NEWSLETTER September 2008 No 6
From the President....
G'day Shipmates
Well this year I am a lot happier with some things we have organised.
First of all the Sydney Anzac Day march was well attended. I counted about 60 members waiting, and waiting, and waiting. As you are aware the RSL organized that the WW2 diggers should go first in deference to their age. They are all in their 80’s and 90’s now.
I was led to believe that this would put our start time back about 20 – 30 minutes. As the kids say these days ‘Yeah, Right’. We stepped off after 1100. Commander Steve Hughes, Captain of H.M.A.S. Melbourne 3, had planned to march around with the Association then go back and lead his ships company. However as the time ticked by it became obvious that he could not do both and had to leave to do his first duty to lead his ships company. A couple of members were not able to wait due to tiring and in one case he had to leave to catch his aircraft home.
I was extremely happy that Captain John Stevenson, former Captain of Melbourne 2, attended and it was a privilege to invite him to join me in the front rank accompanied by his grandson and daughter for support. They brought a wheelchair should he need it but as he said in a letter that he was pleased he didn’t need it.
The drinks, this year, were at the Criterion Hotel in the Underground Bar, on Pitt and Park Streets. I think everyone was happy with the venue. Drinks were a bit pricey but I guess that is to be expected on a public holiday. I have booked the same for next year.
On the 3rd May as a first attempt at a social event I organised a barbecue at the Garden Island Naval Museum. As I am so clever I even published a ferry timetable. Oh yes. I am clever I published the weekday timetable. The event was on a Saturday. Good one Bob. Still 8 people came including 2 from my church. Still it was a first attempt. It also didn’t put Association funds at any risk. I have a suggestion of a visit to Fort Denison and possibly a boat cruise on Broken Bay. I propose to try this on when the weather is a little warmer.
On
the 5th June we were invited to present the Sailor of the Year on behalf of the
Patrol to ABET James McGinnes
at a reception on board Melbourne.
Five members supported me including our web master Bob Bunton. I also took the opportunity to present a photograph taken on ANZAC Day to Commander Hughes as a memento of his association with us during his time in Command. He relinquished this on Friday 4th July.
The new Captain is Commander Allison Norris. We welcome her and wish her well during her term. She is the second lady to achieve command of a major warship.
Just a little different to the days of Melbourne 2 isn't it?
Bob
Burchill
|
DIARY |
19 September 2008 RP/UC/EW/CSO/CSS/CSM REUNION at HMAS WATSON WARRANT OFFICERS & SENIOR SAILORS MESS SHAUN THOMSON 02.9337.0971
27 September 2008 Reunion HMAS Shoalhaven, Murchison, Condamine and Culgoa Les Gibson 02.9677.0619
15 - 18 October 2008 HMAS Anzac/Tobruk Association Reunion Adelaide. Phone Graham Bermingham. 03-9872-6715
17 - 19 October 2008 Greenies Reunion (Navy Weapons and Electrical Branch) Mildura contact www.pussersgreenies.org
23 - 26 October 2008 RAN Battle Class Reunion Adelaide phone Geoff (Wiggy ) Bennett (03) 9532 3677
25 October 2008 Aircrewman’s Reunion at HMAS Albatross Senior Sailor's Mess All ranks 1900 contact POA Grant Jesser email Grant.Jesser@defence.gov.au
October 2008 RAN Band. Adelaide phone Ralph Daines 02 4389 2576
14 November 2008 Naval Engineering Reunion Canberra phone Glenn Murch 02 6261 1675
7 December 2008 Vendetta
Veterans' Association (Qld) Annual Christmas Picnic (Details TBA)
Secretary's Story
Our Secretary and the Returning Officer recently drove down to Ulladulla to attend the funeral of one of our members, Alan HOWE.
What a beautiful funeral, if one can say that! Alan would have been proud of the details Lyn and the family went to for his final trip.
On completion of the Service, the family and guests were invited to attend a wake at the Ulladulla RSL, about a kilometre from the chapel on the southern side of the shopping centre
During the wake and after a couple of beers, the Sec decided it would be a good idea to take the Subaru back to the motel and walk back, he thought this would be okay as he had been training twice a week at UWS College Gym with the Vietnam Vets for nearly a year and wanted to test himself out, but when this was discussed at the table, he was told to approach the front desk, let them know where he was staying and the Courtesy Bus would give him a lift back, which he did and then drove to the motel where he removed his suit with his medals on, donned his other jacket and proceeded outside to wait for the club bus.
After standing for 15-20 minutes he looked up at the sign outside the motel and realized it wasn't the Sea Breeze Motel name that he had left at the desk, it was The Harbour Foreshore Motel, undeterred, he started walking northwards along the Princess Highway, convinced he had passed the Sea Breeze on the way into Ulladulla and it was further up the road. On the way he confronted 2 elderly gentlemen sitting on the steps of an open garage about his dilemma to which they thought it was even farther up the road! so he continued on until he came across 2 motels, one being the Sea Scape! So after waiting a few more minutes he continued on up the road until he got to a couple of round a bouts with no motels in sight! So retreat being the better part than valour, he walked back to the Sea Scape, thinking this might be the way to go. He had only been standing there for a couple of minutes when a small bus pulled up on the other side of the road, let some passengers off then did a U turn, pulled up beside him and opened the door.
Thinking this must be the right bus the Sec stepped on board, sat down and waited until some other people stepped on board then the bus took off towards the shopping centre, half way through the bus turned right and headed for what seemed like Aires Rock! The Sec, getting worried asked the driver if he was heading for the RSL? To which he replied “No, this is the Bowling Club Bus” and it was not going near the RSL and he couldn't go that way as he had other bowling club members to pick up so he dropped the Sec off at the bowling club and gave him directions on how to get there.
The Sec continued walking up the hill in a very darken area where he confronted a youth with a mobile stuck to his ear who suggested he walk in an easterly direction until he came to the Princess Highway, then turn right and keep walking until he came to the RSL, which he did but after turning right and walking for a couple of hundred metres into another darkened area, the Sec walked into garage and asked if he was on the right track to which a customer stated it was further down the road on the left hand side but was hard to see as they were building a new club in front of the old one and it was hard to see at night because of the new structure in front of it.
Upon arrival the Sec was asked he wanted to go in the Meat Tray Raffle in memory of Allan who normally won trays every Friday night, he did and won a tray of T bones which made all the walking worthwhile
IDIOT SIGHTING:
We had to have the garage door repaired. The repairman told us that one
of our problems was that we did not have a 'large' enough motor on the opener.
I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one B & D
made at
that time, a 1/2 horsepower.
He shook his head and said, 'Lady, you need a 1/4 horsepower.' I
responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4.
He said, 'NO, it's
not.'Four is larger than two..'
We haven't used this repairman since.
IDIOT SIGHTING
My daughter and I went through the McDonald's drive thru window and I
gave
the teen a $20 note.
Our total was $10.50, so I also handed her fifty cents.
She said, 'you gave me too much money.' I said, 'Yes I know, but this way
you
can just give me ten dollars back.' She sighed and went to get the
manager who asked me to repeat my request.
I did so, and he handed me back the fifty cents, and said 'We're sorry
but we can't do that kind of thing.' The teen then proceeded to give me back
$9.50 in change.
It is best not to confuse
the teenagers at McD's.
IDIOT SIGHTING:
I live in a semi rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the
local
council office to request the removal of the Kangaroo sign on our road.
The
reason: 'Too many kangaroos are being hit by cars out here! I don't think
this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore.
Notes to Veterans (from Bill Krause)
If
you have a Gold Card then DVA (Dept. of Veteran's Affairs). will pay for your exercise physiology services based on your clinical
need
If
you are a White Card holder then DVA will pay for exercise physiology
services that are necessary to meet a clinical need associated with an accepted
disability or malignant cancer if DVA has accepted responsibility for treatment
of this condition
(from Dean Gedling)
I
thought you might wish to include this in the Newsletter for those whom are
unaware of this service.
There
is a service provided by DVA that is free to all White & Gold Card holders
called "HomeFront". It is a prevention program designed to prevent
falls in and around your home. Briefly it is a service where they come and
assess your home and identify potential hazards. It comes with $196.00 worth
(annually) of free products and they arrange for an Occupational
Therapist to visit your home to assess where handrails should be
installed, measure up for them and arrange for a DVA registered Tradesperson to
do the work. Who pays? I quote from the brochure, " If the total
cost of the work you have authorized is more than the DVA contribution, you
will need to pay the difference".
A number of Association Members and News Letter readers have already accessed this service, including our Secretary/Treasurer Mitch and myself. When I spoke with one of the co-coordinators of this program, she told me that only 3% of those eligible for this service had utilized it and that if it didn't increase, there was the possibility that the Government would scrap the program.
There is a Fact Sheet (HAC04) on the DVA website, but all anyone has to do is ring 1800 80 1945 and quote their White/Gold Card number
On
June 5 2008, President
Bob Burchill presented the Herbe Crowle Trophy on behalf of the HMAS Melbourne
Association
Commander Hughes & Ships Company
This evening it is my privilege to pass to you the Herbe Crowle Trophy and a cup on behalf of the HMAS Melbourne Association to give to the Sailor of the Year.
This award commemorates one of our members the Late Herbe Crowle. Herb had served or sailed on all three ships Melbourne. The first was a light cruiser, the second a Majestic class Light Fleet Carrier, and the third, this ship.
Before I go further I have another duty to perform.
It is said that every soldier has a Field Marshals Baton in his kitbag. The dream of every sailor is to command a ship. You Sir have achieved your dream. Shortly you will relinquish your dream and move on to new challenges.
It is my privilege to present this photo as a memento of your association with the Melbourne Association
.
And now I hand you the award and cup to present to the Sailor of the Year.
http://members.optushome.com.au/hmas.melbourne/hmas_melbourneNew.htm