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Junior Recruit Memorial Project Newsletter Number 2 Since the last Newsletter there has been a little progress with a tremendous number of email messages giving support to the proposal to establish a memorial to the JR Training Scheme. I am keen to continue to have the message sent out and that ex JR’s generally become prepared to discuss amongst themselves the style of memorial that is needed. At the end of the day whatever is put up needs to be representative of what the JRTE was and what it produced both for the participants and the RAN. The inclusion of some historical context is perhaps not a bad idea. For those you can recall our Naval Indoctrination classes the name “Sobraon” will have some significance in that it was the sailing vessel acquired by the RAN to serve as the training ship HMAS Tingira in 1912.
Sobraon “Tingira was
moored off shore at Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour from 1912 till 1927 and was the
training centre for boys as young as 14 ˝ years to begin training for their
careers in the RAN.
HMAS TINGIRA The reintroduction of training for young men in the RAN in 1960 drew on the experiences and success of the “Tingira” in providing robust, enthusiastic and well trained young men for service. HMAS Leeuwin was established as the JRTE and the first intakes began in 1960. Those who recall the effervescence of the late LCDR Bill Storrie will also be reminded of his continued reference to HMS Ganges where he received his training as a boy seaman in the Royal Navy and how he wished to carry over some of the better aspects of that establishment to the JRTE. I seem to recall that his main claim to fame was that he was the smallest boy and therefore had the “privilege” of standing on the button of the mainmast at “Ganges” when they “dressed ship”. Bill was always good for a story or perhaps he just made his stories good. Tingira Memorial Park The memorial
park is located on New South Head Rd at Rose Bay in Sydney. The memorial built
there is in the form of a low concrete wall with metal lettering “Tingira
Memorial Park” on the side and a display panel is located above the lettering.
Tingira Memorial Rose Bay Searches for other Tingira Memorials indicate that there is also one located at Crib Point called the “Tingira Square War Memorial” but I do not have much information on it other than it exists and has been serviced by grants from the Victorian Government. Perhaps someone from that part of the world could take a photograph for us and pass it through. Some Ideas So Far To date there has been a couple of ideas put forward but not a lot of detail in them yet. We do need drawings, sketches (rough ones will do) or photographs so that we can extend the concept either with the help of an architect, artist or monumental mason. Glass Panels or Bronze Figures The idea is to have two figures representing a young man arriving at Leeuwin dressed as a civilian and the other departing dressed as a sailor. How that is constructed has been put forward as two options. One is for them to be cast say in bronze the other suggests glass panels set perhaps to represent arrival and departure doors with the figures of the civilian and the sailor etched by laser into the glass. I will make some contact with various organisations on this over the next few weeks to determine the feasibility and importantly costs. The durability of the materials will also need to be considered such as the impact resistance of the glass. Sandstone Wall The other design is a more traditional approach for an “L” shaped wall constructed from sandstone with metal castings of the Leeuwin Crest, a memorial plaque, a Tingira Badge on one side and a naval anchor (stockless) as a backdrop. This would also include a walkway with provision for a garden setting. The wall would be constructed to form an alcove for a bench seating arrangement to allow the memorial to be viewed from the right perspective and the opportunity perhaps for some quiet reflection. Assessment of materials These and other options that may be put forward will need to have the materials assessed. There are costs to be worked out as well as durability and maintenance factors. Glass as an example will need to be assessed with regard to its destructibility should it be vandalised. Similarly assessment of other materials such stone for porosity, ability to be cleaned and durability. Support from Navy I wrote quite early in the project to the Commanding Officer HMAS Stirling Captain Steve Davies RAN seeking his support. The response was terrific and we now have LCDR Simon Gourlay RAN onboard providing us with assistance with matters associated with the Navy in WA. It is vital to have someone close to the coal face so to speak who can guide us in areas associated with access to information and direction on Navy matters in WA. His advice and assistance so far in distributing information about the project has been excellent. Committee Quite a number of people have put themselves forward to participate in the committee work. I will be in contact with each of them over the next few weeks to get things moving in that area. In the meantime please give some thought to what this is all to look like and pass on your ideas. I had a discussion with a representative from the National Servicemen’s” Association last week and he tells me that it has taken their national body 5 years to agree on a memorial. I think we can do better than that. Cheers for now Ken Dobbie
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