Thanks to Pat Cullinan for emailing the following information:

“Reference our class journal, ‘Royal Military College, Duntroon 1969 – 1972‘, I spoke to the National Library’s ‘Ask a Librarian‘ service (phone 02-6262 1266) and after describing the Journal content and historical significance to her, she said that the Library would very much like a (hard) copy. They are particularly interested in material that has Australian content and the Journal fits this criteria perfectly. An ISBN publication number is not required. 

A hard copy could be hand delivered to the National Library of Australia (NLA) or posted to;

Legal Deposit

National Library of AustraliaParkes Place,

Canberra ACT 2600 

and / or

to send an electronic copy, a form that is on NLA website under Ned (National e–Deposit) can be filled out with the e-copy of the Journal attached.”

I think this is a great idea and would complement the copy that will be donated to the Duntroon Museum. As the book is now widely distributed I do not expect that there would be any issue with making it even more publicly available but if you do have concerns let me know.

There is an updated electronic version of the book on the website, which will be amended/edited as required. For example, there are better resolution photos in some cases – and in many the ‘original’ photo that was supplied (or not) dating from 1969 has been replaced with the mug shots most of us had taken on signing on the dotted line.

The final video from the reunion dinner is now available on the website.

It shows the toasts and the finale, Auld Lang Syne.

You can find it under Reunions / Reunion 2022 – Canberra and scroll down to 50th Anniversary Dinner Videos

Enjoy!

Classmates,

Your Reunion Planning Team met on Wednesday to enjoy a quiet lunch and do a quick wrap-up of the Reunion. Based on the feedback received, it seems that everyone had a great time and enjoyed the weekend, apart from those who decided that a dose of COVID would be a great take-away! We hope everyone fully recovered in time to enjoy a great Christmas! 

We’ve already posted a “thank you” to a number of others who contributed so much to the reunion, but we should follow up with one more: Elph wasn’t able to join us in person (he was on zoom), but despite that, he’s been busy sorting out and posting videos from the weekend on our website – thanks Elph! There are more to come.

So after deciding that, on balance, we’d done a bloody good job, we then determined that we weren’t about to volunteer to do the next one! Fortunately, a usually reliable source (who must remain nameless) has told us that the Kiwis have suggested that they might host another one in Aotearoa in 2027. No details at all at this stage, but start saving your pensions and stand by for details! The last one over there was terrific.

Finally, we should also report that Kym MacMillan’s Caribbean travel plans came to nought. After raising a little over $18,500 for the functions, caps and glasses, and paying bills of around $18,200, we were left with a surplus of $343.50. Clearly not enough to warrant fleeing the country, so that amount has been donated to Legacy and the account closed. A copy of the master spreadsheet is available from Kym if anyone feels the need to call in a professional auditor!

On behalf of the Canberra organising team, we wish you all a very healthy and happy 2023! 

Mates4Ever!

The second of the videos from the reunion dinner has been uploaded to the website. It covers the ‘Tell Us a Story’ segment where John McNamara as MC, invites Jon Mander -Jones, Tony McLeod, Geoff Hay and Brenda Elliott to to open up on their lives.

You can find it under Reunions / Reunion 2022 – Canberra and scroll down to Videos – Anniversary Dinner.

Please remember it was recorded on a mobile phone and might not be cinema quality.

Enjoy!

The first of the videos from the reunion dinner has been uploaded to the website. It covers the Welcome speech, Grace and a toast to deceased classmates by Rev Brian Chalmers.

You can find it under Reunions / Reunion 2022 – Canberra and scroll down to Videos – Anniversary Dinner.

As each video is released we will put out a post to notify website subscribers.

We hope you like the first one – it certainly shows that, based on the laughter and high spirits in the room, the committee chose the right man for the job of MC. John Mac did a superb job and the committee deserves the Oscar for casting him in that role.

Enjoy!

And in thanking those quietly working behind the scenes, how could we forget Rod Allan and Peter Jenke who compiled our music playlist for the dinner? Thanks to you both.

The 50th anniversary of the graduation year of the Class of 1969 – 1972 is over. And what a celebration it was over six days! Needless to say, the success of the event was a team effort, not just in the planning but in the execution. 

The planning team – all volunteers despite the benefit of sound advice and experience to the contrary – could not have put together and delivered the program without significant help from many. We have been more than adequately thanked for our efforts: we would like to record our heartfelt thanks to:

• Tony McKenna for ‘The Book’;

• Paddy Cullinan, for picking up and organizing the ‘Return to Araluen’;
  
• Brian Chalmers for preparing the Memorial Service and then delivering it. Thanks also to Rowan Tracey for his contribution to the Service;
  
• John McNamara for his detailed planning and then smooth conducting of our Monday night dinner, and for his segment of ‘This is your life’;

• John’s interviewees: Jon Mander-Jones, Tony McLeod, Geoff Hay and Brenda Elliott;
  
• Paddy Ryan for his perspicacious and humorous interviews of some of our Class characters; 

• Paddy’s interlocutors Tom Cobley, Pat Cullinan, Don Muirhead and Jan Loughrey; and 

• The presenters of the toasts: Brian Chalmers, Rowan Tracey, Peter Teys and Maurie Meecham.
  

A ‘Thank you’ has been sent to RMC Protocol, Bob Crawshaw, representing the RMC Tour guides, the RMC Museum Manager, and the events manager at The Rex.

And lastly, a sincere Thank You to all who attended the anniversary celebrations – classmates and partners. Without doubt it was the manner in which all participated that made the program enjoyable for all and therefore special. Indeed a ‘Class with class.’

Mates forever

Steve, Warwick, Kym and David

I’m very sorry to have to pass on that I tested positive to COVID today, after a PCR this morning. The symptoms appeared yesterday afternoon, so I hope that I wasn’t infectious during our reunion activities.

So if symptoms appear, please get checked quickly.

David

We’ve started putting up photos and reports of the various activities that have been occurring in Canberra this weekend. We also hope to have excerpts from the Monday night dinner and other video material. Have a look under the Reunions menu tab.

As more material becomes available it will be put up – and it wont always have a post associated with it – so check back every now and again.

At some stage someone will hopefully write the definitive account of the reunion – and anybody at all can shoot in a comment or a post – feel free.

John Elph

Dont forget gentleman – not too much lolly water tonight – you’re on the square at 0645!!