We have settled down and got to the truth.
In the end Murphy will have his way.
Anything that can go wrong will.
Past theft of about six army weapons, still not all recovered, that could shoot a house to dust, tell of that.
In the case of a planned terrorist act to kill army personnel in Holsworthy base we can thank good policing for finding that out first.
Un armed that would have bought mass deaths.
What level of security can we pay for.
And surely contracting that out is in its self a sercuritry breach?

Australia is literally there for the taking for anyone who wants it. We're not allowed to defend ourselves because we might get hurt & sue the Government.
I believe it is Switzerland where every household has a Government issue rifle by a family member having served in the Army.
I wonder how long it'' be before our Government takes away our kitchen knives ?
I remember when we still had a Police whom you could call when trouble was on the horizon. These days we only have career cops whom you can't even contact when you need them. Were you to call them & say I just got threatened with a toy gun the whole ballistics force helicopters & all would show up in two minutes flat of course they'd let the TV cameras get there a minute earlier so that they can play hero on the News.

Yes o sung, remember it well, I was there through winter, & helped replace a few radiators frozen & cracked by the cold.

At 'quinty The trainee pilots dongas were 6 man huts, with individual rooms, quite a luxury in those days. However they were up to a couple or more hundred yards from the shower block.

One of the standard initiation activities was the removal of our clothes while we were in the showers, leading to a freezing run back to your donga. This was done one at a time, so no group bravado to help the victim.

To make it worse for many young blokes, in those more discrete, private days, the run was partly through the married quarters. Some of those blokes were so hot with embarrassment, I doubt they felt the cold, present company included. Very different days in a lot of ways.

'afternoon to you HASBEEN...

May I ask, do you still keep in touch with some of those, with whom you served in those days ? As you say, they were great ! Uranquinty was only a bit down the road from Kapooka as I remember ? Not all that far.

You speak of initations, I recall them alright ! At the tender age of 17, we really copped it for sure, though it wasn't too bad, we all were subjected to it, together which lessed the impact somewhat.

INDIVIDUAL...

You're quite correct, all Swiss households, where a male member had completed his mandatory National Service, and continued to be retained in the Swiss Military Reserve, he was required to (safely) retain his issue military firearm at his place of residence. My information also included, there was a further requirement for him to maintain the weapon, secured under lock and key.

Yes I remember Kapooka well, particularly the narrow right angle railway bridge in the road just outside it. Near lost it there one night, with the entire Wagga navel strength on board.

People thought flying training was dangerous, but it had nothing on Saturday night in Wagga.

I was one of 6 navy types on that course, & the only one with a car, a little 1936 Morris 8/40. All six of us used to pile into it, & head for Ramona's pub in Wagga Saturday night. Fortunately I don't drink much, but a couple was enough to be too many for me.

Add the army, & the Forest Hills air force crowd, & blood baths were some what common. With navy numbers so limited we had to be careful. Add an 18 year old with a couple of drinks, driving a very little car, with 6 largish blokes in it, & it's a wonder any of us survived.

No don't see any. Only 3 of us made it through the course, & one of didn't survive long on squadron. Last seen the other one had a bottle shop on Sydneys northern beaches. Once out, we had nothing in common.

Sure the Bridge, yes a swine of a turn ! Though from Kapooka, if heading into Wagga you need not cross it, only if you were heading down your way actually (if my memory serves me right) ?

The RAAF at Forest Hills far outnumbered either Kapooka or the Navy. And Saturday night (provided we got leave), was a veritable 'blood house'. I received a sound hiding at the rear of the Picture Theatre in Baylis Street. My opponent, who was in his late twenties, had a real victory over me, a mere 17 years old lad, an army recruit ? Still, it was lesson I learnt, and learnt well, I can tell you.

Your beaut little Morris side valve was a 'soft top', was it not ? 0 to 30 mph in about half 'n hour ? Though a reliable little fella really.

My heap was a Wolseley 18/84 6cyl 1946/47 model with twin SU Carbs. and electric fuel pump, which necessitated a slight 'tap' with a spanner in hot weather, in order to get it 'ticking' again, overwise you went nowhere ?

At the conclusion of my three months at Kapooka, gee I was fit, and even felt fit, if that's possible.

Really nice talking with you HASBEEN, rekindled some great memories, of times past it really did, thank you.

Cheers...Sung Wu.