The aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and the destroyer HMAS Voyager collided during night flying operations 20 nautical miles (37 kilometres) off Point Perpendicular on February 10, 1964 when the ships collided.

Around 8.56pm, Melbourne's bow struck just behind the Voyager's bridge cutting the destroyer in two. Eight-two personnel and one civilian died in the accident.

Around 40 members and special guests of the Keith Payne Group gathered at Longreach on Wednesday (February 10) to commemorate the 57th anniversary of Australia's worst peacetime disaster.

Three HMAS Albatross chaplains, Steve Estherby, Jenny Schleusener and trainee chaplain Nigel Porter conducted the service, which included special guests, Australia's oldest surviving Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne AM and Australia's last awarded and only living George Cross recipient Michael Pratt.

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For Mr Pratt the event took on special significance, as Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Rogers, who was mentioned during the service, was the last military man to be awarded the George Cross.

Rogers, who died in the disaster, was awarded the GC for the heroism he displayed on the night of the sinking.

Mr Pratt, a former constable of the Victorian Police Force, who was awarded the George Cross in July 1978, for his actions in intervening in a robbery of an ANZ Bank branch in Clifton Hill in June 1976.

He was shot in the back when he tried to stop the robbery, his injuries resulted in him retiring from the Victoria Police.

He said it was an "eerie feeling at the service" when information about Jonathan Rogers was read out at the service.

"Here I am, a fellow George Cross recipient, paying homage and respect to Jonathan Rogers," he said.

"As the last Australian GC it was eerie to hear about the actions that led to his medal."

Keith Payne Group member Brian Melville, who was on the flight deck at the time of the collision also attended the service and bought with him a piece of shrapnel from the Voyager.

The piece of alloy, "about five inches by six inches" landed at his feet on the flight deck that night during the collision.

Also among the guests were representatives of other veterans groups, Nowra Legacy and Soldier On.

The HMAS Voyager Survivors Association also gathered at Voyager Park at Huskisson on Wednesday to mark the anniversary with a service, attended by nine Voyager survivors and their families, getting underway at 8.45pm.

The ceremony included a naval catafalque party, with the service led by HMAS Creswell Chaplain, Martin Monaghan.

The usual formal dinner was cancelled due to COVID, however the survivors' group members met for lunch the following day at The Huskisson (hotel) and six survivors will also attend the annual Voyager dinner at HMAS Creswell on Friday evening.

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