Reunion 2022

This page provides information on planning for the 50th anniversary of graduation in 2022. Information will be provided progressively via the News Blog and posted here with the latest news on top. If you are following the website, you will get automatic updates by email.

A few Points about Update #10 – 29 Sep 2022

Payment.  The update called for final payments to cover the Drinks and/or Dinner to be made by 28 October. The total cost is $130 per head for the dinner, and $30 per head for the drinks – a total of $160 per head if you are attending both.  

Please note that many of you have made an earlier deposit, so we are only asking for whatever is outstanding to cover the cost of the events you wish to attend.

Dietary Requirements. We have not previously asked for dietary requirements for you or your partner. The menu may change but currently the offering is as follows:

Entrée

Prawn and Avacado Salad or 

Pork Belly with Pumpkin Puree, Cous Cous & jus

Main course

Chicken Stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach, Celeriac Mash, Dutch Carrots and Mushroom Sauce or 

Grilled Angus Steak, Field Mushrooms, Lentils, Baby Carrot and Red Wine jus

Dessert

Crème Brulee, Caramel Popcorn, Cookie Dust and Cream or 

Pavlova, Berry Compote and Passionfruit Coulis

Please advise if there are any gluten free, vegan, vegetarian or other requirements so that we can advise the hotel and arrange alternatives.

Glassware. A batch of the stemless wine glasses have arrived – intact – in Canberra and will be distributed from there for Canberra-based classmates. The glassware for Sydney and Brisbane classmates should be there soon if not already arrived.

I will hold glasses for out of town or overseas classmates.

RMC Museum. At my earlier meeting with a museum staff member I understood that a copy of your personal file could be made available to you. I am unable, as I understand it, to collect on your behalf. I will check back and confirm this.

I obtained a copy of mine several years ago by writing to the College.

Reunion Update #10 – 24 Sep 2022

Our 50 year reunion is fast approaching – we are well within 100 days to go!

Notification of Attendance

Thank you for previously providing an indicative intention to attend events, as this has helped our planning.  We now need you to let us know more definitely your intentions as we are starting to finalise bookings.

To that end could you please advise by Friday 7 October to rmcclassof1972@gmail.com whether you are Definitely coming to each of these four events: Saturday Night Drinks, Sunday lunch at the Arboretum, Monday Night Dinner and Graduation Parade?  It is important that you include whether you will be accompanied by a partner.  

We are asking if you wish to attend lunch at the Arboretum on the Sunday because numbers will determine whether we seek a booking, or just take pot luck if the numbers are small. 

Drinks and Dinner

We are now calling for final payments to cover the Drinks and/or Dinner to be made by 28 October. The total cost is $130 per head for the dinner, and $30 per head for the drinks – a total of $160 per head if you are attending both.  

Note that the Drinks includes canapes from 1830 until 2230, with drinks bought individually over the bar while the dinner includes a drinks package and a three-course meal from 1830 until 2230. 

We are now asking for full payment of any outstanding amounts by Friday 28 October.

Please transfer funds to Kym MacMillan’s Bahamas Holiday Account. Bank details are as follows: BSB: 06 2692    Acct No:  4995 6261    Name:   Reunion     Please clearly identify your deposit with your name.   For overseas classmates, we are happy for you to hold off on remitting your amount if that is an easier option: just let Kym know (kymmac@ozemail.com.au)

Memorabilia

Memorabilia orders have been placed with the glasses to be sent to three locations for distribution: Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra. Peter Martyn, Maurie Meecham and David Cran will be the ‘distributors for those three locations, and the latter will hold all other glasses for the other recipients. For those who have ordered a cap and aren’t attending, we will post it to you.

If you’ve made an order and haven’t already done so, please transfer funds as soon as possible to Kym MacMillan’s Bahamas Holiday Account, details as above. 

Araluen

A proposal for a ‘Back to Araluen’ event has been made, but will not be centrally coordinated. Pat Cullinan has offered to be the POC/organiser for this, so if you’re interested, contact him – his details are on the website at https://duntroonclassof1972.com/2022/09/17/tom-and-pats-araluen-plan-come-join-us/

Church Service  

Contact has been made with an RMC Chaplain about the Graduation Church Service, but no detail as yet. 

College Tour 

Planning for the College tour on the Monday morning are well under way, and a brief on the current training program has been requested – should be interesting to see what has changed: and what hasn’t.  The museum is currently quite small and very generic, so will not take a long time to visit: unless you become engrossed in your file! Please let us know if you’d like access to your file at rmcclassof1972@gmail.com

Other Events

If you would care to organise other events (golf, shopping, Canberra attractions tours etc), please let us know and we’ll pass on the information to the classmates.

Steve Jones has put his hand up to organise golf on the Monday (noting that it will need to fit in between the RMC tour and the dinner!)

Program

A more detailed program of all events will be published in due course.

Book

Work on the book is proceeding. We plan to distribute the ebook version prior to the reunion, and (fingers crossed) have the hard copy available at the event. The cost for the book will be advised, and orders sought, in due course.

Summary

Please advise (and action as applicable) by 7 October the following:

  • Attendance of you (and partner if applicable) at Saturday Drinks and/or Monday Dinner.
  • Attendance of you (and partner if applicable) at the Graduation Parade.
  • Attendance (and partner if applicable) at Arboretum on Sunday.
  • Do you wish to view or have a copy of your RMC personal file? 

Please make payment of outstanding amounts for Drinks and Dinner by 28 October. For any queries of outstanding amounts contact Kym at kymmac@ozemail.com.au

Reunion Update #9 – 4 Aug 2022

The year is rolling on inexorably and our 50 year reunion is fast approaching.

The structure of the reunion is pretty much unchanged but we are now starting to flesh out the detail.

Memorabilia orders are being finalised and will be placed soon. We plan to send the glasses to three locations for distribution Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra. Unfortunately the freight costs don’t warrant sending smaller batches. Peter Martyn, Maurie Meecham and David Cran will be the ‘distributors for those three locations, and the latter will hold all other glasses for the other recipients. Somehow they’ll get to you!

Once we have firm quotes we’ll let you know the total cost (ie glasses and caps) for transfer of funds to Kym MacMillan’s Bahamas Holiday Account.

Now to the nitty gritty. We have called previously for your intentions about attending the various planned events, which confirmed viability.  We would now like you to let us know more definitely your intentions, but understanding that there may be some details to be sorted out. To that end could you please advise to rmcclassof1972@gmail.com whether you are Definitely coming, are a Strong Possibility or a definite No to each of these three events: Saturday Night Drinks, Monday Night Dinner and Graduation Parade?  It is important that you include whether you will be accompanied by a partner.  Please respond even if you have paid a deposit (or more).

On funding, we will not be calling for more payments to cover the Drinks or Dinner until probably late October/early November.

Reunion Update #8 – 1 July 2022

Memorabilia

In providing options for memorabilia, we are planning that all are cost neutral – that is, the costs of production, distribution etc will be reflected in the cost per item, with no additional charge. Should there be a (small) surplus, that will be donated in the Class’s name to a charity such as Legacy or Soldier On.

In indicating your interest in any of the proposals, please email to rmcclassof1972@gmail.com

When asked, deposits should be made to the account in Kym MacMillan’s name as previously advised. 

Stemless Wine Glasses 

The sample stemless wine glasses seem to have been well received, so we’re on to the next steps. I have been advised by the provider that we can make the text (1969-1972 and Mates for Ever) larger.

As an indication, if we order over 100 glasses, the price per item will be around $7.50, possibly with a small amount to cover postage – say $8. 

The next steps are:

  • You giving an indication, by email, of how many glasses you’d like to receive (as for cap, by 20 July);
  • Once I have those numbers, I’ll ask for pre-payment;
  • Once I have all orders in, I’ll place the order (the sample glasses arrived within a couple of weeks of the order).

The company will retain the art work for three years, so should you manage to break all of your first order, you can obtain more – but note that the unit cost may be higher if the numbers ordered are low.

Rather than have all the wine glasses sent to me in Canberra to distribute, I will be exploring ways of having them sent to regional points (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne etc) providing this does not impose significant freight costs.

Cap

We are seeking interest in the purchase of a cap for use during the reunion period. The main use would be during the parade but of course it could be used at anytime. An image of the cap is attached. The idea is to have the RMC badge on the front; on the left side have the four years 1969-1972; and on the right side our individual cadet number. The cap itself is dark blue with gold as per the image. This cap in this guise is unique.

The cost depends on the number that we order. However, the maximum cost would be $36 each. 

Some we have spoken to indicated that they would buy two, others said that they probably wouldn’t wear it, although they may purchase one. A thought for consideration is that it could be a unique identifier for our group given that we are on a stage with a number of other reunion classes.

Given that there is a three-month ordering time, please indicate your interest by 20 July 2022 – and please include your CSC number – we will cross check against the list on the website. We have to pay the full amount on order.

The Book

Thank you to all those who have contributed so far. The list is growing. We have yet to determine how the book will be produced – both hard copy and ebook, to be done properly, will attract a cost. As for the wine glasses and cap, we plan that this should be cost neutral.

Float

We have previously advised the known costs for planned activities – these being primarily the drinks on Saturday night and the dinner on Monday night. These costs did not factor in other charges, such as AV/sound hire, possible costs of any guests and so on. We are proposing a $10 per head levy to cover these sorts of expenditure (as was done for the 40thanniversary).

Thanks to deposits received so far we do not need this to be paid as yet – we’ll ask for this along with final amounts in due course.

PS. Don’t read anything into it – the number on the sample cap is random – but it belongs to Jeff Brock!

Reunion Update #7 – 20 Jun 2022

We are receiving occasional requests for further information or clarification on the reunion activities. Please keep them coming: they help to focus our minds. And if you have any suggestions they are likewise welcome: whether they get up is another matter!

So, some clarification.

Friday Drinks. All of the planned events are open to classmates and partners. You may recall that partners did attend the 40th anniversary Friday night drinks at Olims. That said, partners may wish to relax privately before the Cocktail drinks on Saturday night. The Class of 1971 had a truncated celebration last year due to COVID and are planning to try again this year. We are following up with them to see what they are planning, what their interest is in joining us and what might be possible. There will, of course, be opportunities after the Parade at MT.

Saturday Drinks. This activity covers four hours with food staggered over the first two hours. I’m sure none of the Artists have forgotten their finely honed TOC racing skills! You are of course welcome to continue the socialisation at own expense/arrangements afterwards. 

Monday Dinner. At this stage, no external guests have been invited. Suggestions would be welcome. The planning team intends to contact Norm, both to invite him to attend and to get a bio for the book.

The structure and timing for the dinner are still under early consideration, including an MC. We are conscious that the role of an MC should not inhibit anyone’s enjoyment of the evening, so we are looking at options. In the interim, suggestions for anecdotes, entertainment etc would be best forwarded to any of the members of RAPT.  We may have to impose some censorship on the more insalubrious anecdotes.  We will look to put together a playlist of songs from that era – Rod Allan has ‘volunteered’!.

The Book. We have sighted the books produced by the Classes of 1969 and 1971 – indeed links to both are on our website if you haven’t seen them. We are hoping that bio pages for all 113 of our cohort are included, including those deceased: this project is for everyone who was with us on that journey, no matter what paths were taken.

Production and distribution of the book will depend on finalising contributions: those of you who have not yet sent in your page might care to get a wriggle on! It will be available by the reunion at the latest. The view of the RAPT is that it should be out before the reunion – if only in ebook form – to allow us to do some pre-study/preparation (this will be a novel experience for a couple of the Artists).

Memorabilia. A sample of the stemless wine glasses has been received and will be critiqued at the Canberra lunch on the 28 June. Anyone passing through Canberra from the regions is welcome to take one back to get other opinions. Steve Jones is also following up on costings for a cap with logo and embroidery – more to follow. Apologies for the quality, but a photo of the prototype wine glass is below.

PS. Recently came across an interview of Norm Goldspink on the AWM website n- well worth listening to, although there is very little mention of his RMC time. We are following up a possible interview with him about that era. See https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/S02650

Reunion Update #6: 24 May 2022

Dear Classmates,

Thank you for your responses so far. We’d like to stress that the reunion is intended to embrace everyone who was on the journey with us at any time over those College years. You are all welcome, indeed urged, to come together to share and reminisce about that formative time and what you’ve done since, irrespective of where life may have taken you after RMC. You are ‘Mates for Ever’.

Contributions to ‘The Book’ are progressing, but there are some gaps. We want the book to cover, as far as is practicable, all 114 who are part of our cohort. So please get your pens and photo albums out if you haven’t already done so! If you want guidance on what we’re looking for please contact Tony McKenna at tonymac851@gmail.com

Planning for the Reunion in December is progressing well, with a deposit paid to the Rex (thanks to those who have already paid up) and detailed discussions opened with RMC Protocol regarding our visit to RMC on Monday and the Parade on Tuesday morning.

So far, we’ve had over 30 classmates commit by paying their deposit, but we know that quite a few more have indicated that you’ll be attending. It would be of great help if you slackers got organised and let us know if you are coming and which activities you’ll be taking part in, by completing the attached form and returning it to me. Your deposit of $50 deposit into Kym’s holiday account would also be appreciated ( BSB: 06 2692 Acct No: 4995 6261 Name: Reunion). We understand that overseas classmates may experience additional costs transferring money, so we’d be happy to accept just a single payment from you later when we call for final payments.

We’ll be distributing some notes in early November to answer as many admin questions as possible, but if you think of anything that you’d specifically like us to cover in those notes, please let us know.

Attached is a table showing what is planned (it’s in lieu of an Admin Instruction!)

Keep safe everyone, 

Steve, Kym, Warwick and David

PS. Rod Allan produced a video for the 30th anniversary reunion. He updated it to DVD for the 40th reunion and it is now viewable on the website in preparation for the 50th anniversary reunion. Have a look and re-live some of your long distant past and of course Van Morrison’s music. Check it out at https://duntroonclassof1972.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/days-like-this.mp4

Reunion Update #5: 30 April 2022

Dear Classmates,

The Reunion Anniversary Planning Team (RAPT) met on 5 April to have a coffee, catch up, and tell each other stories and anecdotes, some of which may have been true. We also briefly discussed what is currently planned for December. All decisions/recommendations are made in a spirit of great collegiality, with no designated ‘leader’ (although Steve mostly guides us!)
At this stage the three ‘primary’ events from our point of view are Saturday drinks, Monday dinner and the Parade. The ‘secondary’ events are Friday night informal drinks, the Sunday Church Service, Remembrance Service for deceased classmates and the lunch at the Arboretum, and the Monday College tour. The description of primary and secondary is not about their relative importance but the amount of detailed organization that will be required.

There has been little take up for a visit to Araluen as an organised event, but of course if any wish to do that it can perhaps be arranged ‘offline’ by individual Classmates.
The search for a provider of an appropriate Port crock has so far been unfruitful. An alternative spirit option (Whiskey and/or Gin) is being pursued, but nothing to report as yet. If that was possible it would be an appropriate label, but only similar to commercial ones. 

The RAPT has discussed other memorabilia such as engraved wine glasses or a mug, as per the 20th anniversary (but not the same one!). Options and prices are being followed up – initial inquiries indicate an engraved stemless wine glass is very achievable.

Canberra Rex has confirmed that rooms will be available for between $155  (King Room) to $170 (Crown Suite). The code to use is: CR2022. This code will need to be communicated at the time of booking either by phone on 02 62485311 or email  reservations@canberrarexhotel.com.au   A different rate (perhaps cheaper) may be advertised online which is due to fluctuations based on occupancy levels. However, the above rates will be honoured regardless of the advertised rate.  Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the day of arrival. 

The cost of the pre-booked events (Saturday drinks and Monday dinner) is $30 pp for Saturday evening (that covers food – drinks are buy your own over the bar) and $120 pp for Monday dinner, which is an all-inclusive drinks and food package.

We will need to pay a deposit shortly to secure the booking (by mid-next week actually!), which is 20% of the total cost. The deposit is estimated to be around $2500. With some difficulties Kym MacMillan has opened a bank account to manage the finances: unfortunately, due to current money laundering regulations it can’t be named something like ‘Class of 1972 Reunion’ but has to be linked to an identified account holder (unless we go through all the hassle of becoming an incorporated body). Kym has assured us he can be totally trusted and will be issuing an audited summary before he leaves for the Bahamas!  We are asking for anyone intending to attend the two main events to contribute a deposit as soon as possible of $50 per Classmate attending into this account: BSB: 06 2692    Acct No:  4995 6261    Name:   MacMillan Reunion.  Please ensure you mark your deposit with your name.   We will be seeking the balance in due course.

And a final note: we have received formal confirmation of our request for access to the College for the range of activities we’re planning. Needless to say, the detail is yet to be sorted!

Regards,

 Steve, Kym, Warwick and David

PS. Please let me know if you do not wish to receive these update emails.

PPS. You should have received this update via email. If you haven’t please check your spam/junk folder, and if it isn’ there let me know so I can verify that we’ve got your current email address. David

Reunion Update #4: 11 March 2022

Dear Classmates,

Where is the year going? Before we know it, our 50th Anniversary will be on us!
We have had some initial ideas, and some suggestions – thank you for those contributions. We will soon need to make firm bookings for at least some of the planned events, and to that end would appreciate your intentions, accepting that circumstances (not least the dreaded COVID) may change.
We will let you know shortly about financial arrangements – but we will soon need to start confirming bookings and pay deposits to ensure that we get what we want, as venues will be tight at that time of year: RMC graduation, ADFA graduation, and University graduations, let alone the Year 12 formals all happen around the same time. 
The proposed program is on the table below. Could you please indicate which events that you and your partner are likely to attend, by the middle of April, to allow us to factor numbers in.

Tony McKenna has received 17 profiles for the Reunion book to date: there are 83 (hopefully) to come. A reminder that the deadline for submissions is 31 March. And just noting that if we were awarding one point per submission for the Lee Shield the current score is Kapyong 7, Kokoda 7, Gallipoli 3, Alamein 0.

Regards,
The Planning Team,
Steve, Kym, Warwick & David

Anniversary Book

29 Jan 2022

Below is a note from Tony McKenna asking for your input into the planned book to coincide with our 50th anniversary this year. It won’t work without your responses! An example of the sort of one page we’re asking for is subtended, as is the first outline of the book. Please also feel free to offer suggestions for inclusion into the ‘Our Journey’ section.

“Dear Classmates,

You will be well aware that his year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Graduation of the class of 1972 and we are planning a grand reunion in December. To celebrate the occasion we intend to produce a commemorative book (format yet to be decided) and I have undertaken to co-ordinate its production.

Over the course of our journey we had a total of 114 members pass through the class and we wish to acknowledge every single one of you, no matter how long or short your time with us may have been. As with all reunions, the burning questions will be: what have you done and what are you doing now?

While December may still seem a long way off, there is much to be done so it is now time to seek your contribution in the form of a one-page biography covering the years since leaving RMC . A few points to note:

  • Please provide a Title showing your cadet number, name and the company you belonged to when you left RMC (some of us changed companies along the way).
  • Tell us your story your way. It will be very interesting to hear about what you have done, your family and your interests. I have attached my own story (first draft) to give you the idea.
  • Preferably your bio should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document. Don’t worry about the format. I will standardise them all later.
  • Please include a photograph of yourself during or shortly after RMC and also a recent photo.

Please email your contributions to me at tonymac851@gmail.com by 31st March to allow plenty of time to chase any classmates who have gone missing and to put everything together.

Thank you all in advance for your input. I look forward to reading your stories and catching up with you at the reunion.

Mates forever,

Tony McKenna

Tony McKenna’s Bio

Reunion Update #3: 22 July 2021

Based on general support for the idea, a 50 Year Reunion book will be produced. Tony McKenna, perhaps forgetting at least one of the lessons from RMC, has volunteered to coordinate the production of the book to celebrate our 50 year mark, with the central planning team taking on the role as editors on the basis that its easier for a committee to justify any changes than an individual!

We will continue to explore the format of the final version: ebook, pdf, print, etc and the costs, if any.

We have some very basic guidelines:

  • I know that this guideline is unnecessary, but I do want it to be quite clear from the start: the book is a celebration of our time, not a chance to even scores. It is appropriate to recall some of the hard times, but you are asked to keep such recollections fairly generic and not to traduce any particular individual.
  • The individual pages (see link to the attachment below) should be no more than one page.
    • These pages allow for the story of each person to be told in the full, rather than just military highlights, which of course particularly applies to those who pursued other careers. 
  • Anecdotes need to involve as much of the class as possible rather than just personal ones: Point Hut is an obvious one, perhaps Camp Training over 4 years, some contact with characters such as Norm or Rollo, 100 days to go in 1969, Araluen in 1972 etc..
    • Some individuals are likely to be asked to write an anecdote on particular topics/events: for example Tom Cobley, Pat Cullinan and Chris Jones have written of their time at RMC as part of broader works. 

We are looking to start collecting anecdotes now, so please start thinking and writing. If you have an idea for an anecdote, perhaps run it past Tony so that he can deconflict if there are several offerings on the same story.

We’ll call for your individual pages next year. The outline can be seen here.

Please send any offerings or thoughts to both these email addresses: tonymac851@gmail.com and rmcclassof1972@gmail.com

Reunion Update #2: 9 July 2021

Many thanks to the individuals and regional groupings that have provided suggestions and advice on the reunion next year. We seem to be mostly in broad agreement, which makes planning and decision making easier. The Canberra planning team met on Wednesday 7 July to start to firm up the program.

There are a few steps still being taken:

  • A letter is being drafted to the COMDT RMC asking for specific support and/or access, viz: a tour of the College, visit to the Australian Army Museum-Duntroon, brief on the College today (all probably Mon 12 Dec); priority seating at the Grad Pde and access to MT at Duntroon House after (Tues 13 Dec).
  • Several hotels have been approached for room rates and costs for a cocktail party and a sit-down dinner. At this stage the Canberra Rex has the running with indicative and competitive costs being:
  • Room rate – $145;
    • Note: Canberra based member may wish to book a room for either or both of the two nights. 
  • Drinks in a dedicated bar on Sat 10 Dec: $30 per head for canapes (ie a meal prob not required later!), drinks purchased individually over the bar;
  • Sit-down dinner in the Ballroom on Mon 12 Dec – $117 per head including a drinks selection (beer, wine, soft drinks).
  • Approaches have been made to the RMC Chaplains re access to the Service on Sunday 11 Dec – no response as yet.
  • A dedicated bus for some activities is being explored.
  • Possibility of having a small band/group to play some of the 60s and 70s music of our era during the sit-down dinner – concept still being developed!

The program is starting to firm up, as much as it can this far out, and looks something like this:

  • Friday 9 Dec – self-funded informal drinks possibly at the Kingo or Olims (tbc) for those who arrive early (and Canberra based) – this will not be ‘formally’ organised;
  • Saturday –  Cocktail drinks 6-10 pm;
  • Sunday
    • Attendance at the RMC Chapel Worship Service on an individual basis;
    • A Remembrance event for deceased classmates, either on Mt. Pleasant or at the Changi Chapel in the RMC grounds;
    • Brunch at the Arboretum (an indication of numbers closer to the date will be called for in order to book an area, but it would also be self funded);
  • Monday  – Tour of RMC, Museum etc                 
  • Monday –  ‘Formal’ dinner 7-11 pm; 
  • Tuesday  – Parade, Morning Tea, informal lunch (Kingo, Olims – tbc).

Tony McKenna has volunteered to coordinate the collection of information and collation of same into a ‘book’ to record the passing years. More to follow as the template is refined.

Warning Order – Reunion 2022

Hopefully you have all received this message via email and/or Facebook- if not, please contact me so that we can update your details. And apologies for the repetition if you have received it, but I’m trying to make sure we don’t miss anyone inadvertently.

“The traditional date for the RMC Graduation Parade for 2022 would be Tuesday 13 December. Note that this year it was held on Wednesday 2 December, apparently due to COVID, and there were no spectators. Please ‘save the dates’ from Friday 8 December to Wednesday 14 December ahead of the development of a program of events, for which your input will be sought. An interim committee has been formed in Canberra to start planning. Volunteers are requested to form the main committee to take on further detailed planning. The interim committee proposes that three to five representatives should be Canberra based to undertake bookings and arrangements locally, with perhaps a single representative from each region where there are significant numbers of classmates.”