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 40^thanniversary).

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!

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

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.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/days-like-this.mp4

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’t there let me know so I can verify that we’ve got your current email address. David

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 50^th 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 31^st 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