TS BARWON HISTORY NOTES
Senior District Naval Officer - Geelong, 1914-1918 period
: WO. H.C.Harris RAN. He would have been a vital link in the sea
cadet activities in the Geelong area. Defence Cadets were photographed
on Cunningham Pier in 1912 indicating involvement with the early
Australian Commonwealth Navy's Cadet recruitment.
Captain C.A. Pidgeon RNR was President of the Navy League of Victoria
from the late 1920s to early 1930s. He dreamed of
starting a Navy League Cadet Unit at Geelong and enlisted the
aid of Lieutenant Roy Fidge (later Sir Roy Fidge, Mayor of Geelong).
The first Australian Navy League Sea Cadet Corps had been operating
in Sydney since 1920.
The Navy League officially recorded the Company's commencement
date as 5 March 1932 but they had already commenced enrolment
by February 1932 using the building at the end of the old Moorabool
Pier. It is considered that this was probably the first unit started
in Victoria. They were supported by Instructor Petty Officer H.
Richardson. A month later 50 boys had been kitted out with Naval
Uniforms at a cost of 21 shillings. The individual Cadet registration
fee was one shilling per year, with a 3 pence per week for gear
and entertainment. What constituted 'entertainment' is not known.
Training commenced on ANZAC Day, 25th April, 1932, and
the Navy League's T.S. Barwon was officially founded on that day
in the Drill Hall on Moorabool Pier. Harold Page, was Secretary
of the Navy League's Geelong Branch Committee and also TS Barwon
from its commencement until his death in the 1960s - a long time
stalwart of the Navy League and this Cadet Unit.
The present site of TS Barwon dates from 1940 when the
Geelong Harbour Trust offered a shed at the Western Beach for
the use of the Navy League's Cadet Unit.
Mr Norman Belcher became President of the Geelong Branch of the
Navy League in 1940. On his death in 1947 the Belcher
Bequest (the endowment from his large department store in Geelong)
gave them about 25% of the bequest for many years, in a fixed
sum, the purchasing value of which has diminished over time. In
early 1950s the Navy League Cadets (UK) in Australia became the
Australian Sea Cadet Corps (ASCC) under the Navy League of Australia's
oversight. This caused a legal problem with the Belcher bequest
and Harry Winneke QC (later Sir Henry and State Governor of Victoria)
represented the League and the Cadet Unit regarding the Belcher
Bequest and argued for the continuation of the bequest for the
ASCCadets, even though the name had changed from NLC(UK). He was
successful.
The name changed again in January 1972 to Naval Reserve
Cadets (NRC) when the Royal Australian Navy undertook to sponsor
the Cadet units taking over from the Navy Leaque in Australia
who had successfully developed and managed the Australian Sea
Cadet Corps in Australia since the early 1900s.
Commanding Officers TS Barwon:
NLA
- ASCC:
Lieutenant
W.H. Rooke in 1940
Captain Ian MacRobert in 1954
LCDR Bob Appleton in 1955
Leut. W.J. Baker 1958 - 64+
Leut. Dick Whittington 1965 +
NRC:
LCDR Dennis Treagus NRC 1995+
ANC: name change 1 April 2001
ADDRESS
BY VADM R.G. TAYLOR AO RAN - CHIEF OF NAVY - ON THE OCCASION OF
THE PRESENTATION OF THE NAVY LEAGUE'S EFFICIENCY TROPHY
to
Naval Reserve Cadets of 'T.S. BARWON'
Geelong 6th Decmber 1996
COUNCILLOR
SMITH, COMMODORE BARROW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND ESPECIALLY
THE CADETS OF T.S.BARWON. I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TONIGHT
TO PRESENT THE NAVY LEAGUE TROPHY FOR 1996. I WAS IMPRESSED BY
THE DRESS AND BEARING DISPLAYED THIS EVENING - BOTH WERE EXCELLENT,
AND ARE A CREDIT TO THOSE ON PARADE AND TO THEIR INSTRUCTORS.
THE NAVY LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA EFFICIENCY TROPHY IS AWARDED EACH
YEAR TO THE NAVAL RESERVE CADET UNIT SELECTED AS THE MOST EFFICIENT
IN AUSTRALIA. THIS YEAR'S CEREMONY IS THE THIRTY THIRD PRESENTATION
OF THE TROPHY, WHICH WAS FIRST AWARDED IN 1958. 1996 MARKS THE
6TH TIME T.S. BARWON HAS WON THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. THE SHIELD
IS AWARDED ANNUALLY ON THE BASIS OF A RANGE OF ASSESSMENTS INCLUDING
PARADE AND CEREMONIAL, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, TRAINING ACTIVITIES
AND ACHIEVEMENTS. OF NOTE - T.S. BARWON INCLUDES AMONG ITS OUTSTANDING
RESULTS THIS YEAR VICTORIES IN THE VICTORIAN NRC SAILING REGATTA,
AND THE 1996 NATIONAL NRC .22 SHOOTING TROPHY. OF COURSE NONE
OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF THE
STAFF OF T.S. BARWON. TO LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DENNIS TREAGUS AND
HIS TEAM, WELL DONE - THE CADETS ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH
A CAPABLE AND ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP OF PEOPLE AT THE HELM. TO THE
PARENTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE
ALL THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT YOU CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TO THE
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN PARADED BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. YOU CAN BE JUSTIFIABLY
PROUD OF THEM ALL. AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WHO
ARE WITH US THIS EVENING, I WANT TO EMPHASISE THAT YOUR SUPPORT
IS VITAL TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE NAVAL RESERVE CADETS.
IT IS PARTICULARLY PLEASING THAT T.S. BARWON ENJOYS SUCH A CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF GEELONG AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.
I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE NAVY LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA, REPRESENTED
HERE TONIGHT BY COMMANDER JOHN WILKINS, FOR THEIR CONTINUING SUPPORT
OF THE NAVAL RESERVE CADETS, BOTH IN THE FORM OF THIS TROPHY,
AND IN THE MANY OTHER WAYS YOU HELP SUSTAIN THE CADET MOVEMENT
THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA. I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY, THOUGH,
TO ADDRESS A FEW WORDS TO THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF T.S. BARWON.
I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN MY 43 YEARS IN THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN
NAVY TO ENJOY A CAREER THAT HAS BEEN FULL OF CHALLENGES AND EXCITEMENT.
THE PLEASURES HAVE INCLUDED SPECIALISING AS A NAVIGATOR AND A
WARFARE OFFICER; COMMAND OF SHIPS OF VARIOUS CLASSES; AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, WORKING WITH SOME OF THE FINEST PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA,
IF NOT THE WORLD, IN A STRONG AND SUCCESSFUL TEAM ENVIRONMENT.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF CHALLENGES AVAILABLE TO YOU TOO IN THE YEARS
AHEAD. WE ARE A GROWING AND VIBRANT NATION WHICH IS PART OF THE
MOST DYNAMIC AND EXCITING REGION IN THE WORLD - THE ASIA-PACIFIC
REGION. HARD WORK AND APPLICATION BUILT ON THE SOLID GROUNDING
OF SELF-DISCIPLINE AND THE STRONG MORAL VALUES YOU EMBRACE AS
A MEMBER OF THE NAVAL RESERVE CADETS WILL STAND YOU IN GOOD STEAD
IN YOUR FUTURE CAREERS, WHETHER THEY BE IN THE NAVY OR IN OUR
WIDER AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY. SO I SAY TO YOU ALL - WELL DONE, YOU
HAVE SHOWN YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES, BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH TO
LEARN, MAINTAIN YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENJOY WHAT
YOU DO. I WISH YOU HAPPINESS, LUCK AND SUCCESS. IT NOW GIVES ME
GREAT PLEASURE TO ASK THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF T.S. BARWON, LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER DENNIS TREAGUS, TO COME FORWARD AND RECEIVE THE NAVY
LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA ANNUAL EFFICIENCY TROPHY FOR 1996.
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