SUBMARINES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
WA BRANCH CHRISTMAS 2013
SAA WA BRANCH CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO MEMBERS
To all our Members and families on behalf of the SAA WA Branch I want to wish all a very Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year. May you all enjoy your break, spending time with your friends and family and have a
peaceful and relatively stress free Christmas. Let’s make 2014 a great, prosperous and healthy New Year
and a great year to celebrate the Centenary of Submarines
2013 CHRISTMAS BARBECUE
The Branch Christmas Barbecue was held at the Rockingham Naval Club on Sunday 8nd December
commencing at 1200, the gathering was welcomed by the President Sid Czabotar who gave a run-down of
the Branches activities for 2013. Thirty eight members and their families (the best attended function all
year) attended the Barbecue. The Barbecue was completely funded by the raffle, the first prize being a
bottle of “Pussers Rum” followed by many prizes donated by branch members. The raffle tickets were
flogged by Pod.
Enjoying Lunch complete with Christmas Trimmings
The other end
The weather was perfect, the table again was set complete with Christmas trimmings and all who attended
enjoyed a lunch of chicken, sausages, various salads, a choice of seven duffs, all provided by our ladies
Lynn Czabotar, Alison O’Donohue, Pat Warner, Ruth Russel, Leonie Oxley, Barbara Lawrence, Krystyna
Rowell and Maxine Stones. A great job ladies, lots of good duff to enjoy. I want to thank our everyone who
helped set up, Peter and Alison O’Donohue, Jack and Pat Warner, Lynn Czabotar, John Rana, Leonie
Oxley, Ruth Russell and all the at the Bar and Jim Green on the Barbecue. Santa Sid turned up and gave
out lollies to all the good persons and not so good persons who attended.
Santa Sid with Charlotte Keating and Granddaughter
.
Leonie, Lynn and Pat and Dave at the food table
WA BRANCH REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE 2013
The SAA WA Branch held their Remembrance Day Service at the World War 2 Submarine Memorial
alongside “OVENS” on Sunday 10 November 2013.
OVENS 2013 Remembrance Day Service
The Guest of Honour was Commander Gavin Reeves (representing COMSUB Captain Mark Potter). The
Service was conducted by the Squadron Naval Chaplain Thi Lam. The President Sid Czabotar was the
MC, welcomed the guests, who included the Commander John Farrington RN, LCDR Travis Zettel USN,
Kath Pouleris US Submarine Veterans, SAA National President CPO Darren Thompson, SAA WA Patron
Commodore Bob Trotter OAM RAN RTD, President Submariners Association Australia Branch John
Keating and Maritime Museum Director Dr. Ian MacLeod. The service was well attended by the Submarine
together with members of USN serving in the squadron, SAA WA Branch Members; Submariners
Association Australia Branch including 3 who served on the Fremantle based Submarines during World
War 2 and TS Perth Sea Cadets.
WA Branch members
At the conclusion of the event service the WA Branch President Sid Czabotar thanked the all who helped in
the organising the service and then we went to the Fremantle Navy Club for lunch, raffle and to Farewell
Darren Thompson our National President
Presentation toThommo
SUBMARINE SQUADRON FORUM
On Friday 13 February 2013 I had the privilege of attending the Submarine Squadron Forum. Captain Mark
Potter the Commander Submarines Australia gave the opening address and talked about the outstanding
successful year by the squadron with 3 submarines on deployment and spending more time at sea. He
introduced the new Submarine Squadron Chaplain Franco Siana and wished everyone a safe and Merry
Christmas.
Commodore Peter Scott Director General Submarine Capability and Head of Submarine Profession talked
about the present and future states of the Submarine Force.
The Head of the Submarine School Training Authority Submarines awarded Dolphins to newly qualified
submariners and advised that training simulators were being updated.
Commander Brett Westcott the Submarine Emergency Rescue Manager spoke about the recent successful
Black Carillon Submarine Rescue Exercise held off Sydney and how important the Australian System was
to the International Submarine Rescue alliance.
Representatives of all ranks from the submarines HMAS DECHAINEAUX, SHEAN, WALLER and
FARNCOMB then gave candid presentations on their years which were comical, full of sense of humour
showing in my opinion that the submariners will always be submariners not matter what the ERA. The
Technology has changed but the mannerisms and the Larrikin character of the Submariner has not.
Following these presentations the Submarine Awards were presented by Captain Mark Potter. I presented
a Cheque for $80 on behalf of the SAA to the Submariner of the Year LEUT T. Teale, SUBFOR/GSM. This
awarded annually to the submarine qualified sailor or officer whose exceptional performance, dedication to
duty and exemplary navy and submarine values makes them a stand out from all other submariners. I
congratulated Titch on his award on behalf of the SAA.
LOST SAILORS PLAQUE
The Branch has ordered the Plaque for the three sailors who died in the Submarine Service on HMAS
ONSLOW and HMAS OTAMA. All approvals have been received and the plaque financed by the SAA and
our Branch. The dedication of the memorial will happen in 2014 and the members will be advised when
arrangements have been finalised.
SUBMARINERS MEMORIAL
Sid Czabotar and Paul Meakin together with our Patron Bob Trotter have continued dialogue with the TWA
Maritime Museum with the moving of the existing Submarine Memorial alongside HMAS OVENS i.e. the
AE2 Plaque dedicated to the AE2 exploits in the Dardanelles and the Memorial Plaque to the WWII USN,
RN and Dutch Submariners based in Fremantle and installation of a Memorial to Australian Submariners.
The location of the new memorial/monument combining the previous plaques and the new Submariners
Memorial/Monument is yet to be finalised but discussion is ongoing with relevant Authorities. Fund raising
will commence in the New Year so please watch this space. It is intended that Memorial be completed in
time for the Remembrance Day Service 11 November 2014.
CENTENARY OF AUSTRALIAN SUBMARINES
The SAA WA Branch has continued planning with the SIA, COMSUB the requirements for the Centenary of
Australian Submarines activities both in the West and around Australia. The link for the information on
Centenary of Submarines is http://www.aussubs100.com.
The coordinating committee consists of Paul Meakin (National SAA Co-Ordinator), Darren Thompson
(National SAA President), Sid Czabotar (SAA WA Branch President), John Rana (part time attendee as
National Treasurer), Peter Horobin (SIA Nation President), Steve Davies (SIA CEO), Lloyd Blake (SIA),
Commander Ken Marr (COMSUB Representative), Andrew Bujdegan (COMSB representative) and WO
Dave David Bates
Paul as the National Co-Ordinator for the SAA has continued to send out information on planned events
both nationally and internationally.
The committee for local events is Sid and Lynn Czabotar, Peter and Alison O’Donnell, Ted and Sue Curr,
Jack and Pat Warner, Brian and Julie Gibson John Rana and Leonie Oxley, Maxine Stones and Bob
Zwikielberg and Mark Dickson and are looking at the details of the all the SAA events in the West, visits to
HMAS Stirling and local Defence Industries, memorabilia, raffle, hosting of SAA and International
Submarine visitors to WA, tours and facilities. Commander Andy Nelson from COMSUB has also joined the
ball committee. Costs are currently being finalised and will be available end of January 2014. The
Maritime Museum and the Esplanade Hotel have been booked for the Opening reception and the
Centenary Ball. The Esplanade Hotel has a direct booking line for accommodation which is
http://www.rydges.com/customised-web-page/submarine-association If this link is not working call the
Hotel direct on 9432 4000 to secure their booking in the interim using SUBCON100 as the booking code.
THANKS
On behalf of the Branch members I want to thank Branch Executive Vice President/NAA Delegate: Peter
O’Donohue, Secretary: Paul Meakin, Treasurer: John Rana, Welfare Officer: Buster Keating Volunteer
Committee Members: Ted Curr and Brian Gibson for the wonderful work done behind the scenes in running
the WA Branch. I am particularly grateful to Paul Meakin who as secretary has the biggest load continues
to do an excellent job as secretary in assisting the running of the WA Branch with his inputs, e-mails,
Memorial and Centenary of Australian Submarines Committees, raising submissions for funding and
projects and keeping honest. I also thank John Buster Keating in his excellent and valuable Welfare and
DVA Advocacy work. The work for the SUBCON Committee Lynn Czabotar, Peter and Alison O’Donnell,
http://www.aussubs100.com/http://www.rydges.com/customised-web-page/submarine-association
Ted and Sue Curr, Jack and Pat Warner, Brian and Julie Gibson John Rana and Leonie Oxley, Maxine
Stones Bob Zwikielberg and Mark Dickson is about to rapidly expand but I want to thank them for their
efforts to date and their attendance at meetings while we planned next year’s activities.
MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES
This year Norm offered an incentive to SAA members and their partners Australia wide to attend SAA
activities. Since July the SAA WA Branch held one AGM, one GM, and a visit to the SAs Museum, a
Remembrance Day Service, A Christmas Party and Swan Valley Tour. The best response was received for
the Christmas Party nearly sixty people responded as apologies or attendance. In all 45 members
attended our activities in this period at least once and35 members submitted their apologies at least once.
The attendance numbers have gone off to Norm and the winner will be known shortly.
FINALLY
Next year will be a big year for the Submarine Community culminating with SUBCON 100 here in WA. I
want to thank all members who have supported the Branch this year, if you are one of those who hasn’t
been active, then 2014 is a good year to start. To all those who are not well or fighting off demons I wish all
the best health and support in the coming year. To everyone I ask that you keep in touch and let the
Branch Executive know if you or you know other members need assistance or a calming phone call or
Email.
May God Bless you all, Stay Safe and enjoy a very Happy and Holy Christmas and a great New Year to
come in 2014.
Sid Czabotar
President SAA (WA BRANCH)