Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Rupert Vernon Hack and Rhoda M. Hack, of Coburg, Victoria, Australia.

It was his first and last day at sea for another member of the crew, seaman Francis R. Hack, of South Yarra. It had been Hack’s dream all his life of 17 years to go to sea, but he had got no further than the sea cadets. His chance came when he was given the berth of a seaman who suffered violently from sea-sickness. He rushed home, said good-bye to his family, and boarded the Goorangai.  A few hours later his parents were reading a telegram from the Navy Department.  Hack who was the youngest member of the crew, had been a Sea Scout and Sea Cadet before entering the naval reserve.

Youngest of the Goorangai's crew, 17-year-old Francis B. Hack lost his life his first day at sea. A regular members of the mine sweeper's crew  suffered violently from seasickness on previous cruises, so he was ordered a spell on shore duty. Hack took his place. Told to prepare for service  on the minesweeper, the young member of the R.A.N. Reserve rushed home to tell his family in Clara street, South Yarra, the news. Not many  bours later the family re ceived a telegram from the Navy Department informing them H.M.A.S. Goorangai had foundered after a collision with  another ship, and that Ordinary-Seaman Hack was among those who had perished.
Horace, his only brother, told today how Frank had planned to go to sea while still at school.
'Nearly every afternoon after school be used to cycle down to Port Melbourne to watch the ships and talk to the sailors,' said Horace. 'As soon as  be was old enough he joined the sea cadets and put in all his spare time at the district naval training depot at Port Melbourne.'