Privacy Policy    |    Editorial Policy    |    Join the Association     |    List of Members    |    Contact us    |    Print this page

21/22 Appies Rugby Team.   1968.

This is the 21/22 Appy Rugby League team from Laverton in 1968.

We believe the photo below is the Rugby Union team, also from 21/22 Appy. We don't have a lot of names, Terry Haebich had a few, can anyone help with the rest??

This is a serious bit of business, 21 Appy defending their turf from the 22 Appy insurgents. 

A bunch of 21 Appy lads about to board the bus, on their way to RMIT for the day’s study.

Legend has it that there is a coffee bar in New York where, in the Ladies Room, there is a very special mirror. If one stands in front of the mirror and tells the truth, one is granted a wish. However, if one tells a lie  *poof*  you are instantly swallowed up by the  mirror, never to be seen again.  Soooooo....

A redhead of questionable looks walks into the ladies room and stands before the mirror and says, "I think I'm the most beautiful woman in the world."   *Poof*   the mirror swallows her up.

Next a rather large brunette stands before the mirror and says, "I think  I'm the sexiest woman alive".  *Poof*  she's a goner too.

Then, an absolutely gorgeous blond comes in and stands before the mirror and says, "I think...".  *Poof*

At lunch time, the Appies had their meal at the "PX" (the Melbourne Postal Exchange) which was on the corner of Russell and Little Collins Streets. The PX was across the road from the Holmes Commercial College – which was a source of much "eye candy" for the hot blooded young blokes.

Pat Hall, from No 21 Course and course mates at Lunch in the PX cafeteria.

The daily transit from RMIT to the PX was known as the Russell Street Grand Prix, but running was prohibited as this did not reflect well on the RAAF to the general public. So, each day a blue argentine ant like swarm moved down Russell Street to the PX. The Appies were provided with a meal chit that was exchanged for a main meal, sweets and a drink at the PX.

One needed to arrive at the head of the ant pack to avoid the bottle neck at the lift. The cafeteria was situated on the top floor and you had to get there early if you wanted to be able to select from the full range of food on offer. The food, generally, was pretty good, and was much better than was served up at the Airmen’s Mess at Laverton.

View from the PX across Russell Street

to the Kings Hotel in 1965

Al George and Sam Houliston, who always made it their mission to get to the lift first, remember that the lunch time food chit had a maximum value of 6/6d ($0.65 after Feb 66) and if they over spent they had to dip into their own pockets for the extra. This came from the whopping £10 (pre tax) a fortnight salary they were paid.

Some of the more enterprising course members were known to produce an extra supply of ‘meal tickets’ to provide even more supplementation – no mean feat considering there were no photo copiers or Print Shop or laser printers in the 60s.  In addition to the 80 - 100 apprentices eating there each week day, there were also some 10 - 20 Frog Offs one had to beat to the head of the food queue.

Each day, the PX Grand Prix was conducted

along Russell Street, past Police HQ, where

Victoria’s finest would monitor the events from room D24.

Note the cars!!

After the hunger pains had been satisfied, the return journey to RMIT provided a golden opportunity for the lads to do "other important things" in the “big smoke” like meet girls, do some shopping, meet girls, check out the latest music, meet girls, check out the motor bikes in Elizabeth St and of course meet some girls.

The PX is now an inner city apartment block and hosts mainly the generation Y type – one could argue not much has changed.

Was it any wonder that the 21 Appies slept safely and secure at night knowing that these two intrepid lads (Benny and Simmo) were on guard, ever ready to keep Ronnie the robber at bay.

(Below) Steve O’Malley (left) and Tony Wade (21 Appies) after a hard day at the office.

Did you know that a gold fish can only remember what it has done for the past 6 seconds.

Back     Go to page:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19     Forward