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As we draw close to ANZAC Day, the Rye RSL and its members support the OCS Alumni by laying a wreath at the statue.

We have now finalised the arrangements for our Brisbane luncheon on Tuesday 18 July 2023. We will be having a buffet luncheon in the Kitty Hawk Room at the Kedron Wavell Services Club commencing at 11.30am. Drinks will be available from a cash bar.

Partners and past staff are welcome.

There is plenty of parking available at the venue with drop off available at the door.

Kedron Wavell Services Club has, once again, kindly donated the cost of staff and room hire which provides a significant saving of $650.00 to us for this event.

Payment for the event is now available online through Kedron Wavell’s internal booking system. The price per person will be $55.00 which includes all booking charges. Just follow this link https://kedron-wavellltd.iwannaticket.com.au/event/ocs-alumni-annual-lunch-Mjg3NTM

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 10 July 2023.

Carl Corbett 6/83 has provided the following photos on the rings developed so far. Read the Specifications on the upper left of the image and the Photo attribution on the lower right to identify the differences.  Featured ring numbers are shown bottom left of the image.

Check out Carl’s comments on the website in the Post Archives for October 2019. The full Ring Proposal is there including some recent Comments if you scroll down.

And here is a short video on the early prototype, Mar 2022, post COVID response lock down delays.  From the class 6/83 volunteers’ Prototyping Phase.  This video is courtesy of Ash Pagett 6/83.

Fulfillment Report for the FCS Prototyping & Fulfillment Test Drive Phases of the project. Click on the above image to open in a readable format. Lines/rows 10-13 rings are still be completed prior to closing out the related phases of the project and proceeding on to the Hard Launch phase on 29 Mar. 2023.

Here is the OCS Portsea Ring Project’s new product range, which incorporates all the buyer feedback and preferences encountered to date.  It was finalised today (3/02/2023) with the assistance of the project’s graphic designer in Singapore.

Please note that the next update will provide details of the purchase process. Any enquiries in relation to these rings should be directed to the Project Coordinator Carl Corbet – carl.corbett@azea.com

After talking with Rob Murray, Rob Jones took up the challenge of organising an all class get together down in the Apple Isle. Here are his notes from the event.

Well in the end seven of us veterans of OCS , plus one partner, gathered for lunch at the New Sydney Hotel in Hobart.

Attendees from left to right as you look at it Bill Kaine , June 63, Bruce Cook, December 73, David Solomon, December 54, Mark Cooper, June 84, Rob Jones, December 72, Margaret Manning partner to Graeme, they’ve been married 68 years I think. Graeme Manning, June 52 an original,  and Denis Pegg,  June 63.

It was a great afternoon. Several of us still there closing in on 5 o’clock. Amazing really the bond a place like Portsea built. Many of us had never met before but you would have thought we had been together as friends for life.  Well worth the effort.

Loyalty and Service

Rob, thanks a lot for organising this and let’s hope you have many more. Perhaps the challenge is now there for other areas. Our SE Queensland lunch is looking good for 6 December. There are over 60 booked so far!

OCS SCHEYVILLE 50^th YEAR CLASS REUNION

The Officer Training Unit (OTU) Association Scheyville held a 50^th Year Reunion in Windsor (NSW) and at Scheyville itself, over three days from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 October 2022.  The event coincided with the date the last National Service Class marched into Scheyville in October 1972.  Approximately 400 graduates and wives/partners attended a gala dinner at the Hawkesbury Race Club on the Friday evening.  This was followed up by individual Class functions on the Saturday evening and a BBQ attended by approximately 250 personnel on the Sunday.

The Scheyville OCS Classes were well represented during the weekend.  Class members came from as far afield as King Island and the Sunshine Coast with one member from the 2/72 and 1/73 Classes in attendance respectively.  In all, 16 graduates and wives/partners attended the National Reunion Dinner on the Friday evening and 19 at the Combined OCS Classes’ Dinner on the Saturday evening held at the Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley.  17 followed up at the BBQ at Scheyville on the Sunday.  For those who attended, the weekend was an outstanding success and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.  Congratulations must go to the OTU Association’s Organising Committee.

1/72 OCS Scheyville Class Wives and Partners at the National Dinner

L – R:   Barb Prain, Gareth Ward, Mike Prain, Judy Brady, Paul Brady, Helga Deer, Bob Deer, Garry van Ree, Jenny van Ree, Richard Boyce, Margaret Stansfield and Gary Barker (present on the night but absent from the photo – Peter and Judy Whyntie)

OCS/OTU Class 50^th Reunion Dinner Crowne Plaza

Clockwise around the table:  Mike Prain, Jan Boyce, Richard Boyce, Gary Barker, Margaret Stansfield, Helga Deer, Bob Deer, Mark Howard (2/72), Chris Grigsby (1/73), Gareth Ward, Judy Whyntie, Peter Whyntie, Garry van Ree, Jenny van Ree, Anne Cotter, Judy Brady, Paul Brady, Graham Ferguson and Barbara Prain

2/72 and 1/73 Representation at the National Dinner

Mark Howard (2/72) and Chris Grigsby (1/73)

Some Additional Photos

L – R: Gareth Ward, Paul Brady, Mike Prain, Bob Deer, Garry van Ree, Richard Boyce, Gary (Shorty) Barker

It was a packed house.  There was half as many as that behind me as I took the photo.  Approx 400 in all.

1/72 Main Table with one ring in, Keith Michael.  Gary Ward, Judy and Paul Brady and Pete and Judy Whyntie were on other tables for some reason.

Paul and Judy Brady.  A lovely couple!

Join us for our first-ever Giving Day on September 8, 2022, where all donations will be doubled by generous matching donors.

Legacy Brisbane has been delivering on our promise to help the families of those who gave their lives or their health for our country for almost 100 years. We support 5,762 family members of fallen and injured veterans across South-East, Central and Western Queensland, providing essential social, financial and developmental support that these families depend on each day.

Up to 8pm on September 8, 2022 (or until the matched fund runs out) your generous donation will be matched and DOUBLED. That means double the impact for even more of our veterans’ families. Your donation will go twice as far in ensuring our families receive the support they deserve, including relief from financial hardship, advice and referrals to support services such as counselling, assistance with children’s education and development, encouraging like-minded friendships, and advocating for entitlements and services.

You can follow the live countdown now at legacygivingday.org.au.

John Goodchap visited Portsea on ANZAC Day and took time to have a look around. Earlier we raised the project that Parks Victoria was undertaking to establish a camping area in the vicinity of Jarman Oval.

This link provides an overview of the project – Parks Victoria

Work has now commenced and the following photographs provide an insight to location and progress. John advises that Parks Victoria staff advise that Stage 1 completion is planned for late September this year. This Stage will involve the creation of 34 camping sites with permanent tents on wooden platforms. There will be a mix of two and four person tents.

This last photo show how close to the bay sites will be – located off to the right of the track. This is looking towards the picnic area along Coles Track and the bay. (Check out Google Maps for a street view.) Jarman Oval is off to the left of the photo. See the location map above or the Parks Victoria site for more detail on the actual camp sites.

Today, John Goodchap from the Class of June 1974 was up and about early to visit the site for a personal Dawn Service. He said it was quite moving being the only person there in the pre-dawn light.

John added a single rose to the wreath provided by the Rye RSL.

He then used the car radio to broadcast The Last Post as played on ABC radio.

John then visited the site later in the morning to lay a wreath on behalf of his graduating class. Thank you Class of June 1974.

He took the following photos for reflection. If you look closely you can see a flypast as specks in the sky.

This is a time when we remember those who made the supreme sacrifice. We also pause to remember friends we served with over the years.

Services are held around the country and with the help of the Rye RSL our statue at Portsea is prepared for the day. A thank you to Frank and John for their efforts in ensuring all is well for services.

Planning a get together for your class?

We’ve now added a page to allow classes to publish reunion information on the website. Just provide us with the details using the webmaster@ocsportsea.org email address and we’ll do the rest.

The link appears under the Topical Topics Main Menu item.