Honoring those who served
Commander — Mine Warfare Officer
"One of the founding figures of the RAN's dedicated Mine Warfare category, CMDR Hartley was instrumental in shaping the doctrine and training standards that defined the branch from its formal establishment in the mid-1980s. His quiet professionalism and deep technical knowledge of mine countermeasures left an enduring mark on every sailor who served under him."
Lieutenant Commander — MCM Specialist
"LCDR Walsh served with distinction aboard HMAS Rushcutter and later as Mine Warfare Training Officer. A pioneer for women in the RAN's specialised warfare branches, she brought rigorous precision to mine countermeasures operations and mentored a generation of officers who carried her standards forward into the fleet."
Chief Petty Officer — Mine Warfare
"Bob Anderson embodied the spirit of the newly established Mine Warfare branch. Joining in 1985 as one of the first sailors to earn the Mine Warfare Specialist qualification, he spent fourteen years mastering minelaying procedures and sonar-based clearance operations. His steady hand and infectious confidence steadied many a young sailor during challenging exercises."
Petty Officer — Minelayer
"PO Clarke served on HMAS Curlew and HMAS Bandicoot with quiet dedication. Renowned throughout the flotilla for his encyclopaedic knowledge of mine types and laying patterns, he trained dozens of junior ratings who went on to distinguished careers. He is remembered as a patient teacher and a steady shipmate in every weather."
Able Seaman — Mine Warfare Specialist
"Thomas O'Brien joined the RAN's Mine Warfare branch in its formative years, driven by a fierce pride in the fleet. Though his service was cut short by illness in 1993, those who sailed with him recall an extraordinarily skilled and generous sailor who gave everything to the branch and to his shipmates."
Leading Seaman — Mine Countermeasures
"LS Donnelly was widely respected for his calm leadership during high-tempo clearance exercises and his meticulous approach to sonar contact classification. Shipmates remember him as a reliable mentor who put safety, teamwork, and mission success above all else throughout his years in Mine Warfare."