Good morning ladies and gentlemen

It is an honour and privilege to have been invited by the AE2 Commemorative Foundation to formally open the Joint Workshop on the Future Management of HMAS AE2, the Silent Anzac.  With me is Australia’s Chief of Air Force, Air Marshall Geoff Shepherd, who is the senior Australian Defence Force representative in country over the Anzac Day period.

As the history books tell us, the battle of Gallipoli served as a defining moment for the nations of Turkey, New Zealand and Australia. The heroism, courage and determination of the soldiers on both sides is well known. This commonality of history continues to strengthen the enduring friendship and respect between our nations. Yesterday, on Anzac Day, we joined together to pay tribute to the memories of our brave soldiers.  The ANZAC story is one that is permeated by sorrow.  However, even in the shadow of our loss we have cause to be grateful.

The Gallipoli campaign is widely recognised as a significant military battle.  Less well known is the contribution made by the Australian submarine, HMAS AE2.  As the first allied submarine to force the narrows in April 1915, this small, 800 tonne submarine and her crew of 32 made a significant contribution to the protection of the landing forces. She opened the way for the successful Allied submarine campaign which sank over 230 ships and denied the Turkish forces free access to the Sea of Marmara. Without the extraordinary contribution of the AE2, the story of Gallipoli may well have been even more devastating for the Allies.

AE2, after wreaking havoc for several days in the Sea of Marmara, was hit by enemy fire and scuttled by her crew to stop her from falling into enemy hands. Miraculously, all of her crew survived the action, and were interned as Prisoners of War. 

In 1998, more than eighty years after she was scuttled, the wreck of the AE2 was discovered by a Turkish researcher, Mr Selcuk Kolay OAM. This find initiated a joint project to protect and preserve the AE2, and most importantly, to tell her remarkable story.

A key milestone in the Project was the conduct of the Marine Archaeological Assessment in September 2007, which was partially funded by the Australian Government. This Assessment was conducted by a team of Australian and Turkish volunteers who dived on AE2 under often challenging conditions, to gather the data required to formulate options for the future management of AE2. The results they have achieved will enable an informed debate to occur on the future of the AE2, and the team should be proud of its efforts.

I also take this opportunity to pass my particular thanks to the Turkish Navy and Coastguard for the support provided to the Assessment team, and the emergency assistance which resulted in the saving of a team member’s life following a diving incident.

HMAS AE2 is of great historical importance to Australians. She is one of the few remaining major relics from the Gallipoli campaign and therefore an important symbol to both Turkey and Australia. She was the first Australian warship lost in battle and will always hold a special place in Australian history.

However, interest in AE2 extends beyond Australia and Turkey. Many of her crew were drawn from the Royal Navy, and her Commanding Officer, Dacre Stoker was an Irishman. I am pleased to note the attendance of representatives from the United Kingdom and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum today.

I applaud the ongoing collaboration between the Turkish Institute of Nautical Archaeology and the Submarine Institute of Australia. It’s a fine example of the cooperation and friendship that has grew out of our soldier’s gallantry some 93 years ago.

It is appropriate that both Governments consider and agree on a suitable course of action for AE2. To achieve this, it is important that the outcome of this workshop be one jointly-agreed recommendation for the future management of AE2 - a range of options is not the answer we are looking for.

The recommendation must be practical, achievable, and ideally, able to be implemented in time to coincide with the Centenary of the Gallipoli campaign in 2015.

I am, of course, conscious of the fact that whatever option is recommended, it will come at a cost. When weighing up the options available to you during the course of the workshop, I ask you to consider carefully and fully the cost implications.

Any requests for government funding in relation to historical Defence-related projects such as the AE2 will always be looked upon favourably, but must be balanced against competing priorities, including both current and future defence needs.

So you have a formidable task ahead of you. I look forward to your recommendation and commend all participants.  In particular acknowledge the Turkish Institute of Nautical Archaeology, the Submarine Institute of Australia and the AE2 Commemorative Foundation. Their efforts, and the support of the sponsors, have made possible this important ambition to properly recognise and preserve a part of our mutual history.

Thank you for inviting me to open this most important workshop. I wish all the very best in your deliberations.