TAUBMAN, Margaret (Meg)
nee YEOW. Joined March 1962. Prior to joining, the Recruiting Centre told me that I was the first Asian (from the Eastern side of the earth anyway!!) to join; and although I was Australian born, I would stand out like a SORE TOE! Not discouraged I replied "what else is new?" – on reflection I think there was much discussion as to whether I should be accepted by the Navy. My father was an unsung war hero - who helped the Aussies fight against the Japanese in Timor.

He acted as a intepreter, provided food, shelter, etc to the troops, tracked through the jungle - he even had a price on his head by the Japanese (they knew a local was helping) - I am sure the Navy relented because of this. I also served with Choco Williams - we both stood out like sore toes - but there was never any racial prejudice and as a result this enabled me to mature with confidence.

At Cerberus Supply School Frank Shugg was one of my instructors - PO John Halifax (Stores) one day threw a rubber spider onto my typewriter - The Supply school disrupted with my screams and John laughing himself so much I thought he would wet his pants!! That was all fun, today they would call it harrassment!!!! At the time, he and Shuggy were my favourite PO's! who had always put a spark into our lives.

The Navy years are the most memorable years of my life - apart from all the fun - the professional work experience enabled me to obtain fantastic secretarial jobs overseas and back home.

Thomas, Ken
P/N28079 Discharged as CPOWTR. RAN Service from 23/10/1945 - 07/01/1957. RAFR 08/01/1957-29/01/1962 RANR 30/01/1962-31/01/1963. RANVR 01/02/1963-31/01/1969.
"He joined in 1945 as a Probationary Writer 2nd class and as had 10 months “boy’s time”, had to stay in the New Entry School until he turned 18 and became a writer. "He says "There was no training for writers in those days and I went from the “bull ring” into the Central Registry Office, after 3 months learning how to march, fire rifles and other weaponry, how to use a gas mask, seamanship and so on. I had never touched a typewriter and no idea what a ledger or a Service Certificate was. The Chief in charge, Tom Pollie, was an RAN Auxiliary and other seniors were WRANS. I learned only how to shuffle files and papers. After about a year I was drafted to “Kuttabul” Garden Island, but was accommodated at “Rushcutter” and went to work by work boat. Lunch was on board the old “Australia” which was alongside Garden Island—I remember having great difficulty in finding the mess deck. I worked in the Accounts Office and still had not ouched a typewriter, pay ledger or Service Certificate. After about 4 months I got my first sea draft - very exciting until I realised I was the Captain’ Secretary on the “Lachlan” - the only writer on the ship made up of Hydrographers, seamen with Survey rates - I knew nothing and there was no one to ask! I remember taking a long time to type my first letter to the Secretary of the Naval Board whom I addressed as “Dear Sir’ — you may imagine the reply I got! Life on board of a survey ship for a writer was extremely boring — in a whole year we steamed a multitude of miles, rarely set foot on thy land and went from Sydney to South Australian waters the first half of the year and then to the North coast of Western Australia for the second. In those days to pass for leading writer a Supply Officer asked a few questions, and if he was as dumb about things as you were, you were able to pass—the only Supply Officer available to me was at Melville in Darwin where we went for supplies and fuel. I had to get the Captain’s permission to “sit” the exam and he made the “complimentary” remark; you don’t even know how to be a writer so how do you think you can be a leading writer? Fortunately I did pass! Needless to say I wasn’t sorry to leave that ship. After “Lachlan” I spent considerable time at “Cerberus” with a short spell at Ships in Reserve Geelong before getting my next sea draft to the “Culgoa” in January 1953, by then, a P0 Writer. My first son was born at that time and I did not get to hold him until he was 11 months old. I was back to Cerberus in 1954 for 4 months, then to “Torrens” for the last 2 years or so of my Service. “Torrens” in those days you could liken to “McHale’s Navy”, but I did manage to pick up my CPO rate there, joined the “Reserves” — firstly the RAFR, then RANR, then the RANVR until 31-1-1969. However, I did really lose track with my fellow writers after mid 1954."

Thomas, Margarita
(Nee Buchmayer) LSWTR 2000- Awarded Conspicuous Service medal (CSM). Quote "For outstanding service as the Leading Seaman Writer pay and accounts officer Creswell. A most impressive sailor, Leading Seaman Buchmayer has consistently delivered an exceptional service to Creswell. and the community. Her commitment and outstanding devotion to duty and her continual efforts to strive for excellence reflect great credit on herself and the Royal Australian Navy."

Thwaite, Noel
Enlisted as a writer on 10/03/1941 and was discharged on 16/07/1946. Noel's service number was S5300.. My service started in the Recruiting office in Loftus Street, Sydney on 10^th March, 1941 where the person in charge was C.P.O. Writer McHattie. When I enquired of him about my future career he assured me that I would shortly be sent to Cerberus for a six week course and then off to sea. Some assurance! I am now 87 years of age and have yet to even see that august establishment. My duties at Loftus Street were to "supervise" the examination of recruits whose educational qualifications were only up to primary school standard. I was still able to live at home in Sydney.

After a few weeks I was transferred to the de-gaussing unit which was set up to counter the affects of ships' hulls on magnetic mines. This unit operated in Sydney Harbour at Shark Island on the side of which 7 coiled cables were laid on the harbour floor to register ships' magnetic fields. Our team of 3 writers operated the cameras which recorded the readings on each cable, developed the films, traced and combined the graphs and passed the results to the engineers who devised the counter measures. Sometimes the hours required us to spend the night on Shark Island but we had the use of a naval motor launch which was allocated to the job if we wanted to go ashore.

Later in the year I received a posting to Thursday Island (HMAS Moreton) to assist the Naval Control Service officer whose task was to advise ships' captains heading to Milne Bay, Merauke and Darwin. First, however, I was required to spend six weeks at the Hydrographic Office in Margaret Street, Sydney, learning about navigational charts and how to bring them up to date with wrecks, other hazards and navigational aids. The navy was obviously anticipating Japanese involvement because a depot had been set up on Thursday Island.

I was a very excited young writer going off to war with my kit bag and tennis racquet when I was picked up by launch from a point in Sydney Harbour to take passage in the corvette Townsville (Left).  After a ten day uneventful voyage, but with dawn action stations, I arrived at T.I. on 2nd February, 1942, my 20^th birthday.  It soon became the centre of bustling military activity as forces arrived, planes took off from Horn Island for bombing raids in New Guinea, Japanese planes bombed the aerodrome and Kitty Hawks and Zeros battled over the Torres Straits. Fortunately for us the Japanese didn't waste any bombs on T.I. although we feared they might and had to dig bomb shelters just in case. For us it was a spectacle to be observed in detachment although conscious that it was serious and lives were at risk after that phase of the war passed life settled down into a very pleasant existence. A rugby league football competition was organised between naval, military forces on T.I. and visiting naval crews and I passed an examination for leading writer (with encouragement from the Pay Lieutenant and Sub Lieutenant aware of my complete ignorance of normal writers' duties). A lucrative activity of many sailors was working pearl and turtle shell into trinkets and souvenirs, many of which were sold to American troops. Many such items were beautifully made by the more skilful among us.

After that interesting posting I returned in September 1943 to Sydney and HMAS. Penguin, the Balmoral naval depot where I was appointed to pay ledgers. I remained there, becoming a "staunchon", until 30^th May, 1945 when I joined the Commodore's staff on Shropshire (left). Apart from patrolling the seas around and to the west of the Philippines the most dramatic event was supporting the landing at Balikpapan in Borneo, a most impressive display of military planning and execution. It makes me marvel at the D Day organisation. On board the Shropshire was a war correspondent to cover the landing. As we set course for Borneo he was writing and I was typing the account of the operation which was yet to take place. It was far more dramatic than the actual event was. We were not attacked at anytime and while bombarding shore installations sailors were playing Tombola on the upper deck.

We were at sea when the cessation of hostilities was announced, only two and a half months after I joined the ship, and we headed immediately to Tokyo Bay where we remained at anchor. Massive naval forces assembled for the signing of the peace treaty ceremony. We had leave in Japan, walked the Ginza, toured the countryside in a charcoal burning bus and I had my first experience of hot spring baths. When the flag was transferred to HMAS Hobart after the signing Shropshire returned to Sydney and I to Penguin as a ledger keeper again. I was discharged in July, 1946.

Tibbals, Eric
Cerberus January 1945 -March 1945 Probationary Writer. Melville March 1945-January 1946 Writers (Ships office). Lonsdale January 1946-February 1947 Writer. (Demobilisation staff) Eric was demobilised in February 1947

Tickle, John Robert
Deceased 2007.R 51974. John joined the RAN 14/05/1956 for 6 years and was discharged 13/08/1962. He was promoted to WTRII 14/11/1956, WTR 30/04/1958 and LWTR 10/02/1961. His postings were: Cerberus 14/05/1956, Queenborough 21/03/1958, Kuttabul 24/10/1959, Barcoo 06/11/1960 and Albatross 05/12/1961.

Tilney, Ross ‘ Roscoe’ deceased approx. 1970/80s

Todd, Lesley
(Nee Nunn)R85199. Lesley joined the RAN 4th November 1960 for 4 years. After joining and completing her course she stayed at Cerberus until September 1961 when she was posted to Moreton for 12 months. She subsequently spent five months at Cerberus and finally joined Penguin 5th March 1963. She was promoted LWTR 1st May 1964. She married Jock Todd (Safety Equipment) who passed away in June 2008. Photo of four WRAN’s in 1960: L-R Judy Nicol, Margaret Holton-Pickard, Margaret Hannah and Lesley Nunn.

Tomes, Dale
R135880 Served 1984-1996. Joined as a JR (2nd last intake - Stevenson 85th).Ex POWTR. Currently working for Defence as the Staff Officer in the COLLINS Systems Program Office. One son Cameron. Previously married to Ex - LSWTR Sheree Tomes (nee Rogers & formerly Pedder) (Updated May 2005)

Triplett, Len Deceased 1978

Trott, Bill Deceased 12/02/2006

Tucker, Brian
Joined 17 Feb 1951 Discharged 30 June 1977 Personal Number R44353 Rank on Discharge WOWTR. Served (alphabetical order) Albatross, Cerberus, Encounter (Recruiting)(1/3/1974 to 12/2/1976), Kuttabul (Fleet Staff), Lonsdale, Melbourne (Retinue), Moresby, Platypus (SIR Sydney) Sydney (Retinue), Tobruk (D10),Torrens (ASTF Maralinga 1/6/1956 to 17/6/1957), Vampire, Vendetta(Ty), Waratah (13/10/1967 to 26/1/1971 as CPO) and Watson.

Joined when the Navy was still in its Post WW2 hangover, new ideas but still old methods, and certainly old attitudes. Learned to keep a ledger, Write Service Certificates, type, and use a duplicator, everything else was native cunning and a very strong urge to survive. Saw the reintroduction of WRANS, Change to PAC from Ledger, (kept a dummy duplicate in conjunction with the Ledger to see if it would work, it seemed to.) Demise of the S.C. and replaced with the printout. Saw AS507 replaced with PP1, decimal currency, the end of the Commissioned Gunner /writer/ Stoker etc, the reintroduction of the WO rank. (First two promoted at Cerberus were congratulated at the table by the Commodore who, in his best plumy voice said, quote, Congratulations on your promotions, I have absolutely no idea what it is you are supposed to do, but go and do it well, wont you ), the introduction of plain clothes for leave, and many other changes some good and others, well - typical public service, did the job of one person and took ten to do it.

Had some very good times and some not so good, never met a scribe who I would cross the street to avoid. Under the same conditions I would do it all over again, but today I think I would not be comfortable with all the enlightened red tape, appears that todays sailor is just a public servant who wears funny work clothes, and I don’t think there is an officer left who could say "Caay Ong Chief - make it so."

Remembers FHQ when it opened in 1963. "I was there when it opened in 1963 or thereabouts,

it had previously been on both Sydney and Melbourne, and the building had previously been the Hydrographic Office. I was there with Bob Collins, Jon Hammond, John Barclay, Jim Skipworth, Tom Hardie and Googa Gent. We had no furniture and had to make desks from Cabin Doors flogged from the Warrego which was being scrapped at the time. All sorting and collation was done around the TT table and had it not been for our skills, honed over many years, in obtaining stores without the benefit of paperwork, I think the whole administration would have collapsed. I do recall asking for one of those new fangled photo copiers and we literally got a box of light globes, a box with a glass top, a three ply cover with a supply of positive and negative photographic paper, and a chemical developer and fixer bath, seems at that time Xerox machines were for Officer grade civvies only, sailors being considered too dumb to work them. Needless to say this contraption was quickly, and accidentally I must hasten to say, dropped from a great height by persons who shall forever remain nameless."

Turner, Jackee
Able Seaman. W153266. Joined: 4th July 1994 from Townsville. Cerberus (04/07/94 to 19/02/95). Platypus (20/02/95 to 21/03/97)

I joined the Navy so I could travel the world but didn’t actually get to leave Australia. I spent the majority of my service at Platypus in Sydney. I paid off on the 21st March 1997 and went backpacking around the world for a year. I have since been overseas every other year and visited 31 countries in total. The experience I gained in the Navy has been beneficial to my career as an Operations Officer in the Maritime industry which I have been working in for the past six years. I have just completed a Bachelor of Business with majors in Management and Human Resource Management and I’m now relocating to Brisbane to take on the role of Operations Officer – Queensland for SVITZER the Tug and Salvage Company.

Turner, Kelvin 'Kel'
Kel Turner joined the Navy as a Junior Recruit on 22/04/9174. Having completed the Topman Course at Leeuwin, he had a 12 month stint at Creswell as a Cadet Midshipman. A bit of a lad at the time, the Navy felt that he was better suited to being a sailor, so on 29 Apr 77 he was posted to Cerberus to complete Adult Recruit training, and later that year, his Writer course.

On his first posting after course, he came in contact with his good mate Andy Hobbs. Kel and Andy were 'One Badge' Seaman Writers together, and later served together as ABs (Kuttabul), LS (Brisbane) and POs (Harman NOPO) prior to Kel being commissioned and Andy carrying on through to WO. (Both are now LCDRs, recently working together in FHQ).

Notable postings include the commissioning crew of Cook, three years at Moreton where he was the last President of the Junior Sailors Mess.

Kel is still serving and is currently posted as the Deputy Fleet Supply Officer, and should be there until Jan 09.

Twist, John (Olly)
RI06305 Rank on Discharge LSWTR Date of Entry 27 Jun 70 Date of Discharge 26 Jun 90 HomePortMelbourne.

Served: Cerberus 06/1970 to 09/1970 (RCT) Recruit Training: Sydney 09/1970 - 03/1971 ORDWTR - ORD common sea training Captain of 2Q heads and baths, probably peaked in my career here: Cerberus 03/1971 - 06/1971 Writer course Ron Dalgleish, Marty Grogan and Wayne Harris as instructors: Cerberus 06/1971 - 03/1972 (WTR2): Watson Mar 72 - Aug 72: Moresby Aug 72 - Aug 73 (ABWTR): Harman (NO) Aug 73 - Sep 74: Cerberus Sep 74 - Aug 76: Vendetta Aug 76 - Apr78: Leeuwin (for Stirling) Apr 78 - Jul 78: Stirling Jul 78 - Sep 79: Stirling's commissioning WTR’s were POWTR PL Cant R96335, LSWTR RR Laycock R96376, ABWTR JT Twist R106305 and ABWTR BC Whitaker Writers R111398. There were 193 serving at Stirling on commissioning including 40 Docky Whallopers (Naval Police for the uninitiated). Cairns Sep 79 - Feb 81 ) Lonsdale (RANRTF) Feb 81 - Feb 83 Best job I had - Moresby Feb 83 - Feb 84 . Cerberus Feb 84 - Dec 84 (ABWTR/LSWTR) Albatross Dec 84 - Apr 86 Lonsdale (RAAF Laverton) Apr 86 - Apr 87 Cerberus Apr 87 - Jun 90.

Best job: By far the best job I had was the RAN Relief Trust Fund under the watchful eye of the late John Hensley (Shiner) Wright. Worst job: By far the worst job I had was the Defence Co-Operation Language School at RAAF Laverton (but terrific socially) not to be confused with the Language School at Point Cook.

A Warry: In the lead up to the commissioning of Stirling the guard used to practice in the Motor Transport Compound. Reason being that they had shelter there if it rained. During one of these practice sessions the Guard grounded arms for a cigarette break. The driver of the depot rubbish truck (a LSAVN) entered the compound and promptly ran over the grounded rifles. This caused quite a bit of mirth during the first session at the Tamar Tavern (Stirling’s wet canteen), but perhaps not anywhere else. Replacement rifles had to be obtained from Leeuwin.