The culture at sea & ashore of the RAN and RNZN since 1974

Overview:

Desmond will address the dramatic and far-reaching changes that have occurred in the culture at sea and ashore of the RAN and the RN and RNZN since he joined in 1974.

This colourful and fully illustrated address will consider the impact on Navy culture of the changes in expectations of leadership, the impact of the first WRANS and the later integration of women into the fleet. He will also discuss the end of the culture of heavy drinking, the change away from the steam driven ships, and the assertion of Australian naval traditions and the ongoing change to a more egalitarian and diverse workforce.

While acknowledging the great RAN leaders of the past he will explain how and why Navy culture from last century had to change and evolve and become fit for purpose in the twenty first century.

Presenter – Desmond Woods OAM

Desmond Woods served for more than four decades in the RNZN, the RN the British Army and the RAN as an education officer teaching naval and military history to junior officers.  From 2003 – 2010 he was the Course Officer for the Strategic Studies Course at the RANC.

He was the Military Support Officer to the Defence Community Organization in Canberra for two years before joining the staff of the RAN’s International Fleet Review in 2013.  This was followed by a year as Staff officer Centenary of Anzac (Navy) before joining CN’s personal staff as his Research Officer.  After time as a Heritage Research Officer at the RAN’s Seapower Centre in Canberra he became the Navy’s Bereavement Liaison Office.

He is a councilor of the Australian Naval Institute and the Australian Institute for International Affairs (ACT) a member of the United Services Institute (ACT) and is an author and a regular contributor to Australian and international naval historical journals.

Details

Date and Time:         11:00am, Wednesday 12^th August 2026 (Sydney time)

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