Junior Recruit Memorial Project
Newsletter
Number 8
Welcome to Newsletter Number 8
There is some sad and disappointing news to start this newsletter. We have been advised that the mast located at Leeuwin has been taken down. The Property Services staff at the site found that the timber was in an advanced state of decay and was an OHS issue for them that could only be resolved by taking it down.
“The Mast”
There is to be a review of the maintenance budget
arrangements at the site before any decision is made whether it is to be
replaced or not. It is expected that the cost of a replacement mast will be in
the vicinity of $11,000.
The choice of site for the Junior Recruit Memorial
was predicated on the mast being there and some re-evaluation of the Memorial
placement will need to be made should the mast not be reinstated. The Memorial
Committee will in the mean time work towards some resolution of the matter with
the staff at Leeuwin Barracks.
In the meantime the old mast remains at the site,
awaiting disposal. The question arises does the ex JR Community want to do
something with it? If there were a genuine purpose for which the timber can be
used we would welcome some advice in that regard. Action will need to be swift
and some storage arrangement made for the old mast whilst matters are worked
out. We cannot expect that it will be retained at Leeuwin Barracks even in the
medium term.
At this time I have no idea of the overall state of
the timber and how far the decay has progressed and whether there is a small or
large amount of reusable material there. If any action is to be taken with this
then it will be up to a
representation group to come forward and
manage the work. It is not envisaged that this committee will take it on as an
extra activity.
So all of you nostalgia buffs out there,
if you want something to be done with the old mast let me know and perhaps we
can get things moving.
Memorial Project Update
We now have just 18 months to go to the completion
of the project. Our aim establish a memorial that will
commemorate the dedication, commitment and service of the 13,000 fifteen and
sixteen year old boys who joined the Royal Australian Navy as Junior Recruits
between 1960 and 1984 will occur on
The new-year will present some challenges to us and
a number of important stages now have to be completed. The project continues to
meet all milestones set out in the Strategic Plan. The Memorial Committee has
commenced the initial planning arrangements that will set out the program for
the dedication ceremony. Although this is at the earliest stages important
considerations have to be made not only for the logistics of it all but also to
the protocols associated with such as event. Some of these protocols will include
obtaining approval to use the Australian White Ensign in the proceedings as
well as appropriate service and dedication matters. The service will include
the involvement of a RAN Chaplain. It is not expected that we will have a draft
plan of the ceremony until at least July 2009, as we will need to consider a
number of things including confirmation of the attendance of a number of
important guests to the occasion.
The occasion is expected to attract a large crowd
and as such the committee will call on a number of other organisations for
assistance that includes the RAN, Leeuwin Barracks as well as ex service
organisations and of course any locally based ex Junior Recruit who is willing
to lend a hand. The planning will also need to get down to some quite basic
considerations such as available first aid facilities, toilets, seating, wheel
chair access, security and a host of other things that will be needed to make
the day a success. Given that it will occur in July we also need to consider
what to do if it rains.
A History Worth
Preserving
HMAS Tingira at
Tingira is an aboriginal word meaning “ocean” or “open
sea”. HMAS Tingira, of all the ships to serve the RAN, this is the one
that has perhaps received the least acclaim yet one which perhaps should be
highly regarded. She was commissioned
into the RAN on
The Tingira was painted white and the masts
and associated spars were painted yellow and she was often referred to as the
“white lady” moored in
A newspaper
of that era reported in an article on the ship that:
“Much misconception exists concerning the good
ship Tingira. There are persons still so far behind the times to imagine her to
be a hulk whereupon are confined for corrective purposes, the wayward youth of
the city. And those misguided folk pass on their placid way, not taking the
trouble to learn that that on her broad decks are being trained the most highly
skilled defenders of
Many of these boys served their country with
distinction in World War I, World War II and even in the Korean War. One draft
of Tingira boys served in HMAS
When, in the future, stories of the Junior Recruit
Scheme conducted from 1960 to 1984 at Leeuwin and Cerberus are
told, how will we as ex Junior Recruits expect them to be told?
Will those who trained as boys in the RAN in latter
years at Leeuwin and Cerberus be portrayed similarly as “the
most highly skilled defenders of
The creation of the Junior Recruit Memorial is
perhaps an opportunity to capture the history of the scheme and give wider
recognition to the achievements associated with this model of naval training
and how it has contributed to the ongoing effectiveness of the RAN today.
The Tingira boys saw value in preserving
their history and took steps to strengthen the bonds of comradeship amongst
themselves. They formed what was known as the “HMAS Tingira Old Boys
Association” for this purpose.
Perhaps it is timely for the creation of an “Association
of ex Junior Recruits” such as that formed as the HMAS Tingira “Old Boys Association” to
nurture the history and comradeship of the training scheme and of boys now men
who have served and continue to serve with distinction in the defence of their
country.
The Badge of
the HMAS Tingira Old Boys Association.
Their motto
“In strength and unity this association
will stand forever”.
The Memorial Medallion is now available
How
to Order
We need to take orders for medallions on the basis
of prepayment only. On receipt of payment a medallion, leather case and
certificate will be sent by post. The price of each medallion is $85.00 postage
and packaging with Australia Post will cost an additional $7.30. We are able to
make arrangements to have each medallion engraved with the name and number of
each purchaser, this is however at a nominal cost of
$10. All costs include GST of 10%
Cheques or Money Orders should be made out to the
Junior Recruit Memorial Fund Inc and posted along with an order form to the
fund at
Delivery will be made within 21 days of receipt of
payment. Do not remit cash or make payment out to any other person or
organisation. It is not possible to deal with payments by electronic transfer,
as we need to have all of the information required on the order form in
addition to the payment
All proceeds
from the sale of the medallions will be passed to the Junior Recruit Memorial
Fund Inc. and will be used to assist with the costs associated with materials
and construction of the memorial.
Members of a number of families of deceased ex
Junior Recruits have contacted the project to investigate and purchase
Commemorative Medallions and to have them appropriately engraved. We are aware
that a number of reunion groups maintain information on those in their intakes
who have passed on. It might be appropriate for intake organisers to make
contact with the families of deceased members and perhaps advise them of arrangements
to access Commemorative Medallions.
Tingira Badge
The figure on the Commemorative Medallion and also
on the centre bronze feature of the JR Memorial will feature the “Tingira”
badge on the left arm. This badge was worn by Junior Recruits in various
positions over the years but began its application on the point of both
shoulders for winter and summer uniforms. It was relocated at the time that “
50th
Anniversary Commemorative Medallion
Order Form
Please
Supply:
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Number of Medallions Required @
$85.00 per unit |
$ |
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Engraving of Name and Official Number
(optional) @
$10.00 per unit |
$ |
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Please write below exactly what is to be
engraved for example: Name& Initials……………………………………. Official Number…………………………………… |
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Postage and Handling @ $7.30 per unit |
$ |
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(quoted costs include GST ) Total (Payment
by cheque or money order should be made to the Junior Recruit Memorial Fund
Inc. Do not send cash) |
$ |
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Your Name |
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Address |
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Postal Address for Medallion(s) if not home
address |
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Telephone |
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Email Address |
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Please remit cheque or
money order with the order form to:
Junior Recruit Memorial Fund Inc
Tel 03 64247198 Email
ken.dobbie@bigpond.com
Donation Banking
A bank account has been set up with the Devonport branch
of Westpac. The account name is the “Junior Recruit Memorial Fund Inc.” (BSB
037 604 Account 22 7096) and deposits can be made electronically with the bank
or by cheque made out to the fund and remitted to JR Memorial Fund Inc. 75
Lovett St Devonport Tas. 7310
Please do not remit
cash or cheques made out to anyone other than the fund.
“Yours Aye”
Ken
Dobbie
Email ken.dobbie@bigpond.com
Tel 03 64247198
Mob. 0418140042