RAEME
Association NSW Inc.
Royal Australian Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers
HISTORY OF RAEME
ASSOCIATION NSW
THE
AEME/RAEME ASSOCIATION. The AEME Association as it was originally called was
established from the top down. It began in Melbourne on November the 2nd
1944, with a well attended meeting. The meeting formed the Melbourne Division,
an action that some thought was putting the cart before the horse as there was
no federal body in existence.
This
was rectified in Sydney in January the 3rd 1945, when Provisional
Federal Council of AEME was founded. The objectives of the Association then are
basically identical to our current Constitution.
The
Federal Council endeavoured to encourage expansion but problems were
encountered. In the 1940�s and 1950�s AEME soldiers who had spent most of the
war in LADs or Field Formations tended to identify strongly with those units to
which they had been attached.
Divided loyalties were frustrating for both the Corps in general and the
Association, but as time passed other difficulties began to appear. Peace time
establishment of the ARA was finally announced in 1947 and in 1948 AEME�s title
was changed to the Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers.
With
the passing of the years the combined result of these events was that the new
generation of soldiers became eligible for membership of the Association, but a
feeling arose amongst them that it was really only for ex-service men and women
of other days. The idea was strengthened by the fact that the title, the AEME
Association, seemed to fix it firmly in World War II, at a time when modern
craftsmen were serving in RAEME, a Corps with a different acronym.
It is
believed that RAEME NSW Association was not really effective since 1946.
On
the 3rd October 1972 Col D T Rennie then DDEME put out a call for a
public meeting for those who have or are serving with RAEME, RAOC (Mechanical
Engineering Corps), REME members of other forces of the British Empire, all
members of the Australian Women�s Services who have served or are serving with
RAEME or RAEME staff at formation HQ and land force HQ with all members of AMF
who have been or are attached to RAEME irrespective of other Corps or unit
identity.
The
meeting was held on the 22nd of October 1972 in �P� Block Victoria
Barracks and successfully reactivated NSW Division of RAEME Association.
Sixty-eight people joined that evening.
�P�
Block was symbolic because its walls have encompassed elements of RAEME over
many years since the adjacent Articifers workshop came into being in the early
1900�s.
Brig
(R) Cecil Jillett OBE was appointed President of the New South Wales
Association, Brig (R) HLC Martins OBE and Hon Col RAEME E Comd chaired the
meeting.
Other office bearers elected were Vice President Lt Col Dave Black, Hon
Secretary Maj Dick Wearne, Treasurer WO1 Lionel Cunningham. Committee Lt Col
Roley Wiltshire, WO1 George Jacobs, SSgt LH Lawrence.
On
the 28th of December 1972 Dick Wearne wrote to the Secretary of the
Victorian Association, John Scott, seeking advice regarding how best to
administer the Association and manage finances.
6th
February 1973 Dick Wearne wrote to the Federal Council RAEME Association
Victorian Division advising reactivation by popular vote on the 22nd
of November 1972 of RAEME Association NSW, to adopt the Articles of Association
and apply for reactivation rights and readmission under the Federal Council
RAEME Associations.
He also advised office bearers and committee consisted of: President Brig Cecil
Jillett OBE, Vice President Lt Col Dave Black, Secretary Maj Dick Wearne,
Assistant Secretary Capt J Marment, Treasurer WO1 Lionel Cunningham.
Committee: Lt. Col Roley Wiltshire, WO1 George Jacobs and SSgt LH Lawrence.
On
the 23rd of January 1974 Col DT Rennie then Commander HQ 2nd EME
Group wrote to all RAEME units advising that membership to the NSW Association
was 160 and asking for members to join. He also advised the aims and
Constitution of the Association.
He
further went on to advise that the Association is organized as a Federal body
composed of Federal Council, Federal Executive, and such divisions as are
determined by the Federal Committee.
After
the 22nd October 1972 initial meeting the first AGM to elect office
bearers for 1974 was held at Parramatta Bowling Club Pitt Street Parramatta on
Friday the 8th of February 1974.
As at
December 2006 the Association�s strength was 307 members.
Attempts to give the Association a Federal governing body
were never successful. Today the RAEME Directorate and Corps Committee provide
encouragement; they take a general interest in the Association�s affairs while
recognising that it is local in operation and membership whilst national in
character.