Riverton RSL sub-Branch Newsletter

President: Bill Collidge 0404426855: Sec/Dogsbody Dr Tony Thatcher 0433847155 153 High Road, Riverton [email protected]

We received a thank-you from Communicare to all the sub-Branch members - Well done to all who contributed:

Dear Bill,

I’m writing on behalf of Communicare Inc. to express our sincerest thanks to you, your organisation and its employees, for generously opting to become a Communicare Corporate Claus and contribute to our Annual Christmas Appeal, helping us to ensure we were able to create a magical Christmas for all WA children and families in 2019. With the increasing costs of living and the number of families requiring assistance rising, the number of families needing gifts for their children or support with food in 2019 was very high. Without your support, we would have been unable to meet the demands. Your significantly generous donation enabled us to achieve the following results. Thank you from all of us at Communicare, it really created a difference this Christmas. Please find attached a Certificate of Appreciation to show our gratitude for your kind generosity. We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and look forward to partnering with you again in 2020. Kind regards, Jenny Gay On behalf of The Marketing & Communications Teams”

For all of us proud to live in Western Australia we forget that our paradise commenced from extraordinary achievements. Following its first sighting by Dirk Hartog, on 26th October 1616, the coast of Western Australia had been explored and charted by many Europeans prior to its eventual settlement. Most of whom felt its resources were inadequate to support a permanent settlement. Appleyard and Manford, 1979 report the most likely first visitor to the Swan River area was Frederick de Houtman on 19th July 1619, travelling on the ships Dordrecht and Amsterdam. His records indicate he first reached the Western Australian coast at latitude 32°20' which would equate to Rottnest Island or just south. He did not land because of heavy surf, and so proceeded northwards without much investigation. On 28th April 1656, the Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon) en route to Batavia (now Jakarta) was shipwrecked only 107 km north of the Swan River near Ledge Point. Of the 193 on board, only 75 made it to shore. A small boat that survived the wreckage then sailed to Batavia for help, but a subsequent search party found none of the survivors. The wreck was rediscovered in 1963. In 1658, three ships, also partially searching for the Vergulde Draeck visited the area. The Waekende Boey under Captain S. Volckertszoon, the Elburg under Captain J. Peereboom and the Emeloort under Captain A. Joncke sighted Rottnest Island but did not proceed any closer

1 to the mainland because of the many reefs. They then travelled north and subsequently found the wreck of the Vergulde Draeck (but still no survivors.) They gave an unfavourable opinion of the area partly due to the dangerous reefs. Dampier. in 1688 his ship the Cygnet was beached on the northwest coast of Australia, near King Sound. While his ship was being careened Dampier made notes on the fauna and flora he found there. As a testament to his fervor for exploration later that year, by agreement, he and two shipmates were marooned on one of the Nicobar Islands (East coast of India, editor’s note.) They built a small craft and sailed it 189 kilometers to Acheen in Sumatra. So many European footsteps arrived before James Stirling. Late in 1826, the Governor of NSW, Ralph Darling, sent Major Edmund Lockyer with a detachment of soldiers from the 39th Dorsetshire Regiment and a party of convicts to King Georges Sound, where Albany now stands. They established a secondary penal colony, discovering that explorer Durmont d’ Urville. had already visited the area and surveyed the Sound. That changed in the early 19th Century, when the fear of French settlement in the area drove British authorities to establish their own colony. In 1827, Captain James Stirling sited the area surrounding the Swan River as being suitable for agriculture, and after demonstrating inappropriate seamanship grounded his ship on the ‘Success Sandbar’, refloating he returned to Sydney. Stirling’s H.M.S. Success raced back to be in Sydney as there was a large regatta planned and on 18th April 1927 it was won by his brother-in-law Preston sailing a boat named the Black Swan. (‘Black Swan’ was the name of the dredge that first cleared the Canning River to the Shelley and Riverton Bridge area, editor’s note.) In July, 1828, he lobbied for the establishment of a free settler colony, unlike the penal settlements of Eastern Australia. It had been a terrible two years for Stirling. Out of favour and on half pay he lobbied frantically for employment, but John Barlow, secretary to the Admiralty knew of Stirling’s limitations and stated, “...quite out of the question on grounds of expense”. Stirling reinforced his efforts by scare mongering that the French were about to seize the colony without triumph. However, after marrying Ellen, the sixteen-year old daughter of John Mangles who just happened to be a director of the English East India Company, and High Sheriff for Surrey and later MP for Guildford (1832-7) he furthered Stirling’s cause. The British Government finally assented, and a fleet led by Captain Charles Fremantle, aboard H.M.S. Challenger returned along with three other vessels, arriving on 27th April, to establish the Swan River Colony on 2nd May, 1829.

. William Dampier (1651 or 1652-1715) was a British buccaneer (pirate), explorer and map-maker. As a teenager, he sailed to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Dampier sailed to Australia, New Guinea, southeast Asia, and the South Seas, charting the coastlines, rivers, and currents for the British Admiralty (1699- 1700.) He also kept a detailed journal, noting native cultures, the first noted typhoon, and other discoveries made during his voyages. He discovered and named New Britain (near New Guinea.) His book, A New Voyage Round the World, was published in 1697, and quickly became very popular. Dampier died a pauper in March, 1715.

. Between 1826 and 1840 the corvette L’Astrolabe made 2 voyages around the world and 26 volumes recording the official narrative, including 6 lithographic atlases were ultimately issued. Jules Sébastien César Dumont d’ Urville (1790-1842) had already established a name for himself when, as part of a French naval expedition to Greece in 1820, he recognized the true value of a recently unearthed statue. His advocacy resulted in the Louvre purchasing the Venus de Milo, (editor’s note.) 2

Calder, 1977 records Captain Luscombe gave Governor Stirling the helm whilst off Rottnest Island and he again proved his mediocre seamanship by grounding his ship again on the same ‘Success Sandbar’, losing the foreyards, rudder, windlass, spare spas, skiff and anchors. The name of the colony was changed to Western Australia in 1832. It was in 1829 under command of Captain Howe Fremantle that the Canning River area was explored on foot and by boats and noted the inaccuracy of Stirling’s earlier charts. ‘The course of the Canning is decidedly wrongly laid down…as it trends much more directly to the mountains and then runs along them to its source’. The next expedition up the Canning River was by Captain John Currie on 25th June. Unfortunately for Currie he was accidentally shot in the head, so Lieutenant Henry of the ‘Challenger’ replaced him the following day. However, they must have been tough in those pioneer days for Captain Currie later became Harbour Master, and was the original grantee of land in Western Australia adjoining the property of the first Governor of Western Australia James Stirling. This land was later to become the site for the Avondale Agricultural Research Station. Currie kept the minutes of the Western Australian Legislative Council for its first few years. In 1831, Currie was appointed the first Colonial Auditor on 300 pounds Sterling per year. He had served on the Board of Counsel and Audit managing the property of the Crown and public property within Colony since 1829 as Harbour Master with John Septimus Roe,. Surveyor General.

Another reminder to all that our major fund raising quiz night is on Saturday 30 May at 1900 hrs or 7.00pm for you Navy types. Please organize a table either through President Bill or Gary and Harry at the Bar.

Next committee meeting is THU 20 FEB at 1700 hrs.

News on our ANZAC Day raffle drawn at NOON the books are selling fast so ensure you don't miss out on a wheelbarrow full of grog, wines and Diggers |Delights.

Club News - We are still struggling to provide a bar on Thursday nights with the costs outgoing exceeding what we are taking. President Bill has his eyes on the till and a classic example is a recent darts night – it cost us $70.00 to open. Obviously we do not have the financial resources to absorb such losses.

. Roe was the originator of what is known as Kings Park, a massive reserve in the centre of Perth Western Australia. Originally known as Perth Park at 406 hectares, and is accredited to Lord Forrest, (editor’s note.)

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ANZAC Dinner - Saturday April 18th. Book soonest, either through the bar or through the President – only 80 seats available and they are selling fast. Should there be a group wishing to be seated together once again let President Bill know and he will coordinate. Conversely if there is someone you don't want to be with then let us know so we can manage the seating plan accordingly. Pictured right is Al and Sonya Wilkes, long-time members and supporters from 509 ACU.

WILLETTON FAIR – 5 April - Once again we have a stand at the fair in conjunction with our Defence cadets from navy and Army. We might need a hand to man the stand on 5 April at Burrendah oval between 0800 and 1600 hrs – if you have some time and are not committed with the Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser at Bunnings Willetton, come on down and give us a hand to recruit new members and sell some raffle tickets – it should be a great day.

Sausage Sizzle Fund Raiser 4 and 5 April at Bunnings Willetton in High Road – we are looking for some support from members to help us raise some money to bulk up our operating account which has taken a bit of a hit over the last few months – Put your name up on the board in the bar if you are prepared to help out – everybody welcome.

ANZAC Collections – we are collecting at Southlands Shopping Centre, Stocklands Riverton and Coles Riverton on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 April – thanks to all those who have volunteered to help out on both days – we have nearly filled the roster – outstanding!

Animal Welfare Collection – our efforts to support injured animals from the recent fires is going well – the big jar on the bar is filling up gradually = if you like you can drop your small change into the jar – we will do the donation at the end of April.

Willetton Bridge Club – is now firmly established in the Sub-branch and they play on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – if you think you might like to join then come on down and have a talk with Noel, the President. It is heartening to note that several members of the Bridge Club have joined the Sub-branch as Service and affiliate members – welcome aboard.

The winner of our newsletter quiz was Kevin Comber who was correct in naming Frank Partridge VC ( World War II, Bougainville campaign 8 Battalion) who went against the great Barry Jones in Bob dyer's 'Pick a Box'. All the electronic prizes he won were useless to him and his father as they had no electricity. His knowledge was developed as he read the Encyclopædia Britannia by kerosene lamp. He died in a logging accident aged 39. Your prize is a free ANZAC Day raffle ticket, collect from President Bill. This month name the type of aeroplane that was incorrectly touted as the ones that won the Battle of Britain.

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