Victoria Chapter

CHAPTER MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE FOURTH MONDAY OF THE MONTH AT THE WAVERLEY RSL
The Waverley RSL is located at 161 Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley, and is conveniently situated opposite the Glen Waverley railway station. The RSL car park is free but you need to display a ticket on your dashboard (obtainable from reception) or use the public car park opposite.

Our next Monthly Meeting is at 1900 on Monday 25 August 2025.

Guest Speaker

RADM Simon Harrington, AM RAN (Rtd)

“HMAS Yarra exploits 1940-42”

Simon Harrington joined the RAN College at age 14 in 1963. After graduating in 1966, his sea service was mainly in destroyers and frigates, culminating with commands of the Guided Missile Frigates HMAS Canberra in 1987/88 and HMAS Adelaide in 1992/93.  He later commanded the RAN College at Jervis Bay.  Other senior appointments included Director of Naval Officers Postings, Director General of Recruiting, and Naval Support Commander on promotion to Rear Admiral.  He was also involved in the establishment of the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies and was one of its inaugural Deputy Directors of Studies.

In 1999 he assumed duties as Head of the Australian Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington where he remained for the next three years. During that time, he was kept particularly busy working with US Authorities on matters such as East Timor and post-September 11 issues.  In 2000 he was made a member of the Order of Australia for his work as Director General Recruiting, as Support Commander (Navy), and as Defence Attaché, Washington. In 2002 he was awarded the Legion of Merit by the United States Government.

After leaving the Navy he served as the Services Member of the Repatriation Commission for 3½ years and was one of the inaugural members of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.  He was a member of the 2009 Defence White Paper Public Consultation Team.  Simon later became coordinator of the Aus/NZ team that worked from 2010 to 2014 with Turkish experts to undertake the Joint Historical and Archaeological Study of the Anzac Battle Site at Gallipoli.

Simon’s naval heritage spans three generations.  Those attending his presentation will learn of his connection with HMAS Yarra II, which was commanded by his father Lieutenant Commander William Hasting Harrington (who later became the Chief of Naval Staff) during wartime operations with the Royal Navy in the Middle East in 1940-41.  This included campaigns against Iraq and Iran, involving various daring exploits close inshore.  In March 1942, Yarra was sunk by a Japanese cruiser squadron in a gallant but hopeless defence of her convoy in the Indian Ocean, south of Java. A total of 138 of her company were lost, including her commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Robert Rankin.

Membership of the NHSA automatically entitles you to be part of the Victoria Chapter and to share in its activities.

We hold our monthly meetings in the well-appointed “Sunset Room” at the RSL – easy access is provided by an adjacent lift.  Our program is listed on the website, and we either have a Guest Speaker or show a film.  Meetings start at approximately 7.00 pm and finish by 9.00 pm.

The “Warramunga Restaurant” on the ground floor opens at 5.30pm and a number of members and guests take the opportunity to enjoy a few drinks at the bar from 5pm onwards before heading to the Restaurant. Please be seated by 5.45pm to ensure the meeting starts on time.

Our Secretary Lynda Gilbert coordinates the booking of tables, so please let her know in advance by email lynda.gilbert@aol.com if you are intending to join us for dinner.

If joining us for the first time, please let us know when you plan to visit by contacting Andrew Mackinnon and we will ensure you are made welcome.

The Chapter produces a monthly newsletter called the ‘Three-Headed Dog’, containing a variety of articles of interest.  Edited by Andrew Mackinnon, this is published 11 times a year and is distributed by email to Victorian members free of charge.  Copies of the latest and previous ‘Three-Headed Dog’ newsletters can be found on the

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