Submarine commander the headline act

THE Limestone Coast group of the Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller – Malta are holding a fundraising lunch in Mount Gambier on Friday, February 13.

The lunch will be held at the Blue Lake Bar and Bistro adjacent to the golf links and will begin at 11.30am.

A real highlight of the event will be a talk by Commander Ian Bray RAN Rtd who in his 44-year naval career, commanded four of the Navy’s submarines.

Commander Bray completed the notoriously challenging submarine command course referred to as the ‘ Perisher’ and then commanded two OBERON Class submarines.

He later commanded two COLLINS Class submarines, the last one HMAS FARNCOMB had a mixed crew of men and women. Ian will talk about this ‘new’ experience as the Commanding Officer HMAS FARNCOMB.

The lunch is an opportunity for local people to learn more about the Order of St John, and about the local group and its supported charity, In Home Hospice Care.

The Order exists mainly to provide financial support where it sees a need.

To support the work of the Hospice Group there will be a raffle and a silent auction.

The main raffle prize is a voucher worth $500 valid for Discovery Parks around Australia.

Among the items being auctioned are a bottle of recommissioning port produced for the submarine HMAS OTWAY in 1988 and other OTWAY related memorabilia.

The submarine is now on display in Holbrook NSW.

Several members of the Order from Adelaide will attend the event including the Grand Prior of Australasia David Wlckens and his wife Jill, and the SA Prior Peter Robertson.

In Home Hospice Care manager Sandi Elliott, will give a short presentation about the Hospice Care group and their work.

Some 40 volunteers assist community members with a long-term illness to remain in their homes, doing tasks from mowing the lawn to sitting and reading to a client.

Tickets at $65 for a 2-course lunch and a drink from a selected range at the bar are now available.

Group spokesperson Sandy Coulson CSM said guests will have the rare opportunity to hear one of Australia’s most experienced submariners speak about this fascinating and currently, with the AUKUS Project, very topical part of Australia’s defence capability.