A post from Ian Callan on Facebook, copied below:

Today a special meeting of Queensland Classmates occurred in Hobart. It was a makeup for Bob and I because we both missed recent Queensland Reunions. Barb and I had a great lunch with Bob Shaw and his cousin Susan. Notice the short sleeves; 24C perfect day.
Earlier in the day Barb and I caught up with Sue Martyn who is in Hobart doing family tree research. We also met with another couple from Melbourne who we walked the Portuguese Camino with. Sure is a small world.
Thanks for a great day Bob Shaw. Best food ever.
Callo

In case anyone following this blog didn’t get Graham Smith’s request for contact detail updates for the Roll Book, his email is hereunder:

Graham’s email is grhmsmith@bigpond.com

There have been a few responses, two of which I’ve reproduced with permission below, because they contain a bit more information. Your thoughts on Tony Mckenna’s suggestion would be welcome.

30 January

Hi Graham,

My details are correct.

I have been thinking ahead to our reunion in 2022 and believe we should
produce a momento of our 50 years similar to what Rod Allan did with the
video in 2002 and re-issued on CD in 2012. I am sure I’m not the only one.

My thoughts are along the lines of a booklet or similar with profiles of
all classmates then and now (with photos) and a summary of service,
achievements, decorations/awards and anything else we feel might be relevant
without going overboard or invading privacy.

I would be happy to put together a working group (probably of Victorian
based classmates for convenience) if I can con a couple into getting on
board. We could then spend the next four years collecting and collating data
and putting it all together for publication and distribution at the reunion.
Of course, the class contact list will be vital for this exercise so I’d be
plaguing you for up to date information on a regular basis. 🙂

What do you think?

Cheers,

Tony McKenna

January 28 (originally to Ian Callan)

Hi Ian,

I trust that this finds you and Barb both fit and well.

Here Margo retired on 31 August 2018 and so we have moved to Minnesota, USA, which is her home area.

We bought a lake home seven years ago and we are currently doing some renovations.

While Margo was still working I embarked on writing a third book titled  The British Infantry,which is now about to be published.

So, once again, as with my two previous books, I was planning on sending our classmates a complementary copy.

Therefore, I was wondering if you have compiled an updated RMC CLASS 1972 – MASTER DATA SHEET that is more recent than the 27 July 2016 copy that I have at the moment?

In that regard, I certainly miss your Snippets, which I found indispensable in keeping up with what all our class were achieving with their lives.

In closing, I look forward to all your news.

Best wishes,
Tom

Thanks to Rowan Tracey for letting me know of another book that discusses life at Duntroon – this time in the period 1926 to 1929. It is one chapter in Robinson, Godfrey, The Decades of a Duntroon Bastard, Neptune Press, Belmont (Victoria), 1980, which, despite the title, is really his life story.

He notes that ‘I believe that my class endured the peak of the bullying: certainly the three classes that followed mine were less severely dealt with, although they might not agree.’ (p44) We might relate to that! There are a couple of poignant bits of self-examination that we might in some ways share, although I don’t think, as a class, we would have contemplated taking part in the sort of bastardisation we received (not that we had the option):

‘Being the youngest of my class – I had just turned seventeen – and of no great maturity anyway, this “training” had at least one unfortunate effect on me. I finished the fourth class course determined to take it out on the next fourth class, and that obsession possessed me in some measure until after I had left Duntroon. I think many of us suffered traumatic psychological injury as a result of that dreadful year.’ (p 45)

‘In fact after four years of training I was in a practical sense no more fitted for the world than I had been the day I arrived in Duntroon; but one thing I had learned. I could stand alone against all things, against all people if need be. There was in me an ineradicable unbending conviction of fitness to accept and handle responsibility at any level. I felt deeply that responsibility would be better exercised and more fully savoured, if it should thrust me into loneliness.’ (p 48)

Citation has been added to the Bibliography page (https://duntroonclassof1972.com/bibliography/). I managed to get a copy through Abe Books, but that website indicated that it was the only copy it had available.

Thanks again to Bill Houston, our resident historian at the Army History Unit, for this extract from the Commonwealth Gazette: gazette 1969 csc 4th class

He’s also provided the gazetted list of graduates in 1972, but I might hold that over for the next four years or so!

Thanks to Bill Houston for passing on the following gem – what an appropriate way to celebrate 50 years!

Late last year the Army held an innovation display.

A featured item was Kev Loughrey’s rifle.  The original was on show, and has now gone back to its home at the Infantry Museum armoury, as it is kept as a firing weapon.

The museum at Duntroon has on display a very detailed 1:1 model of the rifle.  It looks real.

An extract from an AAHU newsletter – with photo – is at this link:  army innovation display – loughrey rifle.

Well, 50 years ago tomorrow to be precise. So, anniversary greetings to all those who were and are part of the journey that was (is) the Class of 1972.

A short synopsis of the year that was is at this link: 1969

And as we recognise this milestone, let us remember those who have died along this journey (see https://duntroonclassof1972.com/roll-book/), and keep their families and loved ones in our thoughts.

Given the interest that Peter McCann’s advice on the DART has sparked, I’ve put a link to the Fox Report on the Bibliography page. Alternatively, you can access it at this link.

Ian Callan has just passed on the following update from Lee:

 Classmates, Hi! 

I just realised why I have not heard anything for a fair while, (must be getting old and doddery), and that is because I changed email address after 20 odd years, had to because of the advent of the NBN. 

New email address is general537@bigpond.com 

I have been retired now for 3 years and still live in Deniliquin, still drive cabs Monday and Tuesday every week, along with every second Thursday. 

Play golf (or attempt) 2 days a week, bowls 2 days a week and still involved with the Lodge. For any of the classmates that are interested, I am a member of both the NSW and Victorian Constitutions, hold the rank of PSGW in NSW and am currently a member of the Victorian 2018/19 Grand Ceremonial team as GStdB, and that finishes in May this year. 

Throw in my vegetable garden, looking after grand kids and finding time for a beer, I appear to be busier now than I was when working full time. I guess I’m pretty lucky as Winnie is still working, though I don’t know for how much longer, (need her to keep going to keep me in the manner to which I am accustomed). 

That’s about it I think, 

Cheers to each and all 

Lee 

For those not following our class Facebook page, Pete McCann has posted the message below:

G’day all,

This post is to make you aware, if you are not already, of the Defence Abuse Reparation Scheme (DART) which has opened up the possibility of getting reparations for the events of 1969 and before.  This scheme is administered  by the Defence Ombudsman and is set up to make reparations for the most serious forms of abuse and/or sexual assault in Defence.  I considered that bastardisation was a serious form of abuse particularly considering that many of us were under 18 and therefore a minor.   I have long been irked by the fact that Defence has never apologised for its actions.  So, in February last year I wrote to the Ombudsman using the DART form which is on their website Defence.Ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au.  I didn’t shy away from naming names where necessary.
I gave the following examples of abuse:

– Multiple bathroom sessions, including one particularly abusive one at ANZAC Hall where I had a powerful hose directed on the family jewels while playing dead ants.  These are important because, while not sexual per se, they involved  performing humiliating acts such as bathroom “obstacle courses” while naked and introduced an element of indecency.
– Taking showers in uniform,
– Bullying and harassment in the Mess including sinker races, eating spoonfuls of Vegemite, square and/or submarine meals etc,
– Having the contents of my room thrown out the window for no reason,
– Being verbally abused by a drunk section commander (guess who?) inches from my face,
– Stealing food from the Mess under orders from the senior class.

I carefully left out anything that could be deemed educational or militarily necessary such as the screed test.

Factors that the Ombusman takes into account are:
– The age of the complainant,
– The position held by the alleged abuser(s),
– the duration of the abuse, and
– the gravity of the alleged conduct.

The Ombudsman assessed my submission as ” ..an ongoing campaign of bullying and harassment that included unlawful interference with an element of indecency.”

We are fortunate in a way that all this is documented in the initial Military investigation and the Fox Royal Commission.

There are 2 levels of reparation $20K and $50k.  While the level of abuse in my case did not reach the $50K level because there was no sexual element or physical injury the Ombudsman considered it was a case of serious abuse and therefore met the $20K threshold.  There is also a supplementary reparation of $5K if Defence knew about the abuse but did nothing about it.  This was easily satisfied by directing the Ombudsman to the Commandant’s Directive that “fourth class training”  was allowed but had to cease at the end of the first term due to problems they had experienced in 1968.

Defence have offered to conduct a formal session to offer a formal apology and counselling if needed but I decided not to take up the offer. just before Christmas I received $25K tax-free dollars.

If you feel strongly about this I would encourage you to apply and spread the word.  You get a dedicated liaison officer who keeps you informed of progress along the way.  I am happy to help if you need any assistance.  It’s taken nearly 50 years!!

Cheers

Peter McCann

Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of his submission, that understandably won’t be made publicly available. Pete has, however, offered to provide assistance to anyone who is considering making an application.

A suggestion was made that a ‘class action’ could be mounted, but apparently that option is not available (subject to confirmation).