I recently spoke with Jim Dell about writing his memoirs and sure enough he is starting to put pen to paper. I will develop a page shortly and collate all Communicators historys as they come to hand. We have at least three communicators busy as bees at this time. So come on we all have a story to tell so lets document our history now.
Chapter 3 part 2 – The Cherry Boys
Chapter 3 part 3 – The Cherry Boys
The Designator 11th Frigate Flotilla was assigned to the Loch-class Frigates when they were commissioned into the RNZN. A number of questions have arisen
The Bay of Islands Yacht Club is the venue but we have had to move to Saturdays due to the local children having a very busy sailing programme on Sundays. So can you make, Saturday the 23 June for our next luncheon.
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Click HERE for further details.
Important – We require attendance numbers by Wednesday 20th June.
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Hon Ron Mark
Minister for Veterans
23 May 2018
Minister for Veterans Ron Mark has tabled in Parliament a review of the operation of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014.
The review was carried out by Professor Ron Paterson, of Auckland University.
The Act requires its operation to be reviewed two years after coming into effect, in order to determine if any amendments should be made. Due to the large number of submissions on the Act the due date for the review was extended by three months.
“Professor Paterson has listened to veterans from all over the country and produced a very thorough report,” says Ron Mark.
“He’s provided a number of recommendations around the delivery of support to veterans and their families and what their future needs might be.
“The report makes a total of 64 recommendations. Some are technical and can be dealt with relatively easily and quickly. I have asked officials to begin work on these immediately.
“Some of the other recommendations are more complex. I have instructed Veterans’ Affairs to provide options for follow-up action by the end of the year,” says Ron Mark.
While the question of the definition of the term “veteran” was outside the scope of the review, a number of submissions were made on the subject.
“I acknowledge that Professor Paterson has deemed this question fundamental, and I know that there are a range of views on it within the veteran community,” says Ron Mark.
“I have therefore accepted the recommendation for further work to be done on the issue. I will make a decision before the end of June on how this work will be undertaken.
“I agree with Professor Paterson’s view that it’s a complex question and there are going to be a number of aspects of it that will have to be worked through. But its work worth pursuing for our veterans,” says Ron Mark.
The report can be found by clicking HERE
Recommendation 63 is still the elephant in the room
Not sure how many know that Veterans Affairs have launched their new website. This can be accessed by clicking HERE
Well. The time has come for me to leave the RNZN. Yes, tomorrow I walk out the door for the last time after handing in my ID Card, Car Pass etc. 52 years to the day completed in the service of my country and still not a ‘VETERAN’.
I look forward to the NZDF reviewing the South East Asian service and the Far East Strategic Reserve service, although I would add, there is no one actually currently serving, who would have served during that time. I just left.
I wish all those currently serving all the very best for their careers and I look forward to joining my shipmates and fellow communicators. Kind Regards Frank Rands
I recently spoke with Jim Dell about writing his memoirs and sure enough he is starting to put pen to paper. I will develop a page shortly and collate all Communicators historys as they come to hand. We have at least three communicators busy as bees at this time. So come on we all have a story to tell so lets document our history now.
Chapter 3 part 2 – The Cherry Boys
Chapter 3 part 3 – The Cherry Boys
Chapter 3 part 4 – The Cherry Boys
Chapter 5 part 2 – Promotion at Last
The next Anngual General Meeting for the RNZN Communicators Assn will be held at the Birkenhead RSA on 29 September 2018 commencing at 1100. Items for the Agenda or remits are to be forwarded to the Secretary, John Titmus email trixiedog@doglover.com by 15 August 2018. This will allow sufficient time for items to be circulated amongst members.
It is with regret that I advise that David Ernie Dorset MBE ex RNZN Signalman WW2 and WO NZ Army Vietnam Vet, father of Neill Dorset passed away this morning suddenly at the age of 96years at Seaview Rest Home, Picton.
David joined the Signals branch back at the start of WW2 serving mainly in the Pacific and NZ regions during the war before leaving the Navy in 1945 and taking up an apprenticeship as a carpenter. He joined the NZ Army in 1952 in the Royal NZ Engineers Corp, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer. He was sent to Vietnam in 1968-69 acting as Clerk of the Works for the NZ Army and worked out of Vung Tau and Nui Dat.
He was attached to the Australian HQ whilst there and for his services was awarded the MBE in 1970. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised but he is survived by his three sons – Neill ( Australia), Wayne (Australia) and Barry (Picton).
Any messages can be sent to granandgramps4850@gmail.com or to Neill & Lynne Dorset, c/- 41 Garfield Street, Narrogin, WA 6312.
Click HERE to view some new branch badges of the RNZN. I note that even Jack Dusties are now SPECIALISTS. I have never known an OD to be a specialist at anything but they must be now.
Here is a LINK to a great website which has loads of history about RN Communicators. This is certainly worth a look and for those of you who either served or undertook courses in the UK I am sure it will bring back memories. Thanks to Richard J for the link.
UK Veterans are now able to retain their ID Card allowing easier access to Services. Click HERE to read more.
Two questions have arisen with regard HMNZS LACHLAN. The image below shows her flying a decommissioning pennant and her callsign.
1, How is a decomissioning pennant measured?
2. What was LACHLAN’s international visual callsign?
The following Sailors ‘Crossed the Bar’ during the month of June 2018. Details of funerals etc can be found by clicking HERE.
WILLIAMSON, John Keith
FRANCE James Aitken (Jim) Stoker
AINGE, Raymond George 1924 – 2018 S/Lt R.N.Z.N.V.R.
Well a number of you might have lived at RNZAF Shelly Bay at some time during your naval career. It was originally a naval facility being commissioned as HMNZS COOK during WWII. It was then handed over to the Air Force who renamed it RNZAF SHELLY BAY. It was finally returned to the Wellington City Council when the NZ Defence Force had no further use of it. Here is an artist impression of what the waterfront development might look like in the future. Click on image to enlarge. Thanks John B for the article.
Here is a copy of the Old Salts Newsletter #11. The newsletter contains a report from a recent trip to Hawaii over ANZAC Day 2018. Click HERE to read on.
Changes to the eligibility rules for the existing ten New Zealand military long service awards are expected to be announced by the end of 2018, once the governing Royal Warrants and accompanying regulations are in place.
As advised on 25 August 2015, the existing long service awards will remain, but the entitlement criteria will allow all eligible New Zealand military service to be counted. For example, service will be able to be accumulated rather than continuous (as is currently required for some awards). This will deliver a fairer system while maintaining the standing of the long service awards.
The appropriate long service award issued will reflect the majority of each recipient’s service. Persons who already have a long service award will continue to wear the award they have. There will be no swapping of awards.
Current serving military personnel will not need to apply for their long service entitlement to be assessed under the new rules. They will be automatically assessed via the data in their SAP HCM records. Please note that given the number of eligible personnel it may take around 12 to 18 months after the announcement to confirm and issue the medal entitlement for every current serving military Service person.
Applications from eligible ex-Service persons will be called for in the first half of 2019, once a project team of additional staff has been hired and trained.
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A commemoration dinner will be held on Saturday 15th September 2018 in the OR’s mess at Trentham Military Camp, Upper Hutt Wellington commencing at 1930 hrs.
The principal guest speaker will be the Hon Ron Mark Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs. Please see details of program, registration for the dinner and accommodation options below:
Warrant Officer Paul (skin) Murray remembers his time in the Andrew. Click HERE to read his story.
Come on Buntings lets be having ya. Stories please..
The following update is from Frank Lewis
Update on how the application for HMNZS Irirangi to be designated a Historical Site under Heritage New Zealand. Speaking to Heritage New Zealand today I was informed that recognition for HMNZS Irirangi is still in the pile of applications awaiting processing. To date it has been allocated a List Number (9769) and Site Number (P172166) and hopefully will be dealt with soon. I was told that they hope to get two extra staff to help work through the mountain of applications. The good news is that it is officially recognized as a Historical Site in the system. I did remind them that we are all getting older and it would be nice to see something done shortly. Will keep you informed once something happens.
Thanks Frank L for the update
