10 Mar 2010
Children's Holiday Team-building Program at Portsea. I have just received a request from Parks Victoria to assist in a program for 8-12 year olds during the school holidays (end of Mar here in Victoria). The Program aims to run short "experiences" in drill and teamwrok, in conjuction with a brief introduction into "A Day In The Life Of An Officer Cadet". I've suggested that most of us are already "old farts" and that the physical aspects of the program might be better conducted by a younger age group, eg, say CPL level in Army Cadets. A good experience for both school kids and cadets! I am endeavouring to produce a DVD that explains pictorially in brief the history of the OCS, activities usually done on a daily basis, the different uniforms over the years, the concept of "leaps", sports, etc. This can be further developed as necessary for more comprehensive information progressively. I'd certainly welcome some input from Alumni members in this regard.
Heritage Architectural and Landscaping. Today I was at Portsea to be interviewed by a principal of Taylor Cullity Lethlean (look them up by clicking on the link). Preliminary interviews are currently under way, and I must say that I am extremely gratified that we (the Alumni) are considered prime contributors to ideas for the "Master Plan" for the whole area. In fact I am even more gratified and pleased that the latest Parks Victoria Newsletter (click on link) refers to our old area as "the Quarantine Station/Officer Cadet School". I passed on my (our) gratitude to the Parks' staff for the due recognition that the Officer Cadet School has now been accorded.
The interview included many questions on our thoughts about what should be retained (that which is currently not Heritage listed) within the area, how it should be maintained, and thoughts about how the area can be improved to attract visitors, what commercial endeavours could be considered to make the whole area self sufficient, etc. Keep in mind, the whole area has in the past, and will in the future incur considerable expenditure to maintain. So some sort of income must be generated in order to do that.
Some of the considerations so far:
New Zealand Christmas trees in the area between our old accommodation blocks. Are these tress still necessary? This question should go to the Kiwis, as they were responsible for their planting (early-mid sixties?). Removal of the trees, in the short term, would allow for the erection of marquees to extend the useable area within the location for functions. I've suggested the Kiwi Christmas trees lining the pathway from the accn blocks behind Badcoe Hall down to the Staff Officers Mess/old HQ area be retained and that we ask that the "plaques" that used to be at their bases, be replaced - assuming they are currently being "safe-kept" within the RMC Museum. Would the Kiwis care to respond, please?
The newer accommodation blocks. Referred to in the past as C and D Blocks, or 3 and 4 Blocks. These blocks are obviously not heritage listed, so can be removed. But, before anything is confirmed, there is the realisation that some of the Alumni spent at least half of their year in one of those blocks, or even a whole year. If you fall into this category, what say you? We have no idea what would replace them, but it would be nice to go on record that we prefer they be kept in some way, or it is OK to have them removed. Let me know, please?
Badcoe Hall and the proposed Museum (in the Quarantine building nearest Parade Ground). Badcoe Hall will stay and be firmly established with some memorabilia. A pleasant surprise - Parks yesterday received a framed photo (A3 size) of Peter Badcoe's grave in Terendak, Malaysia. I'll show that pic tomorrow, with the donor's name. Outstanding!
At some stage we will have to consider our input into an OCS component of the Museum to be established. Perhaps some display cabinets/cases , uniforms, nick nacks from our past.
Start scrounging through your trunks in garages and attics!
I doubt anything would be released from the RMC Museum, but, if you think you may have some influence, by all means go ahead and try - you would have the backing of the greater majority of the Alumni, I would think.
Other aspects. I also discussed the possibility of refurbishing the Assault Course - not for use, only for display, and even then the OH and S aspects would be a severe constraint.
* Perhaps a "viewing platform" at the top of the "scramble course" (sorry, no electric climbing chair)?
* Perhaps half of Jarman Oval being excavated to make a lagoon with resort-type huts around the periphery, hidden in amongst the T-tree. Would make a safe swimming attraction for visitors and tourist resort accommodation to raise revenue?
* Establishment of a "memorial" in place of the Memorial Wall, now well established and regarded in the grounds of RMC. Not particularly as a "memorial", but more a reminder of the various countries who contributed their members to train at OCS - with a flag pole behind it, permanently flying the OCS flag (we would have to provide the upkeep/replacement of the flags).
Costs associated with holding functions at OCS. I have dispelled the myth that retired Army Officers rely on a substantial superannuation income. Negotiations will be on-going! MTF (more-to-follow, for those who have forgotten!) as avail.
08 Feb 2010
Vale. It has been said a number of times that we are a "finite" group. The members that make up the Alumni from 1952 to end 1985 can but only lessen as the years go by. This has been only too evident already since this year started with the passing of:
Peter T Caskey, RAE, RACT - Class of Jun 1957
Bruce McKenzie Reid, RAE - Class of Dec 1959
Barry Jenkins, RAE - Class of Jun 1956
Peter Martin Hardy, RAAOC - Class of Dec 1967
Rest in Peace brothers.
Last OCS Flag. I received an intersting email from Craig Johnston (Class of Jun 1982) a little while ago offering information about the "last flag" of the OCS.
"I read with interest the post about the last OCS Flag, and would be interested to learn more about its genesis.
The add to the debate about just who does have the last OCS Flag I offer the following:
I visited the then School of Army Health at Norris Barracks (ex-OCS barracks) in early June 1986 to participate in the Australian Services Hockey Championships, being held on the old OCS playing fields, with competition participants being accommodated in the old Cadet lines. I got to stay in my old room in the bldg closest to Shepherd's Hut (I was PL SGT 5 PL so I had the room closest to the Bay on the ground floor).
During the two week stay I observed that the OCS Memorial was being very well maintained by the SOAH Staff, and the OCS Flag continued to fly. Indeed, at the time I was there the flag that was flying had been the actual flag flying during the last Graduation Parade and ultimate closure of OCS some 6 months prior. This information was advised by LTCOL Vale, the CO, and his QM (responsible for maintaining the Memorial).
On 13 Jun 92 my class held its 10 Year Reunion on the Peninsula, including several walking tours of the grounds and access to all the buildings. The OCS Flag continued to fly above the Memorial. The upkeep of the flags and Memorial still fell to the QM right up until the SOAH's relocation to Bandiana/Bonegilla. Like any reunion we took many photos to recall old memories.
During the SOAH's "occupation" of the OCS precinct my Father-in-Law, Jock Richardson (RSM OCS 70-74 & SGT/WO2 Instr Oct 58-Dec 63), became friends with the last QM. During various discussions over the years Jock recalled my interest in preserving Military History in general, and OCS in particular.
In 1993, just prior to my posting to 1 RAR, I received a call from the QM, recalling the brief story and events surrounding the flag, and advised that it had been sent to me in the mail. With the imminent end to an Army presence and pulling down of the Memorial no further flags were sourced. The various flags used from 87- had long been destroyed after they became unusable (weather takes its toll on the Peninsula as we would all remember). This was the flag flying on the Memorial during the last Graduation Pde in Dec 85, and the last held by SOAH.
The flag arrived in very good condition and continues to be "flown" in my study in Canberra, from a US Army flag staff mounted in a 105mm Arty shell base made by my soldiers from SPT COY 1 RAR. The flag has attended many OCS reunions over the years.
As an aside, at some stage in the years that followed, a decision was made, in concert with the then CA (LTGEN Frank Hickling - first OCS Graduate to reach LTGEN and first to be appointed Chief of Army), for the Memorial to be taken apart, palletised and protected for eventual relocation. This is believed to have been done in the period 98-00. The OCS flag had continued flying above the Memorial up until it was pulled down.
Whilst I was the Director of Army Public Affairs in 2001 I was approached early in the year by Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group to source archive photos of the OCS Memorial to assist in its reconstruction at a new location within the grounds of RMC Duntroon. It appears that despite all good intentions and care no-one had taken detailed photos of the Memorial prior to pulling it apart, nor had any plans/sketches been done. The original plans could not be located. CSIG were overjoyed to learn that I had in my albums at home not one, but two, good colour photos that showed the exact number of bricks and rows, the location of each plaque and the shape of the Memorial. One photo from the early 1982 period, the other taken on 13 Jun 92. These two photos proved both invaluable in restoring the Memorial, and keeping up pressure for a permanent flag pole and OCS flag at the Memorial in RMC, as was the case at Portsea.
Regards,"
It would appear we may have "two last flags". Keith Fraser (Class of Jun 1975) was the last ADMINO of the OCS ending Dec 1985. His "last flag" was lowered from the main flagpole. Craig's flag was lowered well after the cessation of the OCS, at the dismantling of the OCS Memorial Wall, but was the flag flown from the single flag pole immediately behind the Memorial Wall. Which reminds me - when exactly was the flag pole behind the Memorial Wall raised? It wasn't there in 1967. And where did it disappear to?
Craig, Keith, you guys BOTH have the "last OCS flag" (there is another in a frame in the RMC Museum) - unless there are others who may want to claim the same honour with a flag we don't know about?
60th Anniversary of the OCS Portsea. December 2012 will see the 60th Anniversary of the first OCS graduation. There have been a number of suggestions as to what may be organised to celebrate this anniversary, amongst them being:
* A Commemorative Stamp
* A commemorative Cast statuette of an Officer Cadet for purchase (similar to that which was presented when the OCS closed in Dec 1985
* A "Return to Portsea" (with Beating of the Retreat, Fireworks, Concert, Cocktail Parties, Dinners, over a three day period, etc, and
* A "Rock" with plaque tribute to be erected at the former Memorial Wall site
We certainly would appreciate more suggestions, and perhaps tentative indications of an interest in attending. We have the time now to prepare, but would need a number of volunteers to start the feasibility research, etc.
18 Jan 2010
Welcome to a Brand New Year - the Year of 2010. If you missed out on the information of the last couple of months of 2009, please click on the 2009 Archived page link above. Some of the photographic links appear in the column on the right. |
Links from late 2009:
* Pt Nepean Self Guided Tour Brochure
* Pt Nepean National Park Open Day
* Tribute to MAJ Peter Badcoe VC |
