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).

An update on the Covenant is at this link, as per the following screen shot.

Information on eligibility is contained in the third link at the bottom of that page, as per the next screen shot.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the announcement. Do we (as First Class in 1972) claim any credit, however small?

 

A  couple of new books have been added to the Bibliography (https://duntroonclassof1972.com/bibliography/):

Evans, Peter, Half a mile in thirty years : from Duntroon to Russell,Barrallier Books, Canberra, 2018.

Stone, Gary, with Breen, Bob, Duntroon to Dili : mayhem and miracles, traumatic stress and trust in God,Barrallier Books, Canberra, 2014.

Both are available from Echo Books (https://www.echobooks.com.au/books/), including in ebook format. Echo Books is a niche publisher run by Ian ‘Groover’ Gordon, Class of 1973. There are some other titles of interest, including Pat Cullinan’s White Sherpas, and Chris Clark’s Olaf’s Suitcase (the latter nothing to do with RMC!)

Ross is recovering from a major operation for pancreatic cancer. The good news is that they got all the cancer and whilst still in hospital he is recovering.

He has lost 10 kilos and is expected to loss more until he can gradually return to solids.

He is currently in Calvary  Hospital North Adelaide and whilst numbers visitors are limited they are welcome.

Ross will be home next week and his address is 39 Truscott Ave Seacombe Heights. However, if you wish to make contact, it is suggested that you ring Marg on 0421041174 beforehand.

Tony Rumball died after a massive heart attack yesterday (Tuesday 9 October). Tony was in Third Class in 1969 and graduated from OCS Portsea in (I think) 1970, into the RAAOC. He retired as a LTCOL and joined the APS in the field of Logistics, ending that career as the Director of International Logistics in Strategic Logistics Branch.

He was a good bloke. On a personal note, we went through school together in Adelaide – he entered RMC a year ahead of me because I opted (involuntarily!) to do a second matriculation year.

No details yet on funeral arrangements.

With the advent of a Class (if not classy) Facebook page and this website, Snippets has ceased to be compiled and distributed. Many thanks go to Ian Callan for his stewardship of the Snippets newsletter for so long.

As a consequence of the cessation of Snippets is that the Contact List on the website is not regularly updated. Graham Smith has volunteered to take over the upkeep of the list, so if any of your details change, please let him know, either on the website email address at rmcclassof1972@gmail.com or at his personal email address at grhmsmith@bigpond.com

 

The latest edition of the Society’s newsletter is at http://www.dunsoc.com/viewnewsletter?issue=2-2018-web. Our thanks to our Mike Ryan our Editor and contributors for another terrific edition comprising 27 pages.

Highlights include:

Anzac Day in Baghdad 2009. Marcus Fielding (1986) p. 1.

Bogging 1979-1982 by Allan Murray (1982) p. 6.

Reflections on a Fortunate Career by Clive Badelow (OTU 4/69, and possibly to last serving OTU graduate) p. 9.

A View of Duntroon 1929. Chris Appleton (1978) p. 14.

Some Sentiments are Timeless. Mark O’Neill (June 1988), p. 13.

Reflections of a Recent Graduate. Duane Russell (June 2018).

Rugby Legends. Murray Harley (June 1988) p. 15.

From the DMA. Colonel Len Oei (1995) p. 18.

Updates from the Society’s President, OTU Association and the Branches of the Society from p.19.

A request for information about the RSMs of OCS and OUT from the RMC Sergeants Mess: p.25

Annual General Meeting. The AGM of the Duntroon Society will be held at Duntroon House on Wednesday 24 October 2018 at 2.00 pm. If you wish to nominate for election to the Council of the Society as President, Vice-President, Treasurer; Secretary or one of the two other member’s positions, please advise the Secretary, Tony Maple E: anthony.h.maple@gmail.com NLT 17 October, along with the names and contact details of two members of the Society that support your nomination.

Please continue to reach out to mates past and present to invite them to join us in the Society at www.dunsoc.com/join. If you wish to make a suggestion or discuss any matter concerning the Society, please contact me at dunsoc@central.com.