Sunset service held at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial on Saturday to mark 80th anniversary of end of WWII

A sunset service was held at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial on Saturday, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Guests joined cadets from TS Morrow and students from Geraldton High School to hear travelling musicians from the Perth Hills and Wheatbelt Band to perform a selection of old war tunes on the crisp winter’s evening. An original composition was also performed, to honour the 645 sailors of the HMAS Sydney II. The ship was lost at sea in Australia’s worst naval disaster in a battle off the WA coast with the German raider HSK Kormoran, on November 19, 1941. The service included a sounding of the Last Post and wreath laying by guests including HMAS Sydney II Memorial warden Peter “Spike” Jones and Geraldton mayor Jerry Clune.