It is with deep sadness that the Submarines Association of Australia (SAA) informs members of the passing of former member Steve Nihill on the Central Coast of NSW on the 1st of July after a 14 year battle with Younger Onset Dementia, a variant of Alzheimer’s disease.

Steve was born in Ballarat Victoria in January 1949 and he enlisted in the RAN for twelve years as a Junior Recruit on the 11th of July 1965 at the age of 16. Still a boy, he stood just five feet one inch tall on joining. He trained at HMAS Leeuwin at Fremantle graduating in June1966 as an Ordinary Seaman Radar Plotter, posting to the Light Carrier HMAS Melbourne the following month. He would serve his “Ords Time” on Melbourne for six months before posting to HMAS Watson on South Head to undertake his category courses.

Steve was on course at Watson for an extended period and eventually he changed category to the Underwater Control Branch. In February 1968 he was rated as a ABUC 2nd Class and posted to the 1940s vintage Battle Class Destroyer HMAS ANZAC, where he participated in escort duties to Vietnam. He remained on Anzac until September 1968 at which time he, like so many sailors of his era, decided to take an unauthorised break from the navy. Steve remained at large for a month before being apprehended and returned to Anzac. He appears to have received a suspended sentence for this transgression. He again absented himself in April 1969, this time for eleven days and the CO was not as forgiving. He spent 11 days confined onboard awaiting trial before receiving a punishment of 28 days in cells at HMAS Penguin. On his release he posted to the Destroyer Escort HMAS Parramatta.

In the early 1970s Steve volunteered for submarines and after training at HMS Dolphin in Gosport England he returned to Australia where he qualified as a submariner on HMS Odin. Odin was lent to the RAN from 1972-1975 when the delivery of the last two Australian Oberon submarines, HMAS Orion and HMAS Otama were delayed.

He would later serve on HMAS Otway before discharging from the RAN in late 1976. It is likely that he took advantage of the Labor Government’s decision in 1974 to universally reduce the enlistment period for Junior Recruits and Naval Apprentices from twelve to nine years. On leaving the RAN Steve managed McDonald’s Restaurants for twenty years before becoming the Food Service Manager at Gosford Hospital. His final career was as a Personal Support Assistant on the Central Coast where he was highly respected for his rapport with elderly patients.

His wife Beverley recounted an incident where an elderly retired Colonel with dementia would get upset with the staff because he wanted to leave and Steve would have to intervene. On one occasional Steve told the Colonel that he couldn’t walk out as, because he was a Colonel they were sending a helicopter for him. Unfortunately, no sooner than Steve had spoken the Care Flight Helicopter landed near by, and he had to explain that it wasn’t the Colonel’s ride. Steve battled Dementia for 14 years, determined to help researchers as much as possible with finding a cure for the disease. Well before his passing he had made arrangements for his brain to be donated for research and this has occurred.

Steve’s funeral will be held on Thursday the 9th of July 2026 at 1 PM in the Chapel of the Mackay Family Crematorium, 249 Pacific Highway, Ourimbah, NSW, 2448. Live streaming links will be available on: Stephen Thomas Nihil Live stream

The SAA extends its heartfelt condolences to Steve’s wife Beverley, his children, 15 Grandchildren and two Great Grandchildren.

Tony Vine

National Secretary

Submarines Association of Australia