A First for Duntroon in 1919 to Our Astonishment, the Train Was Switched to the Track V.E
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Newsletter 1/1988 April 1988 The train journey to Goulburn was uneventful but here, A First for Duntroon in 1919 to our astonishment, the train was switched to the track V.E. Ewart for Canberra. Until then only an occasional freight train had used the track into Canberra, so it was with some A little known incident in 1919 was not only a first wonder that we steamed into the Nation's capital, as yet for Duntroon but also for Canberra. It happened this Just a sheep Pasture and without a railway station, to way. become the first passenger train to enter. This historic Few people living today will have experienced the world event &mns to have gone unrecorded, but historic it wide pneumonic influenza epidemic known in 19 18-19 was! as 'Spanish Flu'. The bug was a very vir , the sequel to all these interstate quarantine severe illness and many deaths. In an was that, within days of our return to their peoples from the disease and th many of us went down with the dreaded New South Wales and Victoria quaranti u', some so seriously that they were saved from This included, among other things, the cl y the care of the Medical Officer2 and the interstate passenger rail traffic. The measu during the long summer leave of the C ugs of the flu variety know no interstate At the time, as a staff cadet, I recall rec ,at least they caused an historic 'First' at intervals from the RMC extending m however, one came orderi the end of February. Upon staff cadets from Victoria, in a column of other snippets. "This Australia and Tasmania were also brought the cadets back for the Victoria Barracks military motor taken on by train to Canberra, where a pier at Port Melbourne. Here e Duntroon Band." Ed. Minah, an Army work boat, w difficultperiod there were three who quarantine station at Portsea. For ab rum as 'Officer in Medical Charge: were lodged in the station hutments b nce were AIF officers weeks to be followed H. Stoker, in whose presented to the RMC in ordered to join it. N.S.W. Branch Monday, 13 June weekend). The annual the Vice-Regal Room at g6od to see so many Members and the Duntroon Handicap. hes. A balmy evening added to The ACT Branch and friends in the new Parliament House on 26 October 1987. The Left is interested - the Right will not have a bar of it! /I ACT Branch at Duntroon House 26 October 198t A former commandant consulting his RMO on how to avoid tennis elbow. Major B.R.C. Daniel (RMO RMC 1969- 8 1). Mrs Daniel (Assistant Registrar 1974- 83), Mrs Hay, Major General R.A. Hay (1937), (RMC Tennis Champion.) (1937, 38, 39, 41, 73, 74 & 75). I From the Tom Roberts portrait on the wall, Major General Sir Edward Hutton casts a speculative eye on Colonel J.J. Spring (1943), Mrs Mackay and Major General K. Mackay (1935). New South Wales on the Paddington-Woollahra RSL Club. The Members The Graduation Day buffet lunch on 8 December 1987 were not disappointed as the Club looked after them afforded the N.S.W. Branch an opportunity to also extremely well. Apart from a very fine lunch, and provision conduct its biennial General Meeting. Despite the for all to dine comfortably seated, it was noted that a introduction of a mid-year graduation at RMC, the goodly number saw advantage in the Club's willingness Branch has decided that the tradition of gathering on to keep the bar open long after our customary 1400 hour the second Tuesday in December will continue to be deadline at Victoria Barracks. observed. Members were delighted to welcome their most senior Due to the heavy schedule envisaged for it during the members in Lieutenant Generals Sir Thomas Daly (1930) Bicentennial Year, the Victoria Barracks Officers' Mess and Sir Mervyn Brogan (1932) as well as some young was closed on 1 December 1987 to allow the staff to turks in Captains Mike Hagan and Murray Loft (1980) take leave. Consequently the N.S.W. Branch had to seek and a couple of juniors in Brigadier Don Veron (1925) an alternative venue and, despite some misgivings, settled and Colonel Alan Nyman (1924). As is their custom, the Northern Sub-branch N.Z. Members posed briefly during their buffet dinner on Graduation Day 1987. Back Row (L to R) M. Tebbutt (1943), V.B. Brown (1944), J.R. Clarke (1946), G.M. McKay (1950), A.C. Hamilton (1950), R.K.G. Porter (1943), C.A. Kibblewhite (1945), T.G. Martin (1951), S.F. Sim (1950). Centre Row (L to R) : J.W. Parsons (1970), I.H. Burrows (1950), M.J. Dudman (1956), W.J. Meldrum (1951), R. Stanley-Harris (1943), Mrs Burrows, Mrs Hitchings, Mrs Cooke, G.A. Hitchings (1949), C.M. Dixon (1951), T.A. Aldridge (1958), K.R. Cooke (1952). Front Row (L to R) Mrs Clarke, Mrs Martin, Mrs Porter, Mrs Stanley-Harris, Mrs Tebbutt, Mrs McKay, . 0 Mrs Kibblewhite, Mrs Dudman, Mrs Dixon, Mrs Hamilton, Mrs Brown, Mrs Sim. Fort Dorset 12 December 1987 Grace before lunch Lieutenant General J.A. Mace (1950), Brigadier B. Meldrum (1956), Major General Sir William Gentry (I 9 19). Mrs Gatley, Judge J.P. Gatley Lieutenant Colonel W.G. Mathew (1962), Major T. Loorparg (1960), Mrs Hewitt, Lieutenant Colonel B.J.L. Hewitt (1965). New Zealand Victoria The New Zealand Postal Golf Match Team of eight The final function for 1987 was a luncheon on 1 October played in perfect conditions at the Auckland Golf Club, in the Army Officers' Mess, Victoria Barracks at which Middlemore, on 29 September 1987. Eight wives played there was an attendance of about 60. This year at the as well and we would have done a great deal better had same venue on 3 March, some 55 friends enjoyed a we been able to include their scores. This was follwed pleasant buffet luncheon at which they were able to by a very pleasant dinner at the Narrow Neck Officers' welcome Major General J.N. Stein (1954) and Brigadier Mess where, as the evening progressed, the day's golfing P. Davis (1958). A special guest was Lieutenant Colonel performance bore less and less relationship to the final Arthur Stoyles, who was commissioned in the PMF score. Next year we may be able to field a Wellington- Garrison Artillery in 1914 and only dismissed by Father based team as well. The N.Z. Branch strongly supports Time in 1945. the Postal Golf Competition as a standing activity of the Society. At Auckland on Tuesday, 8 December 1987 the Western Australia Northern Sub-branch members and wives gathered at the Twelve members gathered in the Swan Barracks Narrow Neck Officers' Mess for the Graduation Day Officers' Mess for lunch on Wednesday 11 November buffet dinner. It was well attended on what was a beautiful 1987. P.J. Cook (1943) from Sydney attended as did two Auckland evening. from the Air Force - one RAF, Group Captain I.J. In Wellington on the following Saturday, 21 Members Lightfoot (1926) and one RAAF, Air Marshall Sir Valston and their wives met at Fort Dorset for their annual Hancock (1925). Our senior graduate (by year of entry), luncheon. Our new Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant Major General R.E. Wade (1924), has recently been in General J.A. Mace (1950) and Colonel H.L. Jones (1942) hospital with bronchitis but is now fit and joined us for spoke briefly before lunch was served. lunch. Victorian Branch Luncheon 3 March 1988. 1.G.C. Gilmore (1944), R.A. Slater (1960), R.W. Strachan (1974). B.F.B. Dance (1952), A.T.J. Be11 (1 930), R.M. Gurr (1940) - a long way for lunch? Statistics of the Corps of Staff This, That and the Other Cadets D. (David) C. Lee (1952) writes from Hong Kong that [At the Duntroon Society Council Meeting held on he would be pleased to see any Members who may find 18 March 1988, the CSC member gave a brief outline themselves in the Colony. David is with the Coroner's of the present composition of the Corps. Ed.] Court in Hong Kong. His address is: Current strength - 407 D.C. Lee, Malaysia - 2 D 17 Highcliff, New Zealand - 10 42 Stubbs Rd., RAAF - 6 Hong Kong. Singapore - 4 Ex ADFA - I00 Married - 30 Female - 45 Average age - 21.5 years Oldest Cadet - 27 years Youngest Cadet - 18 years Cadets with previous military experience - 117 Victoria11 Branch Luncheon 1 October 1987. The old, the slightly older and the new - D.C.S. Deighton (1949) H.L. Sabin (1930), J.N. Stein (1954). Captain H.L. Be11 (1951) Addresses Needed Lieutenant B.W. Dymet (1977) Brigadier, The Hon S.L.M. Eskell(1939) During the year, Duntroon Society mail to the Members Mr R.P. Flockhart (1974) listed below has been returned from their last known Mr C.J. Goldrick (1978) address. It would be much appreciated if any, or all, of Major C.S. Jones (1969) the current addresses were passed to: Mr P.R. McCann (1969) The Honorary Secretary, Colonel K.S. McKenzie (1943) The Duntroon Society, Captain W.B. Middleton (1958) Royal Military College, Mr A.C. Moxham (1973) Duntroon, Mr A.S.D. St John (1957) A.C.T. 2600 Major E.M. Thompson (1973) .. HARDSHIPS ???? amounted to that because, once all official duties were - P.G. Heffernan~ ~ -~ completed, we had little to do in offduty hours. There were the occasional visits to friends in Canberra, exercise s C For the benefit of those cadets who now reside at the RMC and for those who have done so in the recent past,- in the gymnasium and, once passed as suitable by the living in comfort with hot water every day, room heaters Riding Master, rides around the bountry-side.