Newsletter 11 1992 May 1992 From the Editor 18-month course will be with us forever. Going one step further, the similarities I have identified between the two In Newsletter 21 1987 I sought to assure Members that, pictures may, one day, also change. I know that the RMC despite some earlier problems, they could in future be without a defaulters' parade is unthinkable but, it may confident that delays in the publication of Newsletters well eventuate. would not occur. Unfortunately, the reasonable record Looking more closely at the two pictures, I did identify subsequently achieved has been badly spoiled by the one aspect of the second which was not in the first and tardiness of this Newsletter. A bout of pneumonia and, would not have been in any preceding pictures whether immediately on recovery from that, involvement of your they be from 1969 or 1929. It is probably the most Editor in a car accident contrived to put Newsletter I/ significant change of the decade under scrutiny. It is the 1992 some seven weeks behind schedule. composition of the Corps. For those who provided announcements of Society The Corps now includes females and ex-soldiers; cadets activities planned for the near future and for those who can be married; young people straight from school mix may even anticipate the Newsletter's arrival I offer my with those with previous work experience; some hold regrets and apologies. There is, however, no foreseeable tertiary qualifications, some do not; some cadets are as .eason why the next issue should not be back to the normal old as 26 and there is a greater mix of nationalities. This timing. is in stark contrast to the more homogeneous cadet bodies Since Newsletter 211989 a series of personal stories has of previous generations characterised as single, all male been published under the title 'The Prodigal Son's Corner'. Australian and New Zealand teenagers who had graduated Judging by the response in letters and queries received, by age 22. many Members have found these writings of interest. This The manifestation of this change is most noticeable issue does not include such an article and there are no in the micro-culture of the Corps. I now notice a diversity more in the offing. It is known that there are many others of tastes and interests in diet, cars, partners, sports and who have stories of this kind and I ask that they 'put hobbies unthinkable ten years ago. This to me is the most pen to paper' or 'fingers to the keyboard' to enable this significant change. It certainly makes for a much different interesting series to continue. Corps and, I believe, a more complex Corps. Whilst it is not up to me to comment on the merit of this change, I would like to pose the following question to readers. "would another picture, developed ten years hence, identify such a significant change?" Major A.A. Murrqy entered the RMC on 17 January Two Pictures - Ten Years Apart 1979 and graduated on 14 December 1982. He returned A.A. Murray to the College as a captain instructor on 15 January 1990. On 2 September 1991 he was promoted major but As a cadet at the RMC from 1979 to 1982 I developed remained on the staff until 23 April 1992. As a member d mental image of the College which stayed with me after ofthe RMC Soccer Team he contributed to the Newsletter graduation. It is as if this picture sits on the mantelpiece 2/1989. with my Graduation Certificate and Class photograph. Exactly a decade later, in March 1989, 1 began another four-year association with the RMC. A second picture has developed and a basis for comparison now exists. How does picture two differ from the first? The length of the course has changed; there are many new buildings; only four companies now exist; the academic staff have Profile of the Corps of Staff Cadets gone: cadets wear stable belts and the Commandant is a brigadier. Similarities between the two pictures include Current (8 May 1992) strength Graduation and the Queen's Birthday, the Lee Shield, First Class the 1812 Overture, defaulter's parade, days to go and Second Class cadets always looking for more sleep and food. Malaysia This list of obvious differences and similarities can be New Zealand added to ad infinitum and a comparison with the College Papua New Guinea of 1969 would probably produce a similar list. This leads Philippines to the conclusion that these changes, while significant to Singapore me, are less significant in the overall scheme of things. Thailand As Edmund Burke once said . a state without the means RAAF fsome change is without the means of its conservation. ADFA Graduates I'hus, the development of the RMC over the decades has ADFA Transfers been characterised by change. It has become a constant. Married There will always be new buildings, cadet uniforms will Female continue to change and there is no guarantee that the Cadets with previous military experience A.C.T. Branch Autumn Lunch - Duntroon House, 3 April 1992 From left, M.J. R. Hulse (19.501, J. G. Hughes (1953) & G.D. Solomon (1 938). Background, A.L. Morrison (1947). J. Cullens & H.S. Hodges. From left, A. Clunies-Ross (1952), R. E. P. Cowley (1952), J. Whitelaw & P.J.A. Evans (1955). Background, D. F. W. Engel (1944), H. M. Pickering & R. P. Richardson (1943). Branch Reports South Australia Australian Capital Territory The Branch held its Annual General Meeting and ..- Graduation Luncheon on 10 December 1991 at the There was a good attendance at the Autumn Luncheon Officers' Mess, Keswick Barracks. To allow Members to on 3 April 1992 held at Duntroon House. As the Members attend the Graduation and associated anniversaries in gathered as usual under 'Fred's Tree' it could not be missed Canberra it was decided to conduct the Branch function that the very old inhabitant had been given a 'short back in future about 14 days earlier than Graduation Day. and Sides' trim. Coming Events New South Wales The AGM and Graduation Day Luncheon was held on 10 December 1992 at Victoria Barracks. At that Although excursions such as Rutherglen and Cowra Meeting it was noted that of the 1,100 metropolitan race had been most successful it has been decided not to plan meetings conducted during the last ten years, only six more of these in the foreseeable future but to concentrate had been cancelled - two of them being meetings at on a combined dinner and lecture format. Preliminary which the Branch had organised its Queen's Birthday arranging has begun and details will be issued in due activities. The proposal for the Branch to re-schedule this course. function was, however, rejected. N.S.W. Branch New Zealand Monday, 8 June 1992 (Queen's Birthday weekend). The Wellington Members and their wives attended a annual buffet and raceday at the AJC's Randwick luncheon at Trentham Officers' Mess on 8 December 199 1. Racecourse. The buffet will be held in the new Vice-Regal -In Auckland the traditional Graduation Night Dinner was Suite. ACT Members who are interested in attending are held on 10 December 1991 at the Narrow Neck Officers' requested to contact Lieutenant Colonel Ron Hamlyn Mess. The Postal Golf Competition match was held at on (02) 262 5173 (W) or (02) 387 2158 (H). Remuera Golf Club on 18 October 1991 in trying September 1992. The Postal Golf Competition. conditions. This was followed by 26 attending dinner in the clubhouse that evening. Another golf weekend was Victorian Branch held at Taupo for both sub-Branches on 28 February - I March 1991. Thursday, I October 1992. Luncheon in the Logistic Command Officers' Mess, Victoria Barracks. Victoria RMC Ceremonial Parades Branch Members and friends attended luncheons at the Officers' Mess, Victoria Barracks on 3 October 1991 6 June 1992 - The Queen's Birthday Parade. and 5 March 1992. In attendance at the latter was C.H. 23 June 1992 - The 1/92 Graduation Parade. This will (Colin) Brown (1943) who now lives in the U.S.A. The be the last mid-year graduation. black tie dinner planned for 1 May 1992 gained too few Further information can be obtained from the SO3 acceptances and was cancelled. (Ceremonial), Captain W.J. Burns on (06) 275 9539. Wellington sub-Branch Luncheon, 8 December 1991. From the lefi; D. W.S. Moloney (1957) in the 'Tiger Stripes: K.J. Beale (1958) Mrs Loorparg, Mrs McKeon, W.G. Mathew (1962) & T. Loorparg (1960). N.S.W. Branch AGM & Lunch - Victoria Barracks, 10 December 1991 From the left; R.G.P. St. V. McNamara (1940), E. L. Cook (1930) & R. W. Fox (1938). From the left; R.S. Plater (1940), B.A. Andrews (1941) & J. Scott-Stevenson (1940). 4 Duntroon Society Office Bearers Since the publication in Newsletter 211990 of the Queensland complete list of office bearers the following changes have Convenor Brigadier B. Wade, AM '-occurred. 58 Rennie St., Indooroopilly, The Honorary Major S.C. Gillett Queensland. 4068 Secretary Office of the Commandant, (07) 37 1 2944 (W) Royal M.ilitary College, (07) 37 1 8572 (H) Duntroon, A.C.T. 2600 (06) 275 9701 (W) South Australia Convenor Colonel J.A. Clark, OBE 26 Fern Ave., Commanding Lieutenant Colonel F.R. Edwards, Fullarton, Officer, CSC Royal Military College, S.A. 5063 Duntroon, (08) 272 5968 (H) A.C.T. 2600 (06) 275 9748 Secretary Lieutenant Colonel R.W. Hone, 4 Pickering Ave., New South Wales Fullarton, Convenor Major General K.W.