By Matthew Sims
A model of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) flagship vessel, the HMAS Australia II, has made port at the Seaworks Maritime Museum in Williamstown.
Unveiled on Tuesday, March 14, a local of Bendemeer in New South Wales’ north-eastern region, Andy Cripps took four years of researching, painting, moulding and gluing to create the model.
Mr Cripps said he undertook the project to connect with his grandfather Mervyn Cripps, who served on the HMAS Australia II and who passed away when he was five years old.
“I did this out of love for my pa,” he said.
Three generations of the Cripps family have been in the Navy ranks, including Mervyn, Andy himself, and his father Robert.
The inside of the ship has been filled with the service history and photographs of all three generations of Cripps men.
After a chance meeting at a model shop in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales with HMAS Australia Veterans’ Association president Grant Knox two years ago, the search was on for a permanent display for the model.
During Mr Cripps’ journey to Melbourne, he met Bill Harris, who was one of the last two survivors who worked on the ship alongside his grandfather.
Commonly known as “the Aussie”, the HMAS Australia II was the flagship of the Australian fleet during World War II.
She was built on the River Clyde in Scotland in 1928.
During her time in service, she covered more sea miles (477,000 miles) than any RAN ship and served longer than any other ship in the RAN.
Seaworks chief executive Glenn Jones said the model was another worthy addition to the museum’s artefacts.
“It just extends our storytelling of the navy and its connection to Williamstown,” he said.
Mr Knox, Commodore Greg Yorke AM CSC and Seaworks’ chair were on hand to unveil the model during the event.
