Hi, my name is Gordon Hurford and I am part of the organising committee for a reunion of the Class 1/65 from OTU Scheyville.  One of our fellow graduates was James Cecil RULE who served in 4RAR in Vietnam in 1968/69.

Next year is 60 years since we entered Scheyville for training and since we were all NSM we all turn 80 years of age at some time in the first 6 months of 2025.  Hence, we have decided to have a celebration reunion on the Sunshine Coast in July 2025.

All our efforts to contact Jim have failed and we have no idea where he might be living.

I thought that he may have been a member of the 4RAR Association now or at some time in the past and, if he was, maybe there is the chance that you might be able to help in some way.

If you do have a contact for him, please feel free to pass my details to him with a request for him to contact me please.  It is our hope that all graduates at least get to know that the reunion is happening.

Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025.

Kind regards

Gordon Hurford

Mob: 0407 926 270

ED: If you can help Gordon, please contact him direct on his mobile 0407 926 270

aWise Blog

Australia’s relationship with national service has been marked by controversy and evolution. Historically intertwined with conscription, it has often faced public opposition and societal division. However, in an era of increasing regional instability and global challenges, the question arises: is it time to reconsider national service in a modern context?

Historical Context and Public Perception

National service in Australia has a complex history, beginning with conscription referendums during the First World War. The 1916 and 1917 referendums, aimed at mandating military service, deeply divided the nation and were ultimately rejected. Nevertheless, compulsory service returned during the Second World War to strengthen Australia’s defence against the advancing forces of Imperial Japan.

The Cold War brought peacetime national service in 1951, reflecting fears of communist expansion. However, the Vietnam War era—with its selective conscription via a controversial birthday lottery—sparked widespread protests, exposing the deep societal rifts over government-mandated service.

These historical examples highlight the tension between national duty and individual freedom, shaping contemporary views on compulsory service. While Australia has since moved away from mandatory programs, the debate about national service’s relevance in today’s world remains pertinent.

Global Lessons in National Service

Many nations continue to employ national service as a tool for fostering civic responsibility and addressing national needs. Countries like Germany, Israel, Sweden, and Singapore use such programs to provide workforce training, instill discipline, and promote a sense of shared purpose. These models demonstrate that national service can be more than a military endeavour; it can be a platform for uniting citizens and preparing them for diverse roles in society.

Rethinking National Service for Modern Australia

Today’s geopolitical landscape demands a fresh perspective on national service. Unlike past programs centred solely on military conscription, a modern approach should encompass a broader vision, addressing both security and societal challenges. This could involve:

1. Military and Civil Pathways: Offering options for young Australians to contribute through military roles or civilian services such as healthcare, construction, logistics, and disaster response.
2. Skill Development: Providing training in critical areas, ensuring participants gain valuable skills applicable to both national needs and personal career aspirations.
3. Civic Engagement: Fostering a sense of patriotism rooted in shared responsibilities and contributions, rather than passive association with national identity.

Building Hard Patriotism

Patriotism in Australia has traditionally been “soft,” characterised by symbolic gestures rather than tangible commitments. While this form of patriotism remains important, today’s challenges necessitate “hard patriotism,” involving active participation in the nation’s defence and resilience.

Hard patriotism doesn’t solely imply military service. It encompasses a society-wide mobilisation where individuals contribute to national security and prosperity in meaningful ways. For instance, mobilising resources and talent to address cybersecurity threats, infrastructure development, and emergency response are just as critical as military readiness.

A Practical Framework for National Service

A revitalised national service program in Australia could follow these guiding principles:

• Inclusivity: Open to all citizens, with options tailored to diverse capabilities and interests.
• Flexibility: Allowing participants to choose from various service pathways, ensuring alignment with personal goals and national priorities.
• Community Impact: Encouraging projects that address local and regional challenges, fostering a direct connection between service and societal improvement.

For instance, participants could engage in environmental conservation efforts, support aged care facilities, or enhance digital infrastructure, all of which contribute to national resilience.

The Strategic Necessity

Australia’s geographical isolation, once a shield, no longer guarantees safety in an interconnected and technologically advanced world. Potential adversaries with long-range capabilities and cyber warfare tools present real threats to national security. A well-prepared and engaged citizenry is essential to mitigate these risks.

By instilling a culture of service, Australia can strengthen its defence posture and build a society resilient to external pressures. This requires not just readiness for military engagement but also the capacity to respond to crises like natural disasters, pandemics, and economic disruptions.

Engaging the Next Generation

A successful national service program must resonate with young Australians. It should address their concerns, such as job prospects, housing affordability, and climate change, while offering a platform for meaningful contribution. Providing clear benefits—such as education subsidies, career training, and pathways to employment—can make national service an attractive and viable option.

Conclusion

The call for national service in Australia is not a return to outdated conscription models but a forward-looking strategy to unify and empower citizens. In a world fraught with uncertainty, a modernized national service program can foster a sense of purpose, equip individuals with valuable skills, and enhance national resilience.

Australia’s future depends on its ability to adapt and mobilize. By embracing a new vision for national service, the nation can build a stronger, more cohesive society ready to face the challenges of the 21st century.

Will Shackel interviews Hinkley C Project Construction Director Rob Jordan.

US Defence Media Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The San Antonio-class Amphibious Transport Docks (LPDs) are transforming the landscape of U.S. naval operations, providing a strategic, cost-effective alternative to traditional aircraft carriers. Engineered to bolster the U.S. Marine Corps’ expeditionary and amphibious warfare capabilities, these advanced vessels are pivotal assets in ensuring American naval superiority.

Essential for First-Strike Operations
Designed to transport over 600 Marines alongside helicopters, landing craft, and combat vehicles, San Antonio-class LPDs excel in Day One operations. These platforms empower Marines to breach enemy defences decisively, delivering the agility and firepower required to establish control in contested environments.

State-of-the-Art Armaments and Intelligence Systems
LPDs are equipped with cutting-edge defensive systems, including 30mm Bushmaster II cannons and Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, ensuring superior protection against aerial threats. Integrated with advanced Next Generation Surface Search Technology, these vessels enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, enabling commanders to dominate rapidly evolving battlespaces.

A Strategic Advantage in the Indo-Pacific
As the Indo-Pacific becomes a focal point for global security, San Antonio-class LPDs provide the flexibility and reach necessary to counter emerging threats. These ships play a vital role in addressing Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) strategies, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and strengthening alliances through joint training operations. Their versatility makes them indispensable for sustaining U.S. presence and promoting stability across the region.

A Cost-Efficient Alternative to Aircraft Carriers
With the rising costs and vulnerabilities of traditional aircraft carriers, LPDs offer a pragmatic solution for power projection. Costing significantly less than the Ford-class carrier program, San Antonio-class vessels deliver unmatched expeditionary warfare capabilities, ensuring mission success while optimizing budgetary efficiency.

Revolutionizing Marine Corps Operations
In line with its strategic pivot, the Marine Corps is leveraging the San Antonio-class to spearhead amphibious operations. Equipped with Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs), Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles (EFVs), and vertical lift aircraft, these vessels enable Marines to execute high-stakes missions with precision and agility.

A New Era in Amphibious Warfare
The commissioning of USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD-29) highlights the Navy’s commitment to innovation in amphibious warfare. Serving as floating sovereign bases, these ships are integral to joint and combined arms operations, underscoring their importance in both training exercises and real-world missions.

Returning to Amphibious Roots
The San Antonio-class LPDs mark the Marine Corps’ return to its core mission: amphibious warfare. Following years of ground-focused operations, these vessels are instrumental in enabling island-hopping campaigns and maintaining open sea lines of communication in contested waters.

Conclusion
The San Antonio-class Amphibious Transport Docks represent a transformative approach to naval warfare. As the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps adapt to a rapidly changing strategic environment, these vessels offer a powerful blend of innovation, adaptability, and operational efficiency. From enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific to ensuring readiness for future conflicts, the San Antonio-class ensures that the United States remains a dominant force on the global stage.

Photograph: US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky (Released)

The newly released Defence and Veteran Family Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030 highlights the pivotal role families play in supporting current serving Australian Defence Force members and veterans.

The Strategy and related First Action Plan provide the guiding principles for how support will be delivered to Defence and veteran families over the next 5 years and include actions that assist in responding to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The Strategy recognises the impacts of military service and related life events on families during and after service; outlines how families will be supported; and confirms a continued commitment to understanding the needs of Defence and veteran families and improving engagement and ongoing support.

Three priorities will drive progress under the Strategy and First Action Plan:

• Informed and Engaged—Families can find the information they need when they need it, so they can access available supports and make informed decisions. Defence and DVA actively engage with families to ensure their perspectives are considered.
• Supported and Secure—Any impacts of service and related life events are managed, through appropriate and flexible, fit-for-purpose policies, support, and communication.
• Recognised and Understood— The impacts of military life on Defence and veteran families are recognised with a continued commitment to understand the needs of families, improve policies, and ensure approaches are informed by research and evaluation.

The Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs worked closely together to develop the Strategy and First Action Plan.

This coordinated approach ensures that the impacts of service and related life events on families are managed, both during and after service, with appropriate fit-for-purpose policies, programs and support – now and in the future.

The Strategy and First Action Plan are a culmination of the experiences of Defence and veteran families. Defence and DVA gratefully acknowledge the people from the Defence, veteran and family communities and organisations who contributed to the development of the Strategy and First Action Plan, whether that was through participation in surveys, forums or direct feedback on drafts of the Strategy. In particular, the contributions of the Veteran Families’ Policy Forum participants, the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner and Defence Families of Australia were invaluable in the development of the strategy and should be commended for their tireless dedication to bringing the voices of Defence and veteran families to the discussion.

Download the Defence and Veteran Family Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030.

When it comes to choosing unity over division in our nation, real change begins at the grassroots level. It’s the small, everyday choices—not grand gestures by activists—that pave the way for reconciliation.

This means prioritising the unity of our country over separatism and rejecting divisive actions, no matter how subtle. Take, for instance, the Welcome to Country. While it may have a place in specific contexts, its widespread adoption in recent years has, unfortunately, alienated many Australians from Indigenous culture.

The commercialisation of Welcome to Country ceremonies has further fuelled this disconnect. I recently discussed with Sky News how some individuals make their entire income from Welcome to Country fees. This practice has sparked backlash—not only among the broader Australian population but also within Indigenous communities. For example, the Juru people in North Queensland have banned Welcome to Country ceremonies on their lands due to concerns over commercialisation. They’ve criticized government agencies for using “preferred suppliers” who often lack genuine ties to the local area, perpetuating a form of modern colonisation rarely scrutinised by mainstream media.

Australians are growing tired of these divisive practices and are searching for a better path forward. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton highlighted one small but meaningful step: restoring the prominence of the Australian flag at official events. All too often, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags overshadow the national flag, or, in extreme cases, as seen with the Greens’ Adam Bandt, the Australian flag is absent altogether.

This sends a divisive message. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags hold cultural significance, but they represent specific ethnicities—not the nation as a whole. As Peter Dutton rightly pointed out, “We are a country united under one flag, and if we’re asking people to identify with different flags, we are dividing our country unnecessarily.”

Reclaiming unity under one national flag is a small but vital step toward reconciliation. It reinforces the shared identity of all Australians and moves us closer to bridging divides.

Yours for real solutions,
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
Senator for the Northern Territory
Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians

As Christmas is upon us, I wanted to take a moment to let you all know how much I truly value the connection we share. While I’m away from my desk, I find myself missing our daily chats more than I anticipated. Each day we share online is a reminder of the camaraderie and unwavering support we have within this incredible network.

Julie and I want to extend our heartfelt wishes for a joyous and peaceful Christmas to each of you. For those fortunate enough to be spending Christmas surrounded by family and loved ones, we hope it’s filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished memories.

To those whose family may be far away, or who find themselves spending Christmas alone, please know you are not forgotten. You are in our thoughts and in our hearts, and we are holding you close in spirit during this special time of year.

Christmas is a time for gratitude and reflection, and we are profoundly grateful for the bonds we’ve built with you all. Wherever you are and however you’re celebrating, we hope you feel the strength of this shared connection, like a thread linking us all together.

Wishing you happiness, peace, and all the best the season has to offer. Take care, stay safe, and know we’ll be raising a glass in your honour this Christmas.

With warm regards

Ray & Julie

“Silent Night” – (Sister Duet) – Lucy (20) & Martha (14) Thomas