HMAS Sydney

1. DAVID MEARMS-- is now poised to look for the wreck of the Australian hospital ship, the Centaur, which was sunk by the Japanese sub I-177 off the Queensland coast on May 14, 1943 even though it displayed a red cross and under international law shouldn't have been attacked.

This vessel had picked up 61 of the Kormoran's survivors in 1941. From April Cyber Driver News Network.

2. HMAS ANZAC LEAVES FOR CEREMONY-- The April 14th West Australian reports that the Anzac left Geraldton for the April 15th services at the wreck of the Sydney. Only five of the 797 relative requests were chose at random to be on board.

One is Rorey Burnett whose father was the Sydney's captain. Robyn Leitch's father, Edgar Morris was a Petty Officer.

At 7:30 am Wednesday, there will also be a service at the wreck of the Kormoran. I'm glad to see Australia is doing this.

3. SAYS HE HEARD SYDNEY'S LAST MESSAGE-- The April 15th Barossa Herald says that Keith Fisher, 87, of Kapunda is convinced he heard the Sudney's last distress call while listening on his Croydon radio console. "I was in the living room just looking for anything on the radio. One day, I heard quite clearly, 'HMAS Sydney calling San Francisco,' then a pause, followed by 'San Francisco, why don't you answer?' This was followed by static. Didn't think much of it."

I doubt the Sydney was calling the city of San Francisco. There was a US Navy ship by that name, but it wasn't in the area at the time of the sinking, so I'd have to wonder about this story.

4. MORE INFO, go to www.findingsydney.com