HMAS MINDARI, (gunnery instruction centre), was commissioned at Woolloomooloo, Sydney.
CMDR N. K. Calder, RAN, was appointed to OBE for dedicated service while commanding HMAS BUNGAREE in mine-laying operations in the Pacific.
Coastwatcher LEUT W. J. Read, RANVR, arranged the evacuation of 29 civilians from Teop Harbour, Bougainville. The party was taken off by the USS NAUTILUS (submarine).
The shore establishment, HMAS BASILISK, was commissioned at Port Moresby, New Guinea.
The store-carrier, HMAS MATAFELE, (LCDR C. F. Symonds, RN), was commissioned. MATAFELE was laid down in Hong Kong in 1938 and served with Burns Philp & Co Ltd. She was requisitioned by the RAN on 1 January 1943, and commissioned at sea.