Aug-Sep-Oct, Nov-Dec 1971-Jan 1972 - Navy League of Australia

A. Lewis & Co.Pty. Ltd.Timber & HardwareMerchantsCNR. JASPER ROAD &LEWIS STREETORMOND, VIC.Phone:58 1155; 58 5916After Hours:58 8161Hydrographer'sCourseAustralia to shouldering responsibility for charting oneseventh of the world's sea area.To replace charts which date backas far as the era of Matthew Flinders,the Royal Australian Navy's hydrographicschool is maintaining astrong training programmeThe school was established inMarch 1966. to train sailors for thesurvey recorder branch of the R.A.N.In 1967. the syllabus was widened toalso train officers.Before the opening of the school,all hydrographic training wasconducted by ships at sea.Although this system worked wellfor the branch since its inception in1920. it was a time-consuming taskon a ship where emphasis wasplaced on progressing surveys andcollecting oceanographic data.With the introduction of new shipsdesigned and built specifically forthe hydrographic/oceanographicrole, it became apparent that aseparate training organisation wasrequired and the present HydrographicSchool was established.In its first five years of operation.102 students have graduated.Included in this number are 20Malaysian and Indonesian studentstrained as part of Australia's policyof assisting South East Asianneighbours.During 1971. the school hasstrived to hold two classes for ableseaman survey recorder, one forpetty officer survey recorders andtwo officer courses. Additionally, twoshort refresher courses, one for theleading seaman survey recorder andthe second for R.A.N, reserveofficers, are planned.The Hydrographic School staffconsists of two permanent and threepart-time instructors. The Officer incharge of the school is Lieutenant-Commander D. M. Davidson,R.A.N.. who has held the positionsince December 1970.He joined the R.A.N. College as acadet in 1951. graduating in 1954.After further training with the RoyalNavy and general service in H.M.A.Ships Melbourne and Quadrant, hejoined the Hydrographic Service in1961 and served in H.M.A. SurveyingShips Warrego, Barcoo, Moresby andPaluma charting the waters off allAustralian States and New Guinea.The senior instructor is Chief PettyOfficer Survey Recorder DavidWarning. He joined the R.A.N, in 1945t the R.A.N.'s hydrographyschool in Sydney is training in the UM of atheodolite to accurately measure distances. LLCmdr. Davidson, officer-in-charge of the school ispictured instructing junior officers.and became a survey recorder in1953. He has served in all eightsurvey ships and tenders which haveoperated since then.He assisted with the opening of theschool and is spending his third tourof duty on the staff.Graduates of the HydrographicSchool fall into two main categoriesOfficers of theJtoyaHMwtrajlw Nary undergojngfralnlng at the Hydrographic School in Sydney.Pag. TwoTHE NAVYNovember-December-Jin u»ry.November-December-January, 1971/72THE NAVYPage Three