Bulletin board

Getting Sharked

• Get together in Perth
  Leeuwin milestone
  
  2005 marks the 40th anniversary of the post-in of the first WBM Marks Division at HMAS Leeuwin. To celebrate this milestone a series of activities have been organised in Perth to coincide with this occasion.
  
  All former members of the Division along with their partners are encouraged to attend.
  
  The program includes an official visit to Garden Island and reception in the Senior Sailors Mess (October 7), candlelight dinner in the former wardroom at HMAS Leeuwin (October 8) and service of remembrance (October 9).
  
  For more information and to book your spot contact Terry TC Frankland on 0411 595 959 or email at wealth@iinet.net.au.
  
  
• Duchess reunion in Fremantle
  Seeking ex-crew members
  
  Attention Ex-HMAS Duchess crew (all ranks): National President of the HMAS Duchess Association Jim Flood is organizing a HMAS Duchess reunion in Fremantle W.A . on October 27, 28 and 29, 2006.
  
  Those interested should contact him on (08) 92434470 or email to fludzbloodno1@ozzienet.net.au.
  
  Will be big event with ex-crew coming from all over Australia.
  
  
• Hungry to meet
  Victuallers planning underway
  
  The RAN Victuallers Reunion will be held in Hobart on the weekend of October 28-30. For further information contact Glenn Jackson (03) 6229 5400 or write to PO Box 27, Kingston Beach, Tasmania 7050 or email glennbarb@ozemail.com.au.
  
  
• Reunion touted for 2006
  Remember Nirimba
  
  The 50th anniversary of the founding of the RAN training establishment HMAS Nirimba will occur in 2006.
  
  To mark the occasion, it is proposed to hold a reunion the Anzac week of 2006 in Canberra. For more information contact Jake Jacobs on (02) 6265 1694 or email alfred.jacobs@defence.gov.au or Kevin Assenheim on (02) 6161 3875 or email krassen@webone.com.au.
  
  
• Class of 1954-1955
  Hawkesbury crewmen
  
  John Sheahan is hoping to get in touch with past crewmen (1954 to 1955) from HMAS Hawkesbury.
  If you can assist email sheahanshouse@optusnet.com.au.

GUMMY: The Wobbegong shark has a good grip, but luckily for some, no teeth.

During a recent sailing trip up the Queensland coast, a friend and I, we’ll call him John, stopped at Tangalooma on Moreton Island for some fun in the sun.

We started diving, in 10 meters of crystal clear Queensland water, having a great time looking at the wrecks, plethora of fish and other sea life.

In one of the outer wrecks I could see a four to five foot Wobbegong shark Orectolobidae, lazily loitering in a hole in the side of a ship with his tail sticking out a little.

Unfortunately for John the shark wasn’t as slow and stupid as him, for when he attempted to pull the shark out of said hole, by its tail no less, he was shocked to see the little bugger turn around and bite him on the forearm.

Luckily for him (and more importantly, the shark) the Wobbegong shark doesn’t have teeth like a Great White; they use a hardened cartilage on their inner gums to mash their food.

To this day I still don’t know what was funnier, his reaction or the sharks reaction. Being a big tough Army grunt he screamed like a frightened school girl, spat his regulator out and swam to the surface as fast as a human can move or maybe even faster.

Unfortunately the shark was still attached to his arm so when he sur- faced he saw the shark still there and screamed some more. This, I think, scared the shark enough for it to release its “death” grip and return to the hole from whence it came.

He only suffered superficial scratches from the shark but when he jumped onto the wreck he cut his foot, and this required 8 stiches. Oh and the humiliation from the other divers in the area laughing at him.

At this time I too almost drowned from laughing so much. He then refused to go back in the water for the remainder of our sailing trip to Cairns.

He is now a member of the illustrious SAS. Name and address withheld on request

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