Brian Hopkins and his great-granddaughter Juliet.
In 1964, Brian Hopkins survived Australia’s worst peace-time naval disaster. Now, the veteran’s granddaughter Natalie and great-granddaughter Juliet are continuing his legacy and sharing his story.
The mother-daughter duo told the Weekender that their Pop was aboard the HMAS Voyager off the coast of Jervis Bay when tragedy struck. “They were doing training exercises with the HMAS Melbourne ship,” Natalie shared. “The Melbourne, which was a much larger ship, T-boned the Voyager, causing it to break in half and sink. 82 men died that night.”
The collision occurred within an hour of Brian finishing his shift in the engine room – the exact spot that the ship was hit. “When the collision happened, he was in the shower after his shift, and the man that had taken his place lost his life,” Natalie explained. “Our Pop has a lot of survivor’s guilt from that because it could have been him if it happened an hour prior.
“When it happened, he chucked onsome overalls and jumped into the water. When he realised they were weighing him down, he stripped off his clothes and swam out to a life raft to be saved.” Up until he passed away in late 2024, Brian ensured his shipmates were never forgotten. “We made a promise to him when he passed away that we would continue sharing his story and his shipmates’ stories,” Natalie stated.
Year 11 student Juliet does her part to ensure younger generations recognise the sacrifices of veterans.
Juliet at the Commemoration Service, March 2026.
“I think people my age dismiss the past and the sacrifices that have been made for them to be here right now,” Juliet explained.“Because I know someone who has sacrificed part of themselves and dedicated themselves to serving our country, it feels insensitive.
“In school I remind people to be respectful, and when I’m older, I will continue attending the Voyager reunion and ANZAC Day.”
The family will be attending the Dawn Service at St Marys Diggers Club, where Brian was a member of the RSL Sub-Branch.
The Western Weekender
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