PNCT TRIBUTE TO PETER BADCOE VC

(aka - Badcoe Hall Re-Dedication)
The 7th Feb is almost here, and I have just received the final guest list, who's speaking, etc.

Class Orderlies have, in the meantime, received notification to pass on to Alumni members about the "down-sizing" of the PNCT (Point Nepean Community Trust) function. Where, initially we had hope to be able to have paid seats at the Dinner for around 280 people, we are now down to about 70 people all up. We have tried to maintain as good a representation as possible - with Offrs (Comdts, Snr Instrs - RSMs and WOs - SNCOs and Jnr NCOs all represented). We even managed to get a few grad members invited.

Ken Gillespie will be the "Reviewing Officer", and Alan Grifin will also be there. That these two are attending is important as the intention is to persuade them to investigate the potential for use of the old OCS for respite purposes for Veterans and/or their families. There is already respite facility planning within the Master Plan, so maybe we could "plug in" to that. It certainly is an ideal area for this purpose, and the custodians of the area would also benefit from some Defence funding to assist in maintenance. As we all can appreciate, the maintenance bill for the whole area is horrendous, so funding must be found somehow - in keeping with the Master Plan.

By the way - the latest edition of the PNCT magazine "Quarantine Station" has a graphic of the Master Plan as its centre spread. Unfortunately the digital copy does not include the centre spread, so I have scanned it and made it available separately (with permission from PNCT).
Download addresses for both are available below.

We (the Alumni) will be presenting Badcoe Hall with a framed print. This will be presented during the Dinner so as not to detract from the actual Tribute by the PNCT at Badcoe Hall.
May I take this opportunity to express our thanks for all the "suggestions" we received from Alumni members concerning the name of the print and the label within the frame. We all know the advantages(?) of decision by committee......!

A digital copy of the print will be available for purchase on CD (no download) shortly to help defray the cost of the presentation. Purchasers can then print or have printed a copy for their own purposes. Details shortly.

OK - the program for the evening is as follows. If it changes before Fri, I will put amendments in here.
7 Feb 2009
1800 hrs - Badcoe Hall - Tribute by PNCT. This short ceremony will take about 45 minutes. Those of you who have contacted the PNCT will already have received advice on entry. Unfortunately there is no "open to the public" due to security in place. It is probably far too late to request entry at the moment, but their contact details are: info@pointnepeantrust.org or phone: 03 9927 2222 (Melb office)
Dress, neat casual. I believe there may be some light refreshments available after the Tribute.

1900 hrs (approx) - VIP guests (only) will be ushered to the Cadets' Mess for Dinner.

Entrance to the area will be controlled by PNCT and the appropriate security staff.
There are no activities in the old OCS area on Sunday.

Some of the VIP guests will be remaining on the Peninsula overnight, and it is envisaged that we will get together for a late brunch on Sunday either in Portsea or Sorrento (loc TBA).

Yes, of course we will be taking many photographs and will share these with you as soon as possible after the event. I believe Army Newspaper may also be covering the event, as well as Melbourne and local newspapers.

To download, click on following links:
"Quarantine Station" (Acrobat .pdf format - 4.5 MB)
Master Plan centre spread (Acrobat .pdf format - 6 MB)

Loyalty & Service

Bob de Haas

IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFICER CADET SCHOOL

Gerard Nelson (Class of Jun '71) has asked me to put this on the Notice Board for him:

"Fellow members of the OCS tribe

I have been associated through Bob for some few years now, with the Trust, which has responsibility at this time for the Point Nepean site.

There is no doubt that the people associated with the Trust had done an excellent job in ensuring that the site has been preserved. Particularly the refurbishment and dedication of Badcoe Hall is something for which we should, all those associated with OCS should be grateful.

I have become aware that the focus of the Trust is on the role of Quarantine Station. This is understandable, however, there has been military installations on that site for a very long period of time and those installations have a right to at least equal billing in terms of the importance of the location. We were not well served by those members of the ADF or the Department of Defence were involved in the transfer of this land. I am prepared to apologise if I am wrong about this and I’m sure, all members of the tribe would like to understand the process of transferring this important piece of military history from Army.

It is relevant to consider the role that OCS played in the development of Australia. It is not an exaggeration to say that Australia would not been able to exercise political power in the region without the graduates of OCS to officer the ground forces deployed during the Malayan Emergency, Confrontation with Indonesia, and in support of the United States in the Republic of South Vietnam. Nor would Australia been able to influence events in Papua New Guinea before and during the creation of an independent state. Further, Australia would not have been able to participate in the events in Iraq without graduates plying their trade as military leaders.

This does not take into account the role the graduates have played in politics, at the State and Federal level as well as in industry and commerce. It is often forgotten that service in the military is an important part of Nation Building.

I am of the view that there is a very real danger that the Armys role at Point Nepean will be subsumed into the Quarantine Station, if action is not taken. The best way to take this action is to attend the dedication of Badcoe Hall in February 2009. Unless, we are able to demonstrate through high demand for places at that event, the Trust will be able to say that the members of the OCS tribe howsoever described are not interested in what happens to the site.

My exposure to the OCS website and particularly my interaction with the members of the Trust have caused me to consider where the spirit of OCS resides. Is the Memorial Wall the most appropriate focus for the memory of our tribe or is it the geographic location? It is important that the spirit of OCS does not die, although there is only a small percentage, based on content on the Web site, of graduates, who seemed to be really interested in perpetuating the history and spirit of OCS. Without the work of BOB DE HAAS it is unlikely that we would have any focus on OCS at all.

I look forward to seeing you all in February."

Meeting at Point Nepean Community Trust

Minutes of the Meeting held at PNCT premises in the city are available here.
A second meeting is scheduled for Thu 14 Aug.
The Request for Erection of Statue will be tabled at a PNCT Board Meeting towards end Aug - a copy of the request from the Alumni is available here.
Further information about the proposed statue and its creation is in the "Statue" label.

Re-Dedication of Badcoe Hall

The Point Nepean Community Trust has asked if they can re-dedicate Badcoe Hall. They wish this to be seen as one indication of the value of the OCS Portsea to the area of the Quarantine Station and its history.
A meeting will be held with the Trust on Monday 14 July 2008 to discuss the process of the re-dedication and the activities that might be most appropriate at the time.
It is envisaged that the re-dedication will possibly occur first weekend in Feb 2009 (ie 7/8 Feb 2009). Fallback may be second weekend, ie 14/15 feb.
I would certainly like to hear any member's comment, idea, or suggestion on this. Please feel free to make comment.