Features
Eight Bells


Edition 5007, 03 May, 2007
 
WELCOME: CMDR Forbes Peters with Mr Peter Bartholomeusz.
 
Second time lucky By Graham Davis

At the age of 18 Peter Bartholomeusz sought to join the Royal Australian Navy.

He was not successful and went on to life in the civilian world.

He married Ruth and they had two daughters, Keryn now aged 22 and Cathy, 20.

The family served as Anglican missionaries in South America before returning to Australia where Peter attained high expertise in IT.

Recently he completed a degree at the University of Queensland allowing him to teach high school students.

Peter, now aged 50, will however not be facing a classroom of teenagers. The Royal Australian Navy has him.

Earlier this year he affirmed his allegiance to Australia and was appointed an RAN sub-lieutenant at a ceremony at the Defence Recruiting Centre in Brisbane.

The following day, as one of 28 officer recruits who received their certificates of appointment at the ceremony, Peter posted into HMAS Creswell at Jervis Bay.

He is undertaking the Naval Entry Officer Course before beginning a Training Service Officer’s course – the stream for which he was appointed.

Completion of the TSO’s course will see him posted to a role where his expertise and experience can guide others in the RAN with their training both practical and theory.

“I wanted to get into the Navy when I was 18 ... but missed out,” Peter said. “... Ruth spotted an advertisement in a newspaper saying the Navy wanted educators. I put in an application.

“I’m looking forward to what is ahead,” he said.

Peter and Ruth already have experience with military life.

Daughter Cathy is a staff cadet at the Royal Military College at Duntroon while Keryn is employed by the Defence Department and works in Canberra.

The Senior Naval Officer for South Queensland, CMDR Forbes Peters presented Peter with his appointment certificate.
Poignant memorial to young and old By Graham Davis

Memorials to the fallen dot parklands, water fronts and squares across Australia.

There are few, however, which remember boys as young as 15 who paid the ultimate sacrifice. One such memorial is placed only metres from Trinity Inlet at Cairns. The memorial is simple…a small ship’s anchor and a bronze inscription plate. It is the text on the plate which is poignant.

The plaque reads in part: “This plaque commemorates the long association the City of Cairns had with the men and boys who crewed the vessels of the US Army Small Ships from 1942 to 1946.

“During this period over 3000 men and boys from 15 years of age to over 65 years of age sailed these vessels supplying the Australian and American forces who were fighting the Japanese in New Guinea.

“Cairns was the last port of call for the small ships on the way to New Guinea and the first port of call on the way home ... This plaque is dedicated to those men and boys who did not return.”

HMAS Wort sponsored by ADCU

 

 

 

 

 

Dikko by Bob Dikkenburg
QUICK QUIZ
1: Which player has scored the most runs in Test Cricket history?
2: What book by Joseph Conrad does the film Apocalypse Now draw upon?
3: The Los Angeles Dodgers were previously based in what part of the US east coast?
4: Which Australian was nominated for a best actress Oscar in 2003?
5: The wreck of the submarine AE2 is located where?
6: The expression “not enough room to swing a cat” refers to the animal, true or false.



ANSWERS
1: Brian Lara of the West Indies.
2: Heart of Darkness.
3: Brooklyn.
4: Naomi Watts.
5: The Sea of Marmara.
6: False. It refers to the Cat o’ Nine Tails.