Meet Donald Anderson

23 Nov 2017

23 November 2017

Donald Anderson was a crew member of HMAS Castlemaine in 1942. The ship was built in Melbourne at Williamstown and the engines being built in Castlemaine.

Don was only 17 years of age when he boarded the ship and served for 12 months before becoming a crew member on HMAS Bunbury.

He was then drafted to HMAS Napier which was the first fleet destroyer and was with the British Pacific fleet off the coast of Japan when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed in 1945.

Don is the last surviving crew member of the HMAS Castlemaine.

He now lives in Kyabram and at the age of 94 is only semi-retired. A farmer, Don still does all the maintenance, including the fencing and irrigation, on their dairy farm. Don joked about enjoying working by himself because he is a bit hard of hearing and he said “at least I can hear what I’m saying”.

The HMAS Castlemaine is a museum ship and is located in Williamstown.

Don was a delight to meet and so wonderful to hear his story.