Driven by a sub-committee that is half based in the West and the Eastern seaboard of Australia, this reunion is another challenging task not beyond the Tingira Boys.
After the disappointment of the Covid cancellation situation for the 2020 JR Reunion, to date in 2024 has been busy for the new sub-committee crew to ‘reunite the fire’. Celebrating our 65 years since the second generation of Tingira Boys entered the RAN via those Leeuwin Gates at East Fremantle, Western Australia, is a great milestone for all of us.
With welcome assistance from RAN Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO, RAN, and his support team based in Canberra, assisting the sub-committee to ‘ignite’ the reunion process over the coming months.
The East Fremantle local government, business, community and residents of Fremantle, have always showed their support to the ‘Boys of the Leeuwin’. We look forward to their continued support that will deliver more treasured memories of ‘Fremantle’ and our treasured days in the West.
November 2025, and with many of our boys are now into their twilight years; it may be their final ‘visiting voyage’ to the gates of their former RAN Training base, HMAS Leeuwin at Prestons Point, east Fremantle on the Swan River.
Tingira Australia is their association. We are very proud to welcome the hospitality Fremantle offers in what is truly a great slice of our history for the Tingira Boys’ after the first intake entered those Leeuwin gates back in 1960.
Tingira Patron, Russ Crane, 32nd intake and Tingira Secretary, Mark Lee, from the 45th intake, have been the backbone to this association over the past 14 years. We are indebted to their work ethic and commitment on the ‘bridge’ of our ship Tingira. The vision and efforts they have delivered since establishing the Tingira Australia Association on 1-1-11 after the 2010 Perth JR Reunion; big BZ from my desk and our membership.
As an association, our ‘Saphire 65 Years’ are upon us in 2025, as our great Tingira voyage continues. I look forward to all navy, government, community and business supporters in the West, former JR’s, Tingira members, Associates and friends of Tingira to be on board the good ship ‘Tingira’ in Fremantle come November 2025.
We are in ‘ship shape’ for the greatest reunion of our lives, Fremantle, where it all began over six decades ago!
“Long Live Tingira, Mates for Life”
