Chairman Victoria Division

Rob entered the Navy at the RANC as a Cadet Midshipman in 1968.  After training in the fleet as a midshipman, he graduated as a Supply Officer (now Maritime Logistics Officer) in 1972.  He served at sea in HMAS VAMPIRE, HMAS PERTH and HMAS SWAN.  Shore postings included HMAS PENGUIN (twice), HMAS STIRLING (three times) and Fleet (Maritime) Headquarters.  He was lucky enough to score an overseas exchange posting at the naval Supply Centre, Oakland in California.  He left the permanent Navy as a Captain in 1995 and pursued a career as a consultant, but remained in the Reserve.  He has completed periods of full time service since leaving the PN and finally retired in 2022.

Rob owned and ran a small guesthouse in the Blue Mountains after leaving the PN.  His other main interest is in wine and viticulture.  He owned and operated a vineyard for seven years and still maintains a small cellar.  He now intends to get involved in community work and maintain a level of fitness, to manage the effects of ageing.  He currently lives in Melbourne.

Chairman ACT Division

A Sydney boy, Graham was a 1966 senior entry to the RANC and was subsequently in the last year group to attend BRNC Dartmouth.  As a junior officer he served in HMAS Brisbane and then qualified initially as a Destroyer Gunnery Officer and later completed the PWO and AWO courses, interspersed by service in HMA Ships Parramatta, Torrens and Duchess, and HMS Sheffield.  After an initial posting to Navy Office in 1979, he served as commissioning XO of HMAS Sydney and on promotion to Commander was tasked with running the initial SWO courses at HMAS Watson from 1985.  After a further stint in Canberra as DSAW-N, he commanded HMAS Swan followed by the JSSC in 1990. Subsequently, he was promoted to Captain and served in HQADF and then as DNOP before undertaking the ACDSS in 1998.  Then following a preparatory year of German, he spent the next three as DA Berlin.  He completed his service in Canberra by leading a manpower study until mid-2004. 

Following retirement from the Navy, during which he had acquired Bachelors and Masters degrees in Arts, Graham was invited to work in the University of Canberra English Language Institute preparing international students to undertake postgraduate studies.  Graham retired in 2017 maintains a keen interest in Naval affairs and has developed a passion for family history research.

Chairman Queensland Division

Grew up and went to school in Melbourne before joining RANC in 1959. On graduation, progressed through the standard seaman officer training program which then included a year at Dartmouth and a further year on Sub Lieutenants’ courses in the UK. Postings in VENDETTA, TEAL AND DUCHESS followed. Undertook flying training with the US Navy in 1966/67 and qualified in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. RAN Helicopter Flight, Vietnam 1968/69. Then followed the usual stream of operational and staff postings, including the RN Staff Course, command of 817 Squadron and XO of CRESWELL. Last job in the RAN was running the project that purchased the Seahawk helicopters for the RAN

Paid off in 1988 to become Managing Director of Sikorsky Aircraft Australia. Moved to Brisbane in 1989. Then followed a series of appointments which included CEO of the law firm Clayton Utz  (Brisbane), Executive Director of Australian Red Cross (Qld), CEO of the Queensland Chamber of Commerce, CEO of the Australian Industry Group (Qld), Queensland Commissioner – the Americas (based in Los Angeles) and, most recently, Agent-General for Queensland based in London (2008-2011).

Chairman Western Australia Division

Born in WA and raised in that State and Papua New Guinea, Brett joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1969 at fifteen and spent his working career as an officer until retirement in January 2020.  He qualified as a Seaman Officer and Helicopter Pilot, and has enjoyed command of a RAAF Marine SAR Section, two Patrol Boats, a Seahawk Helicopter Squadron and Fleet Base West. Brett has also completed a number of staff appointments, undergone overseas training and served in the Australian Embassies in Washington, DC (during 9/11 and consequent wars on terror) and Seoul, Korea (during achievement of inaugural Free Trade Agreement and 2+2 DFAT/Defence Ministerial meetings). He retired as Senior Officer WA.

Brett holds a Masters’ Degree in Science and Technology, a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies and several professional Diplomas in Leadership and Management.  He has veteran service in the Vietnam War and oil rig counter-terrorist operations, and has official recognition from USA, Mongolia and Korea.

Brett is a serving Justice of Peace, a Legatee and a Board Member for Bravery Trust, RAAF Association and WA Korean War Memorial Project.  He is married to Sonia, has two adult daughters and two grandsons.  Interests include wine tasting, cooking, reading, travel and golf when commitments permit. 

Chairman Tasmania Division

Andrew joined RANC in Jan 1979. Upon graduating, served in CESSNOCK and then BRISBANE where he was awarded his BWC.  A short posting to SUPPLY was followed by two years as NO in TOWNSVILLE.  He joined the first RAN crew of STS YOUNG ENDEAVOUR; and what a year the bicentennial year was. A second posting to BRISBANE and then PWO training followed by ASW training. PWO roles in SUART and TORRENS and he then joined CANBERRA for deployment to the MEAO for DAMASK VI.

A posting to MHQ as TRACO lasted for three years and this was followed by two years with COMTHIRDFLT serving in USS CORONADO as the lead RIMPAC planner.   

Returning to Australia, Rourke joined STS YOUNG ENDEAVOUR as CO. A 3^rd posting to BRISBANE as XO followed for the ships final ten months in commission.

Rourke posted to HQAST as J52 for two years before assuming Command of MANOORA. A few staff jobs in MHQ ensued but Rourke was not prepared to hang up the sea boots and transitioned out of the RAN. He served in an oil rig supply vessel for 18 months before a jump into the ABF that lasted for six years where Rourke enjoyed Command of two Cape Class vessels. During his time in the ABF, Rourke attained his Master Unlimited qualification.  A short stint as Master of the aviation training ship SYCAMORE followed before he accepted an offer to be Master of the CORAL ADEVENTURER, a smallish passenger vessel operating largely in the Kimberley region. 

Rourke has settled in Geeveston, in the Huon Valley of Tasmania as he contemplates retirement.

Chairman South Australia Division

Bob entered the RANC as a Junior Entry in 1965, graduating as a Seaman Officer in 1968.  After completing the normal Midshipman training and Operations and Weapons Courses in the UK, Bob transferred to the Supply and Secretariat Branch in 1971, his first choice on entry.  Subsequent postings to HMAS Penguin, HMAS Melbourne (2 years), HMAS Leeuwin, Supply Officer HMAS Moresby and Deputy OIC Supply School.  In 1980 Bob completed the RAN Staff Course and was posted as Commissioning SO HMAS Canberra (FFG02) in the USA for 2 years.  On return to Australia Bob did his obligatory stint in Campbell Park and then as OIC Supply School HMAS Cerberus.  Bob’s next posting was as Admirals Secretary to RADM David Martin RAN. Naval Support Command.  Bob resigned in 1988 and joined the Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) for the Collins Class Submarine Project.  During this time Bob completed a Bachelor of Business at the University of SA.

Subsequent to the ASC, Bob joined SERCO Australia as Contract Manager for the first and largest bus transport contracts with the SA Government, when that Government privatised their public transport services.  In 2005/06 Bob completed a year of CFTS at HMAS Watson.  Bob subsequently joined the Department of Defence (Defence Support Group) and worked primarily on the Base Support Contracts from 2008 to 2018.  Bob’s finally 2 years was as Acting Director in the Estate & Infrastructure Group (E&IG).

On moving to Adelaide in 1988, Bob took up cricket umpiring (following his many years of playing with the RAN and local clubs).  During his umpiring time Bob represented SA and is currently involved in SACA Umpire Coaching.