HMAS Darwin I - Historical page

17/02/2026

RAN family and HMAS Darwin 2016 Deployment crew,

A memorial service will be held to honour our shipmate, Doctor Jonathan Grimshaw.

Friday, 27 February
11:00am
Gledswood Homestead
900 Camden Valley Way, Catherine Field

Jonathan, “Doc” to many of us, served with distinction on HMAS Darwin’s 2016 Middle East deployment. He was a compassionate, dedicated medical officer and an outstanding man who cared deeply for those around him.

After leaving the Navy, Doc established himself as a GP in Sydney’s southern suburbs, where he continued to serve his community with the same commitment and kindness. The outpouring of support over the past weeks has been a testament to the positive impact he had on so many lives.

Doc leaves behind his wife Katey and their six children.

For planning purposes, if you intend to attend the memorial service, please let CO Darwin 2016–2017 Phillip Henry know (via Facebook).

A GoFundMe page has been established to support Katey and the children during this incredibly difficult time. If you are in a position to assist, the link is below:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/dr-johnathan-grimshaw?utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&fbclid=IwZnRzaAQBOdhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeedGtT6EGE3Eobe6tZ5L4W5SE-ia1T3BU6EzX-7vOWot22n6w1AsQI5IQuE0_aem_DEDbbMnZnNos0PTDYGOVTQ

RIP, shipmate. Taken far too soon.

Hi all, As most of you know Jonathan gained his angel wings in a fa… Friend of Dr Grimshaw JG needs your support for In memory of Dr Jonathan Grimshaw

08/02/2026

Tragically, an ex Navy member and one of our shipmates from HMAS Darwin's 2016 Deployment to the Middle East, passed away just over a week ago.

Doctor Jonathan Grimshaw was killed in a vehicle accident. Jonathan was a compassionate and outstanding man, dedicated to caring for others.

Jonathan left the Navy a few years ago and had established himself as a GP in the Southern suburbs of Sydney.

Jonathan leaves behind his wife Katey and 6 kids.

Some of their friends and family established a Gofundme page, (details below) to help out Katey and the kids at this terrible time if you can assist at all I know it would be deeply appreciated.

We will post details of the funeral when its confirmed.

RIP shipmate Jonathan Grimshaw, taken way to soon.

Hi all, As most of you know Jonathan gained his angel wings in a fa… Friend of Dr Grimshaw JG needs your support for In memory of Dr Jonathan Grimshaw

31/03/2023

ANZAC DAY 2023 - SYDNEY MARCH

Arrangements for the Anzac Day march in Sydney are now finalised and the HMAS Darwin Association will initially meet in Castlereagh Street on the corner of Market St by 09.00.

Our position in the march is behind the Hobart, Brisbane and Perth contingents and ahead of the Tingara Association. As with the last couple of years, numbers in other contingents will dictate where we actually end up forming up. To find us just look out for the very distinctive Darwin banner as pictured. We should step off about 09.15.

The RAN Order of March along with the latest RSL advice notice can be read by copying and pasting this link into your browser
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AivzCY_aF8c-2iqYvljE0-NXQnX7?e=dMx2dU. It is highly recommended that you print off a copy of the Order of March and bring it with you so you can easily find the Darwin team.

As Darwinians we are keen to stand out from the crowd, as we did last year, with our banner in NT colours and all smartly turned out with jackets, ties and medals.

The post-march event will be held at Maloneys Hotel in Goulbourn St, a short walk from where we disperse. Partners and friends are welcome to join us for afters to commemorate this occasion.

To assist us in getting a handle on numbers, please respond to this email, and advise [email protected] of your intentions - will you be marching and will you be going to Maloney's after the march?

Additionally, if you know of other former Darwinians who may wish to march in Sydney, please provide them with these details so that they can respond directly to our Secretary. Let's make this Anzac Day very special.

Best wishes and stay safe.

Rick Bayley
President

16/01/2023

22/02/2022

We don’t want our HMAS Darwin Association to be NSW or Sydney centric and the numbers in many other states are sufficiently large to enable to formation of local chapters. In some geographic regions or towns, there may be enough members to also form sub-chapters.

We need some folk to put their hands up to be the point of contact for the state, city, town or region. Once established, these contacts will be invited to participate in Committee meetings and to be part of the Committee communication universe. They will also be provided with contact details for those members, in the database, who are in the area.

If interested in volunteering, please just provide a comment to this post and our Vice-President, Kim Martin or Treasurer, Rob Grant, will contact you to discuss the practicalities.

If you're not already a member of the Association, just comment on this post or email [email protected] and someone will get back to you.

03/01/2022

HMAS Darwin (FFG04) of the Royal Australian Navy demonstrating a reloading of the Mk 13 missile launcher at the International Fleet Review 2013 Warships Open...

15/08/2021

14 August 1992

HMAS DARWIN, (guided missile frigate), arrived on station in the Arabian Gulf for her 115 day deployment. In this patrol she was to board 296 merchant ships passing through her Patrol area.

16/06/2021

Thoughts are with the family and friends of our Shipmate LSML-C Cameron Acreman, who passed away 5 years ago during HMAS Darwin's port visit to Muscat. Always remembered.

03/05/2021

The Darwin Association's initial turn out for Anzac Day in Sydney was highly successful. A good cross-section of former crew, well turned out with most wearing the Association tie, did the 'first lady' proud. Hopeful that next year other cities will have the numbers to participate locally.

If you want to join the association just email [email protected] with your contact details.

18/04/2021

SIX DAYS TO ANZAC DAY AND COUNTING
More marchers wanted so we stand out in the crowd. If you want to march in the Sydney Anzac Day procession, now is the time to register. Because we are a new Association, the ABC reporting may give us some additional attention. See earlier posts for details required for registration.

05/04/2021

ANZAC DAY SYDNEY - REGISTER NOW!

Less than three weeks to the big day and we need to start firming up numbers for both the march and the "afters" at Maloney's Hotel. We've already got some good numbers signed up but, if we want to make an impact on our first "Big Day Out", we need more.

To declare your intentions please email the Secretary at [email protected] with your name, email and mobile number. In addition to the registration requirement imposed by the RSL, your mobile number will also be used on the day to text the exact location of our form-up point.

For those already registered and for new registrations, an email will be sent to you about a week before the march giving all details.

If you aren't already a member of the HMAS Darwin Association - no problem! Just sign up for the march and we'll automatically sign you up for the Association.

Warm regards
Rick Bayley
President