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Post by skyhawkdon on Jul 4, 2011 7:46:16 GMT 12
ET's photo would be 1988 or '89 I'm guessing. I've got some video footage of the same year.
In the 1990s the raft race was banned by the powers that be due to someone nearly drowning. But I think in later years it may have started up again with official RNZAF support (run by the PTIs, complete with an alcohol ban, safety plans, emergency jet boats, etc!).
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Post by shorty on Jul 4, 2011 7:51:44 GMT 12
plus hard hats and hi viz jackets?
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jul 4, 2011 15:02:59 GMT 12
Definately hi-viz life jackets!
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Post by jonesy on Jul 4, 2011 17:26:50 GMT 12
Anybody know how the general social status is on base at OH now? I remember back in late 80's and early 90's it was pretty cool really-great beerfests, tinman triathalon, hell even the strippers came out to the baggies club once! ;DNever saw the raft races but that looked pretty fun. Seemed to be a real community/family spirit there through those times.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 4, 2011 18:31:24 GMT 12
When I lived at Ohakea from july-October 1993 I didn't think the social life was half as good as it had been at Wigram. There was an active Baggies club of course but it didn't seem as fun and spirited as the Wigram one. And Wigram got in loads of decent Christchurch bands, etc. Plus Tech Squadron at Wigram had awesome do's every month as a squadron, plus there was always something happening every week on base at the Harvard Lounge or the Base Institute or the Airman's Club or the Cpl's Club having open nights for all ranks. Wigram was better in summer but the activities were all year round. Plus Christchurch wa sa short taxi away too.
None of this seemed to happen at Ohakea. I found it a very boring, miserable base with no real sense of togetherness. It was the knuck squadrons versus the rest of the base as far as I could see. Most of PTS and half of Tech Wing had come from Wigram under duress and so none of us were too happy about being there, but the rest of Ohakea didn't exactly make the newcomers that welcome. This, and it's remoteness from anywhere and the shitty weather was why I decided to get out early. Sod being based there for the rest of my career.
The Rat Hole at Bulls did seem more lively but it was a cheap, nasty dive full of drunks, not real fun in my opinion. And Bulls itself was depressing, it didn't even have a money machine back then, you had to go to the garage and do your eftpos transaction over the counter, talk about backwards.
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E.T.
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
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Post by E.T. on Jul 4, 2011 19:47:18 GMT 12
ET's photo would be 1988 or '89 I'm guessing. I've got some video footage of the same year. Hmmm - I'm thinking much earlier than that Don - this was definitely when I was in the R&R Bay and I was on 2 before '87. In the photo is Andy Daley(?), Bones (can't remember why we had an armourer on our raft that year!), Wah!, Bubbles (Pete Leenan), me, & Chook. Memory fails me on the other guy for now and I shall refrain from naming the 'girls'! re the social environment - I went the other way from Ohakea to Wigram and found the opposite Dave. At Ohakea there was a very strong social network. For any individual, the action was between the different clubs/mess, the unit/Squadron, any sports clubs (Hash House Harriers was strong), the Rat-Hole, and the MQ patch. My wife was saying just the other day how much she missed that strong social network when we moved away.
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Post by beagle on Jul 4, 2011 20:05:14 GMT 12
yes, those were the days by the looks, wth plenty of alcohol and no life jackets , although I never spent any time at OH. At WB we did manage at S&S to re-rig an old liferaft to hold a 4 1/2 keg which we used to spend wednesday afternoons slowly meandering down the Wairau river.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jul 4, 2011 20:44:30 GMT 12
I don't think that is "Bones" ET. Looks like Dave "Stu" Townshend who was an LAC at Nowra with me in 1991-93 (I'll have to have a look at my video and see what everyone is wearing and compare it to your photo ET). The plastic on the raft looks like a 2 Sqn one as well. The dog behind Andy's legs looks like Smithy or Wah's Golden Retreiver (Smithy's dog was a pup from Wah's dog). In the video I have from 1988/89 Luke is there 'cause you can hear Smith saying "Luke get out of it" at one point when he had his nose in the bucket of cow s**t and rotten milk we mixed up for throwing at people!
As for the Ohakea social life - I have never experienced anything like it again and doubt I ever will. It was such a close family, right through the squadron's, clubs and messes on base. The Ohakea Corporals Club was a particularly memorable place. A pint (or three) after work was compulsory!
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Post by beagle on Jul 4, 2011 20:54:25 GMT 12
I did attend a part down DB Alley one night, 1983 xmas run down.
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Post by jonesy on Jul 4, 2011 20:58:22 GMT 12
Yep the social life was great back then-doubt if it would ever be as good now tho.... After my OE I returned in late '95 with my new wife, wondering if I should return back to the force and take up the tools again. I said I'd take her into base to show what life was like. However it was the night of all ranks do in the SNCO's mess. Some shows of extreme drunkenness and rowdy behaviour later.....and her mind was made up-"theres no way youre going back to that lifestyle"and that was that. Great place for young single guy....
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Post by baronbeeza on Jul 4, 2011 21:08:29 GMT 12
DB Alley, The Lodge, The Palace, others I forget. The social life on Base itself was also always very lively.... 1980. Oh, and the bridge parties. And the raft race Xmas 80/81.
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Post by Calum on Jul 7, 2011 13:10:02 GMT 12
re the social environment - I went the other way from Ohakea to Wigram and found the opposite Dave. At Ohakea there was a very strong social network. For any individual, the action was between the different clubs/mess, the unit/Squadron, any sports clubs (Hash House Harriers was strong), the Rat-Hole, and the MQ patch. My wife was saying just the other day how much she missed that strong social network when we moved away. I'm with ET, When I was at Ohakea the first time (88-90) it had an excellent socal life, the airmans club was excellent particualry friday nights. Much more so than Wigram. Maybe because I was always tarinee at Wigram but I found there quite dull. I must admitt when I came back from Nowra in dec 1993 Ohakea had changed and wasn't quite as interesting... perhaps I'd grown up a little though
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Post by jonesy on Jul 7, 2011 13:30:29 GMT 12
Agree with Calum there..perhaps some maturity made the difference, tend to look at the place thru different eyes. What always happened was that there were some guys who just wouldnt (or couldnt) grow up....To be honest if I hadnt have got out at that time it probably wouldve been me too ha ha ha..... Regrets? NONE!
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wah!
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by wah! on Aug 22, 2011 21:37:32 GMT 12
Chris Bolstad isn't it?
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E.T.
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
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Post by E.T. on Aug 25, 2011 20:17:36 GMT 12
WAH!!! You owe me sunshine - number one son thinks that "destroying" the Smiths Industries mail robot was the best trick ever followed a close second by being folded up in a bed inside the wall. So tell me once again if you had something to do with both those incidents or not?!!
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Post by skyhawkdon on Aug 26, 2011 17:20:28 GMT 12
About time you showed up here WAH! ;D Have you seen my book yet? Don
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Post by paddy on Aug 29, 2011 16:18:25 GMT 12
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zook
Sergeant
Posts: 17
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Post by zook on Nov 5, 2011 13:36:32 GMT 12
Hi Just came across this Posting re raft race.
would like to point out the intrepid rafters in the below picture is the MT section crew and one chef. They are front left to right Dave Graff then Mike Mahony Rear left to right. Stephen Mead. ( ME ) and Spud Murphy (chef)on the sweep
What a day that was..
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zook
Sergeant
Posts: 17
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Post by zook on Nov 13, 2011 17:37:54 GMT 12
My photos were taken (I think) at the 1972 race. The tube one with the bra and knickers flying I think were armourers, The drum one were framies(Pete someone in front), the ones next to them without shirts are Neil Griffin in the front and Johnny Mathews behind him, I can't recognise the guy behind Johnny Hi Just came across this Posting re raft race. would like to point out the intrepid rafters in the below picture is the MT section crew and one chef. They are front left to right Dave Graff then Mike Mahony Rear left to right. Stephen Mead. ( ME ) and Spud Murphy (chef)on the sweep
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Post by paddy on Nov 13, 2011 17:42:24 GMT 12
And I'm amazed we never drowned anyone. Considering the amount of beer that was drunk prior to, during and after the race ;D
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