Duntroon Society Prize, December 2015

The President of the Duntroon Society (Brigadier Chris Appleton, 1978) was pleased to be able to present the Duntroon Society Award to Jacob Nicholson at the College’s Prizes and Awards Ceremony on 7 December 2015, the day prior to his graduation from RMC.  The Society’s award is “Awarded to the graduate who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and dedication to training”. From an RAAF family, Jacob has been allocated to the Royal Australian Engineers.  Jacob is also a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy.

2015 Commandant’s Award for Instructional Excellence

On 2 December 2015 the President of the Duntroon Society was honoured to attend the parade of the Corps of Staff Cadets and staff of the Royal Military College at which the Commandant, Brigadier Di Gallasch AM CSC, presented the Commandant’s Award for Instructional Excellence to Captain Chris Kelly.  Chris is an infantry officer and a veteran of Afghanistan who excelled as an instructor to the cadets of I and II Classes of the Full Time First Appointment Course.  The award comprised a handsome presentation from the Commandant and a cheque for $1,000 from the Society.  Chris will continue his posting at RMC in 2016. Well done Chris.

Major General “Lou” Gardiner - Remembrance 28 August 2015

On Saturday afternoon 28 August 2015, classmates of Major General ‘Lou’ Gardiner gathered at Duntroon to remember their classmate after his passing on 18 July 2015. Members of Major General Gardiner’s family were also in attendance for the planting of a tree and the unveiling of a plinth and plaque positioned opposite the Lone Pine tree at Gallipoli Company.

Major General Gardiner was a Gallipoli Company Staff Cadet who commenced his training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon (RMC) in 1971 and graduated in 1975 to the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Economics and Geography.

For a full report, see Newsletter 2/2015.

Auckland Sub-branch Lunch - 24 July 2015

On 24 July, forty Auckland members their wives, partners and friends gathered at The Northern Club for the annual lunch hosted by Michael (M.J.) Dudman (1959). The guest speaker was Margie Dudman who gave a talk titled “A Wife’s Tale”. Jan Meldrum, widow of Bruce Meldrum (1959) proposed the vote of thanks.

For a full report, see Newsletter 2/2015.

Graduation Ball - 16 June 2015

Graduation Ball on Tuesday 16 June 2015 was like no other that had ever gone before it. Lots of little changes always occur from year to year, but this time the changes were so great that the event is worthy of a much wider audience.

See Newsletter 2/2015 for a full report by John Bullen.

ACT Branch Autumn Lunch - 14 May 2015

The annual Autumn Lunch was held by the ACT Branch in Duntroon House on 14 May. A successful and enjoyable occasion, it was attended by 32 members and friends, many of whom appear in the accompanying photos.

See Newsletter 2/2015 for a full report.

50th Anniversary of the National Service Scheme

The 50th Anniversary of the commencement of the 1960s National Service Scheme was commemorated by a march across the front of the AWM to the National Servicemen’s Memorial on the AWM’s eastern forecourt.

Among the speakers at the following service was the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Other speakers included the Director of the AWM, Dr Brendan Nelson, former Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer (OTU 3/66), the President of the NSAA, Major Earle Jennings, RFD (Retd) and Mr Frank Miller (OTU 4/67), National Chairman of the OTU-A. Following the service a lunch was held at the Ainslie Football Club.

See Newsletter 2/2015 for a full report.

June 2015 Duntroon Society Prize

On 15 June, Brigadier Peter Evans (President, Duntroon Society) had the great pleasure of presenting the Duntroon Society Prize to Colour Sergeant William Woods who graduated to RAEME.

The Duntroon Society Prize is presented to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and dedication to training.

Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company history seminar series "Firepower: Lessons from the Great War"

The Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company wants you to be part of its history seminar series entitled Firepower: Lessons from the Great War. The series is part of Army’s wider contributions to the Centenary of Anzac commemorative activities over the period 2015–2018. Firepower: Lessons from the Great War aims to provide a comprehensive review of the role of firepower during what is regarded to have been one of the most globally significant conflicts of all time.

The Series theme is Firepower: however, inside that wider topic, the seminars will analyse many aspects of the role of firepower within the wider context of warfare. These include: Command and Control; Human Stories – Gunners; Human Stories – Commanders; Artillery Tactics; Technology – Ammunition systems; Technology – the ‘Gunnery Problem’; Combined Arms – the advent of modern warfare; Force Generation and Sustainment; and Other Gunners – allies and adversaries.

Eleven Firepower seminars will be held from May 2015 until November 2018, each timed to align with anniversaries of significant battles or events during the Great War. The first seminar, Gallipoli: the Landing at Anzac, will take place at the Australian Defence Force Academy on 13 May 2015.

Whether you are a professional historian, a military serviceperson or just someone interested in history and enduring relevance of the profession of arms, everyone is invited to engage in this forum as either a participant or perhaps as a contributor, and in doing so enrich the debate and understanding. Further detail is available on the RAAHC’s website: http://www.artilleryhistory.org , or through the RAAHC’s project director and point of contact, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Floyd (E: nick.floyd@defence.gov.au ).