Commemorating first SGTs’ mess
By Andrew Stackpool
MESS
life and heritage remains alive and well at RAAF Base Williams
Sergeants’ Mess and is shortly to be honoured.
On September 10, a mess dinner is to be held to commemorate the
founding of the first Sergeants’ Mess in the Australian Flying
Corps, and subsequently the RAAF. That Mess was formed at RAAF
Base Point Cook on September 1, 1915.
Warrant Officer Steve Dutton, Chairman of the Mess Committee (CMC)
of the RAAF Williams Sergeants’ Mess, said that the first
entry in the original Mess Minutes book is dated September 10,
1915. The meeting was called for “the purpose of forming
a Sargeants’ (sic) Mess”.
A “Mr Chester” presided over the meeting. He was Sergeant
H. Chester, Australian Flying Corps.
Five days later an Amendment Meeting was held, at which Agenda
item five called for “the Mess to be formed from 1st September,
1915”.
On March 1, 1999, RAAF Base Point Cook and RAAF Base Laverton
were amalgamated to form RAAF Base Williams. The Point Cook Sergeants’
Mess was officially closed and all operations were transferred
to Williams on December 17 that year. The RAAF Williams Mess was
opened as the RAAF Laverton Mess in 1963, but has been extensively
refurbished.
“This special dining-in night commemorates the 90th anniversary
of the formation of Aviation-related Sergeants’ Messes in
Australia,” Warrant Officer Dutton said. “[Chief of
Air Force] Air Marshal Shepherd plans to join us and I have had
a strong interest from CMCs all over the country.”
“We are intending to invite the Governor of Victoria but,
as yet, have not had confirmation of his availability.
“This is a landmark celebration. It will be a great night
and an excellent venue for promoting Air Force ideals and heritage.
There is a lot of history tucked away here, but it is getting
lost through lack of visibility, dedicated support and, unfortunately,
through lack of interest.”
“I hope that the night will revitalise interest in our long,
proud tradition and heritage.”
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