**Cancelled due to Covid Restrictions** Victorian Chapter – Monthly Meeting with Guest Speaker Captain Ainsley Morthorpe CSM RAN “Captain James Stirling RN”

**Cancelled due to Covid Restrictions**

Victorian Chapter – Monthly Meeting

Guest Speaker Captain Ainsley Morthorpe CSM RAN Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus on “Captain James Stirling RN”

Captain Morthorpe’s distinguished naval career as a professional seaman officer has seen him serving at sea in various ships, notably in command of HMAS Fremantle and HMAS Success. He has also commanded three key shore establishments – HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin, HMAS Stirling in WA and now HMAS Cerberus.

No doubt his time serving in Western Australia gave him a particular interest in Captain James Stirling RN, who sailed from England in in1826 in command of HMS Success, to carry supplies to the colony in Sydney and Hobart.

He later explored the Australian coast, at a time when the French were also undertaking exploration voyages of their own.  In early March 1827 he was off the coast of WA, where he landed and began exploring the Swan River.  He later succeeded in lobbying the British Government to establish a settlement there.

Captain Morthorpe will provide some fascinating insights into how Captain Stirling’s previous career and experience shaped his ideas of a settlement in WA and the strategic thinking surrounding the location.

Members and Guests are most welcome

 A relaxing meal and drink beforehand in the RSL’s delightful Warramunga Room is always a pleasant prelude to the 1900 meeting