WASHUP
Junior Recruit Members


Thank you for your participation in the 50th Reunion
we trust that you are now all home and enjoyed youselves during the weens functions that three old blokes arranged.

we have now attached the newsletter number 13 on the  newsletter page for your attention










To All gentlemen’s of Junior Recruit fame.


Well it has been and gone!!

Two and a half years in the preparation and what do we do now?

Firstly we must thank you, all members of the JRTS, for putting your faith in three old blokes to arrange a week’s events to celebrate fifty years of the Junior Recruits Training Scheme. We also wish to thank those who travelled thousands of kilometres to get to Perth, well done and trust your journey home was a safe and memorable one.

When we started 5 years ago, we thought only, quite unashamedly of the first intake, this was then decided some two and a half years ago to make it for the whole of the JRTS. This was obviously, from what we saw in Perth during the week’s events, the way to go.

Those of you who have arranged reunions, must know that there are many things that one just cannot do, without asking for assistance. We did this too, and included such people as the following:

•Mr. Gareth Martin Director Business Development - Perth Convention Bureau.
•WA Tourist Commission.
•Ms. Alexandra Lucchesi, Public Relations Manager, Perth Mint Hay Street Perth WA.
•RADM Brian Adams AO, RAN [Retd]. [Ex JR 22nd Intake 1968]; for his assistance and his
            story on Junior Recruits.
•LCDR Jillian Brownlie RANR, for her expertise and assistance with all things naval.
•Mr. Gary Kinkade, Manager Navy Badges, Graphic Designer, for his expertise and design
            assistance.
•RAN Band Commanded by, Chief Petty Officer, Ted Tait 2ic,  together with CPOMUSN
            Gabe Kicsak, Western Australian Detachment, Royal Australian Navy Band
•Mr. Peter Law Leeuwin Barracks, East Fremantle.
•Ms Lorna Halliday, Event Sales Executive Conventions & Events. Burswood Convention
              Centre – Great Eastern Highway Burswood WA –
•Ms Alicia Rinaldi, Event Manager Burswood Convention Centre. – Great Eastern Highway
             Burswood WA.
•Mr. Ross Pyke, Secretary Manager, Fremantle Harness
•Mr. Guy Waddell, Manager Group & Convention Travel, Qantas Airways Limited, Sydney.
•Ms, Wendy & Mr. Rod Thomas, [Park Hosts] Discovery Holiday Park –Perth,
•Mr. Ramon Lawrence, [ex JR 2nd Intake 1961] owner, Ramon’s at Willow Ponds,
•Mr. Glen Gillen, Manager, WA Wine Cellars, Osborne Park.
•Mr. Peter Bartoshefski – Astute Promotions, Canning Vale WA 6155
•Mr. Peter McLernon, Managing Director Mclernons Everything Business,
•Mr. Paul Nicholson, Rockingham Naval Club.
•MS, Sharon Johnson, Reunions Consultant, Salt Vacation Club, Maroochydore QLD
•Mr.  Tom Kenny, Glendinnings Menswear Pty Ltd. Rockingham
•Mr. Allan Hewson, for all excellent artwork designs and paintings.
•Keys Bros. Moving Solutions.
•Australian Navy Cadets, Training Ship Perth, East Fremantle.
      Bob & Jan Davis, Allsports Trophies.
•Junior Recruits of all Intakes 1960 to 1984.

And of course not to be forgotten, Vice Admiral Russell Crane, AO, CSM, RAN, Chief of Navy, We are confident he was pulling strings in the background for many “back room” deals - one we know of  was, without his assistance - we may have all been beating a saucepan for the parade at the memorial service and the dance.  

Their most helpful & generous assistance and support to allow our fiftieth reunion to go off so well is much appreciated.

We, as a committee, are so proud and pleased to have ignited so much enthusiasm throughout the entire Junior Recruit fraternity to enjoy the company of their mates and to enjoy their friendships and to have made new ones..

Of course there were some minor problems and these were overcome – I think?

We must firstly thank all the Junior Recruits for their enthusiasm in joining with us to celebrate 50 years of the Junior Recruit Training Scheme. And most of all for the enjoyment going so well as not to take up the “fight attitude” that has been evident in other reunions.

To the JR who made souvenirs of: – "Jack Tar & Sinbad’s" Caps at the meet and Greet and the “Welcome to Perth” sign at the Gala Dinner, we will be in touch with you soon and you will surely have to have shiny boots when you front for defaulters. 

We just forgot to nail down everything that we did not want souvenired. Someone else out there must also be pleased to have a nice navy blue jacket with an orange lining, keep warm you bugger. I am just happy to have provided you with a nice piece of kit!!



RABBIT ORDERS ARE NOW COMPLETED AND NO FURTHER WILL BE ACCEPTED
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND THESE WILL BE FORWARDED TO THOSE WHO ORDERED THEM ASAP.



Orders for the Reunion DVD can still be made:

Please forward your money by electronically transferring to bank account
Junior recruits 50th Reunion BSB 036 067 Account 34 6078   -

DON’T FORGET YOUR NAME AND SERVICE NUMBER IN THE
TRANSACTION DETAILS WHEN ELECTRONICALLY TRANSFERRING MONEY

Or by sending a money order or cheque to the Treasurer:
5 Skye Lane ELLENBROOK WA 6069.



We think the wash-up for our reunion should be accomplished via a daily basis Sitrep which goes as follows:



Meet and Greet:

Even though the commencement time for this function was widely published for a 1200 Noon start, queues started at 1030. Not sure if the starters were dry of just wanted to get their Reunion Satchels. It was most pleasing to see so many eagerly waiting what they had in the bags, reminded me of when we first started school.

Firstly, we have to thank the twenty members and their partners, who joined with us on Sunday 11th at the Burswood, to ensure that all these bags were packed with the correct orders and the “free bees” provided by our supporters. Was a long day and for those who had a couple of wrong items in their bags, sorry but I understand that has or will be sorted very shortly.

To Allan Hewson for his donation of a painting of the HMAS Sydney and the Emden, we say thank you. This painting was used as a raffle with the proceeds raised being donated to the Princess Margaret Children’s Hospital Foundation in Perth. 

The Burswood Entertainment Complex, now understands that if they had taken our advice and established a couple of extra bar facilities for the 1500 or so members who drank their way through, 2.5 pallets of beer or $20,000, during the Meet and Greet afternoon, they would have sold more.

Everyone has a learning process but when it comes to navy people there is a different process!
Management of Burswood still makes statements like we thought sailors would just have one or two drinks and then move on !!!       Like we said everyone has a leraning curve.

Burswood is now well prepared for another invasion of naval personnell.

Congratulations to you all, I knew there was a reason for the early queue before the function, you were dry!

Others who need to be thanked here include

Brad Carter: . Brad and his team ventured all the way from Queensland to display his wares and did a great job. Those who visited his stand in the Astral Rooms at the Meet and Greet we presented with a wide range of various naval memorabilia plus a video he is selling – well done and thanks Brad.

His Website:.    You can view his Website  www.proudlyweserved.com.au  [or]     click here.

Tom Kenny:  also provided a great range of stock from Glendinnings Menswear. He advises me that there were many visitors and trust that he didn’t “rip” you off too much. Tom also dressed our two additional members –, we thank him very much for allowing use of the uniforms for our welcomers Jack Tar and Sin Bad. Thank you very much Tom. Tom is also an EX JR [from the 52nd intake} 





Commemorative Memorial:

We, the Reunion Committee, on your behalf, congratulate Mr. Ken Dobbie and his Memorial Committee Members together with their Patron, Rear Admiral Brian Adams AO, RAN [rtd], for their  fantastic work in fulfilling an idea to establish a Memorial to all Junior Recruits at Leeuwin Barracks.  Well done and congratulations.

The unveiling of the memorial was performed by the Chief of Navy Vice Admiral R.H. Crane A0, CSM, RAN [himself an ex JR from 1970]. Those present witnessed a most stirring, stimulating and teary event.







To the Navy Band led by, Ted Tait and Gabe Kicsak and all band members, we say, we still feel the goose bumps when you and the Guard [comprising HMAS STIRLING sailors] marched on parade. Well done.

The staff members also from HMAS STIRLING and the Naval Cadets from TS Perth made sure that everyone was directed to their correct positions for the service and parked in the appropriate places ensuring sufficient exits where necessary.

Following the service, we noticed the first of the many queues, for the week, constructed for a brew and piece of cake.

Well done gentlemen, congratulations on a job well done.




Gala Dinner:

What can we say?

Ladies you looked fantastic with a multitude of colours and the corsages you wore were stunning made us mere men look a little out of place.

The night started well and luckily, with our lack of training and supervisory skills, the speeches went just a little too long. We even tried to get Jim Dickson CDRE [rtd] off the stage by dropping one of our chandeliers from the roof to no avail, he just kept on.

For those noisy buggers down the back who did not here his brilliant speech you can obtain one by clicking on speech:

here

Well done Jim, and thank you,  it was a most fantastic resume of a Junior Recruit.

Following the speeches the night took on another life with the Naval Band and “Moose” ensuring that everyone should be on the dance floor. We all say well done to the band and to “Moose” for his interpretations of all modern and past lead singers. Must have worked well for the dance floor was always filled to capacity.

To Burswood Management, “Wait Staff”, chefs and to all those hidden behind the scenes, we say well done and thanks, There was never a table without drinks and the food service was outstanding. We thank you for allowing us to set a record in the Gala Ballroom. This record number of people 1184 we hope will stand for a considerable time. We have advised Burswood that If  they ever come near to a position where we may be beaten, we suggested  they  advise there is no more room available.

It was disappointing to many that when the “clock struck 12” and the pumpkin was at the ready it was time to say our goodbyes and vacate the premises. I know that this was not the end of the night as many ventured inside for a continuance.


Recuperation Function:

Wednesday after a somewhat shortened sleep process, 498 ventured to Ramon’s at Willow Pond [by bus and other modes of transport] in Canning Vale for a bit of the “hair of the dog”.

Hosted by Norma and Ramon Lawrence [2nd Intake], judging by the look of some of you, this indeed was a well needed program. More drinking and eating but this time at a much more leisurely pace.

Congratulations to Peter Denver and his helpers for the raffles, we understand that the RAN in Vietnam Welfare Association did well and their coffers now have something in it. This will now provide a much beneficial source of funds to allow them to provide their Advocacy work for those who require it.

We thank Norma and her teams work led by Roxanne for all their work on the day – we noticed Ramon was strolling around in the sun light gathering all the accolades whilst Norma was wielding the whip. Thank you for a great day.



HMAS Stirling and Navy Club

0845 and the first of five busses pulled away from Burswood for their hour-long trip to Rockingham and the “Window Tour” of HMAS Stirling lunch as the Navy Club.

Hope that the people on my bus were not too humiliated with the quiz, some did well and some obviously needed the eye masks provided to enable you to go back to sleep.

We must thank Ian Dunn for all his work for the quizzes and the prizes, I am sure that the quiz was just another little bit of light entertainment to help you enjoy your time in Perth, thanks Ian.

We were met by our official guides [ex JRs]  at the Causeway and on completion of the security process the busses travelled throughout the Stirling and Fleet Base West.

Those of you who journeyed over the causeway will have noticed a huge difference to what you may have seen when there last. To those for the first time, what did you think?

We must now thank the navy for allowing us to visit with them and to Paul Nicholson and his team at the Navy Club , we say, thank you for a great feed and for allowing us to top up your cash registers. 

We appreciate the use of your facilities.

To the Irish gentlemen signing their little hearts out on the stage, thanks gents.



Evening at Gloucester Park

This time we deliberately left the day free for many of you were somewhat tired by this stage and needed a sleep in. Trust this worked for you – I know it did for us.

To Gary and Sharon Nash a big thank goes to them both for their unending efforts with the betting syndicate. It was quite obvious however that by the end of the night, with the total winnings available, we are not too good in betting on trotters.

We started with 183 all depositing $10.00 into the syndicate and at the end of the night we had somewhat less in the account. Because maths was probably not one of Gary’s better subjects [he could not divvy it up for all present] the members present all agreed that the funds should be transferred to the Reunion Committee for donation to the Princess Margaret Children’s Hospital Foundation.

These funds were added to the raffle and $2000 was transferred. 

Thank you all for your generosity.

To Ross Pyke, Fremantle Harness Club, for his support with the evening and to Red Pepper Catering for their most fantastic spread we say thank you and well done. For those who received a trotting booklet – we had a short blurb printed inside advising everyone at the Park that evening that we were there and celebrating fifty years of the Junior Recruit Training Scheme. Thank you Ross..

Well now that the teary goodbyes are over and everyone is now back at home, we once again say a BIG thank you, to you, the JR and partners for coming over to Perth to enjoy the week’s celebrations.

We saw and heard many of you undertaking the usual amount of tall story telling during the week. The “Warries” got bigger and better with each mouthful of drink. Well done Junior Recruits, we are confident that this reunion will be well remembered by those who participated and envied by those who did not make the journey.

Our Reunion Website will be kept up and running for some time with some minor modifications until another is established.

Thank you,
we trust and hope that the Junior Group does not just fade away and that someone out there takes up the challenge to keep this huge group of ex pimply faced young eager teenagers together as a group.

We won’t say goodbye just see you later



Kind regards
The Junior Recruits 50th
Reunion Organizing Committee.





Gentlemen you may wish to look at Brad Carters website.     He has many photographs taken at the reunion -   his weibite can be gained by  clicking here       click