John King Davis event, 19 Feb 2026

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Thursday 19 February 2026 saw perfect weather to commemorate the 142nd anniversary of Captain John King Davis‘s birth and for the re-dedication ceremony for his new grave monument at the Melbourne General Cemetery.

Wreaths on the grave of Captain JK Davis. Photo: B. Becker

Around 70 invited guests and Club members attended a very meaningful ceremony at the gravesite. President Rebecca Jeffcoat welcomed all present and read a message of thanks from Davis’s great-niece in South Africa. Naval Chaplain Miles Fagan officiated and Kate Mulligan, grand-daughter of Davis’s first cousin Henry King, gave the eulogy. A number of floral tributes were laid, including from the ANARE Club, the Schneeberger family, the Australian National Maritime Museum, Ms Rodewald on behalf of the current expeditioners of the 79th ANARE at Davis station and the crew of RSV Nuyina.

Memorial Plaque recognising the achievements of Captain JK Davis. Photo: B. Becker

A Service of Remembrance followed at the Mission to Seafarers in Docklands, for all expeditioners who have died while on service with ANARE/ AAP. Chaplain Fagan again officiated with his colleague Reverend Father Jon Cox of the South Melbourne parish. Most moving of all was Mrs Heather Juniper reading Psalm 107, whose father Charles Scoble died and was buried on Macquarie Island when she was just two years old.

The event concluded with a light lunch, chatting to old friends and making new ones. It was a very special and memorable day and truly honoured the memory of Captain Davis and our fallen expeditionary colleagues.

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