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PRESIDENT’S PONTIFICATIONS
A reasonable turnout to our last meeting considering the amount of people
with colds and
flu. Unfortunately we didn't have sufficient numbers to run raffles, so
consequently the
coffers are suffering. Those who came enjoyed the meal. It seems that the
meal was better
this time than at the last meeting. We might have to think of a way to
have meetings at a
venue where we can run some raffles to build up the bank account. Don't
forget the next meeting at Kedron-Wavell and please phone any of the committee
members to let us know if you are coming.
Regards
Doug
LAST MEETING
As President Doug has already mentioned, our last meeting
was held at Kedron Wavell on Sunday 20th July. A special ‘Fish/Bird’ day
as it was 66 years to the day that the Cruiser was torpedoed and the 17th
was the 40th anniversary of the missile attack on the DDG. Unfortunately,
many of our older members were unable to attend but they were there in
spirit. We had insufficient numbers to dine upstairs but those attending
enjoyed the Buffet lunch and then adjourned to the bar for some good cheer
among mates.
NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting will be held at Kedron-Wavell RSL on Sunday
the 14th September. RSVPs for catering purposes to the secretary by Wednesday
the 10th please. Our last meeting for 2008 will be our “Christmas Luncheon”
on Sunday the 14th of December, again at Kedron Wavell. Don’t forget to
mark your diaries accordingly and RSVP’s to the Secretary by the Wednesday
before.
VALE
News from SA of the passing of West Australians Curley Taylor, Bill
Wreford and Harry Moffatt and news from NSW Secretary John Withers on the
passing of SA ex-President Laurie Button and Life member Anthony (Tony)
Williams. Our sympathies are extended to their friends and families. Rest
in peace.
WEBSITE
For those with computers, member Ray Duesing has found an interesting
site.
WWW.diggerhistory.com.au is a good site to check out on a rainy day.
Lots of information for the ex-service fraternity, with links to all three
services. The following history item was copied from the site and, for
those without computers, other items of interest will be included in future
issues
NAVAL HISTORY
Few ships have brought the RAN as much honour as the five
destroyers of the V and W class. The V class and W class were the culmination
of the design principles learned during the 1914-18 war. In 1918 they were
as big and as heavily armed as the newest of their German opponents, and
much stronger, more Weatherly and mechanically reliable. It was precisely
these qualities which kept them in service throughout the Second World
War, when other ships their age were rusting in breaker’s yards. Elderly
but by no means obsolete at the outbreak of World War II, these destroyers
held the fort while newer ships were being acquired. The five Australian
V&W classes were incorporated into the Mediterranean Fleet as Destroyer
Flotilla 10 under Captain (D) Hector Waller. Because of the shortage of
all kinds of ships, they were kept on as fleet destroyers long after they
should have been shifted to less demanding tasks.
The five V Class & W
Class destroyers were affectionately dubbed "the Scrap-Iron Flotilla" by
those who wondered how such elderly ships could still fight. HMAS Stuart
in particular distinguished herself, sinking an Italian submarine and seeing
action against the Italian Fleet in the battles of Calabria (9 July 1940)
and Cape Matapan (28th March 1941). HMAS Waterhen, "the Chook",
became famous for her audacious runs in and out of the besieged fortress
of Tobruk; she was lost to a dive-bombing attack off Sollum on 29th June
1941. One by one the V&Ws returned to Australian waters where they
were moved to escort duties. Vampire was escorting the British aircraft-carrier
Hermes when both were sunk by Japanese bombers off Trincomalee on 9th April
1942. Voyager was next to go, running aground in Betano Bay, Timor, and
savaged to death by Japanese bombers on 23rd September 1942. In 1944 the
two survivors, Stuart and Vendetta, were relegated to second-line duties.
Stuart was given a humdrum but vital job as fast transport of perishable
goods. After the war Vendetta was scuttled off Sydney Heads, going to a
hero’s grave among other illustrious Australian warships. The names of
three of the scrap-iron flotilla (Vampire, Voyager and Vendetta) were retained
in their honour in the post-war Australian Navy.
MORE NAVAL HISTORY
The Bosun’s Call, or whistle, was once the only method,
other than by human voice, of passing orders to men on board ship. The
bosun, or boatswain, was the officer in charge of rigging, sails and sailing
equipment. He therefore needed to issue orders more often than other officers
and so the whistle took his name.
In those days, men were rigidly trained, almost like sheepdogs, to respond
immediately to the piping of the Call. At sea, in moments of danger – particularly
in storms – they could be counted on to hear the high-pitched tones of
the Call, and react without delay. A shouted order may not have been heard
above the sound of howling winds and lashing waves.
The call (pipe) is held between index finger and thumb and there are two
main notes, the “low” and the “high” made by blowing steadily into the
mouth of the call.
The best known use of the Bosun’s Call that is still current today, is
for “Piping the Side”, the signal of respect which, in the Royal Navy,
is reserved for the Sovereign, senior Royal Navy officers and for all foreign
naval officers. A corpse, when being brought on board or sent out of a
ship is also piped, but the Side is never piped at any shore establishment.
SA CHANGES
There have been changes in the Association executive in South
Australia. Long serving Secretary Ken Smerdon has decided to stand down
due to ill health after 39 years service. Hugh Baddams (DDG) has been elected
president, Dennis O’Donnell (DDG) treasurer and Anne Baker and Ros Baddams
have taken over as secretaries.
During his time as Secretary, among other things, Ken has written 92 newsletters.
Our congratulations to Ken on a job well done and we hope he enjoys a well-earned
break.
JUST A MO
In the beginning, God created the earth and rested. Then God
created man and rested. Then God created woman and since then neither God
nor man has rested!
INFORMATION
At our last meeting President Doug informed those attending
that he has information for the Ex-Service community on several issues
including Prostate Cancer, Mental Health problems, PTSD, Products and Services
available to veterans including Veterans Children assistance trust (assists
veterans families with Tertiary study). Doug can be contacted at the number
at the head of the Newsletter for specifics.
REUNIONS
Attached to the newsletter is a notice and application form for
the planned Junior Recruits get together. Contact details are listed in
the notice. Further details will be added to future newsletters when available.
BUNDY 09
Member Dick Harrison reports: -
Reunion contact details:
dick.coralcoast@bigpond.com Phone (07) 4159-4515.
Info required: Name; Partners Name; Address; Phone Number and E-Mail.
At this stage there is not much to add to what has been previously forwarded.
Local tour arrangements are in hand, memorabilia items are being assessed
and costed, a suitable shirt is to be decided on - all info regarding these
matters should be forthcoming in the next couple of months.
With regards to accommodation, if the places I have listed on the web site
become booked out please get in contact with me and I will arrange for
other places to be added to the list.
The renovations to the Bundy R.S.L. are progressing, (due for completion
this November) however, I believe that the seating capacity will still
be around the 250 mark. If numbers attending exceed this we will be transferring
to the Bundy Civic Centre for the dinner function. To date there are approximately
100 indications of attendance.
SAY WHAT??
A U.S. Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals
from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail
reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that
included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting
away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly
complained that, 'Whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn
only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English
in these conferences rather than speaking French?' Without hesitating,
the American replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies
and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.' You could
have heard a pin drop.
THE BACK PAGE!
This one from Ken Smerdon (his last one?). Two elderly gentlemen from
a retirement centre were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns
to the other and says, “Slim, I’m 85 years old now and I’m just full of
aches and pains. I know you are about my age, how do you feel?”
Slim says, “ I feel just like a newborn baby”. “Really? Like a newborn
baby? “Yep”, says Slim, “Newborn baby…. No hair, No teeth and I think I
just wet my pants!”
And this one from the Secretary’s daughter…
A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane when the stranger
turned to her and said, 'Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker
if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.'
The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said
to the stranger, 'What would you like to talk about?
'Oh, I don't know,' said the stranger. 'How about nuclear power?' and he
smiles.
'OK, ' she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you
a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff- grass
- yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty,
and a horse produces clumps of dried grass, why do you suppose that is?'
The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks
about it and says, 'Hmmm, I have no idea.'
To which the little girl replies, 'Do you really feel qualified to discuss
nuclear power when you don't know shit?
And finally……
A British passenger in a taxi in Dublin leaned over to ask the driver
a question and tapped him on the shoulder.
The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up
over the curb, and stopped just inches from the edge of the bridge over
the Liffey River.
For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still
shaking driver said, I’m sorry, but you scared the be-Jesus out of me.'
The frightened Brit apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize
a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten an Irishman so much.
The driver replied, ' Will the Saints in Heaven forgive me, it's entirely
my fault. Today is my first day driving a cab...................I've been
driving a hearse for the last 25 years!'
We hope this newsletter finds you in good health and we will look forward
to seeing at our next meeting, being held at Kedron-Wavell RSL on Sunday,
14th September.
JUNIOR RECRUITS
50
th Anniversary
Reunion – Leeuwin 2010
INVITATION
Fifty
years of Junior Recruits Reunion.
A
group of like-minded men have taken up the challenge and formed a committee
to ensure that a reunion is held at Leeuwin Barracks (HMAS Leeuwin) in the
West, to recognise this major occasion: –
The
50th Anniversary of the commencement of Junior Recruits Training
Scheme (13th July 1960).
This invitation is extended to all JR’s of all Intakes,
Divisional Staff, Academic Instructors and Office Staff.
Since
the Junior Recruit Training Scheme started, in excess of 13,000 JR’s took
up the challenge and were trained via this system both at Leeuwin and Cerberus.
Many continued on and were promoted through the system to Petty Officers,
Chief Petty Officers, Warrant Officers, General and Special Duties List Officers.
A
memorial, as a tribute to all Junior Recruits, is scheduled to be unveiled
at Leeuwin Barracks on 13th July 2010 – the exact 50th Anniversary.
This memorial project is being coordinated by a separate committee headed
by Ken Dobbie.
We
are starting this project now to give everyone plenty of time to organise
and plan their holidays around this very special and once in a lifetime event.
We are all now part of a special group of men in Naval history and the committee
invites you to share in this celebration.
The
committee envisages this to be a three to five day event that will give everyone
a good chance to catch up with “old oppos”. Apart from a Gala celebration
dinner on the 13th there will be a range of other activities to
choose from. (TBA in future newsletters)
We have a website under construction
so please keep an eye out for it. The address will be: -
www.jrsreunion.org
To
enable us to proceed in a professional manner, we need your support by sending
us a $10 per person registration fee. This will cover the cost of the website,
postage etc.
We
would appreciate the completion of the attached registration form and ask
you to return it ASAP. Obviously, the bigger the number of attendees then
the bigger and better the functions will be. We hope you will be attending
this very special event
Kind regards,
Trevor Cangemi, Secretary. Alan Rodgers, Treasurer. Ian
Dunn.
REGISTRATION
FORM
Please
register my intention to attend the All JR’s 50th reunion
in Fremantle on 13/07/2010
Name:……………………………………………………………
Ph:….………………….….…
Mobile:..…..……………………………….
Address:…………………………………………………………………
Email……………………………………………………
Division & Year
of JR Intake:..…………………………………………………………………..
Official
Number:……………………..
Wife
or Partner’s Name:…………………………………………………………………………..
Total
No. of Attendees in your group:……………………….
Amount:
$…………………………………..($10/head)
Acknowledgment
required by:…………………………………………….
Phone/email/mail/or
not required (please underline or circle)…………………………………
Please add any notes here:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………...................................…………………………………
I would also like to make
a Donation to the Junior Recruit Memorial to be placed at Leeuwin.
Please find enclosed the
sum of $…………………donation for the erection of this monument.
All donations will be forwarded
to Ken Dobbie.
Banking
details: -
Account Name:
- JUNIOR RECRUITS
50TH REUNION
Note: Cheques
are to be made out to this name.
Address for
Cheques: -
The Treasurer, Unit 95, 41 Geographe Way, THORNLIE. WA 6108
Electronic
banking details: -
Westpac BSB Number: - 036067. Account Number: - 346078
If you electronically
transfer money, please ensure your official number is included in the
details, as this
will allow us to identify you and ease our banking reconciliation.
