State Sections

President

Mr Frank Eastwell

36 Lalor Road

Quakers Hill NSW 2763

Email

Phone 02 9626 9763

Secretary

Mr Geoff Steer

PO Box 6189

Blacktown NSW 2148

Email steergeoffrel@aapt.net.au

Phone 02 9624 8837

Sub Section Postal Address

c/- Sub Section Secretary

MEETS 2ND SATURDAY AT RSL CLUB BLACKTOWN AT 0930

The following emails are posted for info:-

To our ‘Band of Brothers’,

Firstly let me apologise in advance in case you received this e-mail more than once, we are sending it to a number of databases of ex-RANATE people and you may be on more than one list.

As you’ll read in our Treasurer, John ‘Ned’ Kelly’s e-mail below, The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’ is currently moored at RANSA in Rushcutters Bay and is being lovingly maintained by just a handful of dedicated and hard working volunteers…

The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’ is not only ‘the only operational steel vessel built entirely by uniformed personnel in the entire history of the Royal Australian Navy’, but is the ONLY icon of your heritage still in the hands of the Naval Artificer Apprentices who built her and is the most substantial piece of memorabilia bearing the name ‘Nirimba’…

Unlike the ‘Foden’ steam truck, which was restored/ rebuilt by Naval Artificer Apprentices at RANATE and still enjoys considerable financial support from the RAN, The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’, veteran of seven Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, was built from scratch by Naval Artificer Apprentices and relies entirely on the generous donations from our supporter base of former-Apprentices and the generous donations from friends who’ve been out on Sydney Harbour in her, to keep her operational…

The yacht is owned by The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’ Association Inc., comprising a relatively small group of around 120 of our ‘band of brothers’ who were sufficiently inspired to become ‘Strake-Holder’ Members, to assist us in bringing The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’ home, to be preserved as a working reminder of the heritage we all share, as ex-Naval Artificer Apprentices of RANATE, HMAS Nirimba…

We can only continue to maintain the yacht as a ‘working museum’ with your help…

It doesn’t take much, we have a number of known recurring expenses which need to be met and to date, we have been able to keep the yacht in good operational condition, meeting every challenge and overcoming every obstacle put in our path, but it does cost money to do so…

At our last AGM, ‘Strake-Holders’ voted in favour of $50.00 Annual Membership Fee, but this was not followed up on, until now… If you’re a Strake-Holder Member, could you please submit your Annual Membership Fee via the method in Ned’s e-mail below…

We also know that there were a number of ex-Naval Artificer Apprentices who were ‘sitting on the fence’ when our initial appeal went out for ‘Strake-Holders’ 4 years ago; we’re fighting to keep the memory of HMAS Nirimba alive through the ongoing maintenance of RANATE’s most impressive training ‘test job’, so why not get involved with a healthy donation and become a ‘Strake-Holder’ Member yourself…?

We have an excellent window of opportunity in the first week in October (in two weeks time,) to get access to Noakes’ busy travel lift and hardstand facilities in McMahons Point in Sydney to re-apply the long overdue antifouling to the hull, but it would be irresponsible of us to take up their offer unless it’s financially viable for us to do so…

Your generous contribution will help… Details on how to go about this in Ned’s email below…

My thanks to one and all…!

P.S. Do it NOW though, while it’s fresh in your mind, or you’ll put it on the back-burner and forget about it…!!!

Best Regards,

Rick Pengilly President - MOBI Yacht 'NIRIMBA' Association - Mobile (0450) 046 785

W.J. 'Rick' Pengilly Ex- CPOMTH3 - RAN - 13th MOBI Intake - HMAS Nirimba - R.A.N.A.T.E. - July'62 to July'74 -WEBMASTER- www.RAN-SkilledHands.org

An un-official NAVY Forum for all ex- MOBIs, Muppets, Phasies, Mechanicians, DENS and other Direct Entry Tradespeople of the ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

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From: John Kelly [jkelly1@aapt.net.au]

To: Undisclosed Recipients

Subject: Keeping Nirimba Alive

I am writing to you in my position as Treasurer of The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’.

In case you are not aware, our yacht is still moored at RANSA in Rushcutters Bay and available for trips out on Sydney harbour. She is in fine shape and is being utilised by some of the Strake-Holders as well as the occasional group of interested civilians. The ‘donations’ that are made by the people that take advantage of the yacht's facilities, are kept to a reasonable level thus helping to pay for the mooring fees, registration, insurance and maintenance, unfortunately these donations can fall short of the annual costs.

Please don't forget that we all have a stake in the yacht and the Committee encourages all Strake Holders to utilise this fabulous asset of which you own a considerable part. Any trip to Sydney should include a couple of hours on the harbour in the ‘old girl’.

OK, now it's time to talk to about some money matters. An annual contribution request has been discussed, but as many of our Strake-Holders live away from Sydney and were not involved in the yacht's construction, I feel an occasional request is more appropriate.

Rick is still trying to secure a second sponsor which will repay the guys that are still owed some loan money and take care of future annual costs, but in the meantime I would like to request a voluntary contribution of $50 (less if that is a bit out of reach). This money will go towards necessary maintenance (slipping/hull cleaning and gunwale replacement).

The bank details for a direct deposit are as follows:

Account Name ....... MOBI Yacht Nirimba

Bank ..................... Westpac

BSB ...................... 032382

Account Number .... 199217

Could you please put your surname in the ‘to account description’, so I will know who it is.

Alternatively, you can post a cheque made out to The MOBI Yacht 'NIRIMBA' Association to:

36 Turvey Crescent

St Georges Basin

NSW 2540

I would really appreciate your consideration for this request and ask you to keep in mind that this great old boat is part of our heritage.

Best Regards,

Ned Kelly Treasurer - MOBI Yacht 'NIRIMBA' Association

J. P. 'Ned' Kelly Ex- WOMTH - RAN - 13th MOBI Intake - HMAS Nirimba - R.A.N.A.T.E. - July'62 to July'82 -WEBMASTER- www.RAN-SkilledHands.org

An un-official NAVY Forum for all ex- MOBIs, Muppets, Phasies, Mechanicians, DENS and other Direct Entry Tradespeople of the ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

© The Naval Association of Australia