By Max Bryant*
WESTERN Port Oberon Association has celebrated the 100th birthday of its oldest member, Duncan Lamont Mackinnon.
Born on a sailing ship, the steel barque Garthsnaid, on 5 December 1923 while it was moored in the Yarra River, Mackinnon is the oldest member of the association, which operates the Victorian Maritime Centre at Crib Point.
To attend school in Port Melbourne he had to row a dingy with his bike aboard across the Yarra and cycle to school.
At the age of 10 his mother took him to Scotland where they lived for three years.
Aged 14 at the start of World War II, Mackinnon’s brother Archie helped him get away to sea as deck boy in the Merchant Navy. He signed on with the UK Blue Star Line on the MV Sydney Star. The two brothers joined their older brother Donald in the Merchant Navy.
Mackinnon later jumped ship in Sydney and joined the army where, after completing his training, he was transferred on overseas duty. He fought to drive the Japanese out of the islands to Australia’s north, including at the battle of Slaters Knoll on Bougainville. During this battle Mackinnon is credited with overpowering a Japanese officer and a sniper, seizing the officer’s sword and the sniper’s rifle. He brought both “souvenirs” back to Australia. The sword and bayonet are in the museum and the rifle locked away in a safe. Mackinnon’s brother Donald was killed when his ship MV Melbourne Star was torpedoed.
After the war Mackinnon worked as a storeman for several companies, including General Motors. The company’s warehouse was so big that he used roller skates to collect parts to be shipped out.
Mackinnon was treasurer for the Merchant Navy War Service League until the league was disbanded. In 2008 he joined the Victorian Maritime Centre project as a volunteer, eventually becoming secretary. Mackinnon has written a book of his life and was interviewed by the late Dennis Gist on 3RPP talking about his life experiences. He lives in Hastings with his wife Margo while his son Donald also lives locally. The term natures gentleman can be used to describe a person, sometimes overstated, but Mackinnon truly deserves that title.
- Max Bryant was the instigator of the Western Port Oberon Association (1999) which runs the Victorian Maritime Centre at 120 The Esplanade, Crib Point.
First published in the Mornington News – 2nd April 2024
