The aim of the JRTE was to train young men so that:

They will regard the Navy as their vocation.

They will develop a high standard of discipline, trustworthiness, initiative, courage and endurance.

Their educational standard will be such that they can assimilate their subsequent professional training.

In due course they will be an important source of supply of Petty Officers, Chief Petty Officers, Warrant Officers and Officers.

Junior Recruits after leaving the establishment will be posted either to one of H.M.A. Ships for sea training followed by technical courses, or direct to technical coursed of from 8 to 28 weeks' duration in one or other of the Naval Establishment in the Eastern States.

In January, 1963, the role of the JRTE was expanded by the introduction of an Officer Candidate Scheme which was developed to allow selected Junior Recruits from HMAS LEEUWIN, Recruits from HMAS CERBERUS, Apprentices from HMAS NIRIMBA, and in special cases, sailors from the Fleet to undergo a course of academic instruction of 18 months duration, commencing in July of each year leading to the W.A. Leaving Certificate and Matriculation Examination. Successful completion of this course qualified Officer Candidates for selection as Cadet Midshipmen and entry to the Royal Australian Naval College, from which they graduated as General List Officers.

HOW WE GOT THERE

 Recruiting & Selection of Candidates  Junior Recruits (JRs) were selected after           exhaustive testing from young men aged 15.5 to 16.5 years of age, who apply from all over Australia. Normally those selected were in their 3rd or 4th year of High School.

Young men who applied were called in for testing in recruiting centres in state capital cities. They underwent tests for aptitude and ability, a medical examination and interview with psychologist and recruiting officer. Young men selected had to be of good character and be considered suitable to cope with the requirements of the service.

A final selection was made in the Navy Office, Canberra, from all candidates considered suitable and young men were advised 3 weeks before entry if successful. About one in 3 applicants were selected, and each year between 750 - 800 applicants entered.

Intakes
There were four intakes each year, as follows:

Dates and number of entrants (approx)
January 252
April 188
July 200
October 144

WHAT WE DID

Outline Of The Course:
The length of course was for one year, which was divided into two terms of twenty two weeks with four weeks between terms. The training program was based on a thirty hour (45 periods) instructional week, not counting time spent on extra study and outdoor activities.

On entry, JRs are graded into classes by using as a guide the selection category. On completion of the Re-allocation Test, which took place approximately five weeks after entry, and taking into account all academic test results, further re-allocation may have been carried out.

ACADEMICS

The academic content of the course covered the following subjects:
English
Mathematics
Physics
Geography
Navigation

NAVAL COMPONENT

The Naval content of the course covered the following subjects, and was common to all JRs:
First Aid
General Naval Indoctrination
Seamanship
First Aid
General Naval Indoctrination
Seamanship
NBCD
Parade Training
Religious Instruction
Physical Training

HOW WE LIVED

Accommodation
 All JRs were accommodated in six modern brick and tile buildings, divided into two or four berth cubicles. Each block was self contained, with showers, bathrooms, laundry, ironing and drying-room facilities. The cubicles had ample locker or built-in wardrobe space and writing tables were provided.

Messing
All meals were served from a modern galley on the cafeteria style.

Clothing
Each JR on entry was issued with all necessary items of clothing. Free replacement of kit, subject to the rules regarding fair wear and tear, was allowed to all JRs. The cost of repairs to footwear issued to JRs was borne by the Navy.

Leave
Six weeks seasonal leave was granted during the year.

Saturday 0900 - 2330 (Granted at Divisional Officers discretion, otherwise)
1100 - 2330
Sunday 1100 - 2000 (1st Term)
1100 - 2200 (2nd Term)

* No short leave was granted during the first month at HMAS LEEUWIN.

Overnight Short Leave
Overnight weekend leave was granted only to those JRs who had their parents permission in writing to stay with their sponsors, or to JRs to stay with their parents who lived locally.

Sponsorship

Aim:
To seek the kind and generous support of local people to welcome a JR into their homes, and to provide overnight accommodation on the occasions when a JR is given leave during his 12 months at the JRTE, HMAS LEEUWIN.

When sponsorship of a JR to his sponsor was processed the mutual interest of both were considered, eg religion, family activities, and the parents wishes. No JR was allowed sponsorship without parental consent.

Payment
Normal payment was made to JR's fortnightly from the date of entry. Pay was credited at the following rates:

1st Term JR - $10.00 p/f

2nd Term JR - $12.00 p/f

LJR's were paid a little more*

The balance was paid into the JR's Bank Book and was given to the JR on his leaving the establishment.

Optional Discharge
From memory all JRs were given the option of leaving the Service at the end of the 1st term.

MEMORIES OF LEEUWIN

These are selected comments from members on our Forum.

- Leeuwin for me was a great experience, at times bloody tough, but other times great.
Steve Potter

- My memories of LEEUWIN are generally happy ones.Certainly in was charactor building and I grew up a lot in a very short time.
Brian Pettitt

- WE came and WE conquered. Admittedly it was tough at times however WE prevailed in the end and the rest of the Navy after LEEUWIN was easy.
Blue Walters

- Great to hear some old names like Bob Karandrews. We faced each other in the boxing ring and I still remember thumping him as hard as I could in the guts. I can't remember the 150 blows he landed on me before he TKO'd me.
Mark (Harris) Quelhurst

- I have met friends whom I played footy, drank and fought with prior to joining the Navy and I feel that they are a bunch of wooses. They dont exhude confidence and as Steve Potter said...they definately lack CDF, have no ability to think ahead and they grow old before their time. I would do it all over again wouldn't miss it for quids. Our life went from teenagers to Adults in that 12 months and when you think back I believe it was a great step in life for us.
Blue Walters

- I think it was a good move for me personally. The friendship, travels, experiences, fun will never be forgotten. I truely enjoyed everyday of my time at JRTE and subsequent naval career and thats great in my opinion. They even paid us to do it!!!
John Hogg

Here are some of our photo's from our 1970 Passing out Book. What a memory jogger! It has been a long time! Do you recognise anyone... are you in a photo???

Is your name on the class list, but you are not in one of these Form photos?

Do you see someone in a photo whose name isn't on our list? We need your help to complete our class list and our Photo Portfolio...

Dig in you cupboards and drawers, get Mum to rummage through the old photo album, and let's see if we can come up with a few more class photo's before the reunion date!