BULLETIN - Rasurvey.org

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN SURVEY CORPS
ASSOCIATION
Queensland Branch
BULLETIN
PO Box 5784 Stafford Heights 4053
Website: www.rasurvey.org
ANZAC EDITION– No 33 APRIL 2008
CALENDAR FOR 2008
16 Mar (Sun) Bribie Island Barbecue at Tony and Loretta Gee’s home.
25 Apr (Fri) Anzac Day – Dawn Service; city march; Gaythorne RSL
4 Jul (Fri) Colonel Alex Laing Memorial Dinner at United Service Club
6 Sep (Sat) Reunion Lunch and AGM at the Gaythorne RSL
October Mapmaker’s Dinner
November Derek Chambers Award
First function of the year – Gourmet Barbecue at the Bribie Island home of Tony and Loretta
Gee – 50 Bibimulya Street, Bellara. 12.00 midday. BYO refreshments. Bring a salad or deserts. RSVP
Secretary Barry. Liaise directly with Loretta on salads and deserts (Ph 3408 8467)
ANZAC DAY 2008
March with your Association mates on Friday the
25 th April 2008. Anzac Day 2008 promises to be
another memorable occasion starting with the dawn
service at the 6th Engineer Support Regiment 7 Sqn
Cenotaph at Enoggera Barracks adjacent to
Samford Road. Members and their families and
friends are invited to the Engineer Sportsman’s Club
for a barbecue breakfast after the dawn service. A
thirty seater bus will depart the Sportman’s Club at
0930 hours and passengers will be dropped as close as possible to the Assembly point for the City
March. We will form up somewhere in the vicinity of the Treasury Casino in George Street. If in doubt
enquire at the information booth in Queens Park. The Squadron is providing banner bearers and this
year we will be led by Brian Johnson. Wally Chilcott is to carry the iconic theodolite now fitted with
the patented carrying device developed by Peter Tangey.
Wear your Association Berets: They are increasingly being recognized by march commentators and
other Corps Associations as the unique head-dress of the RA Survey Association.
After the March: This year we are getting together again at the Gaythorne RSL for a post-march
drink and a bite to eat up-stairs. Unfortunately the ‘alcove’ room we have used in the past two years
is no longer available and the RSL cannot take bookings on Anzac day but if we get there early
enough we should be able to capture a few tables.
The Royal Australian Survey Corps Association (Queensland) acknowledges the generous sponsorship and support
of Pioneer Surveys Pty Ltd
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COMMITTEE
Patron Lieutenant Colonel EU Anderson MBE (Ph 3408 9179)
EXECUTIVE
President Peter Bates-Brownsword (Ph 3289 7001) email petenbarb@dovenetq.net.au
Vice President Alex Cairney (Ph 3397 7583) email cairneyalex@hotmail.com
Secretary Barry Lutwyche (3264 2191) email rasvy_qld@yahoo.com.au
sec.qld@rasurvey.org
Treasurer Ross Smithwick (Ph 3356 5786) email rdsmithwick@ozemail.com.au
COMMITTEE
Member Mary-Ann Thiselton (Ph 3353 1026) email rockthis@bigpond.net.au
Member Jim Gill (Ph 3264 1597) email jimgill@hotkey.net.au
Bulletin Editor & Historian Bob Skitch (Ph 3265 1370) email bob.skitch@runbox.com
North Coast representative Kym Weston (Ph 5445 6927) email kym@westonsweb.com
& web site manager (mob 0427 377 226)
North Qld representative Dennis Gregor (Ph mob 0409 648 026) email psurvey@bigpond.com
1 TOPO SVY SQN
Squadron OC
Major David Sapparth
Squadron SSM WO1 Peter Coles (Ph 3332 7564)
Note: Refer Veteran’s Affairs matters to Peter Bates-Brownsword and Stan Campbell
OUR HISTORY PROJECT – What did we do over all those years – 1946- 1996
I continue to canvass support for this worthwhile project. Our collective memory can fill in many gaps
but it is fading with the passing of years. It is ten years since the disbandment of the Corps we as
individuals served, the Corps that gave such outstanding service to our nation for eighty-one years.
We need to record what each of the units did over the fifty years following the end of WW2. It really is
a simple exercise. I have had responses from Clem Sargent, Noel Sproles, John Bullen, Charlie
Watson, Alex Cairney, Percy Long, Richard Jackson-Hope, Ted Laker, Ross McMillan, Barry
Lutwyche, Kym Weston, Graeme Baker, Arthur Hensen’ Peter Jensen and Roger Rees in Defence
(DIGO) The major gap area is after 1980. The following is the preferred format but I am just as happy
to receive your input listed down the page – pen and ink is OK. Please give this matter some thought.
Every bit helps ….Alternatively, you can enter your data on our website – www.rasurvey.org
YR UNIT OPERATION
PROJECT
19
56
N Cmd
Fd Svy
Sect
DURATION LOCATION NATURE OF WORK
UNDERTAKEN
Control for 1” to 1 mile
mapping - 4th order
triangulation,
Intersection, resection,
(plane table) baro
heighting
No name On-going Qld –
Macrossan,
Charters
Towers, ….
NOTICES
PERSONS TAKING PART
Capt EU (Ed) Anderson OC,
WO2 Blue Hunter, Sgts
Snow Ralston, Jeff Lambert,
Garney Cook, Cpls Ted
Miller, Geoff Helsham, Sprs
Sam Chambers, Brian
Berkery, Bob Skitch.
OTHER
INFORMATION
Arrived May at
Macrossan. Sect
had not returned
to Brisbane since
sometime in
1955. Xmas in
the field……..
VIETNAM – A TECHNICAL TOUR by Bob
McMillan-Kay.
Copies can be obtained from Bob McMillan-Kay at a
cost of $36.00 including postage. We commend this
highly successful book of Bob’s Vietnam
experience. Bob’s address is 14 March Lane,
Maryborough, Qld, 4650.
MAPMAKERS OF FORTUNA
Copies may be purchased from the Ex-Fortuna
Survey Association (PO Box 865 Bendigo 3552) at
$60.00 plus postage of $11.50 which includes cost
of a padded postal bag.
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ASSOCIATION BADGE
Association badges are still available from the Ex-
Fortuna Survey Association. Place your orders with
Barry Lutwyche and we will try to satisfy them.
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN SURVEY CORPS
PLAQUE: The Ex-Fortuna Association has
purchased some of the original RA Svy plaques.
These are available from Ex-Fortuna Secretary
Tracey Phillips, 03 5442 0263; 03 5449 6330 (AH);
email phipsys@bigpond.com. Price on application.
RA SURVEY ASSOCIATION PLAQUE
Magna Carto advises that the plaque has been
finished and is ready for distribution. The final
design incorporates the three badges overlapping,
the theodolite badge of pre-WW2, the wartime
colour patch and the Post WW2 RA Svy badge. The
cost of the plaque is $50.00 plus postage. Place
orders with our Secretary, Barry Lutwyche.
ASSOCIATION TIE or SCARF
Cost is $20.00 and $7.00 postage for each. We
suggest you place your order directly with the Ex
Fortuna Association, Tracey Phillips, email
phipsys@bigpond.com or phone Barry Lutwyche.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2007 – 2008
‘Don’t go to sleep on your membership!’
Keep in touch with you Survey Corps mates by
being a paid-up member of your Association.
Our financial year runs from Sept to Sept.
Subscription is but $10.00 per year. We encourage
you to pay three years in advance (or more if you
wish). Subscription is waived for veterans 75 and
over who have been standing paid-up members of
our Association. Pay-time was at the AGM 1 Sept
07 – but it is not too late now!
LAST FRIDAYS
Last Fridays continue at the Gaythorne RSL with
increasing patronage. Pop along and have a beer or
a softie with your mates.
ARMY COMBAT BADGE
Again I refer to the statement on page 3 of our
August Bulletin concerning our possible eligibility for
the issue of the badge to Survey Vietnam Veterans.
I must confess that what with seven weeks in South
Africa in 2007 and now in the throws of moving, I
have not been able to pursue the matter with the
appropriate authorities. I hope to give it my attention
as soon as Wendy and I are re-settled…Bob Skitch
VALE – CLEM SARGENT
We were all saddened to learn of the death of
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Clem Sargent,
OAM, noted military historian, Honorary
Colonel Commandant Royal Australian Survey
Corps 1983-1989 and esteemed friend and
mentor to many of his Corps colleagues. The
following eulogy was prepared and read by
Charlie Watson at Clem’s funeral service in the
Anzac Memorial Chapel of the Royal Military
College Duntroon on Wednesday 9 th January
2008.
We are gathered here
today to farewell and pay
tribute to our esteemed
friend, Clem Sargent.
Clem Sargent joined the
Interim Army in March
1946 with the hope that
he would be sent to
Japan with the
Occupation Forces.
Instead he was allotted to
5th Field Survey
Company of the Survey
Corps, based at
Chatswood in Sydney, as a Sapper. He did
his initial survey training under Major Bert
Eggeling and Warrant Officer Class 2 Spencer
Snow.
In October 1946 he did field work in the Snowy
Mountains. He was part of Spencer Snow’s
survey party which commenced levelling from
near Jindabyne to the top of Mt Kosciusko.
The levelling stopped at Charlottes Pass
because snow covered the remaining high
ground.
After a brief Christmas break in Sydney work
commenced again in January 1947. In March
the survey party rode horses into the Grey
Mare Range and the Rolling Grounds and
worked for six weeks establishing survey
control. Clem remarked recently “I’d never
ridden, couldn’t ride then and still can’t”. The
survey party was forced to pull out for the
winter. Clem had been promoted to Corporal
around this time.
In 1948 Clem was working on the Berridale 1
inch to 1 mile map. Major Clews’s plan to do
barometric heighting down Hannels Ridge had
to be cancelled because of snow falls. This
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saved Clem and Sapper Williams having to ride
a horse from “The Chalet”, at Charlottes Pass,
down through Dead Horse Gap and Tom
Groggin to meet with the Maj at the bottom of
Hannels Ridge. Later that year he attended a
course at the newly established School of
Military Survey at Balcombe. This was the first
course of several courses that he would attend
over the next couple of years. The
Commanding Officers were Major Bert
Eggeling and later Lieutenant Colonel Bill
Johnson.
In 1949 Clem was posted to the Long Range
Weapons Establishment, with Don Ridge. The
Unit was commanded by Lieutenant Snow and
Sargent Ken Cook was the Unit senior NCO. In
1950 Clem was involved in surveys for the
Woomera rocket range and participated in
measurement of the Koolymilka first order base
line. This was the last such baseline measured
in Australia.
After a Special Survey Course at Balcombe in
the latter part of 1950 and another in 1951,
Clem was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 15
December 1951 at the same time as Ed
Anderson, Don Ridge, John Hillier and Frank
Stevens. Early in the New Year he did a
course on the “Multiplex” aerial mapping
system at Bendigo.
Between October 1952 and January 1954 he
was posted to 15th National Service Training
Battalion, at Puckapunyal. There he was
initially a platoon commander responsible for
training recruits in the early National Service
intakes of 3 months duration. He was later the
Assistant Adjutant of the Battalion. When
asked about being stuck behind a desk he
said. “I wasn’t overly struck on it. But I did what
I was told”
From January 1954 to September 1955 he was
posted to Southern Command Field Survey
Section. During this posting he worked on
establishing survey control for 1in to 1 mile
maps mainly in the Mildura–Ouyen areas of
North West Victoria, with some work at
Ringwood and Wangaratta. In May 1955 the
Southern Command Field Survey Section was
amalgamated into the AHQ Cartographic
Company to form the AHQ Survey Regiment
with the Field Survey component becoming the
Topographic Squadron of the Regiment. Clem,
now with the Regiment was promoted
Temporary Captain on 22 July 1955, and to
Substantive Captain on 15 December 1955.
In early 1956 he managed to escape the office
and work on the Ouyen-Mildura 2 nd order
triangulation with Keith Todd, Norm Tupper,
Bruce Coburn and Tom Royle. Between
August 1956 and November 1957 Clem was
assigned to Project “Cutlass”. The project was
a shore-ship-triangulation survey of New
Ireland, New Hanover and surrounding offshore
islands in the then Territory of Papua
and New Guinea. The project, commanded by
Major Spencer Snow was a cooperative effort
between Australia and the United States of
America, Army Map Service (29 Engineer
Topographic Battalion). The project was
similar to the preceding New Britain survey;
Project “Xylon”.
Following these years of arduous field work
Clem became the Adjutant/Quarter Master of
the AHQ Survey Regiment.
In the years 1961-1962 Clem worked on
geodetic surveys and control for 1:250,000
scale mapping in the Queensland Gulf Country
and Cape York. When stationed in the Coen
area Clem was pleased to be given the task of
searching for one of the “K” trees marked by
the Kennedy Expedition in 1848 some where in
the Weymouth Bay or Shelburne Bay areas.
I’m not sure which. He found the general area
but bushfires had removed all the likely trees in
the area.
After promotion to Major on 15 December 1961
Clem was posted to Survey Directorate in Army
Headquarters which had recently moved to
Canberra from Albert Park, Melbourne, as
Deputy Assistant Director Survey. On 9 March
1965 he undertook a British Army posting as
Deputy Assistant Director Survey at
Headquarters Far Eastern Land Forces,
Singapore until February 1967.
On his return to Australia he was appointed
Officer Commanding Western Command Field
Survey Unit and Deputy Assistant Director
Survey Western Command, based in
Fremantle where he was responsible for the
Survey Corps 1:100,000 mapping programme
in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.
Between April and August 1970 Clem was
seconded to Eastern Command Field Survey
Unit in Sydney to command the first Defence
Mapping aid project in Indonesia - Operation
“MANDAU” in West Kalimantan (Borneo).
4

Initially the operation was to be commanded d
by a Capt, however, as Army Headquarters
began to realise the size and importance of the
Project a Major was called into the job. Clem
was selected because Major Bob Hammett the
Officer Commanding Eastern Command Field
Survey Unit had recently died and Captain Ted
Laker the Officer Commanding designate had
not yet returned from his posting in the United
Kingdom. The remaining Officer’s
Commanding were busy preparing for their
own major field operations. “Mandau” was an
international project which in addition to the
Royal Australian Survey Corps included the
British 84 th Survey Squadron Royal Engineers
based at Singapore, Indonesian Army
topographers, a Royal Australian Air Force
Caribou aircraft contingent and charted civilian
aircraft. Besides Survey there were Army
detachments from Signals, Aviation, Service
Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers,
Pay Corps, Catering Corps, Medical Corps and
Ordnance Corps.
“Mandau” was also significant in that it
established a bond of trust between the Royal
Australian Survey Corps and Indonesian Army
Topographers that was to grow stronger year
by year. Later when relations between the
Indonesian and Australian Governments
became strained, co-operative surveys were
able to continue pretty much as normal. Clem
and his Detachment were the people that
started it off.
Clem’s last military appointment was
Commanding Officer and Chief Instructor of the
School of Military Survey, Bonegilla, from
which he retired with the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel on 19 March 1975.
Clem joined the Australian Survey Office after
he left the Army. There he was involved in the
training of survey technical officers. After a
time at the Department of Defence (Directorate
of Recruiting) he completed his career with the
Division of National Mapping as the Senior
Executive Officer (Planning and Co-ordination).
Since retirement from the Survey Corps he has
kept an active interest in Corps matters - as
editor of the National Bulletin of Survey Corps
Associations for five years and as President of
the Canberra Survey Corps Association for
over ten years.
Clem was appointed Colonel Commandant of
the Royal Australian Survey Corps for a period
of four years from 10 February 1983 to 10
February 1987. This appointment was later
extended until 10 February 1989.
In retirement Clem has been involved with
three major Survey Corps Association Projects.
First, the publication of the Corps history.
“Australia’s Military Mapmakers” by Chris
Coulthard-Clark in September 2000. Secondly,
the dedication of a commemorative plaque to
recognise those who served in survey units on
Active Service. Many of you will remember
the great occasion on 9 July 2007 when His
Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC
CVO MC Governor General of the
Commonwealth of Australia and Clem unveiled
the plaque at the Australian War Memorial; and
thirdly, the re-establishment of the Survey
Corps Museum at the School of Military
Engineering, Casula. A start has been made to
this project.
In addition to his Survey Corps activities Clem
had a great interest in military history. He
joined the Military Research and Collectors
Society, the predecessor of the Military
Historical Society of Australia, in Victoria in
1959. Since then he has been an inaugural
member and office bearer of both the Western
Australian and Australian Capital Territory
branches. He has held senior positions in the
Society, Federal Secretary (1978 -1988) and
Federal Vice President. He has been the
Australian Corresponding Member of the
Council of the Society for Army Historical
Research (Based in the United Kingdom).
Clem’s military history interests are primarily in
the Peninsular War and the Peninsular War
Veterans in Australia. He has published one
book “The Colonial Garrison 1817-1824”, which
is a history of the 48th Regiment, the
Northamptons, who were in Australia between
1817 and 1823. He has been working on
another regimental history; this time the 40th
Regiment, 2 nd Somersetshire Regiment, who
served two tours of duty in Tasmania between
1824 and 1860. He has written many articles
for the Society’s Journal “Sabretache”. “The
Royal Australian Survey Corps 1915-1990” is
one article that quickly springs to mind.
For his services to Military History Clem was
awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in
June 2003.
I think that you will agree with me when I say
that Clem has had a busy, often exciting and
5

certainly a fulfilling career. If you have ever
been part of ship to shore or helicopter
operations you will understand what excitement
can be. We all enjoyed his cheerful manner
and the enthusiasm he showed for daily life.
His no nonsense style of getting things done
was appreciated by us all, even those that
were volunteered.
And so as we say farewell Clem, I offer to you
some lines from the Chorus of the Survey
Corps Song. “Wandering the Kings Highway”:
“But when I start my journey
At the dawn of another day
I give a health to comrades
Pals of the king’s highway.”
Charlie Watson
Clem never forgot his Welsh ancestry and his
funeral notice carried the phrase:
Djwedd y daith ei wasanaeth drossard
(End of the journey, his duty done)
Clem is survived by his second wife Margaret,
children and children in law Margaret,
Rosemary, Glyn, David, Helen and Elizabeth;
Grandchildren Kate, Gabrielle, Jenna, Owen
and Hannah and brother Haydn; step-children
and step-children in law Peter, Christine,
Jenny, Eugene; step-grandchildren Andrew,
Lucy, Matthew, Marguritte and David and stepgreat
grandchildren Taylor and Daniel.
Many of Clem’s colleagues from both RA Survey
and other organizations attended his funeral.
DFRB; DFRDB; MSBS
DFRB – Defence Forces Retirement Benefit
Scheme 1948-1972
DFRDB – Defence Forces Retirement and
Death Benefits Scheme 1972-1991
MSBS – Military Superannuation and Benefits
Scheme
The Department of Parliamentary Services has
recently released a Research paper headed
‘Military Superannuation – myths and reality’. It
is a succinct and easy to read paper some 18
pages in length and can be found on the
following web reference:
http://www.apo.org.au/linkboard/results.chtmlfilename_n
um=189369 The paper’s executive summary
states:
‘Essentially it is an historical account of the
development of the military superannuation
schemes listed above from the re-creation of
the Australian Regular Army following the end
of WW2 to the present day.
Military superannuation arrangements have
been subject to extensive changes. Yet
another change may occur in the wake of a
recently completed review of
military superannuation arrangements.
Both serving and retired members of the
Australian Defence Force have legitimate
grievances in relation to superannuation
matters. However, often lobbying efforts in
pursuit of these grievances have been based
on a poor or inaccurate understanding of past
events and current conditions.
This paper presents background information on
past events and current arrangements for any
discussions following the recent release of the
report of the review of military superannuation.’
Ed: It is not appropriate for me to summarise the
findings of the paper here but I strongly recommend
its reading to all those who have an interest. I
should add that more recent email traffic from those
who wish to ‘maintain the rage’ takes issue with a
number of statements contained in the paper.
EVENTS REPORT
2007 finished with three significant events
thoroughly enjoyed by those who attended.
The Military Mapmakers Dinner was held on
the 15 th November 2007 in the Long Tan
Sergeant’s Mess. Fifteen Association members
attended with officers and NCOs from the
Squadron and judging from the photos taken all
had a great time. A buffet dinner of excellent
quality was served and the Royal Australian
Artillery band ensemble provided music
throughout the night. Association president
Peter Bates-Brownsword presented Major
David Sapporth with the newly struck RA Svy
plaque. Association members attending were:
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Peter and Barbara Bates-Brownsword, Alex
Cairney, Wally and Liz Chilcott, Michael and
Karen Dunium, Ian Fitzgerald and Jacinta
Hynes, Jim and Marianne Gill, John and Cheryl
Hook and Mary Ann Thiselton. (Selected photos
in the photo Gallery)
The Jazz Picnic at ‘Shady Glen’, the home of
Peter and Barbara Bates-Brownsword, has
become an annual end of year event for the
Association. The picnic was attended by a
dozen or so Association members (pick them
out in the photo gallery photo). Members
brought their own lunches and drinks and these
were supplemented by a range of cookies
prepared by Barbara and friends. The setting at
Shady Glen is delightful and despite a couple
of light showers it was a perfect day. The
Westons had arrived a day earlier in their
motor-home and rendered assistance in
mowing and tidying up the front estate. (our
hosts had only arrived home from distant
places a day or two before the event). And the
music! Provided by Peter’s friends, the ‘All 4
Jazz + 2’ with jazz singer Jan Bartholomew, it
was a real treat. Peter, of course, played the
drums quietly in the background with only the
occasional burst of virtuosity.
Many thanks Peter and Barbara and your
musical friends from all of us for a uniquely
wonderful day.
The Derek Chambers Award presentation
took place at the 1 Topo Survey Squadron end
of year break-up in the Squadron Club on the
3 rd December 2007. The award was presented
by our President Peter Bates-Brownsword to
Cpl Mike Kiker, a
graphic arts
technician for his
continuing
contribution to the
esprit-de-corps of
the Squadron.
SSM, Warrant
Officer Class 1 Peter
Coles (old ‘Crusty’ –
whose promotion to
WO1 had occurred
on that very day)
gave a spirited
address on the
meaning of esprit-de-corps as he saw it and
without doubt those soldiers who measure up
to Peter Coles’ standard would be well worthy
of the award and a great contributor to the
Squadron.
The congratulations of the Association go to
Cpl Mike Kiker, a worthy recipient.
PERSONALIA and other jottings
Ed Anderson, our Patron at 85 is fit and well
and very happy with life in his retirement
village. He certainly has a nice little place, neat
and manageable. Ed’s family is largely based
in the Sunshine Coast region. Ed’s eldest
daughter Margaret Taylor, is at Buderim and
keeps a watchful eye on Ed; next daughter
Jennifer lives on a very attractive farm at Obi
Obi near Nambour; sons Robert and Mark are
not far away. Ed now has twelve grandchildren
of whom he is very proud. He recently attended
the graduation of one of his grandchildren into
the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service at
their Port Lytton civil defence college. Ed said
they have four courses a year of about 40
students each graduating. The graduation
parade was very military. Another grandson,
Robert Smith is being married in 2008. Clearly
Ed is very family oriented and in his own
words, ‘he couldn’t wish for better’.
Des Neagle was a National Serviceman at the
School of Military Survey in 1972/3 at the time
that National Service was discontinued by the
newly elected Whitlam Labor Government. Des
was a late entry into National Service having
deferred for a year or two while training for the
Catholic priesthood. Being uncertain of the
direction to take on being discharged from
National Service Des decided to convert to
permanent army continuing in his NS trade of
clerk. (Most NS allocated to Survey went to the
non-tech trades of clerks, drivers, storemen) Of
course at that time the Corps owned its own
non-tech trades. Our clerks, Q storemen,
drivers etc. wore the Survey Corps cap badge
and their postings were controlled by Survey
Directorate to Survey units. Des was posted to
1 Fd Svy Sqn and was there when I arrived as
OC in 1975. He served as our orderly room
clerk on Operation Sandy Hill based at
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Cooktown in 1975 and continued with 1 Fd
through 1976. Des was married to Lorraine late
in 1976 and Wendy and I were honoured to be
invited to his wedding. I left for the regiment at
the end of 1976 and lost touch with Des and
Lorraine but knowing Des’s commitment to the
welfare of others I was not surprised to learn
that he had transferred to the embryonic Army
family welfare service and continued in that
role for the remainder of a twenty year army
career, achieving the rank of warrant officer in
that time. Des and Lorraine have three sons,
one of whom attended Duntroon and did a tour
of duty in East Timor. Des’s continuing
commitment to the welfare of others and his
church saw him work for the St Vincent de Paul
Society after leaving the Army and then taking
up further priestly studies culminating into his
ordination into the Catholic Church’s
Permanent Diaconate on 21 st December 07.
Again Wendy and I were honoured to be
invited to attend this very impressive event.
Michael Mc Cosker saw service in RA Survey
from 1970 to 1976 serving most of that time in I
Fd Svy Sqn and then finally at the Army Survey
Regiment. I happened to meet up with Michael
at the Des Neagle’s above mentioned
ordination. During his time with 1 Fd Svy Sqn
Michael was on field operations in TPNG in
1970 with Maj Ed Anderson and in North
Queensland with Major Keith Todd. Michael
remembers his time in the Corps with
considerable affection but decided at the
expiration of his six year engagement that
Survey was very much a single man’s life. He
was about to be married. Michael lives at
Toowoomba and is good friends with John
Gilbert. Unlike many, Michael did not continue
with a surveying career in civilian life but has
mostly worked as a salesman. Perhaps it was
John who introduced Michael to our website
www.rasurvey.org. Michael has since perused
our Bulletins with considerable interest picking
up many names of those with whom he served.
Michael is joining our Association and hopes to
march with us on Anzac day.
Brian Wilson on receiving his December
Bulletin hopped on the phone and gave me a
call. We chatted away for about 45 minutes
recalling times when we served together in the
then N Comd Fd Svy Unit and the years since
then. Brian served six years in the Corps from
1960 to 1966. Brian came from Ipswich and we
knew him as ‘the boy from Ipi’. He married
June, an Ipswich girl in 1965 (I think) and OC,
Major Jim Stedman allowed a contingent from
the Unit to take an army vehicle to Ipswich and
attend Brian’s wedding. Detached to the
Regiment he served with Ed Anderson in PNG
in 1965 where he injured his back leaping from
a Helicopter Utilities chopper on Murder
Mountain working in the Sepik. At the age of 22
he thought little of it but now some 40 years
later regrets that. Brian left the Corps in
February 1967 worked for a while in the
Queensland Lands Department and then with
Australian Aerial Mapping under its founder,
Keith Barrie. He trained as a mining and
engineering surveyor and developed a very
successful business based at Rockhampton
employing some seven or eight surveyors.
From time to time Grant Small has worked for
Brian. Brian and June live comfortably at
Yepoon, on the coast from Rockhampton.
Brian mentioned in passing that he ran into
Tony Jones in the street recently. Tony, now
76, was that rather suave Englishman we had
in N Comd Fd Svy Unit in the early ‘60s.
Mick Symmons has his second nursery
(plants that is) at Burpengary on the market
and has moved onto an acre and a half block
at Tower Mountain, four kilometers out of
Nambour. Mick (he tells me that he in Mick to
his army mates but Mike to all others) has been
a member of our Association for some years
but we don’t see too much of him being a little
reclusive – not a great mixer Mick says. He
keeps in touch with Dave Owens in Adelaide.
We used to call them ‘the terrible twins’. Mick’s
phone number is 07 5441 4748.
Ross McMillan in Albury, a member of our
Queensland Association, is not at all well. Ross
is on oxygen 24 hours a day suffering from
severe emphysema and associated conditions
affecting his heart. He is well looked after by
his wife Marie and when I phoned him he was
having a game of dominos with one of his
grand children. Ross would enjoy a phone call.
His number is 02 6024 7272.
Some time back as part of our ‘What did we do’
history project Ross sent me a fascinating
account of another of those unusual jobs the
8

Corps was called upon to carry out. It was
Operation Blowdown, a simulated atomic
explosion in heavy rain forest using several
tones of TNT atop a tower. Blowdown took
place in heavy rain forest near Iron Range in
Far North Queensland. The Corps’ role was to
lay out a close grid and measure and count the
trees within the grid surrounding ground zero.
Sam Chambers was in charge of the survey
component of the operation.
I phoned Garney Cook a bit before Christmas.
As mentioned in our August ’07 Bulletin Garney
been treated for stomach cancer which has
spread to his lymph glands. Garny remains in
good spirit. He said he is comfortable but tires
very easily and is able to do only a little
gardening. Eileen takes good care of him.
Garney said their little dog of some years died
recently and that was a sad occasion.
Bob McMillan-Kay continues to run his
museum at Maryborough. He is expanding it
yet again to include a WW2 bunker and
theatrette. He has recently been given an
original fold-up WW2 Nazi glass –beaded
projection screen which he will set up so
visitors can watch old footage and movies
relevant to the Light Horse while seated on old
folding theatre seats which he has restored.
Bob requests that anyone that may have some
items of uniform that they no longer need to be
sent to him He has put his old Survey Corps
battle dress uniforms on ‘torsos’ in his museum
display. He needs a set of Corps shoulder
flashes, a couple of lanyards and 2 or 3 khaki
woollen ties. Please help. Bob’s address is 14
March Lane, Maryborough Queensland, 4650.
Phone 07 4123 3774.
Jeff Lambert in an email comments: the Xmas
bulletin brought back memories to me of one
who stayed with the Corps and one that
passed on all too early in life.
Firstly Ted Laker was my first instructor at the
School of Survey at Balcombe. He and George
Rickets instructed our Basic Course, the 4/52
under Chief Instructor Lieutenant Colonel Bill
Johnson. I always remember Ted as firm but
very fair. He was always willing to help and
encourage those who might find the going a
little tough from time to time. At the same time
he always displayed a quiet sense of humour. I
remember on one particular occasion when we
were paid a visit from the then Minister for the
Army.
One of our course members, Bob Molloy, had
air photography of two aerial masts lined up
under a stereoscope to demonstrate the third
dimension effect. When told what to expect
when he looked through the viewer the Minister
exclaimed: My gosh! That is absolutely
marvellous! Well, after the Minister had gone,
it was a very embarrassed Bob who admitted
to Ted that one of the photos was around the
wrong way and that the third dimension was
anywhere but under the viewer. Ted, instead of
going crook at Bob, saw the funny side and all
enjoyed the funny side for quite a few moments
afterwards. Takes a politician!
I also remember setting up for the first time, a
tripod (for the Jigger) where Ted had the class
on a very steep hillside. It wasn’t until the class
found that one observation target was directly
uphill that they realised that even on tip toes
the eye piece or the jigger was about level with
the top of one’s head. It was the sight of Ted
having a quiet giggle under a nearby tree, that
caused everyone realised that a lesson had
been successfully delivered.
My other reference is to your article on
plutonium clean up at Maralinga, and your
editorial footnote re the Corps having members
at Maralinga during the atomic tests. When I
went to Balcombe instructing in approximately
1959, Jim Bownds was on the instruction staff.
I can remember, at that stage, Jim was having
trouble with a stomach complaint. Jim told me
that he had been at Maralinga as an observer
and was one of those who faced away from the
blast for so many seconds and then were told
to turn and face the explosion site.
I never saw Jim again after I left Balcombe
since at that point I left the Survey Corps,
however, someone told me that Jim had
passed away from stomach cancer. I would be
grateful if any one may shed further light on the
matter. Regards Jeff Lambert
Ed: Jim Bownds died of stomach cancer in the late
1960s.
9

Brian Mead from Western Australia emails:
Just had the chance to finish reading the latest
Bulletin.
I really enjoyed the article by LVJ Smith on the
breaking of the Miner’s Strike and also the ‘Old
Crusty’ feature by the WO2 Peter Coles from 1
Topo Svy Sqn.
A comment in Peter Coles writing caught my
eye.... In order to increase manning levels, it
has been mooted that training could be
adjusted and shortened ....... but gladly many in
the trade, jumped on this right from the start.
My mind immediately went back to my time on
staff at the SMS (mid 1970's) and the
introduction of the Systems Approach to
Training and the Sledge Hammer approach to
its introduction, compounded by the fact that no
one really understood how it was or
could work. Quote of the time was – ‘to teach a
soldier what he needs to know, in order to do
his job’. The guillotine was applied to course
content with the desired effect being achieved
– about 50% less time on an introductory Basic
Course. I remember being branded at the ripe
old age of 26 years of age – ‘as being resistant
to change’. Bill Boyd said goodbye to me, on
the day that I was posted back to Bendigo and
commented on the ‘size of the smile on my
face’. I must say that this period was the low
point of my time in the Corps.
I suppose it being 30+ years ago - one is now
able to put a few things in perspective !!! My
time (post Army) in private enterprise has also
had its difficult times - even now currently
working with my son in the pizza business with
the continual staffing problems.....Regards
Brian.
Ed: As Senior Instructor at the School at that time I
have to accept some if not all responsibility for the
introduction and application of training systems into
the School’s courses. It was of course Training
Command policy and I believe that we approached
the application of Training Systems into our course
structure with a good deal of care, certainly not with
a view to shortening courses but to ensure that their
content was entirely relevant to the job. I left the
School at the end of 1974 and I must confess that in
later years as CO of the Army Survey Regiment I
heard accounts from those leaving the School that
gave me cause for concern.
What do you think Bill
Bill Jeffery phoned in early January having
heard of Clem’s death. Like most of us who
have had a past association with Clem Sargent
Bill held Clem in high regard and was
saddened at his passing. Bill recalled Clem on
the north Queensland survey field trips back in
the ‘60s when Bill himself was a not so young
fellow. Bill and Edith have left Golden Beach
(Caloundra) and have taken up their new home
at a Kawana Island, about half way between
Caloundra and Moolooaba on the Sunshine
Coast north of Brisbane. Bill’s new phone
number is 5437 8168. He would appreciate a
call from any of his old mates and perhaps a
visit. Ask Bill for his new address.
Lionel Devencorn (Devey) phoned in January
with an interesting proposal. Lionel, for those
younger blokes who may not know or not even
have heard of him, is one of out WW2 veterans
having served with 5 Coy. Lionel, now a young
90, has been and still is an artist, graphic
designer and humorist and is known to many of
us by way of his WW2 cartoons. When Lionel
was demobbed in 1946 he set up his own
business as a commercial artist which he ran
for 30 years. Having successfully sold off his
business he worked for a number of years for
the Queensland Government Printer in the
graphic art department until his retirement at
age 65. Needing something to do in retirement
he took on teaching art at the Brisbane College
of Graphic Arts. Lionel’s wife Ivy died last
November and now Lionel lives by himself in
his Camp Hill home. He says ‘Meals on
Wheels’ are great. Recently Lionel had six
weeks in Greenslopes Hospital with two
fractures to his vertebrae about which little can
be done. Lionel has nothing but praise for
Greenslopes and the wonderful nursing staff
that looked after him. Now... what is that
interesting proposal Lionel the artist and
humorist has in mind drawing half a dozen
humorous post cards which he will have
published and allow the Association to sell as a
fundraiser. Army humour of course. Lionel is
going send me some proofs and we will see
where we go from there.
PS Lionel’s cards have arrived and needless to say,
they are excellent. We need to run off a number of
copies and see what we can do with them. I suspect
colour laser printing may be the way to go. - Ed
10

John Cattell is well and truly back on track
after his illness and as active as ever. John,
still living at Nerang spends several days each
week renovating his daughter’s old
Queenslander home at Windsor. Those of you
who know what a ‘Queenslander home’ is
would appreciate the huge amount of work
involved in their renovation/restoration. These
are the houses built of timber in the early part
of the last century on six foot high stumps and
surrounded by spacious verandas. Part of the
process usually involve elevating the house a
further two of three feet to provide regulation
headroom beneath – no mean task! Best
wishes John and Sally from all of us.
Jerry Warber; Brian Mead reports that Jerry
Warber served in RA Survey for 20 years and
worked in Litho Squadron prior to finishing his
service with 5 field Survey Squadron in the
early 1970s. Howard Jones recalls working
with Jerry and has commented “I worked with
Jerry for a year; absolutely a competent top
notch Litho technician’. The front page of the
West
Australian
newspaper
featured an
article on Jerry
under the
heading ‘No
time for sorry
as the stolen
make their own
Gerry Warber way’ and with the
caption:
‘Going back: Gerry Warber is a member of the
Stolen Generation but doesn’t care about an
apology. He is part of a group involved in a $9
million deal to buy the old Sister Kate’s home in
Queens Park, a place where he spent much of
his childhood. The group plans an aged care
facility and healing centre’.
In the accompanying article Jerry
acknowledged his indifference to compensation
was largely due to his good treatment
compared to that of other Aboriginal children
taken from their parents. He said that though
he never experienced abuse, there was a lack
of acknowledgement of the trauma of being
separated from family. He said that the first
time he knew he had a father was when he
was told that the man had died. Jerry was 13 at
the time and remembered being discouraged
from attending the funeral. He later found out
as an adult that his father had tried to visit him
at Sister Kate’s but was turned away at the
gate.
Dave Anderson has sent an interesting clip
from the Sydney Morning Herald dated
8.01.08. It reads: More on Anzac, Canada from
Bill Lockley of Calgary, Alberta. ‘The town of
Anzac is in Alberta and is a few kilometers by
road south-east of Fort McMurray. It is located
at 56 degrees 27 minutes north latitude and
111 degrees 1 minute west longitude and is on
the west shore of Gregoire Lake. It was
reportedly named Anzac by the Australian
Army surveyors who surveyed the area in
1916. Don’t ask me why the Australian Army
was surveying that area in the middle of the
war but they were. It was possibly in relation to
the railway to Fort McMurray being built
through the area at the time. The town is quite
small but is experiencing a boom at present
due to the enormous quantities of heavy oil in
the area. At the moment the temperature in
Anzac is minus 11 degrees which would be
considered warm for January’.
Ed – how incredible!
Noel Clutterbuck In our last Bulletin I reported
from Western Australia that Noel’s older
brothers Eric and Cedric both passed away
within hours of each other and that ‘young’
Noel was understandably quite devastated.
Brian Mead has passed on this further
information concerning Noel:
After deferring surgery for some years Noel
has now had a successful quadruple by-pass
operation on Mon 7 Jan 08 at the Mount
Hospital in Perth. He is to be transferred out of
Intensive Care to a Private Room in the next
day or so. Noel deferred the surgery for several
years as he was wary of the operation and
preferred to tolerate his condition. His period of
convalescence will last for several weeks. His
niece Helen Cole told me, that following the
deaths of his two older brothers - he
reconsidered his options and decided on the
surgery. At this time, Noel is very much looking
forward to going home and carrying on with his
life.
11

Our best wishes are extended to Noel for a
speedy recovery.
An Odd Mention: Inevitably when watching
some TV feature film one’s ears prick when
certain words are uttered – words like
surveying or mapping, especially when
associated with military or army. Such was the
case recently when watching a very gritty crime
mini series late one evening called ‘The
Silence’ starring Richard Roxburgh (good
Aussie actor) as a stressed out detective when
questioning some seedy character about his
whereabouts in 1944 the response was (words
to the effect) “Army, I was in New Guinea; no, I
wasn’t a real soldier – I was making maps”.
Well now, I wonder where the writer of that mini
series got that from
Bill Boyd writes: It was with great interest that
I read WO2 Peter Coles’s “crusty” article in the
December 2007 Bulletin. Thank you Peter, for
providing informed comment on the ‘heads
under the hat badges’ of your two corps.
When I wrote the letter below (on the 26 th
March 1996 to WO1 Mick Hogan), I was more
than a little confident that the ‘enduring factor’
would survive integration. Peter has confirmed
that it did survive.
Dear Mick,
Again my thanks for the hospitality that
you and the other serving members showed
me and the other "old and bold" who joined you
last Saturday night. It was a memorable event
and for my part, the honour of being seated at
the head table was much appreciated.
I was concerned at the apprehension apparent
on the night. Indeed there was also bitterness.
RASvy is not the only corps to be disbanded. In
relatively recent times, Service Corps was
disbanded. There was at that time, a Service
Corps WO2 as the SSM of the School of
Military Survey, (as distinct from the WO1
RASvy Instructor). He vowed and declared that
he would only continue to serve if he were
given his preference of corps, which was to
transfer to the Corps of Transport. He was
allocated to Ordinance Corps.
Two or three years later he was awarded the
Medal of the Order of Australia for services to
Ordinance Corps.
RASvy is our past. For me it is some years
past. For serving members, it is soon to be
their past. They cannot remain de-facto
members of a no-existent corps. Certainly they
can enjoy their memories as do all we ‘old and
bold’. What they take to their new corps is their
skills and their integrity.
Their skills are transient attributes as they will
probably either be superceded by technology
or career progression.
Integrity is the enduring factor. Personal
integrity and integrity of the product, to my
mind is the hallmark of RASvy. If this is not the
case, then there is nothing of value to pass on
to the Engineers and in particular our
successors, the Geomatic Technicians.
The Engineers’ hat badge is historically ours,
although I would not launch a ‘sacred artifact’
claim over it. Provided the head under the hat
badge has this integrity, it is all that can be
expected in a world where change is a
certainty. The Geomatic Technicians will, I
trust, make their mark in the history of Australia
as has RASvy. Kindest regards,
W.R.(Bill) Boyd OAM
Bill Baker: Barry Lutwyche was in Tassy
recently visiting his brothers at Longford (near
Launceston) and met with Bill Baker. Bill and
his wife are managing (owning perhaps) a B&B
in the converted Racecourse Inn. Bill would be
known to many in this part of the country
having served as a field surveyor with I Fd Svy
Sqn in the late 70s/80s.
John Siddons was a national serviceman in
the late 1960s. As lithographic tradesman he
was posted to the Regiment in Litho Squadron
and at one point was listed for Vietnam service
but didn’t make it before his time ran out. Since
leaving Nasho he has worked in the print
industry in some of the big name companies in
Sydney. My contact with John was in trying to
locate Lindsay Rotherham, a National Service
screen printer who served with me in Vietnam
and as an apprentice of the year screen printer
12

was largely responsible for overcoming the
teething problems we were having with the
screen printing process after its introduction to
the theatre. Lindsay stayed with us for six
weeks and then had to return to Australia to do
his battle efficiency training at JTC (Canungra)
to return to Nui Dat some months later. (The
Army works in mysterious ways some times). I
should add that Evan Geri and Ken Slater also
did a great job on the screen printer.
Grant Doran: Culling through some of my
accumulated Bulletin material I chanced across
hard copy of an email from Grant Doran dated
August 2006. Maybe I replied to Grant at the
time but have done so again asking him for
some details of his life after Survey. Clearly it
must be interesting... Grant‘s email reads ‘I
served in Survey Corps from 1984 to 1989 at 5
Field and then at the Regiment. I have been
sent a copy of your magazine. I am sorry I can’t
make the reunion. I live in Tuscany now and
work in the UK during the week but I would
have liked to catch up with everyone’. Cheers,
Grant Doran.
THE NOT SO WELL
Ian (Ike) Lever has had an extended period of
hospitalisation at Greenslopes having
extensive investigation into malfunctioning
kidneys. Ike and Betty live at Point Vernon,
Hervey Bay and have done so since leaving
Albury about eight years ago. Ike during his
service was perhaps one of the most well
known and well respected warrant officers of
his time and word of his illness has been
passed around the Associations generating a
number of reminiscences. Jim Jefferies recalls:
Ike continued in the Army Reserve for a while. I
remember we held an Operational Mapping
Course in the mid to late 80s and a fairly
strenuous route march on a warm day was part
of the pain. Ike, by far the oldest member
chivied the others along (I was driving the meat
wagon). At this time Ike worked in the Albury
Tax Office, and when I went to Albury Council
on my retirement, I often saw him walking
purposefully at lunch times.
His daughter came to work at Council; I told
her that when I first met Ike, he was a pretty
intimidating WO1; she said that he sometimes
put the fear of God into her as well!
I remember being on duty at the Regt on a
Friday night and finally got around to close the
Sergeant's Mess bar. Ike, Alex Cairney and
Ivor Hastings were still there. They did not want
to leave, and were happy to look after
themselves, promising to close up and go to
bed soon, so the steward quickly disappeared
and, discretion being the better part of valour, I
wandered off to bed myself. I was a bit
surprised to hear mumbling coming from the
Mess very early next morning and found them
still there and they would have stayed had I not
bucked up a bit of courage and suggested that
'perhaps, gentlemen, it's time to call it a day'.
They went like lambs!
Terry Linz remembers Ike umpiring on the footy
field. Terry says: Ike was my WO2 in Carto He
was a lovely fellow and taught me a lot about
drafting but my fondest memory of Ike was at a
footy match he was umpiring and he was
normally always in control but a couple of
stirrers were giving him a hard time, he finally
snapped and raced over to the boundary line
and threw his whistle at them, we all fell about
laughing. Brian Mead recalls the same incident
with a slightly more graphic account of Ike
‘snapping’. It was Peter Mansell from Air
Survey Squadron who attracted Ike’s ire.
Perhaps it is a mark of Ike’s popularity that his
illness has generated these reminiscences. All
of his Corps colleagues pass on their best
wishes to Ike and Betty for Ike’s speedy
recovery.
PS Since the above Betty has emailed - Ike was
discharged on Saturday, so we didn't have much
time to notify anyone. He will need a few weeks to
gain his strength back, but with me trying to keep up
with his demands, he should recover, if I don't do
him a mischief in the meantime.
Late Vale notice – Ken Shaw reports – at
1.30am Wednesday 27 February 2008, Ina
Marks, wife of Major Merv Marks (Retd),
formerly RA Svy Corps, passed away at their
home, 32 East Boundary Road,East Bentleigh,
Victoria following a long battle with cancer over
many years.
A LETTER FROM JEFF TURNER
Jeff writes....a brief run-down of my life.
13

Military Service enlisted May 1966, discharged
1975 with rank of Sergeant.
I was corps enlisted to RA Survey, but an
administrative SNAFU actually saw me posted
to the School of Artillery, North Head, which
naturally was a huge disappointment to me.
Except that a posting to North Head at Manly
definitely had a silver lining to a 17 year old
youth! I completed a basic gunnery course
there, and passed, and became a fully qualified
Gunner, without hearing a 105mm Howitzer go
bang. I was posted to Holdsworthy but then my
Corps transfer to Survey came through and I
did my Basic Survey Course in early 1967,
then on to Adelaide and Central Command
Field Survey Unit, where I served for most of
my military career. I had the pleasure of
serving as a Sapper under Peter Bates-
Brownsword, John Harrison, Arthur Henson,
Major Don Ridge and others. In 1972 I was
posted to the Map Depot, as a substantive
Corporal, temporary Sergeant, getting HDA to
WO. I was at the Depot for the move from
South Kensington to Bandiana, under Capt
Peter Rossiter.
In 1968 we had a survey operation in Arnhem
Land with bases at Daly River and Oenpelli
and for a time in Katherine. In 1969 Dave
Collins, Scobie Wilkes, Pommy Howarth and
myself had another trip to the Northern
Territory, mainly annotating. We were based in
Katherine. On completion of that tour, we all
came back to Adelaide, and that December I
married Magdalen. We had our first son in
September 1971, Nathan, named after the best
man at our wedding, John (Jim) Nathan. We
then had that couple of eventful years at the
Depot, mainly in Wodonga and then a posting
back to 4 Field Survey Sqn in Adelaide. I had
service under three OCs in Adelaide, Don
Ridge, Jorge Gruszka and George Ricketts.
In 1974 I had the field trip to PNG. The main
base was at Goroka with a forward base in
Daru. I was part of a two teamed Geociever
party that included Eddie Schultz, Bob Ballard
and an American civilian, (who was an
interesting and intelligent fellow). Peter Bion
was the Tech Officer. That trip to PNG was
very much an eye opener to me, and is the
reason that from 1980 to 1990, I lived and
worked in PNG. It was a fascinating country –
still is but perhaps for the wrong reasons.
Anyway, in 1975, nearing my 10th anniversary
in the Army, Magdalen and I decided that it
was time to settle down in suburbia. We were
also on the adoption list and were a little
concerned that if a posting came up, where
would that leave us In Oct 1975 we adopted
Matthew, our son No 2. For the next 5 years I
worked for the Dept of Engineering and Water
Supply in Adelaide. That got so boring that I
applied for and got a position with the
Government of PNG, the Department of Works
and Supply. We moved with our two boys to
Port Moresby. I had eight years with the
Department, as their building Division
Manager. Magdalen and I were divorced in
1994. Magdelen stayed on in PNG but now
lives north of Brisbane.
I left PNG in 1990 and took a job in Melbourne
with GHD; headed north in 1993 to Cairns,
married Deb in 94, and managed to pick up a
step daughter to go with that deal (Emily). We
moved to Brisbane in 1997 to work with
another consultancy firm and then back up to
Cairns in 2000. I worked away from home for
most of the period 1993-2000, mainly with
Aboriginal and Islander communities on the
Cape and in the Torres Strait. In 2000 I started
a seven year local government stint, five years
in Burketown as the Works Overseer and then
2 years with Carpentaria Shire as the Deputy
Director of Engineering. Deb was still based in
Cairns throughout that period. By October
2007, we had had enough of that lifestyle, I
was offered a good job in Cairns so here I am!
This really is the first time in 13 years that Deb
and I have actually lived together.
Well, that is me in a nutshell really. I haven't
had too much to do with RA Svy and ex
members, been too remote. However I have
managed to find a few and exchange emails
with people; Mark Temme in Adelaide, still with
Playford Shire and Peter Mansell. I look
forward to more contact with old mates in the
future. Regards Jeff Turner
Jeff – as you can see and as suggested by you
I have edited your letter. I have kept the
original and will be able to use it to fill a few
gaps in our history project ....Ed
14

PHOTO
PHOTO
GALLERY
GALLERY
March 2008
MAPMAKERS DINNER October 2007
Peter Bates-Brownsword, Karen and Michael Duniam,
Alex Cairney, Wally & Liz Chilcott,
Barbara Bates-Brownsword
Mary Ann Thiselton, Ian Fitzgerald & Jacinta Hynes,
Marianne Gill
Greg Anderson, Jim Gill
John & Cheryl Hook

Mary Ann Thiselton with Jim and Marianne Gill
Michael and Karen Duniam
Alex Cairney & Wally Chilcott
Cheryl and John Hook
Jacinta Hynes & Ian Fitzgerald
Wally & Liz Chilcott

Peter Bates-Brownsword presents RA Svy shield to
Major David Sapparth, OC 1 Topo Svy Sqn
Peter Bates-Brownsword with RA Svy shield
The Artillery band ensemble
Soldiers of today - Sprs Johnstone & Wolinski
The honorable Alex Cairney

jazz afternoon - 3 dec 2007
The Band - Peter Bates-Brownsword on the drums
All of us with some of Peter's neighbours
The jazz singer
The jazz trio