OCS, Portsea - Graduating Class of June 1973

Hello Everyone

Well, what a weekend - I'm still coming down from the high I got just seeing everyone there! Thank you to all those who attended and making it such a memorable occasion. The photos I took of the weekend have been sent to Steve Sanderson and he has now put them on the website within the CD.

Would those who also took photos over the weekend please scan and send them to Steve for the CD too please?

For those unable to make it, the weekend went something like this:

Friday Night at the Brekkie Creek Hotel - Julian Benett had it all organised - tables with balloons near the big screen TV so we could watch the football too. But, to be fair, who watched it, we were all too busy getting reacquainted with classmates and meeting partners. Just over 40 of us got together.

Saturday Night at the United Service Club - we had 67 at the Dinner and Gerard Fitzgerald and his staff did the occasion proud. A superb venue, delicious meal, plenty to drink and excellent service - we could not have asked for better. Many a memory was rekindled and some 'tall' stories were recounted by the assembled males. Ian ROBINSON controlled the proceedings as our Dining President and the evening flowed well. I made the Welcome Speech, Andrew FERGUSON said Grace and we commenced to dine. After each course ROBBO coerced groups of us into changing seats so we could mingle with as many as possible. After Desert, Andrew FERGUSON proposed the Loyal Toast, Don PATTERSON proposed the OCS Toast, Stan PILBROW toasted Classmates Near & Far, Paul LOGAN toasted the Ladies and David OTTON provided us with a personalised account of each (the three staff members and four classmates) and a toast to our Fallen Comrades. The Finale was when I read out emails from classmates who were unable to attend and conducted the Lucky Draws - the Ladies (a scarf) was won by the lovely Heather BENETT - and the Gentlemen's (an OCS Tie, generously donated by fellow OCS Graduate of 1965 Roger TINGLEY MC) was won by Pierre GREGOR. We then adjourned to the Bar for some more chatting and to watch slides and 8mm movies of the Good Old Days and listen to the fine voices of the Scheyville boys singing their songs. Pierre GREGOR's donation of two crocks of 20th Reunion Port also went down well. The evening came to an end at midnight when the Club closed (where did the time go??). Most went home but several (who shall remain nameless) soldiered on into the wee hours of the morning at various clubs and the Casino. The biggest disappointment of the evening was that (because of illness) Mary NOBES, Claire POLACH & Steve SANDERSON and Margaret VERCOE were unable to be with us.

Sunday Picnic at South Bank Parklands - Barry GREATOREX & Rudi POLDOJA and their families were there early and had selected a brilliant location for us to assemble. The weather was a typical Queensland day (beautiful one day - perfect the next) all sunshine, the crowd of civilians not as huge as expected and about 30 of us had another opportunity to talk to mates and family members.

Overall, from the many comments, phone calls and emails I have received I am happy to say the weekend was a huge success. I know I did it at the Dinner but again, THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to making the weekend so memorable.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?? - well, there were some offers and suggestions about 2008: Pierre GREGOR offered to coordinate a gathering at Kangaroo Island, Michael DEFINA said he would coordinate a return to PORTSEA and I tried to convince the Kiwi's we should have another one over there in one of their fine cities? BUT! let us hear your views please? We now have the OCS Email Group, so have a think about it and hit the "Reply To All" button and get the ball rolling so we can all save our dollars up for another great time in five years?

As soon as Steve has finalised the CD construction (with your additional photos etc into him ASAP please?) I will burn them off and post them out to everyone who attended. For those who were unable to attend but would like to receive one please send me $5.00 and I will post it to you too.

We would also like the contact details for those 21 classmates that we were unable to locate. Please keep an eye out for them and either give them my contact details or provide me with their and I will add them to our list.

Again THANK YOU ALL for a wonderful weekend. Talk to you again soon.

Take care.

Regards
Rob