Radschool

Newsletter

Vol 9

Page 9

Your Say!

We received the following from mates of Father Pat McCormick  who asked if we would include it in our newsletter. A lot of blokes will have fond memories of Father Pat, so we include if gladly.

“A few school-mates of Pat are trying to do something to honour the humanity of Fr. Pat McCormick, who died early in 2001. Amongst the long list of efforts he made to help others is the period that he spent at Phan Rang, where, attached to No.2 Squadron of the RAAF, he put a great deal of effort into the establishment of an orphanage beyond the perimeter of the base.

We are also told that his ministry to the troops was really something else. We have obtained a pen and ink portrait of Pat and have obtained the Mass kit that he used in Vietnam, which, we hope, might be placed in a niche of Vietnam section of the National War Museum. We are trying to gather some stories about Pat and his efforts. We should truly appreciate your advice and solicit your assistance. You might care to advise of some publication that we could contact to see if people who knew Pat would provide some sort of testimonial.....or provide the names of those folk who might be willing to help in some small way. I hope you do not mind my intrusion into your busy time. Please know that any help that you can give will be appreciated.

Thank you in anticipation Phil Cullen, 41 Cominan Avenue, Banora Point. 2486.   Ph. 07 5524 6443 .

We had a note from Niall Maguire—asking for help from any groundies. He writes……...

“I am endeavouring to put together a history of radar units which have been in service in Ireland from 1948 onwards. There is no problem getting info re the later models I am however running into trouble locating data re the earlier models and one in particular is the AN/CPN-4 GCA. The following outline data is required but anything further would be gladly received.

Magnetron types, X and S, Thyratron type used in the S and X transmitters, EHT, PRF and pulse width. Any info would be welcome”.

Does anyone understand that sort of talk—tb

Geoff Mayhew who was at the recent reunion writes:

G’day fellas, thanks for the reunion, had a great time and caught up with one bloke (Bob Maney) that I hadn't seen or heard from since graduation in 1969! Unfortunately I had a Scouting commitment at Midday on Sunday so couldn't stay after the March and service so I missed out on the drinks and saying farewell. Looking forward to the next one.

We had a letter from Amanda in the US. She writes: 

“Hi,  I am a member of an American egroup which sends letters to service men and women on deployment to offer encouragement, support and gratitude for the sacrifices made....Being an Australian, I am interested in doing the same for our servicemen and women so I am wondering if anyone would know about a similar service/group within Australia”. 

If any-one wants to get in touch with Amanda you can at:-   http://members.aol.com/forcountry/austral.htm

Where are they now?

We’ve had a request from a bloke in the US who was in Vung Tau 1970-71 and who was mates with a Kerry Pendergast, and would like to get in touch with Kerry again. Only info we have is that Kerry worked “with the RAAF Caribous, in the office, sometime in 1970-71. (I think it was 9Sqn—tb) Does any-one have any information.

Any-one know the whereabouts of Dick Carlson, known to all as “Ringo”.  Ringo was a radio bloke and in 1964 was with RTFV which later became 35Sqn, then he was posted to 2Sqn in Malaysia and did another term in Vietnam sometime in 1966 when the Canberras were posted to Phan Rang. John McDougall, ex Caribou loady, is very keen to get in touch again, so if you can help…..

Kev Trimmer, now living in Townsville is looking for Peter Griffiths. Peter is shown here second from left at the 2AD blocks at Richmond and was at radio section 2AD at the time (1967). Kev is 3rd from left. Also in the photo is Phil Penny, left (since deceased), and Ray Zieba, right. Does anyone know the whereabouts of “Griffo”, last heard of in the Ipswich (Qld) area.

Pete once tested the voltage of the magnetron in an APS20 radar with his arm — quite a sight. Who said a radio tech can’t fly!!!

Had a great letter from Jenny Abbott (below right), who many moons ago at Laverton (1967/8) was known as Jenny Wren. Jenny is now married and living in the West, and (are we all that old) is now a GRAND-MA!!!! with two lovely grandsons, one five, the other two. Jenny was contacted by her friend Marilyn Dawson who told her there were a couple of photos of her on the net (from Vol 2), and she should have a look, which she did, and she’s now a fully fledged Radschooler.

After living in Vic for many years, Jenny returned to the West, went back to school and studied business management and now works at an aged care organisation, and loves it she says.  She’s pictured above with Dianne Hubner at Pt Cook pier, and would love to catch up with Diane again—can anyone help!! Jenn’s sent us her email address and if you’d like to get in touch send us a “Howdy” letter addressed to her and we’ll forward it on.  She’s also promised some recent photos, were looking forward to them.

Here’s another one we had, shown here at Ferntree Gully (Vic) in 1967.

L-R:-  Winsom Clark, John Broughton, Jenny Wren, Peter Griffiths and Jenny Kynnsley.

Gary Briggs, now living in New Zealand, and who was on 15 Appy would like to hear from any-one else who was on 15. Send your emails here and we’ll forward them on.

We’ve found Ken Marks, or more accurately, Ken found us, he stumbled across our web site and recently got in touch. He is shown here at the extreme left of the photo at Brent Knight’s (standing) wedding celebration at (we think) the Altona Central Hotel back in 1967. Also in the photo with the squeeze box is John Beattie, the “old man” of 41 RTC and to the right of the squeeze box, and partly hidden is Peter Kensett. 

Ken now lives in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales, and apart from a stint at Amberley we don’t know what he’s been up to since Radschool. We’ve got his email address, so if you want to get in touch, you know the rules, send us a “Howdy Ken” and we’ll forward it on.  The obvious question now is, of course, does anyone know the where-abouts of “Knighty” and/or the John Beattie and Peter Kensett??

“Jock” Storer, radio tech at 38/35 Sqns in the late 60’s early 70’s. Jock loved a coldy on a hot day or a cold day (any day really) and from memory used to peddle a funny little bike and one of those press-button Valiants around the Windsor/Richmond area, and at one stage needed a chauffer for a few months. Can anyone help us find out where Jock is these days. Apologies for the quality of the photo.