Radschool Association Newsletter

Radschool Association Newsletter - Vol 6

31 Aug 2000

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No 20 Apprentice Course, 10 Jan 1966 - 15 Aug 1968

This photo from Doug Pankhurst’s collection shows a bunch of proud young blokes who have just completed 2¾ years at Laverton on 20 Appy. They are L-R: Back: Ken Edwards, Ray Browning, Greg Cashmire, Wal Williams, Sam Norman, Doug Pankhurst, Ian Laidlaw, Chris Kowalczyk, Geoff Gleeson, Deitmar Kraemar. Middle: Fred Rinaldi, Hans Horikx, Terry Cox, Blue Skewes, Brian Napper, Jack Jackowski, Greg Black, John Riebelt, Dane Whitworth, Phil Witty, Owen Walsh. Front: Charlie Kerr, Bill Blackson, Alan Chiesa, Ray Morris, Mick Christensen, Ralph Dries, Tas MacArthur, Dick Lovett, Bill Malkin, Nigel Stevenson, Phil Baldock, Ian Holland, Keith Collins, Geoff Cuff, John Aitkin. Sadly, Charles "Charlie" Kerr, died 22 Feb 1970 and Stefan "Jack" Jackowski, died 14 December 1970.

Stewart Deans

Stewart Deans

This photo was pinched from the 19appy web site, and shows a younger Stewart Deans on the family farm in the Maleny (Qld) area in the early 60’s where he lived for 10 years. (Is that an old Hillman or a Humber Hawk?). Stewart says, "When we needed a new work outfit on the farm because the last one was either outgrown or had disintegrated, Dad would go to the Brisbane City Mission and collect a heap of whatever they had. Then all the prisoners (us kids) gathered around and tried to find something that almost fitted. There was always a shortage of suitable belts and on more than one occasion I was forced to use rope instead. For reasons that are too complex to go into we went through a process of purchasing a "new" (second hand) car. The first, and most memorable, was a little Hillman which had strategic pieces of the ring-gear missing so that it needed the engine rotated on to a compression to allow the starter to engage".

Stewart eventually escaped from the "prison farm", and joined the RAAF as a radio brat. He was posted to 10Sqn in Townsville after appy-land, and worked on the old Neppies from 1967-71. (Weren’t they easy to get around and work in) From there he had a short stint as a depo-doggie at Amberley as a Canberra fixer, then to Willy-town and the Mirages in 73. From Billsville he went to Butterworth, for 2½ years, then they realised he’d been enjoying himself so they sent him to Canberra where he stayed until he pulled the pin. He now works on the New Submarine Project where he did some work on Projects for which Al George was the customer. His current responsibilities in the Submarine Project Office cover Periscopes, Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Communications (External and Internal), Shore Facilities and a thing called the Simulator/Data Monitor.

Stewart and wife Dianne still live in Canberra and both are keen bush walkers. Stewart’s hobby is gardening, perhaps a hang-over from Maleny days, and he grows giant pumpkins

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