Page 8........ JRTE
- Rest & Recreation
Every
six weeks, we would as an entire Division, go on what the navy called
an OXP, or Overnight Expedition. This entailed gathering a fleet of
workboats together and heading over to Garden Island. Where HMAS Stirling
is now located and classified as Fleet Base West. These OXPs were
similar to a boys camp, where we fished, swam and generally ran amok
around what was then a deserted island. These OXPs weren't exactly
the flavour of the month, for most would rather be ashore in Fremantle
or Perth rather than being stuck on a small deserted island with a
bunch of little quokkas. Picture above - Myself and Leigh Dobson with
a couple of salmon.
HMAS
Leeuwin Entertainment Guide
There
was one medium sized Television for 600 located in the Amenities Block
but that was it. If you weren't at least the Senior Intake forget
it. Besides, members of Junior Intakes did rarely leave their blocks
during the evenings for if you didn't have to it was a good way of
avoiding any possible trouble. So we didn't watch Television. I remember
watching television on one occasion when an Instructor brought his
TV into the block in July 1969 and we watched Armstrong walk on the
moon whilst crowded into the divisional office. Other than that we
never had time to watch TV.
Ocassionally
movies would be shown in the Drill Hall. It would have had to have
been a very good movie if you were to attend as a Junior Intake. Bastardisation
was rife at these events.
There
were no pinball machines, clubs, cafes or amusement centres we were
all far to busy for those.
Telephones?
Yes there were two public boxes opposite the gangway, they were kept
under close scrutiny by the Naval Police and with 600 JRs the lines
were long and conversations were restricted to 3 mins. At this time
in 1969 an operator connected call home to Melbourne from Fremantle
would cost $1.80 per three minutes. Work that out on a $5.00 a week
wage. Members of the public were not allowed to call in, unless of
course a member of your family was dying or gravely ill but that was
certainly the limit of phone calls.
In
the days before CDs, Walkmans or Cassette Tape players we were allowed
to possess a transistor radio and this would be our only contact with
the outside world for newspapers were not sold on the depot and there
were no TVs to speak of. Of course at our age 'Pop Music' was high
on our list of entertainment, whilst some blokes could play guitars
and other musical instruments.
Of
a night in the blocks we would sit on our bunks in our cubicles, smoking
and listening to the latest hits on our transistors whilst mending
clothes, ironing, spit polishing etc. All the while singing, laughing
and joking with our mates. Blokes would write letters home or a few
would gather to help their mate write a particulary romantic letter
to a prospective girlfriend. Others would be studying or helping mates
battling with Academic subjects or knot tieing or splicing etc. There
would be fights, squabbles and practical jokes. There would be all
sorts of 'meetings' where strategy's would be formed for upcoming
pranks or illegal activities..........
Upon
returning from mid-year leave and being elevated to JR 1st Class,
alcohol and the procurement and consumption thereof became a major
part of our 'off time'.
Three
of us, would on nearly every weekend, from now until Pass Out day,
become experts in the clandestine procurement of illegal alcohol.
We also, remained, the only team or individuals never to be caught
out at this highly illegal activity during this period.
Both
Chester Moore and Bob Allen were much taller than I and indeed looked
somewhat older. I have never seen Chester again since leaving JRTE,
I often think about him and Bob from Launceston, Tasmania, whom my
mother adored, Bob was a Radio Operator training for submarines when
he was tragically killed in the UK in 1972. We were great mates and
had 'Going over the fence' weighed off to a Tee'. We established a
very competent and talented team of 'cockatoos' or lookouts armed
with a torch and knowledge of our own light code of signals. We had
each brought back with us from mid-year leave appropriate civilian
attire for night operations. We had managed to construct a concealed
entrance in the very sturdy and high cyclone wire fence just metres
from the back of our block. Beyond the barbed wire topped, floodlit
fence lay a soccer field and sloping upward, open ground. Not the
easiest terrain to cross inconspicuously. But we did, time after time,
without mishap.
Left:
Bob and I indulging in an illegal after dinner port. During our last
six months, with only 3 JRs in our cubicle we had a spare locker to
which, unknown to the Staff, we had the key. This was to become our
secret 'grog' and civvie clothes stowage and was never once checked
by the staff. Our cubicle was right at the end of the block next to
the fire escpae so we would always get early warning of raids by staff.
On
Friday or Saturday evenings, for all those onboad we would take
orders. JRs could only purchase fortified wines and spirits.
Beer was too bulky to carry in large quantities. We also had
no means of refrigerstion or obtaining ice. Besides on our wage
beer was a luxury and a 70 cent bottle of Port or Sherry was
easier to conceal and did the required job quicker. The going
rate was double whatever the retail price of the item was -
(Fortune Favours The Brave) - The profits were used at once
for we were niether loan sharks nor barons, our profits enabled
us to ride to and from various pubs around Fremantle and the
suburbs of Perth in Taxis, pay off the cockatoos and keep us
in grogfor the week. We three also allowed ourselves the luxury
of buying beer, needless to say we had to have our perks. The
punishment for this if caught was quite naturally very, very
severe.
Dressed
in dark, tight civilian clothing and armed with two, unmarked, overnight
bags a piece we would await the all clear signal from the cockatoos,
when given the 'all clear' we would one at a time begin the stealthy
crossing of the playing field and park. The same procedure was repeated
upon our return.
Once
clear of the park we would actually very boldly walk past the HMAS
Leeuwin Wardroom on the road leading to civilisation. We would to
hurry to a busy traffic location where cabs were plentiful and get
off the street quickly. Cabs were far too expensive for JRs so noone
would ever look for us in a cab. On foot we stood out like dogs balls
on a cat and risked being spotted. Because the local population was
very familiar with JRs and their rules, regulations and routines it
was a difficult pursuit to carry out these forays regulary without
being discovered.
One
pub we patronised was the Park Hotel in Fremantle, near the Bowling
Club, the dear old lady who ran it knew what was going on and loved
us for the rascals she rightly believed we were. Although she did
have her principles, because I looked so young she would not sell
me anything other than beer. Despite the lack of difference in the
ages of Chester, Bob and I she would only sell the fortified wines
and spirits to them. There were other pubs and establishments but
this one always stays in my mind.
This
practice went on for nearly six months, how word never got out is
beyond us for some of the antics carried out by intoxicated JRs, directly
attributed to the alcohol we provided, were not to go unnoticed or
unpunished. No one ever gave us up though. A case of not killing the
goose and the golden egg I guess. For us three it was great fun and
we thrived on the adrenalin buzz that it gave us. Many wanted desperately
to get in on the act and accompany us on one of our forays, but we
always declined the offers and stuck to our tried and true format.
Reminiscent
of the German Stalags of WWII a previous intake to us even once tunnelled
their way out in what was a fairly eloborate and sophisticated operation.
We hadn't the time to dig a tunnel.
