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HMAS Nirimba

Letter: Allegations of abuse

Dear Editor

I thought I would share my concern at the claims made on the ABC 7.30 report tonight. My concern is that the problem is portrayed as being systemic, with abuse and brutality seeming to have been tolerated and even covered up, especially at HMAS Leeuwin. As a sailor who started at Leeuwin and was a Coxswain during the period spoken about I feel qualified to say that I saw none of what was spoken of or, more importantly, never heard rumour of it. If there was an isolated case it was definitely not widespread. I sincerely hope that ex- Navy personnel like me will speak out to ensure balance and not let the wonderful history of our proud service be degraded by the way these claims are handled in the media.

Regards,

Brent Balchin

(forwarded by Rex Williams, WA)

Nirimba Apprentices – Masters of their Craft

Ten former Navy apprentices involved in the building of a yacht more than 40 years ago were reunited with the vessel in Newcastle this week as its new owners.

The men, now in their 50s and 60s, worked at the former Royal Australian Navy Apprentice Training Establishment in Sydney where the yacht started to take shape in 1962.

Nirimba in 1966. It took four years to build and was used in navy training, sailed in eight Sydney to Hobarts and had three private owners.
Nirimba in 1966.
It took four years to build and was used in navy training, sailed in eight Sydney to Hobarts and had three private owners.

It was launched at Sydney’s Garden Island in 1966 and named Nirimba.

The yacht was used by the navy as a training vessel and it sailed in eight Sydney to Hobart races in the 1970s.

It was sold in 1984 and had two owners before a Gold Coast man bought it three years ago and spent more than $80,000 restoring it. Former apprentice Rick Pengilly, who helped build the rudder, propeller shaft and fitout, said it was dream come true to find the yacht advertised for sale on the internet.

‘We (the apprentices) decided to buy it back,’ he said.

‘None of us could afford to buy it back (alone), so we formed a committee 10 weeks ago.’

The group raised $50,000 through appeals on a website and emails to ex-apprentices.

Three of the new owners, Brian Staples, Brian Carney and Les Hanicott are Novocastrians.

The yacht was trucked from Queensland to Newcastle where the mast was installed on Thursday and renamed The MOBI Yacht Nirimba.

It sailed around the harbour yesterday, and today will head to its new home, at the RAN Sailing Association in Rushcutters Bay.

‘I feel like an expectant father; it looks really pretty,’ Mr Pengilly said.

Former RAN apprentices and now Nirimba owners Front - Vern Loeckenhoff and Rick Pengilly. Back from left, Henk Winkler, Ian Hansen, Brian Staples, Chris O’Keefe, Brian Carney, Les Hanicott and Peter Hibbert. (Picture: Fiona Morris)
Former RAN apprentices and now Nirimba owners
Front – Vern Loeckenhoff and Rick Pengilly.
Back from left, Henk Winkler, Ian Hansen, Brian Staples, Chris O’Keefe, Brian Carney, Les Hanicott and Peter Hibbert.
(Picture: Fiona Morris)

By Sarah-Kate Scicluna
Reprinted with permission of The Newcastle Herald© Copyright 2005

Former HMAS Nirimba Site – Memorial Garden

On Saturday 3rd of November 2001, in overcast conditions, the Memorial Garden at the former HMAS NIRIMBA site, was formally dedicated.

Nirimba Plaque
Nirimba Plaque

The service was conducted in front of some 150 people, made up of former Naval Apprentices, families, former Civilian Instructors, ex Naval, ex RAAF members and others who had served at the site, either during Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm occupancy, or who had served in many other capacities, with the Honourable John Aquilina, Minister for Education, representing the NSW Government.

Mr Bob Parrish, of the Rooty Hill Sub Section of the Naval Association of Australia, was the Master of Ceremonies and speakers, in order of appearance were Professor Robin Woellner, Dean of the College of Law and Business and Provost of the Blacktown Campus of the University of Western Sydney, who spoke on the Campus as it now exists.

He was followed by Vince Fazio, President of The Naval Historical Society of Australia, who gave an address outlining the history of the site, dating from 1816. He also gave acknowledgments to Jeff Kerrison (NHS Member), who originated the idea for a memorial; CDRE Nick Helyer who assisted in the production of the Society’s bronze plaque; Mrs J. Munro and Bob Parrish for their input on behalf of the Naval Association, as well as to the NSW Department of Education and Training, for the invaluable physical and financial assistance, which was so readily given, in order to ensure that a fitting memorial was designed and constructed. Peter Ross of the Department was a tower of strength as well.

A service was then conducted by the Reverend John Powell RANR, who formally blessed and dedicated the Memorial Garden in a due and appropriate manner.

Among those present, was Jim Reilly, an Apprentice in the initial intake. He approached me and asked if I remembered him (some 45 years later!) Yes, I said, you were in the first intake, you were an ERA Apprentice, you come from Coonabarabran in NSW and you played a mouth organ. That floored him!!

On completion of the formalities, all present were invited to retire to the old Wardroom, where light refreshments were served, courtesy of the Education Department. This informal gathering allowed many acquaintances to be renewed and recollections exchanged. Some publications, covering the history of NIRIMBA from 1816, occupancy by the RAAF, Royal Navy, Migrants, RAN FAA and finally, Naval Artificer Apprentice Training were available, courtesy of the Naval Historical Society and LCDR Ron Robb RAN Rtd.

The Memorial Garden is now a prominent feature of the entrance to the NIRIMBA precinct, and will be a permanent reminder of, and memorial to, all those who have served there and gone before.

In conclusion, another initiative of The Naval Historical Society has come to fruition, assisted by the people and organisations previously mentioned, to ensure that although NIRIMBA has gone, the former Establishment will be remembered forever.

TEXT OF THE PLAQUE AT THE MEMORIAL GARDEN

A HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT KNOWN AS RAAF SCHOFIELDS AND HMAS NIRIMBA – 1941 to 1994

Originally a land grant of 700 acres to Major West in 1814

In 1816 John Pye was granted 695 acres in the area encompassing the site of the Schofields aerodrome, where the family home ‘Waawaar Awaa’ was built . The family retained the land until 1941, when it was acquired for use as a satellite aerodrome for RAAF Richmond. Work commenced in June 1942 on the construction of an air base for the RAAF. In 1944, following the formation of the British Pacific Fleet, Mobile Operating Naval Air Bases (MONAB) were required and Schofields was handed over to the Royal Navy, being named HMS NABTHORPE on 5.2.1945.

In August 1945 the base was renamed HMS NABSTOCK, with former RAAF pilots being trained there for conversion to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm due to shortage of pilots in the BPF.

Following the end of the war, the Royal Navy moved out and the RAAF resumed control in 1946. The post war ‘Iwakuni Mail Run’ to Japan by 38 Squadron RAAF operated from Schofields for a two year period. In 1949 provision was made to upgrade some of the accommodation to house post was migrants, some 21 huts being upgraded to house 300 people. The so called Schofields Migrants Hostel closed on 04.2.1951. Many people from a number of countries commenced their working life from that place and subsequently made a new life for themselves and their families. This aspect was concurrent with RAAF activities at the base.

In November 1950 Schofields was evaluated for hand over to the RAN as an Aircraft Repair Yard, following the formation of the RAN Fleet Air Arm. In 1951 the RAN moved in and Schofields was temporarily commissioned as HMAS ALBATROSS II with a large number of Royal Naval Officers and sailors supplementing the RAN component. In January 1952 the RAAF relinquished control of the base, although that Service remained in residence until September 1952.

On 01.4.1953 RANAS (Royal Australian Naval Air Station) Schofields was commissioned as HMAS NIRIMBA when technical training was undertaken. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the RAN, the Aircraft Repair Yard was closed down in early 1955 and reverted to ‘Care and Maintenance’ status.

In September 1955 preparations began to recommission NIRIMBA as the RAN Apprentice Training Establishment (RANATE) for Naval Apprentice training. In January 1956 Captain F L George RAN assumed command. After ‘Paying Off’ on 01.4.1956 HMAS NIRIMBA recommissioned the next day as the RANATE. The first intake of the Apprentices arrived in July 1956 with the last arriving in January 1992.

HMAS NIRIMBA decommissioned on 25.2.1994. In the intervening period from 1956 some 13,000 young men and women from the RAN and other Commonwealth Navies were trained there, together with several thousand trainees undergoing other courses of varying categories, making an extremely valuable contribution in later years to the wellbeing of their respective nations.

Truly a ‘SUCCESS FROM ENDEAVOUR’

This plaque was erected by the Naval Historical Society of Australia (Inc) in 1999 to commemorate the contributions made by NIRIMBA in the development of this Nation.

Obituary: Harry Train 1918-1999

Born: Millthorpe, October 26, 1918 Died: Balmain, May 23, 1999

Harry Train gave 30 years of his life to serving his country with the RAN.

After enlisting in 1936 as a stoker he sailed the oceans of the world and fought in two wars.

Ships in which he served included two from the famous scrap-iron flotilla, the Stuart and Voyager, Australia’s seaplane carrier Albatross, the Australia during the early part of World War II and the cruiser Canberra, which was sunk in 1942.

He was a member of the commissioning crew of the Australia-built Tribal class destroyer Warramunga, which took part in the World War II Philippines campaign. He was also on board the Arunta when it was attacked by a Japanese suicide bomber, resulting in the loss of two of his shipboard mates. In the same ship he took part in the Surigao Straits battle.

In the Korean War he served in Australia’s first aircraft carrier, Sydney. Later he was a member of the crews of two other carriers, Vengeance and Melbourne.

In the early 1960s, by now an engineering officer, he spent a year on board the Gascoyne. He was an engineering instructor at the apprentice: school, HMAS Nirimba.

Within six years of enlisting Mr Train became a petty officer. He studied and passed the artificers’ course and was commissioned as an engineer sub-lieutenant. He left the service with the rank of lieutenant.

Mr Train was educated at Millthorpe and Orange. Before enlisting he had worked for a photographer in Sydney, which led to a life-long interest in the subject.

Mr Train, who did not marry, is survived by his brothers, a sister and a niece.

Daily Telegraph, 28.6.99

Obituary: Rear Admiral Bryn Mussared (1917-1995)

Rear Admiral Bryn Mussared was born in 1917 in Semaphore SA, and entered the Navy in 1932.

On passing out from the Naval College, he was awarded ‘maximum time’ and the prizes for engineering, seamanship and navigation. In 1936 he was appointed to the RN Engineering College at Keyham, and returned to Australia to join HMAS CANBERRA in 1940.

Following the sinking of CANBERRA in the Solomon Islands in 1942, he spent time on Fleet Staff before joining HMAS VENDETTA, which was engaged in convoy duties between Townsville and New Guinea. In 1943 he was appointed Engineer Officer of HMAS NIZAM, serving firstly with the British Eastern Fleet and then the British Pacific Fleet off Japan. In 1946 he was mentioned in Despatches for distinguished service.

Following the Second World War, RADM Mussared served in HMAS TARANGAU and he met and married Betty – his wife of 48 years. He joined HMAS TOBRUK (the first post-war destroyer built in Australia) as the commissioning Engineer Officer in 1950, where his first son Philip was christened. In 1953 he was appointed to HMAS VENGEANCE. He saw active service in Korea in both TOBRUK and VENGEANCE.

RADM Mussared served as Commander of the Engineering School at HMAS CERBERUS in 1955 and the Commanding Officer of HMAS NIRIMBA in 1958, before being appointed to the staff of ANRUK in London. On return, he served as FMEO and CSO (T) on the staff of the Fleet Commander, before being promoted to Commodore and taking up the position of General Manager, Garden Island Dockyard in 1969.

Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1971, he became Project Director for the Light Destroyer Project and in 1972 went on to be the Third Naval Member and Chief of Technical Services. He was made a Companion of the British Empire in 1972 and retired in 1974.

Rear Admiral Brynmor Wheatley Mussared died on the 5th of November 1995, after a short illness.

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