Gentlemen,
The original invitation had an incorrect RSVP email address for Rob Youl.
The correct RSVP email address (robmyoul@gmail.com) is in this new invitation. All other details are correct.
New invitation attached, please click here: Geddes 2022 invite
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2022 GEDDES DINNER
Dear Victorian Scheyvillians, after a two year Covid related deferment, the Geddes Dinner is to
return to the Melbourne programme. It promises to be a fine night with an excellent speaker,
a great meal and that outstanding OTU camaraderie. Friends and family are most welcome.
Our guest speaker will be Brig (Retd) Nick Jans PhD OAM, academic and writer.
After Duntroon-graduate Nick Jans served with 12 Field Regiment RAA in Vietnam, his career led him into military policy and education in both the ARA and the Reserve.
Joining the faculty of Canberra University, Nick wrote widely on leadership and later consulted. His most recent books are: The Chiefs: A Study of Strategic Leadership, Australian Defence College (2013), and Leadership Secrets of the Australian Army, Allen & Unwin (2018).
Following Black Saturday he was deeply involved in the rehabilitation of the Marysville community and infrastructure. Happily and productively retired, Nick now lives in Carlton.
Nick will talk on the OTU project and why it worked so well.
Booking details are as follows:
Location: Toorak Service Club
72 Clendon Road
Toorak
(Tel 9827 6424)
Date: Thursday 18th August 2022
Timing: 6.15 pm for 6.45 pm.
Dress: Lounge suit
Cost: $55.00 per head for meal, coffee, some wine at table and port for toasts. Other drinks are at bar prices. (This price includes a subsidy from the Chapter).
To accept the invitation please advise Rob Youl:
Mob 0407 362 840
To pay: Direct Debit to the OTU Association
Bank: National
BSB 083 298
Account 56 687 0611 (please add “Geddes” and your surname as a reference when paying by EFT direct to our bank account.)
We look forward to seeing you there.
Frank Miller
Chairman, Vic Chapter, OTU Association.
All,
I have received the following request from Geoff Richardson. Ian Kelly, 2/67, OTU Webmaster
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We would appreciate it if this report of our “Dick Flint Stories” catch up on Fri 15 July, at Currumbin RSL, was made available to all, maybe through our OTU webmaster.You may wish to do a brief of the report, plus photos, as I have asked Neil Leckie to place it in the next newsletter.
Photos -1. Geoff Daley, Ted Gretgrix, Ian Alexander, Don McNaught (all 4/69).
Richo (mob 0405715267)
Geoff & Susan Richardson
5 The Island
37 Murtha Drive
ELANORA 4221
Stories and photos follow:
“Dick Flint Stories” – 15 July, 2022, at Currumbin RSL, Gold Coast.
Brig Dick Flint passed away, 15 Mar 2021, and due to Covid restrictions, Geoff Daley 4/69, Chris Madden 1/70 and Geoff Richardson 1/70 were the only OTU members to attend the funeral, held in Tweed Heads. Lt Col D Flint had a distinguished military career and Dick served as the CI (Chief Instructor) at the Officer Training Unit (OTU) Scheyville Oct ’69 thru to May ’71. Dick Flint was held in high regard by cadets and this social catch up was organised to gather Scheyvillians, especially targeting classes that Dick had presided over. The theme was to come along, regenerate old friendships and tell a “Dick Flint Story”. Dick’s daughter Susan, and husband Bob Heffernan, attended. Son’s Richard and Andrew were invited but were unable to attend.
Some stories will be outlined here but names will not be given. From the tales told and the impression left on members by Dick, it was clear that he was a significant person in our life and was a firm, but fair person. Our first meeting with Dick was on the parade ground, at the top of the steps, decked out in Officer attire, complete with service medals, and he looked very imposing. He said, “My name is Flint and I am your Chief Instructor, your course to becoming 2nd Lts is for six months, if you last, and you are here for 30 days, at least, after that, it will be up to you.”
One account was of a young cadet doing some extra running, when he rounded a corner in the barracks and collided with Lt Col Flint. The cadet smartly saluted his superior, only to be told that “one does not salute when not wearing a hat, and, on your way”. The cadet was amazed that Dick called him by his name. Another young legal eagle sought a meeting with Col Flint and complained about all the “Bullshit” that was presented to him at Scheyville. Dick readily dismissed the cadet saying, “that coming from the legal area, you should be familiar with Bullshit, get out of here”. One cadet finished a TEWT favourably and was caught in conversation with Dick when Dick asked whether the cadet had made his core choice. When questioned about his civilian career and being informed that he was Chemical Engineer, Dick suggested that he should apply for Engineers. The cadet placed Engineers on top of Armour and Artillery, thinking that he was a show… but was posted to Signals! Many members put forward the fact that when you were in conversation with Col Flint, he would look you in the eye, as if you were the only two people in the universe. Others mentioned having caught up with Dick at social events many years after having left Scheyville, and they were amazed that he recalled their name. A rugby player in the group mentioned how he got excited in a Military Law lecture when Col Flint leant over his shoulder, not to check if he was asleep, but to say that a rugby heavy had called him about a game at the weekend that they would like this player to attend. When the cadet asked, where and when, Dick gave him a firm answer, “No, you are not going”. One member, being a reserved, quiet country kid, recalled that he just did what was required and kept out of Dick’s way.
It was recalled from an interview made with Dick prior to the 1/70 50yr reunion that he, and the establishment powers, were aware of the night navigational exercises to nearby contact points and of the active night farewell withdrawals, around midnight Sunday at the front gate. Dick’s response was that if everybody was accounted for at first parade the next day, all was fine. If not, it would have been a Military Police matter.
Susan mentioned how her father would drive up and down from Canberra to Scheyville, in his little VW beetle on Monday mornings and Friday evenings, to fulfil his work commitments at OTU and also maintain the family life in Canberra so the Flint kids could continue with their education. When Lt Col Flint was posted to RMC, after OTU, he did secure Susan a job, waiting on tables, at RMC, but only in the Officer’s Mess and nowhere near the Cadet’s Mess!
It was noted at our graduation parade, Dick had wished us all the best in our military careers and that we could possibly make it to a Lt Col position, some did better than that. On handing over to the RSM, whose closing remarks were, “Gentlemen – today you are the kings of the shit; tomorrow you will be the shit of the kings!”
We have much for which to thank Dick. He provided many of the building blocks we use in leadership positions on a day-to-day basis. He showed how to use direct, uncluttered words to get your message across. He lived by firm and fair standards and was an exemplar with the use of humour. We have all valued his friendship and comradeship.
Currumbin RSL, on the picturesque banks of Currumbin Creek, was a great venue and they give continuing support to all service persons. Thanks for hosting our meeting.
Members in attendance:- Geoff Daly 4/69, Don McNaught 4/69, Ted Gretgrix 4/69, Alan Burman 2/68, Ian Alexander 1/70, Nick Israel 2/70, Edward Patching 1/71, Doug Brown 1/72, Leigh Collins 1/70, Geoff Richardson 1/70, Graham Huggins RMC 69/73, Susan & Bob Heffernan.
I close with Dick’s final words from our 2020 interview, “Scheyville was a lasting memory. I never forgot it, bet you haven’t either. Be good to yourselves.”
Geoff Richardson 1/70
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