Bulletin Board

RAAF School Reunion A school reunion for all students, teachers and parents of the RAAF school from its opening in 1958 to its closing in 1988, will be held on Saturday May 31 at the Albert Park Function Centre. Register your name at www.raafschoolpenang.com.au or check out www.schoolfriends.com.au for further information. Cost $45 per person. More info Lana Rowell — lrowell@telstra.com or 0407 865 300 or vickirowell@yahoo.com.au TS Leven 50th anniversary TS Leven is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a dinner at $30 a head on June 21 at Ulverstone RSL, Tasmania. All ex-cadets and partners wishing to attend are requested to register ASAP to TS Leven PO Box 92, Ulverstone Tasmania 7315. More info Trevor Holliday 03 6425 3722 or 6437 2932. Calling WRANS from Intake 23/24 July 1978 Interest is sought from ladies who entered the WRANS in the above intake. It is intended to hold a 25-year reunion in Canberra around July 1 this year. This will coincide with the unveiling of a WRANS Memorial at HMAS Harman. Please contact either WOWTR Angella Hillis (nee Cavanagh) on 02-6265 1572, email angellahillis484@hotmail.com; or ex-STD Alison ‘Squeak’ Stewart (nee Degenaro) on 02-6292 5538, email a.stewart@ramint.gov.au. We look forward to hearing from you. HMAS Leeuwin 40th Reunion The 6th & 7th JR Intakes, staff and other 1963 JRs will hold a reunion in the Gold Coast area on the Queen’s birthday weekend of June 6-9. To be part of this, contact: (6th) Tom Houldsworth, 02-4424 3025, email: Tom.Houldsworth@defence.gov.au; (7th) Mal Chatfield, mob: 0418 156 576, email: mrchat@ozemail.com.au. HMAS Supply Reunion All personnel who served aboard HMAS Supply are invited to attend the reunion to be held at the Rooty Hill RSL complex on the June long weekend (June 6 to 8). There will be a formal dinner on Saturday night. We have managed to find quiet a lot of the original Commissioning crew, so come, meet old shipmates and swap a few old dits. For further information contact Ken Witchard witchweb@tsn.cc Secretary: Naval Tankerman Association http://www.witchweb.net.au mob 0401 614623 or Treasurer Chris Bradshaw 0412869042 RAN Personnel 50s, 60s 70s Reunion A reunion of for all personnel who served in the RAN during the 1950s to 1970s is to be held in Orford, Tasmania July 18 and 19. For further information contact Ernie French 03 6257 1125 or Joseph Charlton 03 6267 9931 SUBCON 2003 Submarine Association of Australia is hosting Subcon 2003 in Sydney June 6 to 9. The agenda includes a night of wining, dining and dancing at the Grand Harbour View Ballroom Star City Darling Harbour and a groumet BBQ lunch the next day. The only special accommodation arrangements are 30x2 bedroom apartments at Star City. The committee has paid a holding deposit and at this time the apartments will cost $320 ($80 per person per night). More information Treasurer Barry Atkinson (02) 4329 1611, maxhardy@pentire.com or robert-marsland@hotmail.com ANZ Military Brats of Singapore ANZ Military Brats of Singapore are seeking out anyone whose father served in Singapore during the 60's, 70's and 80's. We are an internet reunion group with approximately 170 members who lived in Singapore. We are keen to contact lost schoolmates. Our fathers are now retired, but we still feel a connection with the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces and, of course, Singapore. Our website was founded in June, 2001 and is a place to share memories and photos. Recently, we held our first Reunion in Canberra which was a great success. If any of the above means anything, you are alone with your memories no longer. Please join us at: http://groups.msn.com/ANZMilitaryBratsofSingapore Email your items for ‘Bulletin Board’ to: navynews@defencenews.gov.au, or contact the editor by phoning 02-6266 7707.

Support for Sydney
(Addressed to CO HMAS Sydney

Members of the undermentioned Royal Motor Yacht Clubs would be pleased if you would convey to your ship's company and their families, our wholehearted support for the success and safe return of all on board.
We and the majority of Australians are appalled and dismayed at the disgraceful performance by a thoughtless minority during your departure.
Our members look forward to rendezvousing with HMAS Sydney on your return to
homeport on the expiration of your tour of duty and escorting you to Fleet Base East.
After further discussion with Navy detail of rendezvous will be advised.
Garth Henderson
Cruise Captain/Mess President
RMYC Broken Bay

Disappointment with sail demise
In recent issues of Navy News I have read letters regarding the demise of Navy sailing and an item by LCDR Paul Jones.
I, along with several others was on the 'ground floor' as it were when the Swarbrick S-111s were first delivered to the RAN in 1984. From ad-hoc beginnings, Command Sailing Centre and the RAN Sail Training School were formed. Our yachts and their crews became well known, not only for their presence in many high profile events, but for their involvement with sail training.
There were many outstanding blue water sailors who put in the hard yards, too
many to list, however one who stands out was LEUT Richard (Dick) Catt who instigated the RAN Sail Training School on Spectacle Island and was the first Command Sailing Centre OIC.
With the advent of CSP we were told that the Navy yachts would be phased out within three years and larger ocean going yachts would be supplied along with the crew to train them.
What happened? We now have a fleet of old yachts, unable to proceed into blue water, stripped of their navigational aids (in Alexander of Creswell's case the radar and integrated GPS chart system).
We, the Sail Training staff were operator/maintainers responsible for the total upkeep of the yachts in our charge and the training of Defence Force personnel in our charge in the form of expeditions, ocean passages etc. Whilst under our control no yacht had the unfortunate dilemma of a broken mast, as happened to Lady P approximately two years ago. Although our yachts never graced the front pages of the press with Sydney to Hobart wins, we did well in our divisions and Alexander of Creswell missed of the honour of being the first yacht to have sailed in the most consecutive Sydney to Hobarts by being directed to sail in the 1996 Melbourne to Hobart. Many yachts have done more Sydney to Hobarts then Alex but she had done it continuously since 1984.
In closing I for one am disgusted in the demise of our fleet of yachts and there is no other Blue Water Navy in the world that has allowed this to happen. One thing that cannot be taken away is my memories of the 44,000-odd nautical miles sailed in Lady P and Alex and the mateship enjoyed during this time.
Bill Rose (ex WOCK)
Airlie Beach

The opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not represent the views of the editor or the Navy. Sailors wishing to air their views through letters to the editor have access to the newspaper without using the chain of command. Letters may be edited. Preference will be given to letters of fewer than 300 words. The letter will be published only when it includes the author’s name, unit (where applicable), location and contact number. If the author has a genuine reason for remaining anonymous, he or she must still provide details to allow Navy Newspaper staff members to discuss the matter. Send your letters to:
The Editor — Navy Newspaper
R8-LG-039
Department of Defence, Canberra 2600; or email to:
navynews@defencenews.gov.au

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