RUSIOFTASMANIA

The RUSI Gazette EditionNo4/2016dated01November2016

SeasonsGreetings

Did You Know? Theonlyplacesuccesscomesbeforeworkisinthedictionary.

ItisallverywelltoboastaboutpullingtheTiger’stail;Justmakesureyouhaveaplantodealwithhisteeth.

Thebestthingaboutthefutureisthatitonlycomesonedayatatime.

AngleseaBarracks

ThePresidentandCommitteewishallmembersoftheInstituteaveryHappyFestiveSeasonandthehopethatallyourexpectationsfor2017willbefulfilled.

OnThursday15September2016,fiveofthesixwinnersofthe2015FrankMcDonaldAwardeachgaveashortpresentationontheirtriptotheWesternFrontandexplainedjustwhatthewholeexercisemeanttothem.EachhadresearchedaTasmaniansoldierfromtheGreatWarandtheyhadvisitedthegraveorlastknownplacewherethesoldierhadbeenKIA.SeveralhadnoknownGrave.

TheAdultTeamLeadersfromDepartmentofPremierandCabinet,TheEducationDepartmentandtheCalvinChristianSchoolalsospokeofthetripandthecompetitionandselectionprocessesinvolved.

Thepresentationswereofanexceptionallyhighstandardandattheconclusionoftheevening,theAdultLeadersandthefiveStudentswerepresentedwithanRUSIAnniversaryMedalliontomarktheoccasion.Thegroupispicturedbelow.

FRANKMcDONALDAWARD–WINNER’SPRESENTATION

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The RUSI Gazette No4/2016dated01November2016

The Institute records with great regret thepassing of Colonel Nel Espie, AM, RRC,FRCNAattheageof92yearson15August2016.

NelwasDirectorofArmyNursingatthetimeofherretirementandwasagiantonthestageoftheRoyalAustralianArmyMedicalCorpsandRoyalAustralianArmyNursingCorps.

NelspentthelastfewyearsintheAgedCarefacilityinherhometownofOatlandsintheTasmanianmidlands,whereshewasbornin1924, and was buried there after a verylarge funeral service in StMary’s CathedralHobart.

Nel was a long time member and greatsupporteroftheRUSIofTasmania.Maysherestinpeace.

DEATHOFCOLONELNELESPIEAM,RRC

Naturecreatedaflowerwithpetalsofbrilliantred,Who’dhavethoughtsuchabeautifulflowerwouldbeusedtorememberthedead.Forwhenallthegunshavestoppedfiring,Andthere’sonlythemudandtherain,Godsendsdownhislittleredflowers,Tocovertheladsthatremain.SoremembereveryNovemberWhenweholdourRemembranceDay,Oftheladswholie‘neaththePoppiesAndthepricetheyhadtopay.

ThePoppy RUSIPresentationDinners

AnymemberwhowouldliketoattendtheBuffetDinner in the Officers Mess prior to eachPresentation, should contact the XO, SQNLDRAlanRobertsononMobile0418545207oremail:awrobertson@bigpond.comThe cost is $20 eachbut numbers are limited soonly the first 32 acceptances can beaccommodated at each function. We currentlyhave about 22 regular attendees so if you areinterested,pleasemakecontactASAP.

COLNelEspie(top)asweallknewherandbottom,picturedinUniformasDirectorofArmyNursing1980

NelwasalsotheMatron-in-ChiefofthehospitalatVungTauinSouthVietnamin1969.

Farewelltoagreatandgraciouslady.

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The RUSI Gazette No4/2016dated01November2016

DeathofColonelJimStewartMC,KStJ

Colonel JD (Jim) Stewart MC, KStJ a formerCommander of the Australian Army TrainingTeam Vietnam (AATTV) and an MC winnerfrom Korea, died on Sunday 25 September2016.Hewas86yearsofage.

Jimwasposted toTasmania in the late1970sas the Commander of the 6thMilitary DistrictwithHQinAngleseaBarracks. On leavingtheArmy in1979hewasappointedtheStateFireCommissioner in the 1980s and held thepositionfor9years.JimwasanavidmemberofHobart Legacy, TheOrderof St Johnandastrong supporter of the RUSI. In his last fewyearshelosthismobilityandwasconfinedtoawheel chair.Hiswife,Margaret,pre-deceasedhimbyseveralyears.

He is survived by his three daughters and hisgrandson, Liam. Vale Jim, great soldier andgreatgentleman.

LAUNCESTONBRANCHRE-LOCATES

The Launceston Branch has re-located itsactivities to the Launceston RSL Club inWellington Street. Meeting nights remain thesame.TheLauncestonLibraryhasbeenhousedinthepremisesofLauncestonLegacyandaccessisavailabletoRUSImembers.

ThemovemeansthatforthefirsttimesincetheBranchwasformed in1934, it isnowno longerinmilitarypremises. It is theendofan eraforLauncestonBranchbutcircumstancesweresuchthat the decision to move out of PatersonBarracksbecameaprudentone.

NAMECHANGEFORNATIONALBODY

The National Body recently became a CompanylimitedbyGuaranteeandchangeditsnameslightly.

It is now the Royal United Service Institute forDefence and Security Studies – Australia. It isabbreviatedtoRUSIDSS-A.

At this stage therearenoplans for this constituentbodytomakeanyalterationtoitsnameaswehaveagrantof ‘Royal’prefix to theRoyalUnitedServiceInstitute of Tasmania Inc., and any change to thatwould need an application to Buckingham Palace,throughtheDepartmentofpremierandCabinetforachangetobeapproved.Ofcoursethereisalwaysarisk that the political climate of the day might notsupport sucha request. Weshall let sleepingdogslieforthemoment.