Farewell HMAS Shepparton II: A stalwart of the seas honours our city once more

By Caleb Francis

Jun 15, 2023

Farewell: *HMAS Shepparton II*, our city’s namesake ship, sets sale for its final voyage tomorrow.

As the sun sets in Cairns tomorrow, the end of an era will be marked as the Royal Australian Navy bids adieu to an iconic piece of our shared history, HMAS Shepparton II.

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This sentinel of the seas, named after Shepparton, will be decommissioned after 33 years of service.

Launching lady: Former mayoress Felicity Gaylard cutting the cake, at the ceremony, with a Navy soldier.

Former Shepparton mayoress Felicity Gaylard will witness the ship’s final rites more than three decades after she ceremoniously launched it on its maiden voyage by smashing a champagne bottle against its steel hull.

“HMAS Shepparton II will always hold a position of great importance and interest to me,” Mrs Gaylard said during the ship’s launch ceremony in Adelaide in 1990.

These words resonate strongly today, as she prepares to attend the decommissioning ceremony in Cairns.

Reminiscing about the ship’s launch, Mrs Gaylard remembered a day filled with anticipation and excitement.

Big day: Former mayoress Felicity Gaylard in the pages of a *News* article in 1990, commemorating the launch of *HMAS Shepparton II*.

She said the event was well attended, including by her late husband, former Shepparton mayor Jeremy Gaylard.

“It was an amazing day. Quite an honour,” Mrs Gaylard said.

“When it was launched, it was just amazing.”

From its inception, the 36.6m, 325-tonne catamaran was designed for hydrographic survey operations in northern Australia’s often challenging shallow waters.

As it steps out of service, it also passes the title of ‘First Lady of the Fleet’ to its successor, an honour reserved for the longest-serving commissioned ship in the fleet.

Although inevitable, the ship’s decommissioning has evoked emotions among those who witnessed its birth and followed its journey.

Information: The details relating to HMAS Shepparton II.

“When it was commissioned, there was great excitement,” former Shepparton town manager (chief executive) Ivan Gilbert said.

“I think it’s a sad day.

“Will there be another ship named after Shepparton?

“Will it be placed in a dry dock? If so, anything on board that signifies the relationship between the Navy and Shepparton should be returned to our city.”

During its sea tenure, HMAS Shepparton II made significant contributions to naval missions, including Operation Tangar in 2000.

Its crew navigated challenging waters from Australia to Papua New Guinea and even lent a helping hand during the 2010-11 Queensland floods.

Preserving maritime legacy: The Shepparton Heritage Centre, on Welsford St, Shepparton showcases a model of the original *HMAS Shepparton*, along with artefacts from the ship. Photo by Megan Fisher

However, this is not the first time the name HMAS Shepparton has graced our waters.

Before the current HMAS Shepparton II, another distinguished vessel bore the same name.

The original HMAS Shepparton was one of 60 Australian minesweepers, commonly known as corvettes, built during World War II as part of the Commonwealth Government’s wartime shipbuilding program.

Turn back time: The original *HMAS Shepparton*’s plaque. Photo by Megan Fisher

Piece of history: A model of *HMAS Shepparton*, which can be seen at the Shepparton Heritage Centre on Welsford St, Shepparton. Photo by Megan Fisher

On February 1, 1943, it was commissioned in Melbourne and eventually set sail for New Guinea at the end of April that same year, where it assumed the role of a survey ship.

However, 15 years on, on February 20, 1958, the ship was sold for scrap.