DOCSLIB.ORG

Transcript of Oral History Recording

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Transcript of Oral History Recording TRANSCRIPT OF ORAL HISTORY RECORDING Accession number S00564 Title (WR/7) Wright, Daphne Mary (Petty Officer Telegraphist) Interviewer Thompson, Ruth Place made Chatswood NSW Date made 5 April 1989 Description Daphne Wright, Petty Officer WRANS, interviewed by Dr Ruth Thompson for the Keith Murdoch Sound Archives of Australian in the War of 1939-45 Discussing pre-war employment; work with the Women's Emergency Signalling Corp; training Air Force recruits in morse code; formation of WRANS; joining the WRANS; posting to HMAS Harman; training as wireless operator; leisure. DAPHNE WRIGHT Page 2 of 16 Disclaimer The Australian War Memorial is not responsible either for the accuracy of matters discussed or opinions expressed by speakers, which are for the reader to judge. Transcript methodology Please note that the printed word can never fully convey all the meaning of speech, and may lead to misinterpretation. Readers concerned with the expressive elements of speech should refer to the audio record. It is strongly recommended that readers listen to the sound recording whilst reading the transcript, at least in part, or for critical sections. Readers of this transcript of interview should bear in mind that it is a verbatim transcript of the spoken word and reflects the informal conversational style that is inherent in oral records. Unless indicated, the names of places and people are as spoken, regardless of whether this is formally correct or not – e.g. ‘world war two’ (as spoken) would not be changed in transcription to ‘second world war’ (the official conflict term). A few changes or additions may be made by the transcriber or proof-reader. Such changes are usually indicated by square brackets, thus: [ ] to clearly indicate a difference between the sound record and the transcript. Three dots (…) or a double dash (- -) indicate an unfinished sentence. Copyright Copyright in this transcript, and the sound recording from which it was made, is usually owned by the Australian War Memorial, often jointly with the donors. Any request to use of the transcript, outside the purposes of research and study, should be addressed to: Australian War Memorial GPO Box 345 CANBERRA ACT 2601 DAPHNE WRIGHT Page 3 of 16 Identification: This is Ruth Thompson recording an interview with Mrs Daphne Wright on 5th April 1989 and we're sitting in the sunroom at her home. I wonder, Mrs Wright, if you could first tell me a little bit about your family background; where you were born, when you were born and so on? Ah, well, I was actually born in Chatswood - not very far from this street we were living - and I was the third child of my parents. ... There was about fourteen or fifteen years between my brother and I and then about sixteen or seventeen years between my sister. So, I grew up more like an only child because they were well and truly grown up by the time I got to my teenage years. So then I attended the convent school at Chatswood and after that I went to St Patrick's College in the city, at the age of about thirteen I went there, and continued on till I was sixteen. Did my Intermediate and after that I ... the nuns were very good, I loved my period I spent at St Patrick's. And then at the age of sixteen and a half, I think, I finally - I did a bit of temporary work for a while which I didn't ... which I thought was good to find out where I wanted to be. I had quite a leaning towards writing and ... so I eventually was sent to a position at Universal International Pictures, the ... In those days all the big picture companies had their own exchanges here in the city. Universal had an enormously big one down in Kent Street. So the then assistant - it was a woman - to the publicity director had also been a graduate of St Patrick's. So when she wanted somebody else in the office I was lucky enough to be ... to get the position. So I then became, more or less, her secretary and the publicity director's secretary. I loved this work; it was very, very fascinating and interesting. A wonderful company to work for, Universal Pictures, and ... so I stayed there and enjoyed it and through them I got to know quite a lot of the young people that were in independent acting and things like that. I was only seventeen at the time then. And one of the young men that came from what was then called 'The Film Weekly' who did all the work for the distributing com[panies] like Hoyts and everybody like that, they did all the distributing information. He used to come into our office a lot and he belonged to what was known as the Independent Theatre Group which is a very old and famous one and I forget the name of the woman but she was the head of it for many, many years, and he belonged to that, and he was so enthusiastic about play acting and that that he, with a few other friends, formed another group and persuaded me to join it. Well, we used to meet every Sunday night in a peculiar place. It was a Russian emigrant who carried on this ... um ... Mischa Burlakov Ballet School down opposite the Quay in ... up above an old restaurant there which smelt of onions and everything like that. So we used to meet on a Sunday night there. (5.00) Consequently, this young man, Kevin [Brennen?], he became quite famous on radio and went to England and - he was a very fat boy, he'd probably be about three years older than me, about twenty at this time - and he was like a junior Charles Lawton. He had a wonderful speaking voice. But he ... eventually I know he went to Britain and he was on radio quite a lot and then he was in early television programs. I used to see him but I've completely lost track now on. However, it was Sunday nights we used to meet there and how I'm mentioning it is is that it was at one of those Sunday nights that war broke out and I can always still distinctly remember that Sunday night about ten o'clock when the Prime Minister announced. So your DAPHNE WRIGHT Page 4 of 16 immediate thoughts were all the young men you knew, you know, probably going to war. So ... that was where we were at ten o'clock that night when the ... we were at war. So you were listening to the radio? Yes. We all listened to the radio because we'd been rehearsing, you see, for this play we were going to put on. Naturally we knew that there were going to be announcements; everything was coming up to that. So I remember it was a Sunday night as far as I can remember and ... about ten o'clock, I think it was Prime Minister Menzies was at the time, and he announced that Germany had not accepted the ultimatum from Britain and consequently the Empire was at war with ... state of war existed with Germany, so ... How did you ... what did you think that your role in the war might be? Well, I didn't think anything at that time. I was only seventeen then, and I didn't immediately think ... your thoughts went immediately to the young men you knew. My thoughts went immediately to even the half-a-dozen young men that were in the ... you couldn't help looking at them and thinking, 'Well, life is going to change enormously for all of you'. You didn't think so much of yourself, but you thought of the ... and of course it was way over in Europe. It didn't ... you didn't feel it was close to your shores and that, but it was ... it was a rather devastating feeling at that time, to realise that you'd been reading up all the preliminaries to ... trying to avert war. Naturally you felt apprehensive, so ... I think it was a bit of bewilderment you felt. Did you think of yourself as British at that time or Australian? Oh no, definitely Australian. I never ... but I always had a strong feeling towards Britain as being the Mother Country and that, even though my parents weren't British you know, they were ... I was about a third generation Australian, and no, I always had a distinctly Australian feeling but you had that ... I'd always been interested in history and had a very sound knowledge of the European theatres - of countries - and I felt a great sense of loyalty to the people in Europe and Britain at was going to happen to them now. Just going back a little bit to your childhood, you went to a Catholic school. Was religion ... did religion play a large part in your upbringing? Yes, it always had. And so you ... sorry, I'll just say that again. So when you enlisted, did you say that you were Catholic? Yes, it's on my documents here. And were there other Catholic girls joining up? Not in the four ... first fourteen, no. There was no other Catholic until quite a long time. One of the other groups that came in ... later on, towards the end of 1941, there was one Catholic amongst them. But the Parish Priest of Queanbeyan was also the Chaplin to HMAS Harman, DAPHNE WRIGHT Page 5 of 16 so naturally, one of my first duties when I went to Harman - the first Saturday after we arrived - I went and made myself known to the Parish Priest ..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • DEPARTMENT of DEFENCE CANBERRA ACT March 2002
    PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY MULTI USER DEPOT ACT STATEMENT OF EVIDENCE TO THE PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE CANBERRA ACT March 2002 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 INTRODUCTION 3 OBJECTIVE 3 BACKGROUND 3 OPTIONS CONSIDERED 4 GOVERNING CONSIDERATIONS 5 THE REQUIREMENT 5 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 11 ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS 14 CONSULTATION WITH EXTERNAL AUTHORITIES (& STAKEHOLDERS) 15 DELIVERY MECHANISM 15 OTHER RELATED DEFENCE WORKS 15 FUTURE WORKS AT HMAS HARMAN 15 3 INTRODUCTION 1. There are a number of Reserve and Cadet units currently located in the ACT. The Navy and Air Force units are located at HMAS Harman and RAAF Fairbairn respectively. The Army Reserve units and Army Cadets are located at the Werriwa Training Depot in Allara Street, Civic. The requirement to develop a Multi User Depot (MUD) includes: • the closure of RAAF Fairbairn and the need for the units accommodated at Fairbairn to be relocated by May 2004, and • the future disposal of the Werriwa Training Depot in Civic. OBJECTIVE 2. The objective of this proposal is to provide facilities at HMAS Harman, ACT, for a Multi User Depot for a RAAF Regular Unit, and various Defence Reserve and Cadet units. It will concentrate Reserve and Cadet units, provide accommodation for the Units which will vacate RAAF Fairbairn and provide generally improved training and administrative facilities which will realise savings in the operating costs of these Units. BACKGROUND Current Locations 3. The units to be accommodated at the ACT MUD and their current locations are: Unit Current Location a.
    [Show full text]
  • The Establishment of the Joint Australia-United States Relay Ground Station at Pine Gap
    HIDING FROM THE LIGHT: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JOINT AUSTRALIA-UNITED STATES RELAY GROUND STATION AT PINE GAP The NAPSNet Policy Forum provides expert analysis of contemporary peace and security issues in Northeast Asia. As always, we invite your responses to this report and hope you will take the opportunity to participate in discussion of the analysis. Recommended Citation Richard Tanter, "HIDING FROM THE LIGHT: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JOINT AUSTRALIA- UNITED STATES RELAY GROUND STATION AT PINE GAP", NAPSNet Policy Forum, November 02, 2019, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-policy-forum/hiding-from-the-light-the-establis- ment-of-the-joint-australia-united-states-relay-ground-station-at-pine-gap/ RICHARD TANTER 1 NOVEMBER 2, 2019 I. INTRODUCTION In this essay, the author discusses recently released Australian cabinet papers dealing with a decision in September 1997 to allow the establishment of a Joint Australia-United States Relay Ground Station at Pine Gap to support two United States early warning satellite systems in place of its predecessor, the Joint Space Communications Facility at Nurrungar. The cabinet papers give a picture, albeit one muddied by censorship, of the Howard government’s consideration of ‘a U.S. request to continue Australian involvement in a U.S. space technological system to provide the U.S. with not only early warning of missile attack as a basis of nuclear deterrence, but also the capacity to target a retaliatory nuclear strike in the most effective way as part of a nuclear war-fighting capability. There is little evidence in these documents that senior ministers and their advisors considered these matters with any seriousness.’ The report is also published as a PDF file (1MB) here.
    [Show full text]
  • Submission 43
    REVIEW OF SERVICE ENTITLEMENT ANOMALIES IN RESPECT OF SOUTH-EAST ASIAN SERVICE 1955-75 REVIEW OF SERVICE ENTITLEMENT ANOMALIES IN RESPECT OF SOUTH-EAST ASIAN SERVICE 1955-75 Major General The Honourable R F Mohr RFD ED RL CMDR T Bloomfield AM RAN (Secretary) Rear Admiral P G N Kennedy AO RAN RTD Department of Defence Russell Offices R1-1-D030 CANBERRA ACT 2600 Tel (02)626 52116 Fax (02)626 51798 The Hon Bruce Scott MP February 2000 Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Minister In April 1999 you announced the establishment of a review of possible anomalies in service entitlements affecting those members of the Australian Defence Force who served in South-East Asia during the period 1955-75. I am pleased to present the report of the independent Review conducted by myself, assisted by Rear Admiral Philip Kennedy. This report is later than the date originally fixed. With your consent, due to the complexity and numbers of matters raised for consideration, that date was extended. Yours sincerely, MAJOR GENERAL R F MOHR REVIEW OF SERVICE ENTITLEMENT ANOMALIES IN RESPECT OF SOUTH-EAST ASIAN SERVICE 1955-75 ii Contents Letter to Minister I List of Contents ii Terms of Reference v Executive Summary vi Summary of Recommendations and Proposals vii Membership of the Review xxvii Preface xxviii Opening Remarks xxix General Approach xxx Onus of Poof in the Conduct of the Review xxxi Written Submissions xxxi Approach Taken on Individual Submissions xxxi Medals and Repatriation
    [Show full text]
  • Navy Women (WRANS-RAN) Qld February 2019 Volume XX 1St Edition OPENING of MEMORIAL GARDEN at HMAS MORETON VP, DIANA BURNS UNVEILS OUR PLAQUE
    Navy Women (WRANS-RAN) Qld February 2019 Volume XX 1st Edition OPENING OF MEMORIAL GARDEN AT HMAS MORETON VP, DIANA BURNS UNVEILS OUR PLAQUE In August 2018, President Jenny Rathbone, alongside the representatives of other exNavy organisations, planted a tree in a hedge which formed the backdrop for a native gar- den which was to be dedicated to the former Commanding Officer Navy Headquarters South Queensland. Close to one hundred people gathered at an opening and dedication of the CMDR Lachlan King Memorial garden at HMAS Moreton on 30 January. CMDR King died after a brave fight against cancer in 2013. His mother, Mrs Pamela King, was present to unveil, with Commanding Officer HMAS Cap- tain Mark McConnell, the Memorial Stone. Representatives of several or- ganisations associated with Navy simultaneously unveiled their organisa- tion’s plaques which were set onto stones retrieved from the old submarine wharf which abutted the riverside at the Bulimba where HMAS Moreton now stands. Navy Women Vice President, Diana Burns, unveiled the plaque commemorating Navy Women’s part in the provision of the garden. Links from the old wharf cables have been incorporated into scattered bench seats topped with wharf tim- bers. An artwork sym- bolising a propeller was also created from the huge chain links. Aluminium pillars display the Sailor’s Ode and the Submariner’s Prayer. The garden serves to screen the not very aesthetically pleasing sheds but also creates a space where staff can relax away from their work environment. The theme of the garden is ‘Reflection and Protection’, ac- knowledging those that lead, care for and support those that have served, are serving or may serve under the Aus- tralian White Ensign.
    [Show full text]
  • Issue 39, March 2020
    From the President Welcome to the March 2020 edition of Call the Hands. We hope you find the mix of contemporary and historic Australian naval stories of interest and provide feedback which is always appreciated. Accompanying this edition are two quite different occasional papers. The first (OP 73) on ships badges and mottos, like many of our stories, arose out of a research query on the correct spelling of a ships name. HMA Ships Shepparton and Ballarat being the focus of attention. The former has been spelt with both either one or two P’s and the latter with three or four A’s at different times. In the case of HMAS Ballarat, the ships motto and its link to the Eureka Flag (1854) are also examined. Occasional Paper 74 focuses on shipping (naval and support) in and around the Port of Darwin on 19 February 1942. It provides details of the damage and losses incurred by these vessels and provides an overview of other World War 2 heritage sites in the vicinity of Darwin. Now in the 75th year since the end of War in the Pacific we are reminded that the ranks of our World War 2 veterans are diminishing. Sadly, Vice Admiral David Leach, AC, CBE, LVO who joined the Navy in January 1942 is one of them. The Society acknowledges his service of 43 years and leadership of the RAN for three of those years. The publication of this issue coincides with the 78th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Yarra (2) on 4 March 1942.
    [Show full text]
  • Prewett and the Department of Defence [2020] DHAAT 01 (23 January 2020)
    Prewett and the Department of Defence [2020] DHAAT 01 (23 January 2020) File Number 2018/041 Re Mrs Judith Prewett (nee Stewart) Applicant And Department of Defence Respondent Tribunal Ms Jane Schwager AO (Presiding Member) Air Vice-Marshal John Quaife AM (Retd) Ms Jo Lumb Hearing Date 28 November 2019 DECISION On 23 January 2020 the Tribunal decided to affirm the decision of the Directorate of Honours and Awards of the Department of Defence that Mrs Judith Prewett is not eligible for the award of the Australian Defence Medal. CATCHWORDS DEFENCE AWARD – Australian Defence Medal – neither initial enlistment period nor minimum period of service met – discharge at own request - whether early discharge due to a prevailing discriminatory Defence policy. LEGISLATION Defence Act 1903 – Part VIIIC – Sections 110T, 110V, 110VB(2). Defence Regulation 2016, Section 36. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S48, Letters Patent and Regulations for the Australian Defence Medal, dated 30 March 2006. REASONS FOR DECISION Background 1. On 23 November 2016, the Applicant, Mrs Judith Ann Prewett (nee Stewart) applied to the Directorate of Honours and Awards of the Department of Defence (the Directorate) for the Australian Defence Medal (ADM). On 27 September 2018, she was advised in a letter from Mr Mark Jordan of the Directorate that she was not eligible for this award. On 19 September 2018, Mrs Prewett applied to the Tribunal for a review of that decision.1 Mrs Prewett included with her application a copy of Mr Jordan’s letter and a further letter of 2 August 2017 from Ms N. Shingles of the Directorate.
    [Show full text]
  • Senate Official Hansard No
    COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Senate Official Hansard No. 14, 2005 WEDNESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2005 FORTY-FIRST PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—FOURTH PERIOD BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE INTERNET The Journals for the Senate are available at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/work/journals/index.htm Proof and Official Hansards for the House of Representatives, the Senate and committee hearings are available at http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard For searching purposes use http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au SITTING DAYS—2005 Month Date February 8, 9, 10 March 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 May 10, 11, 12 June 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23 August 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 September 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 October 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 November 7, 8, 9, 10, 28, 29, 30 December 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 RADIO BROADCASTS Broadcasts of proceedings of the Parliament can be heard on the following Parliamentary and News Network radio stations, in the areas identified. CANBERRA 103.9 FM SYDNEY 630 AM NEWCASTLE 1458 AM GOSFORD 98.1 FM BRISBANE 936 AM GOLD COAST 95.7 FM MELBOURNE 1026 AM ADELAIDE 972 AM PERTH 585 AM HOBART 747 AM NORTHERN TASMANIA 92.5 FM DARWIN 102.5 FM FORTY-FIRST PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—FOURTH PERIOD Governor-General His Excellency Major-General Michael Jeffery, Companion in the Order of Australia, Com- mander of the Royal Victorian Order, Military Cross Senate Officeholders President—Senator the Hon. Paul Henry Calvert Deputy President and Chairman of Committees—Senator John Joseph Hogg Temporary Chairmen of Committees—Senators Guy Barnett, George Henry Brandis, Hedley Grant Pearson Chapman, Patricia Margaret Crossin, Alan Baird Ferguson, Michael George Forshaw, Stephen Patrick Hutchins, Linda Jean Kirk, Philip Ross Lightfoot, Gavin Mark Mar- shall, Claire Mary Moore, Andrew James Marshall Murray, Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Bosun's Call August 18
    The Bosun’s Call Vol 23 No 6 Once Navy, Always Navy August 2018 Chief of Navy Handover Vice Admiral Tim Barrett has for- mally ended his term as Chief of Navy, following a handover cere- mony at Blamey Square in Can- berra. VADM Barrett ended his Per- manent Navy career in style, with an honour guard and fly past in his hon- our. Several hundred Navy personnel from across the region braved a blustery Canberra morning to attend the ceremony. VADM Barrett told the gathering, his time as Chief has seen significant change to the RAN, thanks to hard work and dedication by Navy members. “The considerable successes that Navy has enjoyed during my tenure is due to that important and valuable Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN handed over command of the work undertaken by uniformed and Royal Australian Navy to Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN during a civilian people ashore as much as ceremonial parade at Blamey Square at Russell in Canberra. they are due to the outstanding efforts of our sailors and officers both at sea and ashore, VADM Barrett’s time as CN has indeed been one whether permanent or reserve,” he said. of significant change. He has guided the deci- sions to acquire the Offshore Patrol Vessels, “Our people are more resilient and innovative, and Navy’s next generation of Replenishment Ships, they are getting the job done safely. Our workforce Future Submarines, and the Hunter Class Frig- better reflects the diversity of the Australian com- ates along with the associated infrastructure in- munity, demonstrating a bias for action, and seek- vestments.
    [Show full text]
  • Official Committee Hansard
    COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Official Committee Hansard JOINT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Reference: Provison of facilities for the Australian Capital Territory multi user depot FRIDAY, 30 MAY 2003 CANBERRA BY AUTHORITY OF THE PARLIAMENT INTERNET The Proof and Official Hansard transcripts of Senate committee hearings, some House of Representatives committee hearings and some joint committee hearings are available on the Internet. Some House of Representatives committees and some joint committees make available only Official Hansard transcripts. The Internet address is: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard To search the parliamentary database, go to: http://search.aph.gov.au JOINT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Friday, 30 May 2003 Members: Mrs Moylan (Chair), Mr Brendan O’Connor (Deputy Chair), Senators Colbeck, Ferguson and Forshaw and Mr Jenkins, Mr Lindsay, Mr Lloyd and Mr Ripoll Senators and members in attendance: Senator Forshaw and Mr Jenkins, Mr Lloyd and Mr Brendan O’Connor Terms of reference for the inquiry: To inquire into and report on: Provisions of facilities for the Australian Capital Territory multi user depot. WITNESSES Huda, Mr Shamsul, Principal Planner, National Capital Plan, National Capital Authority.................... 12 HUTCHINSON, Brigadier Peter John, Director General, Infrastructure Asset Development Branch, Department of Defence........................................................................................................................ 1 ...........................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Origins and Development of Royal Australian Naval Signals Intelligence in an Era of Imperial Defence 1914 - 1945
    The Origins and Development of Royal Australian Naval Signals Intelligence In An Era of Imperial Defence 1914 - 1945 by Jozef H. Straczek A thesis submitted to the University of New South Wales in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In The School of Humanities and Social Sciences ©J. H. Straczek 2008 ii ORIGINALITY STATEMENT I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial portions of material which have been accepted for the award of any degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project’s design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged. Jozef H. Straczek Canberra August 2008 i ii COPYRIGHT STATEMENT I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or hereafter known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights such as patents rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles and books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation.
    [Show full text]
  • Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory : Annual Report 1953-54
    ArchivesACT annual report 1953-54 ArchivesACT ANNUAL REPO'RT ON THE ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CANBERRA AND THS AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY YSAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1954. January• 1955 ·Department of the Interior. Canberra. A.C.T. ArchivesACT CONTENTS. 1. Royal Visit 2. Building and Construction, 3. Planning and general development. 4. Legislation and Law Administration. 5. Public Health. 6. Child Welfare and Education. 7. General Services. 8. Publicity Activities. 9. Primary Production. 1 o. Liet of Events. 11. Appendices. J l ArchivesACT ROYAL VISIT The visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was the highlight of the year 1953-54 in Canberra. At 3 p.m. on Saturday, 13th February, 1954, a Royal Australian Air Force plane touched down at Fairbairn airfield. From it there stepped a few seconds later the Queen and her Royal Consort. Thie marked the beginning of an historic event in the life of Canberra - the first occasion on which the Sovereign in person had come to the nation's capital. The Governor-General and Lady Slim greeted the Queen and the Duke, who then received members of the Fed­ eral Cabinet, the Leaders of the Opposition in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, and their wives. l''rom here, the Queen and the Duke drove to Ci vie Centre where an address of welcome from the citizens was read by the Chairman of the A.C.T. Advisory Council, Mr. W.A. McLaren. In her reply, the Queen said: "Canberra, built on a plan and set among beautiful scenery, will no doubt inspire imitators in many quarters, and it is certain that it will take an increasingly important place among the capitals of the world.
    [Show full text]
  • HMAS Collins' Round- Australia Recruiting Drive
    NNavyaSERVING AUSTRALIAv WITHy PRIDE Volume 53, No. 19, October 14, 20102010 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy VANGUARD: HMAS Collins arrives in Sydney Harbour. Collins is the first RAN submarine to visit Sydney in more than two years. HHMASMAS CCollins’ollins’ Photo: LSIS Yuri Ramsey rround-ound- AAustraliaustralia rrecruitingecruiting ddriverive SSILENTILENT SSERVICEERVICE CENTAUR COMMEMORATION P24 / AUS-CHINA PORT VISITS CENTRE 02 NEWS Fleet Air Arm Museum Navy experience unveils Chaplain Showcase raises $5k for charity By Michael Brooke XPLORING a day in the life of a sailor in the RAN was worth $5000 to fascinated Emembers of the public, who have gained respect for Navy’s role in national defence and humanitarian relief operations. The auction of a comprehensive ship tour of an Anzac-class FFH and lunch with the CO, for four people, raised $5000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation recently. HMAS Stuart (CMDR Brett Sonter), aka the ‘Tartan Terror’, CHAPLAINS’ LEGACY: (From left) CHAP Gary Lock, CHAP Ian opened her gangway to the four spe- Lindsay and Ms Ailsa Chittick at the launch of the Chaplain’s Showcase cial guests at Fleet Base East on at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, HMAS Albatross. August 18. Photo: ABIS Justin Brown The VIP treatment and exposure to a day in the life of a sailor began By Dallas McMaugh Another item of significance on early, when HMAS Kuttabul SWO, AN EXHIBIT recognising the vital display is the bible of Albatross’ third WO Mark Donlan, escorted the four work of Navy chaplains, past and CO, CAPT Rodney Rhoades, which guests onto Stuart.
    [Show full text]