White Funnel Line - My non vessels drafts

 

My postings that were outside from normal Survey Ships and Duties.

 

1976 – September – Drafted from CY to HMNZS Tasman for Survey Training – CPOSR Graeme Wiblin and LSSR2 Kenneth “James” Cook RIP. Present and accounted for – Rob Cadzow, Dean Cooke (RIP) and Charlie Morrison.

August 1978 Whitianga Boat Camp.  Rob Cadzow, Tamati Waaka, POAHS Lindsay Pilcher, Clive Anderson, Kilo Alpha, James Edward Minty,

 

September 1978 Re sat AHA Course as our original course was null and voided.

 

1981 – LSEA Qualifying and LHA course.  Rob Cadzow, Dean Cooke (RIP) and Charlie Morrison – again. Failed my Anchors and Cables part of the training, passed second time.

1983 – Slave Camp for 3 weeks at White Bluffs near Blenheim.  With a Killick Stoker (Ian “Sedge” Sedgwick and a Christian LRF “Cindy”  Sinclair.  Fun times.

 

1984 – May- ish - Photographic Course at Wigram RNZAF. 2TTS school. 2 months of fun – failed another course though for me it was a dickey eye and I need to use special lens addition.  Pete Troon was with me. One memory, the floors in the darkrooms were not very comfy.

 

June 1984 - November 1984. POAHS 1’s Course – HMAS Penguin, Sydney’s North Shore. 5 and ½ months of absolute joy.  This time my cohorts were no longer Charlie, Cadz, or  Dean (RIP).  My new Bank Manager was Richard Rocket Revs Revell. Of note – the week before we were due to go to Sydney Piggy slashed the exchange rate – before going we were 76 cents in the dollar, and the new rate was 56 cents in the dollar – huge cut.  Once again, the Bank Manager was along for the ride.

 

February 1985 – posted to Seamanship School Tamaki for PO Advance Training. Completed it and posted to the Tidal Office working with WOAHS Terry Ashdown, predominantly data entry of tidal info from around the country. After a few months I was seconded to the Chart Correctors in the Main Hydro Office, One thorn amongst 5 flowers.  Of note Jackie Hunter (younger sister of Rachel Hunter) had our first job.  She was a little dumpy.  Was 20 years later I saw her again? WOW!!

1985 July – August. Not technically a Ship, but all available surveyors and SMB Pandora (TBY tender) were called to conduct side scan sonar sorties, around where the Rainbow Warrior was sunk?  Many strange items found (bicycles, RNZN Dive Bottle, et al Oh and an outboard Motor and items deemed as item of Interest)

January – May 1986 Posted to Tamaki POCMD Course.  Passed no worries.  Mates for life.

 

1988 – Posted to HMNZS Tamaki as T/CPOAHS and head of school (with POAHS Paul “Ned” Kelly and we passed out three AHA courses.) Of note. The Hydro School was the first of the four operations to branches to train female droglets. Luana Faafu and Carmel Fitzgibbon. BZ ladies.

1989 – CPOCMD – 2 months of tough yakka but loved it. And again, mates for life.

 

1991 October – 1993 April - Not technically a Survey ship but grouped as a white boat with scientists.  Drafted on in Wellington during the Navy 50^th. Tui had female officers and ratings but there was division surrounding the ordinary rates living in Scientist Cabins, each with their own en suite.  My solution was to move the AB’s out of a fwd cabin and the LWTR, and also LMA who was sleeping in her sickbay pit.  Moved the LMA and LWTR into the old Coxn Cabin and moved the four AB’s and Os into a four berth with all 6 lady sailors sharing one shower.  Fair call as 35 Sonarmen and RP’s shared 3 showers.

 

April 1993 was the be a watershed.  I took over from Lt Nick Quinn who was Senior Officer for both the Dive Team and MCM.  At the time I think there was only myself manning MCM.  The Former MCMO (Mine Counter Measures Senior Officer) LtCdr Siew Wah Mak was instrumental in purchasing the new Kit from a survey company based in Houston ( where both Ned Kelly and Lt Bart Simpson did a three week acceptance course with me).

I was also instrumental in making MCM 01 – the Mine warfare processing container built to be fitted to ships. The container was also fitted with specialised dive gear, working in conjunction with SSS.  The container was capable of being located near a 440VDC power supply.  It also meant that Manawanui (the last Dive Tender) could do both survey and process and dive recovery of targets of interest. From 1993 to 1995 I worked with the VR in setting them up for their new role.  I discharged on May 28^th 1995 and re-enlisted June 1995, as a POAHS.  I would serve alongside with the VR for another 5 years at MCM.  Managed to write the new MCM Training package and with Peter Bowmer (HMNZS Pegasus) manufactured the BR to assisted the training.  One of my last MCMO was an officer from HMNZS Pegasus, Tony Grubb.

 

In 1999 I posted to HMNZS Resolution as a CPOAHS. Fair to say I was out of the loop for a while, and I didn’t really feel comfortable and was “posted” back to MCM mid-2000. I was posted to HMNZS Ngapona as Coxn.  In November 2001 I discovered another realm. I was drafted to work for SOVR (LtCdr Margaret Weller.) in digitalising the NZBR 24 (the VR Bible) I ended up discharging once again this time for good. March 3^rd, 2002.  Farewell matelot.