The Central Coast Merchant Mariners Memorial Service will be held on the grounds of Norah Head Lighthouse this Saturday, December 3.
It is a service in remembrance of merchant mariners lost in World War II and other times of war and held annually on the first Saturday of December.
Convener Neil Rose said the service is attended by a broad range of community groups and representatives and a fitting way to commemorate the area’s strong maritime history and to remember those who died.
“Many people forget that we have a strong local history in our area in relation to merchant mariners during World War II,” he said.
“The east coast of Australia saw significant enemy action during the war, with mines laid by German raiders and attacks by Japanese submarines.
“These took a heavy toll on civilian merchant shipping supplies which were heading north to Darwin and Port Moresby.
“Many ships were sunk and many men were killed or injured,” Rose said.
One ship, the MV Nimbin, was the first merchant ship to be lost during the war.
It struck a German-laid mine 13km off Norah Head at 11.15am on December 5, 1940, and sank in three minutes.
Seven men, including the master, were killed and 13 were later rescued.
Another ship, the SS Iron Chieftain, was the first ship to be sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1942.
The tragedy left 13 sailors dead, but 25 survivors made it safely to The Entrance beach, guided by the light from Norah Head lighthouse.
To commemorate the wartime sacrifices, a memorial service will be held at 11.15am, the exact time the MV Nimbin hit the mine.
Sue Murray