14 minute read
Currents
The museum mourns a generous supporter and friend
RADM ANDREW ROBERTSON, who died in July, had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Australian Navy. He joined the RAN in 1939, just before World War II began, and even as a cadet excelled in every aspect of training. He saw active service in World War II and afterwards was stationed in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. In the Korean War, Andrew Robertson was a gunnery officer aboard HMAS Anzac, and for his service was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He later held numerous senior appointments and initiated the establishment of the Australian Naval Aviation Museum, now the Fleet Air Arm Museum. He was appointed Officer in the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 1980 for service to the Royal Australian Navy and the defence force, and retired from the RAN in early 1982 after 43 years of service. RADM Andrew Robertson had profound input into the establishment and shaping of this museum. He was Deputy Convenor of the Advisory Committee for the Australian National Maritime Museum in 1985 and Deputy Chairman of the Interim Council from 1985–88. He drafted a proposed charter and influenced all aspects of the museum’s physical and museological planning. As well as being a generous donor, he remained a strong supporter. RADM Robertson was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the museum in 1991 and appointed as the museum’s first Honorary Fellow (the museum’s highest level of recognition) in 2016. Kevin Sumption, Director and CEO, stated in the recommendation for this honour, ‘His impact on the founding of the museum was profound and is enduring. Over and above RADM Robertson’s contribution to the museum, he is a person of the highest distinction and the museum would be well served by association with him. His achievements in his naval career and his honorary work for the Navy League of Australia and the HMAS Sydney Association are strongly aligned with the mission of the Australian National Maritime Museum.’
Mr Sumption states, ‘The Council and staff of the museum are saddened by the loss of our great friend RADM Robertson. He was one of our earliest champions and we bear daily witness to his legacy in the work we do here. The Windjammers Sailors statue, in the museum’s forecourt, was donated by RADM Robertson and is much loved by our visitors. Andrew and I would have lunch regularly at the museum to discuss its future. Andrew’s passion and enthusiasm were electrifying and his greatest interest was always in ensuring that the next generation was better informed about our nation’s unique maritime history. Personally, Andrew was a wonderful inspiration to me. I feel blessed to have been considered a friend and will greatly miss his warmth, wit and incredible intellect. Our deepest condolences go to his family.’ RADM Robertson is survived by his wife Patricia (Pat) and children Angus, Jane, Julia and Bruce.
Steve Riethoff
01 Rear Admiral Andrew Robertson AO DSC RAN Rtd was co-patron of HMAS Sydney. He is pictured at the HMAS Sydney I commemorative 100-year memorial in Sydney, 16 June 2013. Image ABIS Nicolas Gonzalez/RAN 02 RADM Andrew Robertson provided the funds for the museum’s statue Windjammer Sailors to be realised. He is pictured at its official unveiling on 28 April 2016. Image Andrew Frolows/ANMM
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From Istria to Australia
Vale Gina Sinozich 1930–2020
Croatian refugee artist Gina Sinozich with her painting Our Story, 2005. Image Elizabeth Maloney/ ANMM
AS REFUGEE WEEK DREW TO A CLOSE in June, the museum was saddened to receive news of the passing of a dear friend and supporter, Croatian refugee artist Gina Sinozich. The museum extends its deepest condolences to Gina’s family – her four children, six grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. She was 90 years old. Like so many refugees after World War II, Gina left her homeland for a country she knew little about. Gina and her husband, Eugen, and their two young children, Michael and Jenny, arrived in Australia from Istria, Croatia (in the former communist Yugoslavia), after seeking refuge in neighbouring Italy. In 1957 the family sailed from Genoa to Melbourne on the Lloyd Triestino liner SS Neptunia. They settled in Sydney, where they established a thriving market garden. In 2000, 70-year-old Gina turned to painting after Eugen was diagnosed with dementia and she recognised the urgent need to record her memories of their life together. Gina’s first painting was on a discarded council sign that she found on the side of the road. This modest beginning inspired a passionate and prolific output that now sees her work represented in major collecting institutions across Australia, New Zealand and Croatia. This includes a colourful series of 14 paintings commissioned by the museum in 2003, illustrating Gina’s journey from Istria to Australia.
In one painting, the heartfelt Our Story (pictured), Gina depicts herself and her family at the bow of Neptunia. They are balanced over the edge of a waterfall, suspended at the point of no return. Behind them is Gina’s beloved Istria; before them is an uncertain future in Australia. It’s an eloquent metaphor for all those who had the courage to set sail from the known to the unknown.
Over a period of 20 years, with no formal training, Gina developed her own unique style – instinctive, honest and intensely personal. Evoking the strong tradition of naïve art in her homeland, her work gives compelling tangible form to firstgeneration narratives of migration, memory and displacement. When we spoke, Gina often referred to her work as ‘recycled memory’, as painting from memory the vivid pictures in her mind. Gina painted until the very end. Perhaps she saved her most poignant work, and words, for last. One of her final paintings is powerful in its simplicity. A single daisy, a white dove and three little words: ‘Forget me not’. Vale Gina Sinozich.
Kim Tao Curator, post-Federation immigration
A distinguished career
Vale Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall AC AFSM 1938–2020
VICE ADMIRAL IAN DONALD GEORGE MACDOUGALL, who died in Tasmania in July, was a distinguished naval officer who was at the forefront of Australia’s submarine fleet. He had career links with both HMAS Vampire and HMAS Onslow. MacDougall was born in Sydney on 23 February 1938 and joined the Royal Australian Naval College as a 15-year old cadet midshipman in January 1954. He graduated the following year, and in 1956 and 1957 he undertook professional training and study at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where he was awarded the Queen’s Telescope for leadership. From 1958 to 1963 he served as a supply officer in several ships and establishments, including HMA Ships Anzac (II), Albatross, Swan (II), Vampire (II) and Melbourne (II). In 1960 he was promoted Lieutenant and subsequently, in 1963, transferred to the Submarine Arm as a Seaman Officer. He was promoted Lieutenant Commander in 1968 and appointed as Executive Officer of HMAS Oxley, then under construction in Scotland.
From 1969 to 1971 he commanded HMS Otter while on exchange with the Royal Navy before returning to Australia and commanding HMAS Onslow from 1971 to 1973. The submarine conducted a Southeast Asian deployment during this time as part of the ANZUK Force based in Singapore. MacDougall was promoted Commander in 1973 and the following year was appointed Officer in Charge of the Submarine Command Team Trainer, based at HMAS Watson, where he remained until 1976. For 18 months during 1977 and 1978 he served in Canberra as Deputy Director of Naval Officers’ Postings. In 1978 and 1979 he was Executive Officer and briefly Commanding Officer of the guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart (II). He was promoted Captain in 1979, then from 1980 to 1982 MacDougall commanded the fleet replenishment ship HMAS Supply (I). A major activity for the ship was an Indian Ocean deployment in response to the Soviet Union’s invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. From 1982 to 1984 he served in Canberra as Director of Submarine Policy, during which time he was involved with the initial policy development for the Collins Class Submarine Project. In 1985 MacDougall commanded the Australian Submarine Squadron based at HMAS Platypus at Neutral Bay, Sydney. MacDougall was promoted Commodore in 1986 and appointed Director General Joint Operations and Plans for the Australian Defence Force. In early 1988 he conducted a review of the roles and functions of the Naval Support Command as part of the RAN’s devolution program. He was promoted Rear Admiral in January 1989 and appointed as Maritime Commander Australia. In July 1990 he took up the position of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
He is a graduate of the US Naval War College (1980). He was appointed an Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List in 1991. Vice Admiral MacDougall was appointed Chief of Naval Staff on 8 March 1991.
Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the 1993 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, before retiring from the Royal Australian Navy in March 1994. He died on 1 July 2020 in Tasmania, at the age of 82. He is survived by sons Hamish and Fergus and stepsons Gideon and Daniel.
Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall. Image courtesy the MacDougall family
Steve Riethoff
This is an edited version of the Australian Navy’s biography, which can be found at navy.gov.au/biography/vice-admiral-iandonald-george-macdougall
Acknowledgments The Australian National Maritime Museum acknowledges the support provided to the museum by all our volunteers, members, sponsors, donors and friends. The museum particularly acknowledges the following people who have made a significant contribution to the museum in an enduring way or who have made or facilitated significant benefaction to it.
Honorary Fellows John Mullen AM Peter Dexter AM
Ambassadors Christine Sadler David and Jennie Sutherland
Major Donors – SY Ena Conservation Fund David and Jennie Sutherland Foundation Honorary Life Members Yvonne Abadee Dr Kathy Abbass Robert Albert AO RFD RD Bob Allan Vivian Balmer Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO CSC Maria Bentley Mark Bethwaite AM Paul Binsted Marcus Blackmore AM David Blackley John Blanchfield Alexander Books Ian Bowie Ron Brown OAM Paul Bruce Anthony Buckley Richard Bunting Capt Richard Burgess AM Kevin Byrne Sue Calwell RADM David Campbell AM Marion Carter Robert Clifford AO Helen Clift Hon Peter Collins AM QC John Coombs Kay Cottee AO Helen Coulson OAM Vice Admiral Russell Crane AO CSM John Cunneen Laurie Dilks Anthony Duignan Leonard Ely Dr Nigel Erskine John Farrell Kevin Fewster AM Bernard Flack Daina Fletcher Sally Fletcher Teresia Fors Derek Freeman CDR Geoff Geraghty AM Anthony Gibbs Brian Gibson am RADM Stephen Gilmore AM CSC RAN Paul Gorrick Lee Graham Macklan Gridley Sir James Hardy KBE OBE RADM Simon Harrington AM Christopher Harry Gaye Hart AM Peter Harvie Janita Hercus Philip Hercus Robyn Holt William Hopkins Julia Horne RADM Tony Hunt AO Marilyn Jenner John Jeremy AM Vice Admiral Peter Jones AO DSC Michael Kailis Hon Dr Tricia Kavanagh John Keelty Helen Kenny Kris Klugman OAM Jean Lane Judy Lee David Leigh Keith Leleu OAM Andrew Lishmund James Litten Hugo Llorens Tim Lloyd Ian Mackinder Stuart Mayer Jack McBurney Bruce McDonald AM Lyn McHale Ronald McJannett Ron Miller Arthur Moss Patrick Moss Rob Mundle OAM Alwyn Murray Martin Nakata David O’Connor Gary Paquet Prof John Penrose AM Neville Perry Hon Justice Anthe Philippides Peter Pigott AM Len Price Eda Ritchie AM John Rothwell AO Kay Saunders AM Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN David Scott-Smith Sergio Sergi Mervyn Sheehan Ann Sherry AO Shane Simpson AM Peter John Sinclair AM CSC Peter R Sinclair AC KStJ (RADM) John Singleton AM Brian Skingsley Eva Skira Bruce Stannard AM J J Stephens OAM Michael Stevens Neville Stevens AO Frank Talbot AM Mitchell Turner Adam Watson Jeanette Wheildon Hon Margaret White ao Mary-Louise Williams AM Nerolie Withnall Cecilia Woolford (nee Caffrey) Honorary Research Associates Lindsey Shaw Jeffrey Mellefont Paul Hundley Rear Admiral Peter Briggs Dr Ian MacLeod Dr Nigel Erskine David Payne
Congratulations to Belinda Sheary, who won the Signals 131 caption competition with this entry: ‘Smokin’ hot in me new Jimmy Choos!’
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Signals ISSN 1033-4688 Editor Janine Flew Assistant editor Laura Signorelli Staff photographer Andrew Frolows Design & production Austen Kaupe Printed in Australia by Pegasus Print Group Material from Signals may be reproduced, but only with the editor’s permission. Editorial and advertising enquiries signals@sea.museum – deadline midJanuary, April, July, October for issues March, June, September, December Signals is online Search all issues at sea.museum/signals Signals back issues Back issues $4 each or 10 for $30 Extra copies of current issue $4.95 Call The Store 02 9298 3698
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