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Mururoa Veterans'
Society |
Welcome
Steve Aldridge has now joined the Society. Welcome. Your membership card is in the mail.
I welcome another ex
crew member, Cyril Goulsbro to the Society. He lives in Australia, but we won't
hold that against him.
I keep getting the minutes of meetings about HMNZS Canterbury Finale Farewell Reunion in Christchurch. The Reunion looks terrific, registrations are thru Bill Lochrie RNZN Assoc. (Inc) P.O. Box 3013, Christchurch.
I have updated the link to HMAS Supply and added a new link for the Original crew of HMNZS Canterbury 3L mess. Unfortunately I will not be able to make it to Christchurch in March. Plans are underway for an AGM and reunion in Auckland when HMNZS Canterbury is de-commissioned. More information as it comes to hand.
Another crew member has come out of the cold and registered with the Society. Welcome to Phil Doran, he was an AB on Canterbury.
The British Nuclear Test Veterans Association has been in contact with me. I don't know how they got my name and address. I believe it is similar the the New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Association. They want to exchange news and stories, I have referred them to our website for some stories. Lets have more dits (stories) from you so I can forward them on.
Wayne Abel has informed me of his new address in Australia. I have corrected the membership page. Wayne says that they are keeping the "Ranch" down in Gisbourne, "Somewhere to retire too".
There is a reunion for crew members of HMNZS Canterbury. This will be held in Christchurch 18th - 21st of March 2005. - Final Farewell Reunion - Full details are on the Reunion page along with a proposed programme.
I have been approached by "Naval Takermen Association" that some of the crew that took HMAS Supply to Mururoa in 1973, would like join the Mururoa Veterans' Society. Why not and all I can say is "Welcome aboard". We can become Honourary members of the Naval Tankerman Association. Just look at the Registration page and become an Honourary member of Mururoa Veterans' Society.
The Government has declined the Navy's request to extend the life of Canterbury. It appears that Canterbury is falling to pieces. Therefore the re-union in Christchurch over ANZAC weekend 2005 is a goer. More details as they come to hand.
The RNZN wants to keep
HMNZS Canterbury running for at least another two years, because they will have
no Training Ship until the new Multi Purpose Vessels are built and do not
commission until 2008.
The Navy have approached the Government to try and talk them into extending the
life of Canterbury. A decision is not expected until approx August.
It is not much point in having a Re Union in Lyttleton to coincide with
Canterburys last visit to its home port, next year, if Canterbury keeps going
for a year or two more.
If it is decided to retired Canterbury in 2005, we will still go ahead with the
Re Union.
It is an unfortunate situation - but we have to live with it.
I will try and keep you all informed.
Another crew member has joined. Welcome to Blue MacInness. He hasn't got a computer and is busy working at the local Freezing works.
I have taken all our
email addresses off the website, as some hackers have got into a few websites
got email addresses and on sold them to others, and now everyone is receiving
spam mail. It is ashame as I was trying to, through the website, re-establish
contact with old shipmates through email, and providing email addresses for
those that where looking for old mates. There is only two ways around it that I
can see:
1.. Join old friends at www.oldfriends.co.nz or
2.. As I maintain a register of everyone, their address, and email address. I
would be willing to pass this info on, with permission, of course.
It pains me further to inform you all that Shane (Cloggs) Veldhuizen died yesterday, 30th April, In Waikato hospital. Shane had a long battle with emphysema. On the 5th of April he sneezed and his lung collapsed, therefore spending time in Tauranga hospital. On April 16th Shane was transfered to Waikato hospital, and tried to fix the hole in his lung with an operation last Tuesday being 27th April. We all thought he had survived, but alas he didn't. Shane was a personal friend as well as being a ship mate.
I had a visit today, the 26th April, from Colin "Speed" Hayward, amongst the chit chat and reminiscing of being in the Navy, Colin decided to joined the Society. It was terrific to chat with Colin after all these years. He leaves to go back to Wellington tomorrow. Welcome aboard Colin
I have received names to the faces in the photo of the Forward PO'S Mess on HMNZS Canterbury, and have updated the photo page. One Airforce Sergant we can't name, and we are not too sure about D. Wrigley (REA2). Can anyone help please??????
Fred Towler has joined to Society. Fred was the Leading Writer on HMNZS Otago. Welcome Fred.
I received my copy of the April edition of the "Navy Today", over the weekend. I read with great interest the write up about Alan Tyrrell and I quote "Captain Tyrrell returned to NZ in December 1985 and retired. With failing health, which he attributed to his service at the British nuclear tests at Christmas Island, Alan withdrew from public view". Derek Cheney, who was the CO of HMNZS Canterbury at Mururoa in 1973, was also present at the British nuclear tests at Christmas Island. Derek passed away during the 90's of cancer. I wonder??
I regret to inform you all of the passing of Hugh (HOF) French. HOF was the killick Signalman on Otago, we had completed our Advanced Course together and both of us where doing our sea time so that we could be rated Petty Officer. HOF died of cancer.
I have just heard of the passing of Two Ton (Allan) Tyrell. Commander Tyrell was the Commanding Officer of HMNZS Otago during its time at Mururoa Atoll. Allan had a battle with cancer and finally lost.
Jock MacEwan has finally got around to joining the Society. Welcome. Jock has also sent copies of some of his photo's which I have posted on the website.
Bruce Rutherford has joined the Society. Welcome
Another couple of members have joined the Society. Welcome to Peter Cameron and Trevor Bowden.
Don't forget next year is our next reunion and it will be in Christchurch. So start saving you pennies now for a weekend of fun and getting to know some of your ship mates. All the best to you all.
Wayne Abel is leaving his farm in Gisbourne to become a Train driver in Australia. Some thing is wrong here, but still, all the best Wayne and your family. A bridge or tunnel has not yet been built across the Tasman but hopefully we will see you at the reunion next year.
Stretch Kennedy, who is a member of the New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Association, is trying to collate a data base of members who went to Mururoa. He would like to hear from you with or without news of any sickness that you or your children are suffering from. His email address is antkennedy@xtra.co.nz
I am sorry to hear of the passing of David McDowell on the 28th of November 2003. Another crew member has been found. GREAT. All the best.
Another crew member has
joined the growing Society. Welcome.
I have been made a deal with a firm making polo shirts. There price is $35 for
a white shirt with our badge (as shown above) embroidered on the left breast.
In fact very similar to the ones on sale at the reunion. Size with orders
please.
Another member has joined, so the membership list is growing too. The support that is coming in is terrific. Thanks Guys.
With the help of some of
you guys, I have been able to get in contact with 150 crew members now. The
list is growing weekly. Most of them come from Canterbury, but I have no doubt
Otago will catch up.
There is another press release up on the Rumours page.
It is terrific to hear that David Lunge has received an award for his fight
against nuclear weapons.
I am getting a display ready for Te Papa in Wellington. They want to display
our experiences in 1973, next year. If anyone has any items for the display let
me know so that they can be included.
I have received some new press releases and photos which I have put up in the Rumours page and photographs page. Take a look.
Whilst in Auckland last weekend 6th/7th of September, I visited the Navy Museum which is situated by the Naval Base. To my horror, there is not a mention of our trip to Mururoa Atoll in 1973. There are a few pictures on the wall of Christmas Island and Bikini Atoll from the 1960's, which is great to see. Upon asking about this I was told that Mururoa Atoll stuff was in a controlled temperature room somewhere in the Dockyard. The Museum does not have the room currently to display this, and it is intended to shift the museum up to North Head in the future. Last night, being the 9th of September, I went onto the RNZN website, again to my horror there was no mention of Otago and Canterbury going to Mururoa Atoll. I wonder if this is political, the Government and Navy do not want to recognise the fact that quite a few crew members are suffering serious health problems from being at Mururoa Atoll in 1973. I am seriously thinking of quiting my job and climbing on my soapbox to get the event recognised. I believe, and so do quite a few others, that what we did was dangerous, the then Government said that they would look after us as well as establish an Parliamentary Archive, which I might add, is non existant. It is still part of New Zealand's and the Navy's history, so why is it not fully recognised. Lets become a registered within the Society first, that way with a large number of personnel, we would have more clout with the Government and the Navy.
Te Papa in Wellington would like to put on an exhibition next year, of our stint at Mururoa Atoll in 1973. This is marvellous. I wonder if I could get this exhibition to go around New Zealand, when it has finished at Te Papa. They want the flags remade, and any other memorabilia that is being held by crew members. I saw some of it at the Re union.
I have put up on the website, photo's of the reunion. These are under "Reunion". Some people I just can't place, and have put a question mark instead of their name. Maybe someone can and will enlighten me.
This site is intended to keep crew members of HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Canterbury that went to Mururoa Atoll in June, July and August 1973, in touch with one another. We agreed to 5 yearly reunions, this is because of Taranaki, Otago, Southland, Cruiser, small ships, Communication, and Stoker reunions. I feel that you could all be reunioned out. I have had a lot of communication from certain guys who say that as we are not getting any younger, lets have reunions every two years. To this end, the next reunion is in Christchurch or Lyttleton in two years time to coincide with Canterbury's final NZ Cruise before decommissioning. I have asked the Government to pay for the dinner or a cocktail party on board Canterbury. They didn't cough up for anything at the last reunion??? I also intend keeping you guys informed of any progress that is made towards compensation towards Mururoa Veterans.
I also ask for your help in compiling a list of crew members that have "Crossed the bar". I confess, I don't know everything.
Thanks,
Members ! Photo's ! Rumours ! Canteen ! Reunion ! Crossed the Bar ! Missing ! Links ! Home
