Sub-Committee to do it. The Sub-Committee has a standard format where the ashes of the deceased are transferred to a ceremonial container, and the Certificate of Service is read out followed by the Submariners Prayer. On the command to “dive” the submarine the klaxon is sounded, and the ashes are scattered into the river above the model submarine. The ceremony then moves from the wharf area to the Honour Wall, and the family places a poppy alongside the plaque of the deceased submariner. If possible, a framed copy of the Certificate of Service is then handed to a family representative and a ceremonial “tot” drunk. Recent ashes services have been conducted for submariners Ted Affleck, Peter Jensen, Jimmy Dorante, Wayne Smith, Jerry Lewis and Barney Sullivan.
Maintaining Contact with Families of Deceased Members whose Plaques are on the Wall.
For many years Don Currell has been doing great work in sending an email to members of those families whose details he has in his records on the anniversary of the death of the submariner whose plaque is on the Wall. These reminders are much appreciated by the families and many warm and thankful replies are received.
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Model Submarine in River beside the wharf. Plaque after scattering ashes for Barney Sullivan.
Honour Wall Sub-Committee and Anzac Day and Remembrance Day Services
For some years the members of the Honour Wall have combined with the wider SAA Committee to organise the services on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day held at the Heritage Walkway. These are very successful and the number of submarine families and local civilians has steadily grown. The last estimate was many hundreds attended but it was hard to gauge how many. Don Currell has now resigned from the key role he has played in this, and it has been handed back to the SAA Qld wider Committee to organise in the future, starting with Anzac Day 2026.
Honour Wall Sub-Committee and Anzac Day and Remembrance Day Services
For some years the members of the Honour Wall have combined with the wider SAA Committee to organise the services on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day held at the Heritage Walkway. These are very successful and the number of submarine families and local civilians has steadily grown. The last estimate was many hundreds attended but it was hard to gauge how many. Don Currell has now resigned from the key role he has played in this, and it has been handed back to the SAA Qld wider Committee to organise in the future, starting with Anzac Day 2026.
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Anzac Day Dawn Service 2025.
List of Deceased Australian Submariners Lost in Submarine Service (ASORB).
Members will recall that Gus Mellon working with others including Barrie Downer from the UK researched and compiled a list of all 67 Australians qualified in submarines who have lost their lives in submarine service. They were in either RAN or RN submarines. The List is posted on the Holbrook Submarine Museum website, and the data file List has been added to the Holbrook Cloud. Gus’s List is a valuable contribution to honour Australians lost in submarine service.
Design and Erection of a New Wall
All the members of the Sub-Committee have indicated that their contribution to this activity will end with the successful completion of the remaining plaques to be established on the current Wall. However, there is no doubt that submariners and their families will wish a further Honour Wall like this be constructed and for the whole concept of wall plaques in a memorial to submariners be continued. A new Wall could very suitably be constructed on the other side of the walkway to the current one.
SAA Qld Committee member Deeanne Sparkes has volunteered to chair a new Sub-Committee to action this and Michael White and Ian Roberts have met with her to discuss it. Deeanne intends to meet with Don Currell to get his input.
Visit of Lord Abinger on 26.11.25
Lord Abinger from the UK visited Brisbane over 25-27 November 2025 and we arranged a memorial service at the Honour Wall on 26.11.25 for his grand-uncle, Lieutenant the Hon Leopold Scarlett RAN/RN, who was lost in AE1 on 14.9.1914. Hugh Scarlett had contracted TB while serving in the RN B Class Submarine Squadron in Gibraltar. He was discharged from the RN and then come to be an honorary ADC in Brisbane to the Queensland Governor Sir William Macgregor over 1913-14. When the AE1 and AE2 arrived in Sydney he volunteered to re-join the submarine service, was accepted into the RAN as a Lieutenant RAN and posted to join AE1 in Sydney. He was lost a short time later.
Best wishes to all.
Michael White
Chairman,
Honour Wall Sub-Committee.
23.2.26.
List of Deceased Australian Submariners Lost in Submarine Service (ASORB).
Members will recall that Gus Mellon working with others including Barrie Downer from the UK researched and compiled a list of all 67 Australians qualified in submarines who have lost their lives in submarine service. They were in either RAN or RN submarines. The List is posted on the Holbrook Submarine Museum website, and the data file List has been added to the Holbrook Cloud. Gus’s List is a valuable contribution to honour Australians lost in submarine service.
Design and Erection of a New Wall
All the members of the Sub-Committee have indicated that their contribution to this activity will end with the successful completion of the remaining plaques to be established on the current Wall. However, there is no doubt that submariners and their families will wish a further Honour Wall like this be constructed and for the whole concept of wall plaques in a memorial to submariners be continued. A new Wall could very suitably be constructed on the other side of the walkway to the current one.
SAA Qld Committee member Deeanne Sparkes has volunteered to chair a new Sub-Committee to action this and Michael White and Ian Roberts have met with her to discuss it. Deeanne intends to meet with Don Currell to get his input.
Visit of Lord Abinger on 26.11.25
Lord Abinger from the UK visited Brisbane over 25-27 November 2025 and we arranged a memorial service at the Honour Wall on 26.11.25 for his grand-uncle, Lieutenant the Hon Leopold Scarlett RAN/RN, who was lost in AE1 on 14.9.1914. Hugh Scarlett had contracted TB while serving in the RN B Class Submarine Squadron in Gibraltar. He was discharged from the RN and then come to be an honorary ADC in Brisbane to the Queensland Governor Sir William Macgregor over 1913-14. When the AE1 and AE2 arrived in Sydney he volunteered to re-join the submarine service, was accepted into the RAN as a Lieutenant RAN and posted to join AE1 in Sydney. He was lost a short time later.
Best wishes to all.
Michael White
Chairman,
Honour Wall Sub-Committee.
23.2.26.