SCRIBBLER # 75. June 2018
THE SCRIBBLER
E NEWS
SCRIBBLER # 75.
ACCOLADES FOR ADELAIDE
The planning was done, the program was set, the venues arranged and the keen team of volunteers promised a good reunion. From all that we have heard they got that wrong, it was a wonderful time and a very worthwhile experience. Congratulations Adelaide.
The much coveted Sir Yes Sir Global Writer Ring was won by James Carroll. This is a one off silver ring, with the Scribes logo on it, will be a piece of scribe history.
LEW’s TENURE AS PRESIDENT COMING TO AN END
Lew Horsfield has announced his retirement as President at the Adelaide Reunion with the following speech
When I was elected to the Position of President of the Association back in 1998, I had good eyesight and brown hair. Well the hair colour has changed , the eyesight in my right eye just about gone, my back is going on me, and the strength in my right leg is going. So I thought I should be going too.
This will be my last term as I intend to step down at the AGM in October, after some 20 years. It is time to take my Long Service Leave. I have been blessed with having a great team working with me, who kept me in check. I will be leaving with a lot of great memories.
At the Reunion, I was honoured to receive a silver level NAVY Commendation from the Deputy Chief of Navy. I share this honour with my late friend Geoffrey Hardwick.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held in Sydney on 26 October 2018 at a venue to be confirmed.
All Positions on the Committee, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and three Committee Members are declared vacant and an election of volunteers must take place.
To ensure the voting is done within accepted guidelines Blue Worrall has agreed to be the returning officer. Blue is also the current Secretary.
If you are interested in nominating for a position on the Committee, Please send your name and the position you are interested in to Blue Worrall at MARK.WORRALL@DEFENCE.GOV.AU. If we have more than one volunteer for a position a vote will be required. All financial members are permitted to vote for the person of their selection. Closing date for nominations will be 31 August 2018.
The returning officer will coordinate the volunteers names and voting, and will pass the results to the President in a sealed envelope a week before the AGM. The envelope will be opened and results announced at the AGM.
To ensure continued progress and development of the Association we need members to volunteer. Especially there is a need to have more currently serving members on the Committee even as an ex-officio Committee Member.
We need you!
FEATURED SCRIBE
Wonder where pay cards came from?
Ramon Leroy Picard – R.35900
DoB: 14TH November 1928.
Member for Life #216.
I joined the ran on 9th March 1948 as a Recruit Writer and was discharged to shore on 13th November 1958 as a Petty Officer Writer. I was promoted to Leading Writer on 1st October 1951 and Petty Officer Writer 1st October 1953.
I served in the following ships and establishments – HMAS Cerberus, Torrens, Warrego, Cerberus.
I was selected for special duty in HMAS Australia from 25 March 1954 to 18 July 1954. During this time, I was tasked with setting up the pay cards system which replaced the ledger system. To do this I picked out several members pay accounts to allow details to be put into the pay cards. I was pleased that things went well. After HMAS Australia I returned to Cerberus, Swan and Torrens.
After my discharge shore, I joined the RANR as a POWTR, on 14 November 1958.
On 05 February 1959, I was promoted to Supply Sub Lieutenant (W) RANR.
On 01 October 1965, I was promoted to Supply Lieutenant (W) RANR.
In August 1966, I transferred to the RANVR.
That’s where pay cards came from. Thanks Ramon.
VALE Ex CPOWTR Ken Hall
Served in the RAN from 9/6/1949 to 29/8/1970. Member #43.
Ken was born 30.08.1930 and crossed the bar 4.06.2018.
Official Number: R37465 Joined the RAN June 1949.
Shore postings include : Cerberus, Lonsdale, Leeuwin, Albatross, Harman and Kuttabul.
Sea Postings include: Australia, Vengence, Sydney, Quiberon, Derwent, Stuart.
Promotions: Leader – 1/1/1953; PO 1/4/1956; CPO 11/8/1961.
A very nice and quiet bloke whilst serving at HMAS Leeuwin as a Petty Officer in 1962 and sometime later as a Chief.
His funeral is set for Wednesday 13th June at 1530 in east Fremantle Cemetery. (Cremation)
THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY HELICOPTER FLIGHT VIETNAM
UNIT CITATION FOR GALLANTRY
For acts of extraordinary gallantry in action in South Vietnam from October 1967 to June 1971.
The Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam, as part of the Experimental Military Unit of the United States Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company, exhibited exceptional and extraordinary gallantry whilst engaged in offensive operations continuously throughout its four-year deployment. This exceptional gallantry was enabled by the efforts of the entire Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam.
The Flight was a unique unit and every member, regardless of mustering or category, either performed their duties with demonstrable gallantry or were used in roles for which they were not trained and still performed bravely. The administrative and maintenance staff were required to assist in the provision of base security in addition to their normal duties and almost all of the support personnel regularly volunteered to act as aircrew employed as door-gunners and Crew Chiefs. This was in addition to the extremely long maintenance hours required to support the tempo of operations conducted by the Flight. Over the course of the operations in Vietnam, the Flight accumulated a formidable record of operational flight hours and citations for individual gallantry. This has set it apart from other operational units.
While exposed to hostile fire and at great personal risk, aircrew flew on average 50 per cent more operational hours per month than other Australian aircrew in comparable roles with other units. Aircrew were constantly engaged by the enemy, faced the danger of booby-trapped landing zones and frequently found themselves fired upon by friendly forces. The personnel who flew with the Flight arguably saw the most intense combat of any Royal Australian Navy personnel in the war. Despite the fact that none of the personnel had previous operational service and none had been under fire, they were courageous in battle, exhibited exceptional and extraordinary gallantry and did so with great skill and heroic dedication in executing a mission far removed from those for which they had been trained. Over the period of the Flight’s operations in South Vietnam, five members of the unit died and 22 were wounded in action.
The extraordinary gallantry, dedication to duty and astonishing record of the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam conducting tasks far removed from the expectations of Naval service, has forever set it apart from other units. The extraordinary acts of gallantry and heroism consistently displayed by the personnel, combined with their loyal devotion to duty were in keeping with the finest traditions of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Defence Force.
THE WRITERS WHO WERE POSTED TO THE FLIGHT ARE AS FOLLOWS:
LEADING WRITER JOHN BIGGS
LEADING WRITER TREVOR ATKINS
LEADING WRITER GRAHAM WAUGH
LEADING WRITER ALAN MCKINNON.
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