SUBCON 2025 NEWS:
SUBCON 2025 : Information now has its own page
SUBCON 2025
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CURRENT NEWS :
To SAA Members
As you would be aware this year’s SUBCON will also be an election year for the National Executive and as I have stated before it would be great if members could give some thought to putting your name forward for a position.
I have been notified by our National Secretary that he will not be standing for election this year as he pursues his PHD studies so we will be looking for a secretary.
Nominations will be called for in the not too distant future so please give it some thought.
I look forward to seeing all at SUBCON 25 in the Gong.
Slops Van
As you may remember, some time ago the Slops Van ceased business and the SAA Executive and State braches agreed that the SAA would no longer hold stock as it was expensive and required management.
At the time it was agreed to allow any small business that provided/manufactured memorabilia to have a web site link placed on the SAA site.
The one strict condition was that the company had to prove that they had engaged with Navy Brand for the correct approvals for the use of Navy logo/s etc.
I can announce that Warren Humphrey (Bear) has approached the SAA for permission to advertise on our site, he has also provided proof that his company has been given right approvals and shortly his business link/s etc will be on the SAA web page. He has also stated that a percentage of his sales from the site will be passed on to the SAA.
So the more you use it the more dollars comes to the SAA, Bear does have an extensive array of merchandise and can tailor for particular needs you just need to chat with him.
David Strangward, AM
SAA National President
The link will be included on our Notice board
Carol's Walk for Kids with Cancer 2025
Hi there,
I’m taking on Walk for Kids with Cancer (17th year) to raise $5000 to keep 'Bob (Tug) Wilson's' legacy alive and to help me provide the best possible care to 'Kids with Cancer'.
Our support of the Cancer Centre for Children at the Children's Hospital at Westmead could help power cancer research into new treatments and trials.
It could also help fund state-of-the-art medical equipment, and programs like music therapy to keep kids’ spirits up while they’re in hospital.
More information is available at the following link. to our
Notice board
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SAD NEWS :
SAA Members
It is my sad duty to inform the membership of the passing of Peter Smith a long-time member of the SAA.
Peter passed away on the 15th of April 2025, with his partner Murray by his side.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Peter’s family and Murray, in respecting Murray’s wishes he has requested privacy during this time, and we will provide more details in due course, but only with Murray’s permission.
David Strangward, AM
National SAA President
VALE SAA LIFE MEMBER PETER SMITH
It is with great sadness that the SAA National Executive advises members of the passing of former National Secretary,
Life Member and Association Historian Peter Smith on Tuesday 15th of April.
Peter served in submarines before embarking on his second career as a QANTAS Flight Steward in the early 1970s.
Over the last four decades Peter contributed significantly to the preservation of our collective submarine,
and submarine association history,
including the preservation of our early membership records.
On behalf of the SAA I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Murray and Peter’s wider family. I will prepare a more comprehensive obituary on Peter on my return from overseas in two weeks.
Tony Vine
National Vice President
Spectacle Inland Submarine Collection
A new collection of Images show the Submarine Collection that was housed at Spectacle Island
Its currect location is unknown Paul Gale is currently looking for any information on it location.
Spectacle Island Collection
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Submariners worldwide are a special breed, rarely understood by
mere mortals and never understood by skimmers. Submariners of all
nations understand this and show respect to each other, knowing the
hardship and danger that each has faced to achieve membership to
that elite club to which they belong.
The Association's aims and goals are:
•To keep alive the
unique esprit de corps of the Submarine Service;
•To
establish and maintain a charitable trust, being a welfare
foundation;
•To assist one another as occasion may require
and to encourage social activities;
•To liaise with kindred
organisations, both nationally and internationally; and,
•To
educate members about their entitlements and provide access to
Department of Veterans' Affairs advocates
The
Association maintains a close relationship with several overseas
Submariners' Associations. Membership is open to all submariners, regardless of the Navy in which they served.
SAA National President Message
As the year comes to an end I would like to, on behalf of the National and State Committees, wish all SAA members and their families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
It has been a busy year for the SAA with a great SUBCON in QLD, our web site back up and running.
On the subject of SUBCON, NSW have stepped in to organise SUBCON 25 and there will be more news on the plans etc in the New Year.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the National Committee for all the work they have done this year, much of it behind the scenes.
Our Vice Pres Tony Vine has also worked hard to update our constitution which has needed a lot of work as it has been many years between updates.
Tony has also been able to track down members details and update the Eternal Patrol details as a number of submariners details were incorrect.
Also a big year in the Navy with both senior positions now being filled by submariners, with Mark Hammond as CN and Matt Buckley as DCN so we know the Navy id in good hands.
I was also honoured to be invited to Matt Ritchie’s promotion to CDRE, in early December he has come a long way since his time as a baby greenie in HMAS Onslow.
Of course the AUKUS project is gathering momentum and hopefully in the not too distant future we may have some USN submariners join the association as they move to the West.
Just a reminder that next year is an election year for the National Executive, so please have a think about stepping up and putting your name forward for a position if not for one of the National positions then maybe on your state committees as I see the same names year after year doing a great job in their respective states.
So in closing please keep safe and I look forward to catching up in 2025.
Cheers David Strangward, AM SAA National President
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