Thursday evening October 27, 2016 over a glass of French Champagne, Nicole Forrest Green President of the Friends of the Lapérouse Museum and Committee Members Ted Hayes and Betty de la Torre, Carol and Charles Abela, Lynda Newman, Carole Roussel, and special Guests Ruth Doyle, Gail Tring, Ivan and Barbara Barko, all welcomed with interest and pride a new addition to the Museum’s collection Chart of New Caledonia (a numbered reproduction) drawn by French hydrographer Charles Francois Beautemps-Beaupré during the expedition in the Pacific of Rear Admiral Bruni d’Entrecasteaux (1791-93). Generously donated by Captain JJ Doyle AM, FAIN, RAN (Ret’d) the evening was enhanced by the presence of Captain (FN) Yann Marboeuf Defence Attaché to the French Embassy in Canberra, and representing the Royal Australian Navy, from Garden Island Sydney, Captain Tony Rayner RAN AASGRP CM, attending with his wife Faith. Randwick City Mayor Noel d’Souza was represented by his partner Annick Antoine who has a French connection, originating from New Caledonia.

Captain Yann Marboeuf spoke of the bridge that the Lapérouse Museum in Sydney provided linking France and Australia; in the presence of his homologue Captain Tony Rayner RAN, he discussed the strong ties France and Australia had known since the earliest days of European settlement in Australia (1788) and currently in 2016, with the announcement in April this year of a substantial Australian Government Maritime Contract, that would further cement the two nations in the field of Naval affairs.
Captain John Joseph Doyle RAN (Ret’d) a former hydrographer himself, acquired the Chart (a number reproduction) from the collection of the late Geoffrey Chapman INGLETON, author, artist, plate maker, model maker, book collector, hydrographer and chart collector, who died in 1998.

Ingleton entered the Australian Naval College in 1922. On completing his training he joined the Hydrographic Branch of the Royal Australian Navy, but left in the mid 1930s. At the outbreak of WWII he joined the Australian Navy’s Hydrographic Office as a civilian – a Professional Officer – and did not retire until the 1970’s. He drew the first chart in the Australian Chart Series and designed the official crest of the RAN Hydrographic Organisation. Ingleton’s magnum opus was the book Flinders, Navigator and Chartmaker which comprised around ten volumes. He had around 250,000 charts in his complete collection of catalogues housed primarily in a private annex next his house on ‘the Park’ at Parramatta, NSW.

Our President, Nicole thanked Captain Doyle and his wife Ruth for their interest in, support and generosity for the Lapérouse Museum and Nicole also relayed a message from the Museum’s curator Elizabeth Broomhead who sent her apologies for the ceremony but best wishes for a successful evening and sincerest thanks to Captain Doyle for his contribution. The evening concluded with dinner at Danny’s restaurant La Pérouse.