Author: laupossie

Hi Graduates, Staff and Friends,

The last few months have been a bit of a blur as we progressed the development of the book proposal. There have been emails to the left and right as well as many conversations. So, we thought it was time for a collective update.

After sending out a request to classes for nominations of graduates for interview, we were given a really great selection ranging across the years. We have representatives from each decade that the Officer Cadet School operated. The first class of graduates is still quite active and set the standard for others to follow. We finish with keen members of the final class to enter the school but graduated from the Royal Military College. We’ve even managed to catch the person who turned the lights off.

Another challenge we faced was getting staff who had been posted there. Fortunately, there were a few reluctant volunteers with a few Officer Instructors, Assistant Instructors and civilians who were too slow to step back. Finally, we have others who supported Portsea by hosting overseas cadets.

In all, we have a well-rounded group of 45 listed for interviews. Unfortunately, not all will appear in the book but I am sure we will use some as teasers on the website.

This week, we held a catch-up meeting with Dave Morgan, our author, to finalise what happens next. Dave has just finished writing a second edition of Never Forgotten and is keen as mustard to progress work on this new challenge. We have agreed that he will have a short break and commence interviews early in the new year.

The approach will involve a telephone interview which will be recorded followed by documenting the outcome. Dave will start with the first class and move forward from there. There will then be opportunities to review the story until agreement is reached for a final version. While space is limited, we would appreciate any then and now photos you may have. We will also try to include photos of Portsea through the times. I should mention at this time that he has completed the interview with Brian Florence – Graduate and Commandant.

Dave has had an initial discussion with his publisher who is keen to produce the final document. Our target is to have the book ready for release in June 2027 when we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the first class to graduate. This will most probably align with the RMC graduation. Watch this space!!!

We will keep you informed as the project continues.

Thank you to everyone who has helped so far.

 

The 75^th Book Team

Celebrating 75 Years of Loyalty and Service

In 2027, the Officer Cadet School, Portsea (OCS) will celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of the graduation of the first two classes. The history of the OCS is well documented in Neville Lindsay’s book Loyalty and Service.

Several graduates have written books covering their experiences during and after OCS. Most tend to focus on post OCS activities. Several classes have their yearbooks, including updates, published on the website.

A proposal was submitted to the OCS Alumni Committee by the webmaster seeking approval to commission a book to be written on the life of a group of cadets spanning the life of the OCS – 1952 to 1985. The book will cover areas such as their reason for joining, their time at the OCS, life after graduation, and post service activities.

To ensure we capture the full story of Portsea over the years, the proposal sought to develop a book based on interviews with around forty (40) graduates. There should be a mix of years, countries and sexes. The book should include where possible a representative sample of cadets from all countries as well as staff.

The recommendation included the nomination of author Dave Morgan, a veteran of Vietnam, to compile the work. Dave has written four books and is currently compiling his fifth. The last two cover interviews with a range of service personnel from the late 60s to the present time. His profile and the books he has written can be viewed here – https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/dave-morgan/?srsltid=AfmBOopINBcI0IZOJkzq31QszHt2ipbDreaVz2mflGX5HTXhJ77JdW0B

Dave can commence work later this year and would complete the work at no cost to the Alumni. He would work to see proceeds of sales go to Legacy.

Action Required

Class Orderlies are asked to discuss this with classes and nominate one person from their class who they would recommend for interviews. The only requirements are that the person must be alive (a bit hard to interview otherwise) and must have graduated.

Overseas individuals can be included in the nominations as a special recommendation as we want to include a sample of this group.

We recognise that there may be more nominations than required as there were 67 classes. The committee will work with the classes to determine final nominations. A few ‘spares’ will be included.

We are also seeking nominations for staff who might be interviewed. This could include a range from Officer Instructors, Assistant Instructors, Administrative staff and civilian support staff.

If any of your class has a contact with families who supported OCS through Lions, Rotary or other community-based organisations, we would like to include a selection of them if possible.

Nominations should be submitted via class orderlies to webmaster@ocsportsea.org

Closing Date

All nominations should be provided by not later than 5.00pm, Friday, 29^th August 2025.

The OCS Alumni Lunch in South East Queensland is on 15th July 2025. Timings are 11.30 for 12 noon. Planning is well under way and we have 80+ registered so far. This includes three members of the first class in June 1952.

Please note that partners and past staff are welcome. For this year, we have invited graduates of WRAAC OCS to join us.

Registrations close on 8th July 2025.

The lunch will be held at the Kedron-Wavell Services Club at Chermside on Brisbane’s northside. The club supports use with free use of their facilities.

If you wish to register, follow this link  – OCS Alumni Lunch

 

Latest Information – 06 March 2025 Planning approval application The Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station project is now undergoing a number of permit and planning approvals as we progress through detailed design. A list of completed and upcoming approvals can be found on our website. One of these planning approvals is currently open for community review from 3 –31 March 2025.  To review the planning approval application, please visit the Department of Transport and Planning’s website. What are ‘planning scheme amendments’ and ‘community advertising’ periods’? A planning scheme amendment is a formal change to the Victorian Planning Scheme, either statewide or particular to a certain municipality’s planning rules and policies. It can involve updating zoning maps, modifying land use regulations, or introducing new planning controls to guide future development and land use in the area. It may pertain to a particular site and outcome, such as facilitating changes needed to allow for a space or building, allowing an adjustment to the uses for the space under certain conditions specifications or limitations. Each matter undergoes a consultation or public exhibition phase in which individuals or groups can read the documents submitted for approval and issue a written statement explaining your views about an application, and how you may be affected if approval is granted. Community submissions contribute to the relevant government department’s overall determination and recommendation to the Minister for Planning, allowing them to make informed decisions about what conditions may be appropriate to place on an approval once granted. For more information, visit the Department of Planning and Transport website.

Listed in our book  list is a new one written by Ron Callander. Ron is a graduate of the first class from OCS.

R.N. (Ron) Callander is an award-winning* Queensland writer.  A Playwright, Author, Short Story Writer, TV Scriptwriter, and Journalist.  Much of his work is listed in the AustLit university website.  He is a former State Secretary of The Australian Radio, Television and Screen Writers’ Guild, (AWG)  and Committee Member of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (Vic.).   In 2024 he is 91 years old and a 3-year veteran of the Korean War, in which he served as a Transport Officer.

(*The 1961 Henry Lawson Award, The 1996 Northern Territory Literary Award.)

By the same author:

‘The Third Witness’  ‘The Go-Go Shoe’   (Screenplays)
‘The Mavis Bramston Show’, ‘Homicide’ , ‘Bellbird’  (Scripts.)
‘MacArthur’s Pyjamas’  (Seaview Press – Anthology)
‘One Beat of a Butterfly’s Heart’ (30° South Publishing – African Memoir)
‘Echoes of Henry Lawson’ (Ansay – Anthology)
‘Enter’ (Flamingo HarperCollins – Anthology)
Contributor to: Australian Short Stories, Quadrant, Overland, Hlas Domova, (Czech)
Script Screen & Art, The Melbourne Age Literary Supplement, The Newcastle Morning Herald,
The Grenfell Record, Afloat, KG Murray Magazines, & other publications.

July 16 is fast approaching and will be on us before we know. The lunch is a great opportunity to renew friendships and catch up with classmates or others you may have served with.

It is being held at the Kedron Wavell Service Club in the Kittyhawk Room. The Club is providing the room free of charge – a great saving for us.

The lunch costs $55.00 and there will be a raffle providing support for Legacy. A four night mid-week stay at Caloundra’s Kings Beach is the first prize. Tickets available on the day.

If you wish to book, follow this link – https://kedron-wavellltd.iwannaticket.com.au/event/ocs-alumni-annual-lunch-MzA5NTQ

Please ensure that you include your class (e.g. Dec68) and the name of your partner if attending. Any special dietary needs should be included to assist with catering.

Please note that bookings will close on Monday 8th July 2023.

Following updates to the proposed Field Station design, the Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station team attended the Point Nepean Portsea Markets on Saturday 9 March 2024.

Warm weather and clear skies made for a wonderful day out, with project team members and researchers from both the University of Melbourne and Monash University in attendance to discuss recent project updates. The market provided an opportunity to answer questions, discuss research opportunities, and share the positive impact this collaboration will have on both local and global communities.

In the video above, project team member Tim Pearce and University of Melbourne researcher Dr Allyson O’Brien share the exciting vision for the new Home of the National Centre for Coasts and Climate.

The Rye RSL was busy at work getting the statue ready for the big day. John Wilson and his staff cleaned the statue and then laid a wreath in preparation for ANZAC Day.

 

 

 

 

John Goodchap (June 1974) visited for a dawn wreath laying.

 

David Irving-James (UK Ex Long Look instructor 1976) sent through his ANZAC Day experience from the UK. The notes are below including a poem he wrote.

ANZAC Day not forgotten in this little part of England .

Some gave a little,

and some gave their all .

               Your countrymen and brothers

               may lay in England’s distant lands

                but I make to you this promise.   

                 they lay safe in English hands

 

                They may never see the sunset 

                    on your Australian shore

              but they will share in my sunrise 

                safe in my land forever more 

 

David Irving-James

ANZAC Day 2024

Yes, it’s on again. Set the 16th July 2024 in your diaries for our next Alumni lunch. The Kedron Wavell Services Club (Brisbane) will once again be the venue.

Graduates, all staff, partners and friends of Portsea are welcome to attend. At our last lunch we had graduates from the first to last class attending including fly-ins from Hobart, Sydney and overseas. If you are travelling through why not join us?

Over 100 enjoyed the last event so let’s see if we can improve on that. Further details will be published once we have the finer details.

Following my email to you in April, I am writing to update you on further progress of the Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station.

As communicated, in April the university partners, Monash University and the University of Melbourne, agreed to inject additional funding to support the development of the Field Station, supplementing the $17 million in grant funding already received from the Commonwealth.

We are pleased to inform you that the project team has finalised the conceptual design for the Field Station. The design will be submitted for planning approval early in the new year, including the required consultation process.

The design envisages the Field Station as being a vibrant teaching, learning and research hub bringing together students, researchers and the local community in a unique coastal and marine environment. It will be capable of hosting significant coursework and research onsite, including immersive student experiences in a unique landscape rich with culture, history and biodiversity.

The Field Station will comprise the adaptive reuse of the existing Badcoe Hall, transforming it into a research and teaching facility, complete with laboratories and collaborative spaces. A new purpose-built short-stay university accommodation facility will be built between Badcoe Hall and Jackson Road, allowing students and research groups to stay onsite to maximise the teaching and research potential offered by the Field Station.

The design no longer includes the proposed seawater tanks and piping system for storing live marine samples onsite. This decision was based on the need to ensure the Field Station is sustainable in the long term given the ongoing maintenance and operational costs of the seawater tanks and piping system. This decision allows for greater flexibility in the design, meaning the Field Station can cater to the full range of teaching and research opportunities envisaged by our academics, allowing us to better maximise the use of the Field Station.

The study of marine life will continue within the breadth of research carried out at the Field Station, the location of which will readily facilitate the study of locally sourced marine samples without the need for permanent live-storage facilities.

With this exciting design milestone reached, the project team will advance our community engagement by returning to the Point Nepean Portsea Market in March 2024, providing the opportunity for the community to view and learn more about the designs. We are also planning further community briefing sessions in the new year.

We look forward to updating you further on the project and sharing visuals of the design in the coming months as we progress through government and regulatory approvals. Please reach out should you wish to discuss the project further or need more information, we are also more than happy to arrange tailored briefings with you.

Kind regards,

Jane Kasby

On behalf of the Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station project team.