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Griffiths, Richard; Bateman, Sam; Ward, Marion --- "Commodore Harold J. P. Adams AM, RAN (Rtd)" [2007] MarStudies 21; (2007) 155 Maritime Studies 2

• Commodore Harold J. P. Adams AM, RAN (Rtd)

Commodore Harold J. P. Adams AM, RAN (Rtd)

It was with great sadness that we reported to members the death on 20 April 2007 of the long-serving chairman of the Australian Association for Maritime Affairs, Commodore Harold John Parker Adams. Since he became chairman some twenty years ago Harry Adams was the team leader of the Association, a chairman with a broad vision of the importance of maritime affairs to the nation of Australia, the background, knowledge and experience to support this, and the willingness to devote time and energy to promoting his vision in government, business, educational fields and to the general public in every way possible.

Harry Adams was born in rural Victoria in 1932, attended Melbourne Grammar School, entered the RAN College in 1946 and graduated at the top of his class in 1949. Then followed a career in the Royal Australian Navy which included some years of training and service with the Royal Navy, active service in Korea, Vietnam and Cyprus, command of two fleet destroyers, HMAS Duchess and HMAS Hobart, and of the Navy’s largest shore establishment, HMAS Cerberus. He held a number of senior postings in the Navy Office, including Director of Naval Operations and Director of Naval Communications. For these services he was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1986.

After leaving the Navy with the rank of Commodore in 1986 Harry entered an active retirement. He and his wife, Marion, operated a sheep farm at Melrose Valley, in the ACT, where they entertained overseas tourists with instruction in Australian farm management and demonstrations of sheep-shearing, as well as warm hospitality. Harry became involved in many worthwhile local and national causes, among them Legacy, the Navy League, the Regular Defence Force Welfare Association, the ACT Rural Landholders’ Association, the Friends of the Church of St John the Baptist, Reid, the Australian War Memorial Foundation, and the Australian Association for Maritime Affairs, (which was earlier known as the Australian Centre for Maritime Studies). He was a man of vision who employed his enthusiasm and intellect to assist and guide these disparate organisations in their various endeavours.

Harry believed passionately in the importance to Australia of the maritime sphere which surrounds the nation, and equally in the need to make all Australians aware of this. He saw this as involving not only the security and defence of the nation, but also its economic importance through such activities as maritime trade and transport, offshore oil and gas mining, fisheries and aquaculture, tourism (and hence the critical importance of the Great Barrier Reef and other coastal environments), ship-building, and many other activities, all of which contribute to the national wealth, national employment, and the general welfare of Australia. He saw the role of the AAMA to raise awareness of this as widely as possible in government, business, and throughout the community, including, importantly amongst younger people. To this end he devoted tremendous energy towards raising awareness (and support for the AAMA) – for example, by writing to government ministers, departments, business leaders, and other organisations; by having letters published in newspapers; by bringing representative voices onto the Board of AAMA/ACMS; by seeking links with other relevant organisations; by staging conferences and lunch-hour lectures; and speaking himself to appropriate groups. Along with other AAMA Board members in 2002 he prepared a submission for the Inquiry into Australia’s Maritime Strategy of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, and appeared before the Committee. He was a prime mover in establishing the sister body to the AAMA, Kindred Maritime Organisations, which was intended to draw in large business organisations and which would be served by a monthly publication Australian Maritime Digest. The Digest provides short items of general relevance to the maritime community. Another favourite project was the preparation of a wall poster displaying the scale and significance of all aspects of maritime affairs to Australia, which he hoped would be distributed to all schools, though unfortunately this goal was never achieved. Not least, over many years Harry made significant financial donations to the AAMA.

As well, Harry made time to read widely; to write occasional book reviews and other articles for publication on diverse subjects; maintain an interest in current affairs and politics as well as in naval history and Shakespeare; appreciate the fine arts, particularly the work of early Australian painters; enjoy farming and gardening; travel within Australia and overseas; and to play a wide variety of sports, including golf and tennis.

Harry lived a life of service – to the nation, to the community, and to his family. The AAMA owes him a great debt of gratitude for his untiring work for its aims. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Richard Griffiths, Chairman

Sam Bateman, Managing Editor

Marion Ward, Editor