Brian Hopkins was one of the last people to escape after two Australian naval ships collided. Living with terminal cancer, he revisits his former life and considers his legacy.
In 1964, Brian Hopkins survived Australia's deadliest maritime disaster in peacetime. Now, more than 60 years later, the Naval veteran revisits his past.In 1964, Brian Hopkins survived Australia's deadliest peacetime maritime disaster, being one of the last to escape the sinking HMAS Voyager. Now, more than 60 years later, the navy veteran revisits his past.
The 79-year-old can still remember the intricate details of Voyager, like how the blue pipes that ran overheard were purposed for drinking water, or the sounds that would come out of the gun bay.Above deck, Mr Hopkins explained the difference between a one deck and a front deck, the name of each turret and its function, and"Back in 1964, just forward of where we are now, is where Melbourne sliced Voyager in half.
A loud bang led Mr Hopkins, with soap in his hair, to open the shower door, where he saw Voyager was hard up against the aircraft carrier.) "No-one has a 100 per cent idea of what happened that night because all those that do know perished on that night," he said. Mr Hopkins would continue to serve in the navy, shortly after being posted to an anti-submarine frigate, followed by a stint in the Vietnam War."He'd only just recently got married. He didn't want to get married at all."Despite the collision being more than 60 years ago, Mr Hopkins remembers plenty about it.He can recall the crew who relieved him that night, including Diepenbroek, his times on the watch with Macartney, how he spent a weekend convincing Curgenven to not go AWOL.
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