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 25 March 2024
At Waverley RSL – Sunset Room
161 Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley
Guest Speaker
Mr Andrew Kilsby
The Forgotten Cruiser: HMAS Melbourne I 1913-1928
Andrew Kilsby is an independent historian and published author with a PhD in history from the UNSW at ADFA. He has had careers in military and diplomatic service both in Australia and overseas (Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand), and in public relations & corporate communications with multi-national companies. Researching and writing history, articles and biographies since 2008, Andrew has also convened, and presented at, history conferences and also arranged exhibitions. While his primary focus is Australian military history, he has also written social, sporting, organisational and business histories. His book The Reservists: A History of the Defence Reserves Association 1970-2020 was launched in Brisbane on 19 August.
Andrew will draw upon his book The Forgotten Cruiser: HMAS Melbourne I, 1913-1928, with Greg Swinden, to talk about HMAS Melbourne I, its long years of service in World War One, from the 1914 Rabaul expedition and escorting the first AIF fleet to the Middle East through to blockade duties in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean seaboards to dangerous North Sea patrols and escort duties which saw several sailors lose their lives. Andrew will describe in detail the heroic and dramatic rescue of sinking schooner, Helen B Sterling and crew in the middle of a typhoon in 1921. On display will be two images of Melbourne I by maritime artist Arthur Gregory, one commissioned privately and discovered in the USA.
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
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