Paid off in 96 as Warrant SN (some still don’t believe I actually stayed in and made this rank) and decided to go into politics with Blue Walters.

Formed a new party called appropriately the "X Party" which stood for and against anything that was "X" including wives.

Anyway we were very successful and gained many votes in the Federal Election and wallah we were elected as PM and Deputy PM and subsequently ran this country for many years enjoying making changes and a difference to peoples lives especially those that were "X" something or other.

Some achievements attributed to our party and my brilliant leadership were increased pension payments, easier access to TPI benefits and payments, No tax on pensions etc etc the list goes on and on and………………..????

I will let your imagination take over and provide a happy ending for this tale but if you are wondering who was PM and who was the deputy just remember I was a WO and from the famous Collins Division (Class of ship named after our division) and Blue only made Chief and sadly he was from Walton (John Boy and I don’t know of any Walton class of ship) Division……….enough said from your leader.

Seriously I as many might know thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Pus and had some real warship postings such as Duchess, Stalwart, Sydney (Vung Tau Ferry) Melbourne (Aircraft Carrier) and Success (a Keg beer on tap ship) and no puny little tin cans warships and I would have continued serving if I could have gone back to sea but such is life and after a stint at Navy Office then with the FENM (Functional Examination Of Naval Manpower) project I was on the road to paying off and eventually after 3 attempts I finally managed to go.

A highlight of my illustrious (my words) career was the 89-91 posting to Success and I can honestly say if you have to go to war then certainly it should be in comfort and with enough Fosters kegs to get you home which I did manage because after 7 months in Gulf 91 we returned first port of call via Adelaide and I had 2 kegs remaining for our 3 day visit and when we left Adelaide we had nil remaining.

Also in Adelaide during a rather heavy night on the ship some cops came aboard and joined us in the Chief’s mess for a few ales and believe it they were on duty and their Sergeant was calling them on the 2 way radio asking there where abouts they were anyway to cut this a bit short I may have drank to much and the next day as the ship was casting off the last line (note my seamanship knowledge here) these 2 cops ran down the pier and asked to come aboard and then I received a pipe over the ships intercom to ring the Captain, Graeme Sloper and he asked me had I invited these 2 cops to join us for the trip to Sydney……..well what could I say but … Sir I may have but can’t recall my actions of the past evening after midnight anyway everything was okay with the skipper and the 2 cops then rang their wives and told them to collect their cars from the wharf and they would be back in a few days….had a great passage to Sydney but sadly no kegs and had to drink VB cans which went down rather well after the first 6 or so.

I do have a lot of memories that I look forward to sharing with you all sometime. You can buy me one and I'll tell you more.

I still have the Navy in my blood, can’t settle down and seem to hop from one job and location to another and I am now living and working in the land of the Billy Bong Bongs in Papua New Guinea which I must say is very interesting.

My wife of 27 years decided in 2000 that she did not like me anymore and left for greener pastures which on reflection I must say I am surprised she waited that long to leave but eventually I remarried a lovely girl from Adelaide and we are very happy and I look like I may finally settle in Adelaide

Deb my wife commutes between Adelaide and Lae PNG and I am looking to change that in the next month and have accepted a position with a PNG based company on a FIFO basis which will suit me better.

I do enjoy hearing from everyone and my apologies to anyone that I may have offended with my dribble above and in the past, but hey life is short so forgive and forget and lets all have an ale together when we next meet again

See you at the reunion

Cheers and Beers

Trevor.