From: CHAP Peter Ball
To: 28th Intake
Subject: John Hogg re 40th e
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:09:23 +1100

Dear John,

You certainly took a lot of effort to finally track me down, given all the email correspondence attached to your letter to my current address.

One of the problems I notice was the error in the email address. As you will see in this email a few extra letters crept in.

Thank you very much for your kind invitation to the 40th Reunion of the 28th intake.

At the present moment I am warming to the idea of attending. If I do make the trip, I would take the opportunity of staying with a close friend who lives in Tweed Heads.

I trust that it would not upset planing if I left my formal reply to January '09? Meanwhile, I would appreciate being in the loop via the email link.

I have very happy memories of my time with the JRs. They were of course my number one interest during my three years at Leeuwin. Many Jrs found the Chaplain's hut a refuge from the Blocks, apart from few sailors who would seek me out from time to time. My efforts to get all the boys linked up with sponsors took up a large amount of my time. My strong links with the sporting activities, competing in all the Interservice sports, was an excellent way of getting alongside sailors, officers, and JRs. Having a Coxswains ticket I enjoyed taking the boys over to Garden Island for trips, and sometimes cruising the Swan for picnics ashore. The Jrs loved the opportunity to put into practice boat skills, standing by for casting off and coming alongside to tie up. One of the highlights for me was leading young men to the Lord in the Chapain's Office. Many recruits over the three years came to enquire have to become a Christian. It was a joy to see a number of them later during my sea time, still 'nailing their colours to the mast'.

I hope this general email address reaches you!

Every blessing,

Peter.

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