CHAPTER MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE FOURTH MONDAY OF THE MONTH AT THE WAVERLEY RSL
The Waverley RSL is located at 161 Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley, and is conveniently situated opposite the Glen Waverley railway station. The RSL car park is free but you need to display a ticket on your dashboard (obtainable from reception) or use the public car park opposite.
Next Event…
Monthly Meeting at 1900
on Monday 15 April 2024
At Waverley RSL – Sunset Room
161 Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley
Guest Speaker
MAJ GEN Mike O’Brien, CSC, MDA, BSC
“The British Special Service Squadron in Melbourne – 1924”
Major General Mike O’Brien graduated from RMC Duntroon in 1968 into the Royal Australian Infantry and served as a platoon commander and intelligence officer in the Vietnam War. He later wrote the history of his battalion. His extensive military career included regimental, staff training, equipment acquisition, engineering and logistics postings culminating in his appointment as Support Commander-Army. He was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for services to Defence procurement and has extensive academic experience and qualifications. In recent years he led an Australian government task to co-ordinate the recovery and identification of 250 Australian soldiers killed in action at the Battle of Fromelles, France, during the First World War. He is now the President of the Royal United Services Institute of Victoria.
He will describe the 1924 visit to Australia by a fleet of Royal Navy ships undertaking a world-wide goodwill cruise. The largest battleship in the world (HMS Hood) was accompanied by HMS Repulse and four light cruisers. Melbourne, then the nation’s capital, hosted the fleet from 17th – 24th March. The visit was a sensation with over 500,000 visitors to the ships, an RAAF flyover, ceremonial marches, dinners, dances and fireworks. The talk will be illuminated by some great photographs and archive materiel.
Members and Guests are most welcome
A relaxing meal and drink beforehand at the bar on the ground floor from 1730 onwards followed by a meal at 1800 in the RSL’s delightful Warramunga Room is always a pleasant prelude to the 1900 meeting.
Membership of the NHSA automatically entitles you to be part of the Victoria Chapter and to share in its activities.
We hold our monthly meetings in the well-appointed “Sunset Room” at the RSL – easy access is provided by an adjacent lift. Our program is listed on the website, and we either have a Guest Speaker or show a film. Meetings start at approximately 7.00 pm and finish by 9.00 pm.
The “Warramunga Restaurant” on the ground floor opens at 5.30 pm and a number of members and guests take the opportunity to enjoy a few drinks at the bar before heading to the Restaurant.
Our Secretary Lynda Gilbert coordinates the booking of tables, so please let her know in advance by email lynda.gilbert@aol.com if you are intending to join us for dinner.
If joining us for the first time, please let us know when you plan to visit by contacting Andrew Mackinnon and we will ensure you are made welcome.
The Chapter produces a monthly newsletter called the ‘Three-Headed Dog’, containing a variety of articles of interest. Edited by Andrew Mackinnon, this is published 11 times a year and is distributed by email to Victorian members free of charge. Copies of the latest and previous ‘Three-Headed Dog’ newsletters can be found on the
Visit Navy Victoria Network