Some of the pics on this page have been crunched to allow the page to open quicker.

You can get a better quality one by clicking each pic.

The number by each name indicates the Appy Course that person was on.

All names Left to Right.

All Appy Reunion.  2025.

On Saturday, 22^nd February, 2025, the RAAF Apprentices Association held their annual get together at the Geebung RSL Club in Queensland.

And once again, it was organised by “Dutchy” Holland.

A total of 223 Ex-Appies with their partners made the effort and travelled out to Geebung, one of Brisbane’s northern suburbs, for the reunion.  Doors opened at midday and were scheduled to stay that way until mid-night – though we think age might have pulled it up a bit earlier than that.

Everyone paid $35 to attend, this entitled them access to the excellent hot meal buffet as often as they wished, the use of a private bar with schooners discounted to $7 (buy your own) and a ticket in the raffle.

The Geebung RSL Club is owned and run by the local RSL sub-branch, so any monies spent at the venue go back to the veteran community. It is just over the road from Geebung railway station so getting there is a breeze with trains stopping about every 10 mins.

It also has a huge car park if you’re a goffer scoffer.

The private bar area.

All that was left in the bain-marie after the troops had had their fill.

Mike Yarrow (31) and Dutchy (27) drawing the raffle. Winners were given a copy of Tony Brady’s book, “The Empire has an Answer” which describes the RAF’s Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS), aircrew training during WW2.

During WW2, 37,576 Australian aircrew graduated from the EATS.  Over 300 were killed whilst training for war and 9,874 aircrew were killed or listed as missing while on active duty.  Those who fought under this scheme during World War II amounted to just 6.7 per cent of Australian service personnel serving overseas yet the aircrew losses amounted to almost 25 per cent of all the Australian fatalities during the war. This made serving in EATS among the most hazardous duties of the war.

Dutchy thanked both Nev Williams (9) (left) and Rob Wilson (15) for their contribution to the Association over many years. Nev ran the Blue Triangle Association for 34 years with several committee persons including Rita (Nev’s wife), from 1974 till he handed over the reins to Rob and his crew in 2008. Rob ran the association for 12 years until Dutchy and a new committee took over in 2020 at which time it was renamed the RAAF Apprentices Association. If you are not a member, click HERE and register. The association sends out regular updates on upcoming events.

As usual, everyone wanted to know which course had the most members at the reunion.  Dutchy read out the list:  (Numbers plus partners)

Then after the “official” part of the afternoon was completed, empty meal dishes were carried away, the informal part of the get together got underway.

Time to get the intakes up on the stage for a pic.

21/22 Appy. Hedgehogs/Antelopes.

L-R:  Graham Parsons (21), Ian Borchert (21), Terry Crow (21) ,  Bob Bromage (21),  Darryl Kath (21),  Les Skyring (22),  Rolf Stade (22),  Brenden Otto (22),  Steve Walters (22),  Rex Crandall (21).

29 Appy - Emus.

L-R:   Brett Tuohy, Jeff Graham, John Page,  Bob Alcorn,  Bill Hewson,  Reece Boucher,  “Stumpy” Stapleton,  Greg Pill,  Quentin Qualischefski,  Mike Thomas,  Barry Abraham,  Chris Creagh,  Mark Robinson,  Michael Spalding.

31 Appy - Porcupines.

L-R Andrew Thompson, Darryl Beutel, Brett Hanger, Terry Clancy, Nev Nunney, John Kenny, Terry Reig, Tim Heyman, Ken Patterson, Mark Curlewis, Mark Storey, Mike Yarrow, Mark Bartlam, Derek Hibbs, Keith Schaumburg, Danny Willis.

36 Radio Appy (Now)

L-R:  Mick McKean, Jamie “Spud” Burgess  Neil Snudden,  Geoff Clarke,  Paul Nuss,  Simon “Dietz” Kirkpatrick,  Alwyn Gardham.

36 Radio Appy  (Then - 1984)

Back Row L-R:   Darren Healy, N Taylor, Neil Snudden, Rick Webber, Dennis Odri,  Phil Sheehan,  Jamie Renouf,  Craig Bickley.

Third Row:   Shaun Short, Alwyn Gardam, John Mullins, Phil Barnett, Mick Wallace, Dave McBeth, Mark Menzies, Neil Meacham, Alaistair MacLean,  Mick McKean.

Second Row L-R:   Jason Kelsey, Brenton Baker, Mick Stuart, Ray Jones, Kori Baker,  Jeff Beness,  Jeff Clarke,  Wayne Horn,  Andrew Ware,  Roger Brand

Front Row L-R:   Ian Drew, Paul Nuss, Simon Kirkpatrick, Wayne Robinson,  Geoff Martin,  Pete Speer,  Shaun Osborne,  Paul Knellwolf,  Tony Fulton,  Phil Aston.

Radio Appies (All)

L-R:  Neil Snudden (36), Paul Nuss (36),  Jamie Burgess (36),  Simon Kirkpatrick (36), Jeff Clarke (36),  Alwyn Gardam (36),  Mick McKean (36),  Kirk Weston (40),  Graham Duck (21),  Tom Richards (21),  Peter Duncan (17),  Don Cureton (21),  Paul Murphy (40).

Those also at the reunion were:

Al Byrnes (17),  Allan Schutz (17)

Bruce Craigg (22),  Brett Tuohy (29),  Bob Alcorn  (29)

Chris Fenader (32),  Steve Campbell (32)

Geoff Hall  (17) - With all his mates.

Neil Snudden (36),  “Dutchy” Holland, (27),  Trev Benneworth (Ring in).

Jamie “Spud” Burgess, (36),  Tim Heyman (31),  Daniel Willis (31)

Norain Oliver,  Michael Oliver (27),  Maurice Simons (26),  Mick Ohlin  (27),  David Nicholson  (27)

Paul Murphy (40).

Jeff Clarke (36),  Shane Murphy (27),  Neil Snudden  (36),  Ros Curran.

Ken Paterson (31) and Keith Schaumberg (31)

Bill Luyten and Kev Riley