Radschool

Newsletter

Vol 11

Page 7

Trevor Lee.

Bruce “Suds” Purcell attended the recent funeral of Trevor Lee which was held on Friday 3rd of May at St John the Baptist Church,  Petrie Qld and gave the tribute on behalf of Trevor’s mates from 19 Appy. He said

"Trevor served with the Royal Australian Air Force for over 20 years from the 12th of January 1965.

I first met Trevor or Tea Leaves as he was known to his friends about September of 1964, I had boarded the "Bundaberg mail" train in Gympie to go down to Brisbane for the second round of the selection process for apprenticeships in the RAAF.

Trevor Lee (right) shown here with Allan George

at the final Appy passing out parade at Laverton—1992

Sitting opposite me in the compartment was another teenager, my father who was seeing me off said to Trev "he's off to join the Army ", I replied no it's the RAAF. We then discovered that we were heading for exactly the same place.

The next time I saw Trevor was January 1965, we had both scored apprenticeships as Radio Technicians and were on our way to Melbourne by train. This was the pattern for the next two years as we Queenslanders made the return journey Melbourne to Brisbane by train, two nights cooped up in antique train carriages.

I suspect we were the conductor's worst nightmare on those trips and then we had a day stop over in Sydney which was spent at such places as, Bondi beach, Sydney Harbour and the bridge.

The first two years were spent at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology where lecturers attempted to teach us the workings of Valves, Transistors and other bits and pieces, with varying results. Lunch hour was a rush to the "PX" or postal exchange for lunch and then off to see what could be seen and done in central Melbourne.

Meanwhile the RAAF drill instructors tried to teach us the military skills they thought we would need while attempting to keep a bunch of teenagers under some control, outwitting the DI's was a challenge for everyone, pranks and mischief were the order of the day. I seem to remember that Trevor was a year or so older than most of us and a little bit wiser, therefore managing to keep out of trouble, at least I don't remember him having to paint garden edge rocks white etc on Saturdays for punishment as was the custom.

For relaxation Trevor enjoyed his sport, tennis athletics and football which he played hard, probably joining the Monday walking wounded on many occasions. Model radio control airplanes were constructed and crashed on the oval too. Leave was restricted at first to Sunday after Church so leave time was to be made the most of. Second year leave was more relaxed and at last we could wear "Civvies" so the scope for adventure began to widen.

Third year began with Trevor arriving back from Christmas leave with a new car, a white Cortina driven from Queensland with no number plates and a preliminary label on the windscreen. He did tell us once how many times he was stopped by the NSW or VIC police and had to smooth talk his way out of it.

Eight months of RAAF training on real equipment followed and then in August of 1967 we were ready to graduate, 27 of us by then firm friends, a friendship that has endured the test of time.

After graduation Trevor's first posting was to Richmond outside Sydney, such were the turbulent times of the late sixties Vietnam era that this was followed up shortly later by a posting to Pearce outside Perth.

This was again followed up by another posting back to Amberley in January of 1970 for training prior to being sent to Vietnam. While stationed in Perth, Trevor continued a passion for fast cars, a Mazda R100 he owned was small red and fast, trips to the Gold Coast were done in record time.

Both of us served the 12 months at Amberley and were posted to Phan Rang, Vietnam in Jan and Feb of 1971. On one rare occasion our day off coincided, the only place we could go was the beach compound a few kilometres away, Trevor decided he would teach me to sail, a quick five minute lesson and we were off to circle a fuel tanker unloading some distance out. The strong wind had other ideas and blew us straight toward the side of the ship, getting within a few meters was just a bit scary for me but I think Trevor enjoyed it. I doubt that we should have been near it in the first place.

With the closure of Phan Rang in June of 1971 Trevor transferred to Vung Tau to serve the rest of his 12 months. After Vietnam he was posted to Williamtown outside of Newcastle until 1974 when he followed the natural progression of the time with a posting to Butterworth, Malaysia. It was probably here that his passion for motorbikes really surfaced and in particular motorcross racing, there are photo's somewhere of his bike flashing through the mud.

He returned from Butterworth in 1976 again posted to Williamtown just in time to be my best man and it was here that we first met Bettine to be followed not long after by Trevor and Bettine's wedding in Rockhampton new years eve 1976

Yet another posting followed in 1978 back to Amberley where Jacob was born in 1979, I suspect that this is where the responsibilities of fatherhood possibly slowed Trevor's passion for motorcycles, although I do remember a motorcycle and sidecar outfit that survived for some time, I did ride in it once.

Another posting back to Williamtown and then the 20 years were up, time to give it up and plan a new career and life in civvy street.

I am proud to say that Trevor William Lee was a true and loyal friend for 38 years to me personally and fellow members of Number 19 Apprentice Radio Technician Course and also to his many other friends from his RAAF service,

He will be sadly missed.

Second World War Army Hospital Launch.

We received the following from Denis Kerr.

The Australian Maritime Charity Organisation is restoring an 80 foot ex Second World War Army Hospital Launch (AH1733 Krawaree) at the Gold Coast City Marina, Coomera, Queensland. Five of these launches were built in Tasmania during 1944-45 from Huon pine logs which were felled in the Upper Franklin Mountains and then floated down the Franklin River. They were designated as follows…

The primary purpose of these launches, with their shallow draft, was to evacuate casualties from the beachheads to the awaiting hospital ships. The launches were very versatile and sometimes, were used as command vessels and general seat transport and communication vessels. The design was taken from the 80' Harbour Defence Motor Launches with the stern section raised and widened to accommodate stretchers. Those interested in all things naval and would like to know more should visit the web site www.maritimecharity.org.au

They served in the New Guinea theatre during and after WWII and of the many hundreds of vessels that served with the Australian Army Water Transport Units in the Second World War this restored vessel will be unique, the last of her kind. When re-commissioned the "Krawarree" will be used for respite and recreational activities for disabled and disadvantaged young people, educational groups and Veterans groups. It will also be available as a fund raising venue for other charities.

If anyone knows any history about the "Forgotten Fleet" or can help, please e-mail or just drop in for a chat and coffee. deniskerr@hotmail.com

The big bang!

Scientists in Britton have recently confirmed that the universe is about 13 billion years old and that it started all those years ago with a big bang. They reckon the thing that went bang back then was not much bigger than the head of a pin, as they say it was pretty dense. What they didn’t tell us and what I’d like to know is, where was this little thing before it blew up, what did it weigh, why did it blow up and the first bits that flew off—where are they, if it just blew up, there’s got to be bits that flew off first, so they must be near the edge.  And, if so, where is the edge and/or the centre now, what’s on the other side of the edge - and more importantly, where are we in the system, are we close to one edge, or close to the middle. 

Makes you think doesn't it.....…

Laurie Phibbs.

As we’ve learnt, sadly Laurie Phibbs passed away in the early nineties from what Ted McEvoy thinks were “complications received from his days in Vietnam”. Ted says that he and some other ex 38Sqn blokes went to Laurie’s funeral in Dubbo in the early 90's. He says he knew Laurie quite well after working with him at Richmond and that he and Laurie were both in Vung Tau with 35Sqn Radio in 1968. He says Laurie was always good company, he had a great sense of humour and he never took himself too seriously. He spent the last few years of his life as owner of an office equipment business in Dubbo. Ted sent us the above photo and asked that we include it. John Elliott wrote to say he remembers having a beer with Phibby in 1969 at one of the locals in Windsor (probably in the Fitz—tb) just after he had shaken hands with Madam WRAAF and got his D.

We also had a note from Allan George. Allan worked with Laurie at Richmond in 1969, and he was on 19Appy with Trevor Lee and Tony Neave back in 1964, all three have now died of cancer. All three were radio blokes and all three spent time in Vietnam. (And all 3 knew Allan George..tb)