If you would like your old mates see how you’re travelling these days, send in a decent photo (maybe now and then photos) and a brief description of what you are up to.
A few old boys getting together recently for Dusty Miller's birthday on his farm. L:R John Branch, Russ Cronin, Dusty & Bob Luck kneeling.
Harry Brutnall, 91 - Hard hat still on deck - (Anzac Day at Ravenshoe 2011) Joined RAN 1 Aug1938. Served on HMAS Perth, HMAS Swan, and HMAS Adelaide. Diving School Garden Island 1942, Diving Party Darwin 1942-43, Diving Party New Guinea 1943-44, Diving Party Sydney 1944-45, Diving Team Boom Defence Fremantle 1946-50.
Scotty Allan (centre) with Jake Linton (Cmdr Rtd) & Joe Flaherty (Rtd CPOCD).
Chris Balven - "Joined JRTE,1966 Qualified CD 1968. Discharged CPOCD 1986. Navy Highlights: HMA Ships,SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, STUART, DUCHESS & CURLEW. Teams: CDT1, CDT2, SOTC, SASR. Loved most Chief Instructor Diving School & EOD. Work since discharge; Brambles Armoured Cars Trainer, 10 years. Cleaning contract. Now retired. Freelance Arts. Mainly portraits, landscapes & still life. Have entered ARCHIBALD PRIZE 5 times & still trying. Regards, CB"
Joe Valenta - "Qualified CD3 in 1963, paid off in Dec 1969 as POCD I/C CDT4 at Leeuwin. Then did 7yrs Emergency Res. Went to Port Headland as a Stevedore on the Waterfront for 12months. Then transferred to Fremantle where I retired in Sept.1992 and have since enjoyed retirement. Do try to travel at least once a year. Photo was taken May 2007 in Kiwi land."
Members of CDT1 1979 at Ulladulla Reunion, Feb 2007. Steve Ambler, Geoff Bascombe, Col Darling, Paddy Turley, Pony Moore, Bob Braithwaite, Tom McNab, Bristles Lassau, Harry Spicer (missing - John Shearer).
Members of CDT1 1979 at Ulladulla Reunion, Feb 2007. How they looked in 1979.
Bobby Luck "Finished my twelve years and paid off as a POCD in '73. Went with J.Ray Mc Dermott on NW Shelf of WA. Along with another diver set the deepest Aust Sat dive(650ft) at the time. From there to Bass Strait when received a call to go to Norway. Working for Stolt Nielsen trained the Norwegians in the finer arts of Oil and Gas Exploration Sat Diving and Australian humour. Settled the wife and kids in Spain and life was good. Stuck with the Norwegians which gave me the chance to work in Mexico, New Orleans, UK, Nethelands, Denmark, India and finally home to Oz. Various jobs throughout S.E Asia, back to UK and then moved to Accreditation Rep with Shell. Back home in '94/95 was part of the development and implementation team for Wanaea Cossack Project on NW Shelf with Transfield Stolt Comex Seaway. Started work on 2 films with 30 sec of fame in Shipwreck Coast and as Boat Wrangler in Under the Lighthouse Dancing. That all came to a halt on 31 Oct, '95 when I suffered a major brain haemorrhage leaving me paralysed down my right side and unable to talk. The old CD training and discipline got me back on my feet against doctors expectations, arm remained paralysed and work was no longer an option. The doctors were unable to give a reason as no risk factors and am trying to find out if deep diving had any part to play. If anyone has any information let me know. Life goes on. My speech is not perfect but can still spin a good yarn and I'm looking ahead not back."
Tony 'Bluedog' Quinn Joined Oct '63. Qualified late '65. Paid off July '70. Obtained Master's ticket class IV and Marine Engine Driver Grade I. Dived and skippered workboats for Port Stanvac Oil refinery. Skippered dive charters in SA, trained Aboriginals in Arnhem Land for Coxswain's certificates, worked on 'River Murray Queen', 'Murray Explorer' and 'Murray Pincess' as Engineer. Now Captain of 'Sealion 2000', a large vehicle/pax ferry operating between Kangaroo Island and mainland SA. Blue still has nightmares from POCD Blue Cox giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after a diving accident.
Tony 'Bluedog' Quinn
Naval Unit Vietnam Dedication Ceremony, at the Naval Memorial Park Rockingham WA. 23rd Nov '06. L to R: Russ Steer, Ian Barkla & Harry Brankstone.
Graeme 'Johnno' Johnson - Qualified July 1967 at HMAS Rushcutter and paid off in 1977 as POCD. Worked in the Brisbane AMPOL oil refinery as a refinery operator. Left that after 3.5 years and managed 'Hungry Jacks' in Brisbane then back to the Caltex Refinery. Plans to retire soon. With wife Judy of 34 years on the Kokoda Track in PNG with one of the last remaining "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" who claims to be 101 years old.
Cal Callahan Paid off in 1979 as LSCD after 10 years. In 1980 opened a dive shop in Airlie Beach with Alan Irving. Joined Merchant Navy as an officer, worked on tankers from the Arabian Gulf to Aust. Obtained Master Unlimited and joined the Cairns pilots in 1998. Promoted to Manager Pilotage Services Cairns 2002. Photo aboard USS Cleveland (Amphibious Vessel) with the CO after piloting into Cairns
Mark Every - After 12 years in the RAN, paid off in 1975 as a POCD. Mark is a marine pilot with the Port of Darwin Corporation. He worked on rigs in Bass Strait before becoming a Mate & Master on coastal vessels around Tas & Vic. Mark obtained his Class 1 Masters Certificate at age of 42. Photo of Mark piloting 'Pacific Eurus' which carries 145,000 cubic metres of liquid LNG and is just short of 300 metres long with a draft of 11.5 metres.
left: Allan Wallace - ABCD discharged 1991 and is now working as a saturation technician and part time instructor with The Underwater Centre Fremantle. centre: Spud Murphy - ABCD discharged in 1974 who was with Dusty Miller (see below) in Contract Diving Services and now has Allied Diving Services which works onshore and offshore. right: Ian Milliner - LSCD discharged in 1987 who is the MD of The Underwater Centre Fremantle, the largest training establishment for onshore and offshore divers in the Southern Hemisphere.
Russ Mitten - Paid off in 1974 as ABCD. Worked with Ports and Harbours in Melbourne until 1978, moved to the Wimmera and employed in the heavy manufacturing industry (cast iron foundry) until late 2004 when he retired. Photo taken at his home town of Horsham Vic, on the banks of the Wimmera River. The mine is a Time Capsule for the local shire. Russ would like to know ID of mine.
Vic Justice (right). Paid off in 1981 as a L/CDR after 16 years service. Vic is Harbourmaster of Dampier, Australia's largest tonnage export Port. He recently had Col Darling (left) stay briefly with him along with Col's huge towed rig. Over the years Vic has dabbled with every facet of port and terminal operations both onshore and with the offshore oil and gas industry, primarily in Australia's northwest. Col Darling (left) Changed over from CD branch late 72 to COXN. Paid of mid 84' as WOCOXN after 20 years. Worked for 18 years with Dalrymple Bay Coal export terminal. Currently Project management team on major expansion of Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal - Mackay.
Ray Cocks ex WOCD. Paid off Jan 1990 after a career spanning over 25 years. Secretary of 'Yass Repertory Society' for the past 6 years
Jacko Leonard (POCD), Derek Bartholamai (POCD) & Ray Elley (Cmdr) Sept '06. Evans Head.
Mick Ey, ex LSCD - on right. Paid off 1973 after 10 years. Worked on offshore oil rigs around the world and owned prawning trawler until his retirement. Lives on Sunshine Coast. photo:- with brother Tony (ex CPOCD) and friends, aboard the 'Silver Whisper', somewhere off the coast of France.
John Branch - Ex LSCD. John worked in offshore diving until early 90's, tried his luck in a couple of restaurants and a Bar and then in '96 decided to get a real job again and ended up in sales for a Holden dealership. He has 4 children & 5 grand children.
L/Cdr Alex Donald DSC, Commodore Clem Littleton AO and Leut Russ Cronin OAM (all retired) attending the commissioning of NUSHIP PERTH on the 26th Aug 2006 in Fremantle W.A.
Mark Lattimer - working with EOD company offshore. Jim Large - retired. Allan Smith - maintenance manager for a retirement village complex (paid off 1976).
Eugene Maxwell - ex CPOCD. At The Underwater Centre Fremantle. Currently instructing ten ex Philippine Navy Seals to Part 3 ADAS Air diving to 50 metres.
Dusty Miller - ex ABCD Paid off early '70s. After running a major diving company, Dusty is now involved with "The Underwater Centre Fremantle". Dusty is a Captain in the Army Reserve with the Western Australian University Regiment. He is the Infantry Subject Master and runs courses for the Staff Cadets on how to be an Infantry Platoon Commander
Graham Samway (Senior Master & ex CPOCD) and Jim Henry (ex WOCD) recently caught up aboard 'Seahorse Mater' in Fremantle Harbour.
Tony Ey - ex CPOCD Your friendly webmaster. Paid off 1985 after 20 years. Spent 10 years with International Explosives manufacturer DuPont before starting business ventures in Vietnam. Retired in 1997. At the helm of HMAS Ballarat (family cruise), cruising at 26 knots off NSW coast (Dec '06).