Kantsinkit well grounded

Ex HMAS Leeuwin old salts of 1963 exchange sailing yarns in front of Kantsinkit. L-R: PO QMG Neville Barry, CPOSE Jim Bush, CPO ETP Mal Chatfield, POUW Wayne Boden, CDT PO Kimberley Kennedy, CPO QMG Eric Haggart, CDT SMN Laura Johnson, and WO ETW Terry Rogers. Photo by LCDR Mick Gallagher

By LCDR Mick Gallagher

Cadets from TS Tyalgum have the right idea - excercising aboard a ship they can’t sink- the cleverly named Kantsinkit.

“Kantsinkit is the upper structure taken off the former navy diving tender HMAS Porpoise. The hull became Achilles 3 at Hamilton Island,” said CPO Sandra Smith of TS Tyalgum.

Kantsinkit is used by the cadets for a variety of activities including fire, communications, and first aid exercises. It is also used for colours and sunset, and as a communications HQ for the unit’s sailing boats.

The name Kantsinkit, the brainchild of CPO Smith’s mother, Mrs Heather Presland, was derived from the fact that the vessel is permanently ashore on dry land at the unit’s base in Southport on the Queensland Gold Coast.

TS Tyalgum will hold its 45th reunion in 2004 for all past cadets, staff, and friends. Enquiries Ph (07) 55 325 645 or email: tstyalgum@bigpond.com.

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