Picture above:
A Memory Test - for those names I don't remember I will put NK (not
known) and offer my apologies, 31 years is a long time. Some are
on the tip of my tongue though.
From Left, Back Row, JRs : NK, Dawes, Jones,
KN, Huxtable, Drew, Lawson, Green, Hart, Fury, Gardiner, Grant.
Center Row: Fowler, Dobson, Frunks, KN, Kenna,
KN, Jankowski, Gorges, Dyer, Snyder, Dwyer.
Front Row: Knight, Graystone, Fisher, (Divisomal
Staff LSUC McCracken, POUC Dave Krietling, ABRP Melia), Fletcher,
Farmer, Gaston, Haines.
I doubt whether
there will be anything like HMAS Leeuwin or JRTE ever again. Not
in this country anyway. More is the pity. I wonder often when I
see the state of today's homeless and unemployed youth, their addiction
to hard and debilitating drugs and their anti social behaviour and
also ponder why Australia has such a high male youth suicide rate.
Perhaps it is because places that can give young men confidence,
ability to suffer and overcome hardship, and self esteem, like HMAS
Leeuwin, do not exist anymore. I bet there are not too many in Australia
who would not admit with pride to being a former JR.
I do not know
the total figure of the thousands of boys that passed through Leeuwin's
gates. They are now scattered throughout the land, the oldest today
would be 56 or so. Today, to meet a member of your old intake is
like finding a long lost relative again.
The
findings of the enquiry held in 1971 into the Conduct of JRTE are
still classified (30 years) and are due for reclassification next
year - 2001.
I have really
only skimmed the surface and this is not intended to be a history
of JRTE but a brief personal account of my time there (memory permitting).
40 years is a long time and the anecdotes alone from such an institution
would number in the many, many thousands.Some parts are still crystal
clear in my mind others are buried and only come in brief flashes.
There are also dark patches that I don't wish to recall.
All
of us proved that it is possible to have strict discipline and still
have fun too and we did have our fun I guess we may have just appreciated
it more when we did.. When I look back now I understand that the glue
that held everything together was our mates and almost feel a kind
of sympathy for those who have not experienced such camaraderie under
what were in the main difficult and stressful circumstances for boys
so young.
Now
it was time to go to sea and start at the bottom all over again.....................
With my Mother
and Father Passing Out Night.
Do
you remember the JRs old saying?
"We joined to do a job, not get a bastard!"
HMAS
LEEUWIN TRAINING STAFF 1969
Junior
Recruit Training Staff Commodore J. M. RAMSAY. C.B.E. D.S.C.
Commander E. F. WILKINSON. M.B.E.. RAN.
Instructor Commander W. R. SHARP. B.A.. Dip.Ed.. R.A.N.
Lieutenant Commander R. W. HOLISTER. B.A, A.F.A.I.M.. R.A .N.
Lieutenant G. M. SMITH, R.A.N. Secretary to N.O.I.C.W.A.
Divisional
Staff:
Topmen:
Leut. J. J. BERRELL, RAN.
Leut. J. W. CASEY, B.A., RAN.
Morrow
Divison:
SBLT M. I. KEAN, RAN.
CPOCOX P. J. GRANT
POUC D. R. KREITLING
LSUC J. P .Mc CRACKEN
ABRP D.J.MELIA
Marks
Division:
LCDR F. McCARTHY, RAN.
CPOQMG D. A. T. FLUNDERI, REM.
POAH R. F. WITHERS
LSUC R. B. LINDSAY
ABUW N. H. WOOD
Stevenson Division:
LCDR R.
B. DOOLAN, RAN.
CPOFC C. SAPPELLI
POME W. A. WEST
LSWM H. PRZETOCKI
ABUC D. R. MASLIN
Collins
Division:
LCDR S. E. W. COLE, R.A.N.
CAMET L.
N. PERCIVAL
POAMAE G. A. MAYES
LAAH D. W. SiMPSON
ABQMG P. S. PEGUNAS
Walton
Division:
LCDR K. H. CARTWRICHT
POFC D. POOL
POWM R. M. WIKSNE
LSUC R. B. CHADWICK
ABUC B. J. DOUBLE
Psychologist:
Social Worker:
Miss I. PRICE
Chaplains:
Rev. P. BALL, RAN.
Rev. F.
LYONS. RAN.
Bandmaster:
CPOMUSN I. C. WILLIAMS
Instructor
Officers:
LCDR K. T. FOLEY, R.A.N.
LCDR W. L. PITT ,R.A.N.
LCDR C. R. FAWCETT, R.N.
LCDR K. ANDERSON, RAN.
LCDR R. G. COYTE, RAN.
LCDR K. B. HENRY. R.A.N.
Leut. C. V. BAKER, R.A.N.
Leut. C. H. C. MCNALLY, R.A.N.
Leut. A. F. MASTERS, R.A.N.
Leut. R. J. CRAGO, B.Sc., R.A.N.
Leut. P. D. CONE, B.A., Dip.Ed., RAN.
Leut G.R. DEACON, R.A.N.
Leut. C.
V. CROCKETT, RAN.
Leut. L. E. J. WELLS, RAN.
Leut. K.
J. GOODSELL, R.A.N.
Leut. P.
R. CARTWRIGHT, RAN.
Leut. A. M. YOUNG R.A.N.
Leut. A. V. SMITH, R.A.N.
Leut. R. G. GRAHAM, R.A.N.
L,ent. D. H. J. M. PRINGLE, MA, R.A.N.
Leut. D. J. WOODWARD, B.A., R.A.N.
Leut. K. A. DONOHUE, BA., R.A.N.
CPOAI C. L. NAUMANN
CPOAI J. H .MATHEW
Professional Instructors:
CME
W. A. BUTTRESS
CPOPT R. E. RICH, B.E.M.
CPOQMC A. C. MEYER
POQMG L. W. DERBY
PORP L. W. CHAPMAN
POWM K. A. BEVEN
POPT B. BROWNRIGG
LSUC G.J. BATES
LSPT K.C
. GASCOYNE
LSPT K. J. HASSON
LSPT A. E. O’MEAGHER
ABQMG A. F. WHITNEY
ABWM M. L. JENKINSON
ME G. U. SELLS
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