Junior
Recruit Memorial Project
Newsletter
Number
3
Project Update
As you may appreciate not a lot of progress has been made
due to the holiday break but behind the scenes some important factors are being
progressed. The funding for the project will need to come from a number of
sources as the amount of money available from Veteran’s Affairs is only $4,000.
I am expecting that our memorial will be much more than that. With that in mind
Paul Harris who is based in WA has come forward with a proposal to apply to the
Sate Government in WA for assistance. The government has a scheme whereby
meaningful projects such as ours can receive support of up to $10,000. The
committee will need to pursue this as well as other opportunities as soon as we
get some estimate of the cost of our project. The RAN Central Canteens Fund may
also be considered as a source of funds.
What does the
memorial represent?
The Junior Recruit Scheme was introduce as we know in 1960
and many thousands of boys passed through HMAS Leeuwin. We should not forget
however that this scheme did operate for a while at HMAS Cerberus in 1963 and
1964 (two intakes) which served the purpose of solving a short term resource issue
for the navy at the time. Those who were about at that time will recall that
the intakes were quite large and that the resources available to the navy at
Leeuwin were not able to cope.
The memorial as such will justifiably be dedicated to all
Junior Recruits, not just those who spent their time at Leeuwin.
Project Committee
The committee has been now established and comprises
volunteers drawn from the ex Junior Recruit community and the inaugural
committee members are.
Ken Dobbie
Ron Giveen
Paul Harris
Alan Rogers
Alan Winchcombe
Pedro Franklin
These people will deal with the day to day issues
associated with achieving the construction of the memorial. This will include
the financial management requirements set down by DVA and others providing
funding. In addition the committee will direct work to be undertaken in the
construction phase once an agreed model is selected.
We will continue with the Newsletter as a means of getting
information out to the ex JR community and feedback and input into this
projects should continue through the usual email channels.
Project Patron
The Junior Recruit training scheme is an entrenched and
important part of the Australian Navy’s heritage. The scheme over many years
contributed to the skill and efficiency of the service and the legacy of what
Junior Recruits contributed to the service continues to this day.
Rear Admiral Brian Adams AO RAN (Ret) as an ex Junior
Recruit and the first to rise to flag rank is a direct and influential
participant in this project. His skill and knowledge is widely respected and to
that extent the project committee has unanimously agreed to invite Brian to be
the project Patron.
As project Patron we believe that he will be able to use
his wide knowledge and influence to assist the project to meet its objectives.
Donations
A bank account has been set up with the Devonport branch of
Westpac. The account name is the “Junior
Recruit Memorial Fund” (account number 037 604 22 7096) and deposits can be
made electronically with the bank or by cheque made out to the fund and
remitted to Ken Dobbie 75 Lovett St Devonport Tas 7310
Please do not
remit cash or cheques made out to anyone other than the fund.
Project funds accessed through DVA etc will be required to
be administered through this account in accordance with their guidelines and
all funds acquitted at the end of the project.
The Design
The Deputy Chief of Navy RADM Russ Crane has suggested a
single bronze figure of a Junior Recruit in a suitable setting.
What other factors do we need to consider in so far as a
setting is concerned?
Given some historical issues the setting might consider
such things as reference to “Tingira”. This also
draws reference to young civilian boys entering their naval training and
emerging from Leeuwin as a sailor ready for service.
As with most naval memorials generally there is an anchor
somewhere in the makeup. Either a stockless naval anchor or an Admiralty
Pattern Anchor would be appropriate.
Materials
A number of different options are being investigated and
include bronze castings of a JR as well as granite that is either carved or
etched with the figure in uniform.
The technology that is available to masons in this day and
age is quite sophisticated and quite startling images can be reproduced. For
those who have visited to Vietnam War Memorial in
The Location
The location is a vexed issue in that regardless of the
site chosen it is going to need the approval of whoever owns or controls access
to it. In the case of the “Leeuwin site” this will need the approval of the
Army or Department of Defence. We must also consider access in this regard in
that it is a controlled military site and access by the public, and that
includes us, may be an issue.
Outside the “Leeuwin site” also presents a need for
approvals such as with the Fremantle City Council who would, apart from giving
approval, also need to donate the land on which the memorial is to be located.
Who can do this type
of work?
The committee has made contact with a number of
organisations in WA who have undertaken similar work to this. Charles Smith and
his wife Joan Walsh Smith are two local artists who have an impressive
background in this type of work. Two memorials of note are the HMAS Sydney
Memorial on
Another noted sculptor in Fremantle is Greg James. Greg has
completed a lot of heritage projects in and around Fremantle and he is to
submit a design proposal along with Charlie Smith. An approach has also been
made to Phoenix Foundries in NSW who also undertake similar work and whilst
their location may present logistic problems we are seeking to widen our
sources of advice to ensure we get the best available.
What is our
heritage?
“A True Tingira Boy”
Lionel Eggins
Lionel Eggins and mates “coaling ship”
We have been contacted by Bill Eggins
who spent some time in the RAN as a stoker and paid off as a Warrant Officer.
Bill called one Saturday afternoon and was quite excited about our project and
particular its relationship to Tingira. Bill’s father
it turns out was an original Tingira boy. Bill has
kindly given us access to photographs of his father and some of his service
records and in future newsletters I will attempt to bring out more on the
history of Tingira and those who served in it.
Tingira cadet Unit Crib Point
A naval cadet unit operates at Crib Point and at Cerberus
and a memorial site has been erected to HMAS Tingira
in the Crib Point township. The
What do we value?
The original HMS Ganges
In the last newsletter I made recollection of LDCR Bill Storrie who did his best to model our attitudes and
training on that which he had experienced at HMS Ganges as a boy and those of Tingira. One of Bill’s favourite yarns was how, on dress
ship days, he was selected to stand on the button of the ship’s mast
(supposedly because he was the smallest boy). The mast still exists at the site
as does a lot of what used to be the training facility but sadly most has
fallen into ruin and the site is now derelict.
The Mast at HMS Ganges
What is the future
of Leeuwin?
Will the “Leeuwin” site have a “naval history” future? I
guess we would all like to think so and that perhaps things like the ensign
staff at the front of the site would be retained. Should the gates and the
ensign staff be given heritage protection? At this time the future role of the
Leeuwin site is open to speculation with no one so far willing to say either
way what will happen there
“Leeuwin”
Once this Junior Recruit Memorial project is finished
perhaps the thoughts of some of us might be moved to think about what might be
needed to ensure that some aspects of the site and our heritage as Junior
Recruits is protected.
Something for the future perhaps?
“Yours Aye”