On the second day of Spring 2019 Canberra was blessed with full sun, minimal wind and the first temperature above 20°C since Autumn.  Thirty five members and partners met for a private lunch at the RCGC restaurant, which afforded stunning views of the grounds.  The two course meal was of an excellent standard and enjoyed in a leisurely fashion, followed by tea or coffee.  During the interval between courses, Raydon Gates gave an enthralling account of perhaps the most momentous event in his career – the rescue of the Vendee Globe yachtsmen, Tony Bullimore and Thierry Dubois, in January 1997.  Readers might recall that at the time Raydon was serving in command of HMAS Adelaide and had to conduct the operation deep in the Southern Ocean in heavy weather conditions.  For both the frigate and the RAAF P3C aircraft which located the two stricken yachts and guided Adelaide to them, the task was performed at near extreme fuel range.  On top of the excellent lunch, the presentation made for a memorable event.

Contact:               Graham MacKinnell, Chairman ACT Division

 

(L to R) Les Roberts, Dennis and Pauline Gribble, Marry and Tony Flint, Philomena and Ken Cartwright, Jim Smail. 

(L to R) Ian and Mary-Louise Noble, Raydon and Alison Gates, Graham and Jane MacKinnell, Virginia and Roland Torrens, Viv and Louise Littlewood 

 

 

(L to R) Margaret Astbury, Harry and Louise Josephs, Mike and Helen Taylor, Andy and Joyanne Gough, Mike Astbury. 

(L to R) Adrienne Walkington, Peter Cook-Russel and Jenny Burns, Simon Cullen, Tony and Christine Stone, David Campbell, Dean Walkington. 

The RCGC Luncheon View.