Western Australia
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The winning team from the Touch Football competition - Australian Clearance Diving Team Four, who represented the Ships in the competition, are presented with their trophy
and individual medals during a ceremony held on completion of the Sports Challenge. The 2010 Western Australia Area Sports Challenge, Establishments vs Ships, held at the
Fleet Base West Sports Pavilion and the Fleet Base West Gym at HMAS Stirling. Sports included Soccer, the Nautical Mile Run, Beach Volleyball, Touch Rugby and Netball.
CPOCD Michael Oaklands (left) checks ABCD Michael Ivosevich's Shadow Excursion Rebreather is fitted correctly -
at AUSCDT FOUR, HMAS STIRLING in preparation for his coming deployment to Exercise RIMPAC 10.
Members of AUSCDT FOUR at Bellows Airfield, Hawaii, heading out to conduct fast rope insertions by helicopter.
RIMPAC 10.
Members of AUSCDT FOUR await the signal to 'GO' during fast rope exercises onboard a Sea King at Bellows Airfield, Hawaii.
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RAN CLEARANCE DIVERS ASSOCIATION
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
(RANCDAWA)
President: Russ Cronin OAM
Vice President/Treasurer: Sid Banevicius
Secretary: Michael Oaklands
www.rancd-association.com
http://www.rancd60.org.au/
Newsletter 2/2010
TO ALL,
We had approximately 90 turn out for the Anzac Day March and 79 register for the AGM. It was very encouraging to have many of our younger members marching, some of them for the first time here in the west, and I thank the Commanding Officer of AUSCDT FOUR, LCDR Chris Lecce for leading the march with me.
The AGM after the march at The Navy Club in Fremantle was well attended including family members and loved ones. I encourage for all members to bring their wife and or girlfriends along, to enjoy the Anzac Day festivities. Food arrangements this year was provided by SUBWAY and by noticing all the empty plates and comments it was a great success, great suggestion Sid.
I had the pleasure of presenting five Clearance Diving qualifying coins this year, Ken Bishop 1958, Harry Brankstone 1961, Russ Steer 1968, Anthony (Dusty) Miller 1970, and Colin Murphy 1971 and will continue this honour in years to come.
The resounding approval to increase our membership fees by $5 to $25 per year was in clear support for the newly founded RANCDA Welfare Fund, it was warming to see our members can see the importance of such a fund.
I announced that the CD Branch 60th Anniversary and Reunion will be in Sydney next year over 22 - 26 April 2011, and it is looking to be a huge event and I encourage everyone to make the effort to attend. Sydney being the hub of the CDA it's an event no one should miss.
I thank our members for electing me as your President for the next two years and I welcome onboard my Vice President WOCD Sid Banevicius, Secretary CPOCD Michael Oaklands and committee members Mick Kupiers, Will Paton and Heath Whitfield, they say a volunteer is better
than 10 pressed man.
Good luck for the remaining months in 2010, I will be attending the CD celebrations in Sydney next Anzac Day but the RANCDA WA chapter will march and have the AGM in 2011, nothing will change, it will organised by our Vice President.
Yours Aye
Russ Cronin OAM
MINUTES FOR THE 2010 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - Meeting opened at 1230.
President:
A message from the National President, Larry Digney, was read to all members.
Presentation of five Clearance Diving qualifying coins this year, Ken Bishop 1958, Harry Brankstone 1961, Russ Steer 1968,
Anthony (Dusty) Miller 1970, and Colin Murphy 1971 and will continue this honour in years to come.
It was mentioned that there may be a Clearance Divers dinner (all ranks, past and present) in Nov 10, to be at the Navy Club.
More detail will be sent out once information comes to hand. It will be advertised on the CDA web site.
The RAN Clearance Diving branch will celebrate its 60th year in 2011 and to commemorate this milestone, the New South Wales branch of the CD Association(NSW RANCDA) will host a 5 day reunion of ex and current serving members of the Branch, to coincide with the ANZAC Day commemorations.
More Detail is available from the http://www.rancd60.org.au/
We remembered those Clearance Divers servicing on operations around the world today and acknowledge those who have returned from recent operations.
Vice President:
ANZAC Day is a day of remembering the fallen and those you are currently serving on operations throughout the world. It is also a day for the members and a day of spinning old warries, catching up with friends: young and old and enjoying it with family. If anyone has ideas to improve the day please feel free to contact me, anything from the food, drinks etc.
Royal Toast:
Alex Donald, DSC toasted Queen Elizabeth II and our country.
Naval Ode:
Was read by ex LSCD Terry Banders.
We farewell a few of our mates:
This year we stood proud and together in a salute to our passed mates. The Ode of Remembrance rang through the room and a toast was held to the recent passing of Ex CPOCD Thomas Robson (28 May 09), Ex LCDR Alastair Cuthbert (17 Jun 09), Mike Humphries (03 Jul 09), ex POCD
Geoff Bascombe (10 Nov 09), ex ABCD Wayne 'Skull' Boden (Dec 09). Ex Glenn Whitton (Jan 10), ex POCD Denis Appel (01 Feb 10) and ex CPOCD Brian Peers.
Apologies:
Steve Smith, Peter Hughes, Harry Butler, Scott Robertson, Ron Neville, Mick Quinlan and Jon Carroll
Financial Statement:
Report was read out and after recent expenditure for the day; payment to the National body and purchase of stock, the balance was;
Current balance: $1622.26
Stock remaining: $ 1864.00
Total: $3486.26
The RANCDWA remains debt free which is pleasing.
Minutes of the last meeting accepted:
Proposed by Russ Cronin and seconded by members.
New Items:
Raising fees to $30 for current member and $35 for new membership. This would allow $5 to the National Body & $5 to the National Welfare fund for Diver (looking after our own) & cover increases to cost of beer, food etc.
Proposed by President and seconds by majority of the members.
With the CD Reunion becoming more popular and held every two years, Tasmania has offered to hold the 2013, and WA to hold the 2015. With only 2015 5 years away committee members are sort, volunteers are requested. Please contact the President Russ Cronin if you are interested. Mobile 0450136 268, or email him on Russell.Cronin@health.wa.gov.au
Remittance to National Association:
With 79 registered members (CD's) on the day (ANZAC Day 10), $395.00 has been paid to National Body of the Clearance Divers Association.
Election of President and Office Bearers for 2010/2011:
President - Russ Cronin OAM
VP / Treasurer - Sid Banevicius
Secretary - Michael Oaklands
Committee members - Michael Kuipers, William Paton and Heath Whitfield.
OTHER NEWS
State Pages on the RANCDA Website
During the last executive meeting, the National President provided a brief background statement on the status of State based pages on the official RANCDA website and he urged all states to participate in the program.
It was proposed that the states would pay for the annual fees to operate the RANCDA website on a rotational basis. For the purpose of equity and limiting the cost impact on the smaller states the breakup of the payments will be based on Tasmania joining Victoria and South Australia joining
Northern Territory. All other states will pay in their own right.
The rotation will start with WA paying in 2010, SA/NT in 2011, NSW/ACT in 2012, Vic/Tas in 2013 and Qld in 2014. Proposed by Russ Cronin (WA) and Seconded by Neil Bell (NSW), Passed by unanimous vote
NEW WEBMASTER REQUIRED
We have been advised by Tony Ey today that he is tendering his resignation as RANCDA webmaster. He has been asked to hang on until June 30 so we can find a replacement and I ask you all to actively seek a volunteer with the skill and dedication to do the job. Not an easy call but if we don't find someone the web page will slowly die and none of us wants that.
Tony has done an exceptional job in setting up the webpage and bringing it to the status that it currently is and finding a self starting, initiative driven replacement is not an easy task but it is something we need to do.
Please put your thinking caps on and start a recruiting program amongst your branches because this is one of our most important tasks for the year.
OPERATIONAL SERVICE LIST
A list of all Ex serving MCDO's and CD's is being collated to ensure that every qualified MCDO and CD who has experience recognised Operational Service is recorded.
This includes those that have this recognition as another rating at the time of the conflict, providing that they subsequently became a Clearance Diver.
They are looking at all conflicts other than Vietnam, Korea and subsequent conflicts.
You are invited to forward your details to Scotty Allan at deidre.don@bigpond.com
HONOURS & RECOGNITION SINCE LAST ANZAC DAY 2009
We wish to congratulate the following MCDO's and Clearance Divers on their awards;
Officer (AO) in the Military division of the Order of Australia
VADM Russell Harry CRANE AM CSM RAN
Fleet Commander Commendation for Anti Piracy Operations
LEUT Jace Stuart HUTCHISON, RAN
PROMOTIONS
POCD Michael Oaklands to CPOCD 22 Feb 10
LEUT's Paul Welch & Jace Hutchison to LCDR 2011
PROCEEDING WERE CLOSED AT 1301
Internet website for the RANCDA:
A reminder to visit the RANCDA website, www.rancd-association.com, it has old photos (young Harry Brankstone, Russ Cronin, Alex Donald etc) and some interesting stories. If you have any interesting photos or stories feel free to email Tony Ey (Web Master)
Information
If you have information that you wish to pass onto fellow members or have any questions please feel free to contact myself.
We will endeavour to answer your questions and place information on the newsletters.
The newsletters are for you to keep in touch, keep update and keep track on people, events, etc.
Banking
CDAWA now has caught up with the modern age and has internet banking with the Australian Defence Credit Union (ADCU). This means you can pay your annual fees, payment for merchandise etc on line.
Details are:
Account Names: CDAWA
BSB: 802-397
Account Number: 100015499
Reference: Your Name
If you are a member of ADCU, the account number is 630004S6, an internal transfer of funds.
Merchandise
All that is available can be view on the WA chapter under Chapters on the CD Assoc website.
As normal any questions please feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Sid Banevicius
WOCD
Vice President
sid.banevicius@defence.gov.au
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Former CPOCD, Peter Humphries conducting hyperbaric treatment at the Fremantle Hyperbaric Unit.
Peter is employed at 'The Underwater Centre' Fremantle and works as a casual RCC operator working with Russ Cronin.
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Who said you can't teach old dogs new tricks - currently Russ Cronin, Ross Gallop and Eugene Maxwell are studying for their CERT IV in Hyperbaric Technology and who would be a better teacher than the RAN;s first trained nurse in Hyperbaric Medicine, Mrs Toni Bishop.
Toni Bishop (nee Rees) was The first Registered Nurse in Australia to have formal Hyperbaric Training (RAN) in 1969. She completed a medical course for diving medicine run by the RAN.
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Merchandise
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YEAR
|
PRESIDENT
|
VICE PRESIDENT
|
SECRETARY
|
FELLOW MEMBERS
|
1987
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Clarke Martin
|
 |
1988
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Clarke Martin
|
 |
1989
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Clarke Martin
|
 |
1990
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Bruce Day
|
 |
1991
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Ian Milliner
|
 |
1992
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Ian Milliner
|
 |
1993
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Bruce Day
|
 |
1994
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Bruce Day
|
 |
1995
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Andrew Robertson
|
 |
1996
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Ross Gallop
|
 |
1997
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
Russ Cronin
|
Bruce Day
|
 |
1998
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
Russ Cronin
|
Bruce Day
|
Alex Donald DSC RAN CDA
|
1999
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
Russ Cronin
|
Bruce Day
|
Clem Littleton AO RAN CDA
|
2000
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
 |
Andrew Robertson
|
 |
2001
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
Bruce Day
|
Robert Angel
|
Gregory Bowen CDA WA
|
2002
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
Bruce Day
|
Robert Angel
|
John Wilson CDA WA
|
2003
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
Russ Cronin
|
Eugene Maxwell CSC
|
 |
2004
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
Russ Cronin
|
Eugene Maxwell CSC
|
 |
2005
|
Alex Donald DSC
|
Russ Cronin OAM
|
Sid Banevicius
|
 |
2006
|
Russ Cronin OAM
|
Sid Banevicius
|
Andrew Kietley DSM
|
 |
2007
|
Russ Cronin OAM
|
Sid Banevicius
|
Scott Caldwell
|
 |
2008
|
Russ Cronin OAM
|
Sid Banevicius
|
Scott Caldwell
|
 |
2009
|
Russ Cronin OAM
|
Sid Banevicius
|
Jason Pepper
|
Michael Kuippers RAN CDA
|
2010
|
Russ Cronin OAM
|
Sid Banevicius
|
Michael Oaklands
|
 |
