Next Meeting

When:

8 December 2024

Time:

1000h

Where:

TS Paluma

View Map

Our Office Bearers for 2024-2025

President

CMDR Darryl Neild OAM CGMM (RAN, Retd.)
Address	PO Box 295 SCARBOROUGH QLD 4020
E-mail	president@navalassociationsandgate.org.au
Phone
Mobile	0418 258 689

Treasurer

Mr H. “Darby” Ashton CGMM

Address	1 Skylark Court KALLANGUR QLD 4503
E-mail	treasurer@navalassociationsandgate.org.au
Phone
Mobile	0437 012 169

Secretary

Mr. Don Churchward

Address

F84/61 Explorer Drive, ALBANY CREEK QLD 4035

E-mail

secretary@navalassociationsandgate.org.au

Phone

Mobile

0412 107 685

Action stations!

[ camaraderie – noun – mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. ‘the enforced camaraderie of office life’ synonyms: friendship, comradeship,fellowship, good fellowship, companionship, brotherliness, brotherhood, sisterhood, closeness, affinity, togetherness, solidarity, mutual support. ]

THE Naval Association of Australia (the “NAA”) challenges every Sub-Section to bolster the NAA’s Four Pillars of “Camaraderie,” “Navy Cadets,” “Commemoration” and “Care” and Sandgate prides itself on making headway on all four fronts.

In July 2017 the Sub-Section took the view that, in order to engage more successfully with the outside world and to showcase how our members were making a positive contribution to the community, additional channels of outreach – “online” – were worth actively exploiting.

Like every other Sub-Section across Australia, we strive to remain a beacon of fellowship for, and on behalf of, our veterans, but are confident that younger, community-focused veterans will find something of value in our part of magnificent Moreton Bay!

Sandgate is extremely proud of the direct financial and moral support we tip into the Australian Naval Cadets unit, Training Ship Paluma, with whom we share state-of-the-art meeting room facilities at Shorncliffe. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, Sandgate Sub-Section was able to underwrite the addition of a TS Paluma Cadet to temporarily join the crew of Sail Training Ship that replaced "Young Endeavour " -- "South Passage" (based in Manly Boat Harbour).

Along with so many community-based/volunteer-run/not-for-profit organisations across the world, we negotiate a very busy and competitive “marketplace” of ideas, interests, lifestyles and time-pressures.

Check out the links below to see what social media/online resources we offer members and future members!

Our strategy is to showcase what NAA membership can achieve locally, and ultimately nationally. Being online provides us with a podium for getting that message out – going right where we know today's generation of sailors are.

THE FACEBOOK OPPORTUNITY

Dozens of Facebook “group pages” – focused solely on sharing camraderie among those who may have served on specific ships, or a class of warship – are out there waiting for you to explore. Once you have a story you want to share, the men and women who populate these virtual meeting places will do the rest.

If you think your Sub-Section has a “voice,” why not set up a Facebook profile and let the world know you are ready to join the conversation? It’s all free and no matter how hard you try to convince yourself that you are too cack-handed to master “a computer,” remember that your smartphone in your hip pocket is one!

Yep! Like your grandchildren will remind you: If you can make and answer a telephone call on a mobile phone, you can just as easily click on a Facebook icon and see what’s new in your Sub-Section.

So when you do, let our Sub-Section know you’ve joined the 21st Century...we will give you a shout out and “like” what you’ve got to share!

Hard to imagine anything useful can be found on the Internet? Take a moment and look up, for example, the White Ensign Online (Search “White Ensign Online”) closed group on Facebook. At last count (6 May 2024), more than 1,300 members find something worthwhile in the potpourri of RAN and ADF news, nostalgia and a whole lot more available on this feed. Join us won't you?

BZ for browsing past our little corner of the NAA national website, and we sincerely hope you’ll return again soon.

Let's know you're out there, won’t you?

Visit our website and read our blog. Click on https://navalassociationsandgate.org.au/
Follow us on X (aka) Twitter. Search “Sandgate” or click on https://twitter.com/naa_sandgate
Follow us on Instagram. Go to https://www.instagram.com/naa_sandgate/ or search “naa_sandgate”
Follow us and “like us” on Facebook. Search “Sandgate + naval” or click on https://www.facebook.com/NAASandgateSubSection/
Join our Facebook group. Search “Sandgate + naval” or click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/1950856955172896/

The Sandgate Sub-Section's multi-purpose trailer is a "familiar face" outside Bunnings Carseldine once a month. Why not drop by and say "hello" (and grab a deliciously-prepared Sausage Sizzle - with or without onions - for just $2.50) this month. Check our FB page for dates.
HMAS Brisbane (II) D41 under way.
On a group bus tour to the "Salute to The Light Horse High Country Special" at the Australian Outback Spectacular at Oxenford, near the Gold Coast. From our Facebook page feed.
At your service. Some of our Sandgate Sub-Section volunteers at the monthly sausage sizzle fundraiser at Bunnings Carseldine.
CDR Nield presents a prize to a Training Ship Paluma Australian Naval Cadet.
Fellowship, Sandgate Sub-Section style: The group shot taken at the "Salute to The Light Horse High Country Special" at the Australian Outback Spectacular at Oxenford, near the Gold Coast, in 2017.
The "Wall of Honour" flanking the Canon Garland Memorial - ANZAC Day Origins beside St Mary's Anglican Church, 455 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, on 11 November 2018: the Centenary of Armistice Day.
Some of the 14,000 handmade woollen poppies that volunteers from across the eastern seaboard knitted and crocheted to turn St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point, into "Fields of Poppies". These shapes were crafted by Sandgate Sub-Section President, Darby Ashton. The Sub-Section's contribution to the success of the day was substantial, and mutually most satisfying.
Camaraderie: Sandgate-style! The Sub-Section mainstays who serve up fund-raising sausage sizzles each month outside Bunnings Carseldine gather for a "thank you" luncheon at Shorncliffe's Blue Moon Hotel on Saturday, 1 December 2018.
The now-shipshape demountable teaching rooms donated by the Sandgate Sub-Section to further the training outcomes of the Australian Naval Cadets of the Training Ship Paluma at their Shorncliffe base. Sub-Section volunteers painted the facility and are in the process of outfitting it with teaching resources.
Sub-Section Treasurer, CDR Darryl Neild OAM (RAN, Retd.), presents a cheque to Training Ship Paluma Committee president, Bob Grant OAM, on 22 October 2018. In 2019 the Sub-Section met the cost of sending an Australian Navy Cadet to temporarily join the crew of Training Ship Young Endeavour in 2019. Photo courtesy of Peter Collins.
The placemat design for the Sub-Section's Christmas break-up meeting on 9 December 2018 was designed by the Sub-Section's Honorary Webmaster, Peter Collins, with lamination donated courtesy of Sub-Section member, Kaye Ross.
On 30 January 2019, LSML-SC Hayden Eyles was presented with an Australia Day Medallion by His Excellency, the Governor of Queensland, the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC QC, in the presence of Captain Stephen Bowater OAM RANR, and invited guests, at HMAS Moreton. BZ, from all at the Naval Association of Australia Sandgate Sub-Section. From left in this photo are Sub-Section Honorary Member, Peter Collins; Sub-Section President, Darby Ashton; LSML-SC Hayden Eyles; and Sub-Section Vice-President, Allan Bird.
The presentation and Investiture Ceremony of the Canon Garland Memorial Medal to HMAS Brisbane, aboard same on 4 April 2019 at Hamilton Wharf, Brisbane. CDR Josh Wilson RAN accepted the Medal on behalf of Ship's Company.
The Canon Garland Memorial Medal commemorative plaque for HMAS Brisbane. Sandgate Sub-Section arranged for the production of the plaque in association with Canon Garland Memorial Society and the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee of Queensland.
The Sub-Section's fundraising sausage sizzle crew in action on 23 April 2019 outside Carseldine Bunnings. Pictured is Sub-Section Vice-President, Allan Bird (front right), Peter Collins (left rear) and Alex Tweedie.
The Annual Training Ship Paluma Awards Day saw some 16 presentations made to Paluma's outstanding Australian Navy Cadets.
For the second year in a row, Sandgate Sub-Section is sponsoring an Australian Navy Cadet member of Shorncliffe's Training Ship Paluma to crew aboard Training Ship Young Endeavour. Pictured (from left), at the conclusion of the Annual Awards Presentation Ceremony at TS Paluma on 23 November 2019, were the 2019 candidate, CDTSMN Seth Shoubridge; the Commanding Officer of TS Paluma, ANCLT Merv Ward (holding the $2,000 donation cheque); and Sub-Section Treasurer, CDR Darryl Neild OAM (RAN, Retd.).
Bring on the customers! This was taken early on our first Saturday gig at the recently-opened Bunnings Superstore at Virginia on 21 December 2019. Photo courtesy of Darby Ashton.
On 6 February 2020, Sandgate Sub-Section was represented at the Dedication Ceremony of the Fig Tree Retirement Village's War Memorial and Remebrance Garden, at 1 McClintock Drive, Murrumba Downs, on the morning of 6 February 2020.
Pictured with Sandgate Sub-Section President, Darby Ashton, are (left) Denise Sims [Moreton Bay Regional Councillor for Division 7] and Cathy Tonks [representing the Commonwealth Minister for Home Affairs - and Federal Member for Dickson - the Hon. Peter Dutton MP].
Proudly inspecting (on 17 March 2020) the Mesh One Flex One Swiftset Full Tree Cart and its six dozen FlexLite folding chairs, thanks to a successful application for an Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs' grant valued at more than $11,000. Pictured (from left) were: Bob Grant of the TS Paluma Committee, Jerry, TS Paluma CO, ANC_LT Merv Ward, and Sub-Section secretary, Kevin Wilson.
This is the Official Commemorative Placemat for Christmas 2020.
The Sub-Section contingent gathered in front of the Queensland Naval Memorial in the grounds of St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point, after the annual Sinking of HMAS Voyager Commemoration Service on 7 February 2021. Pictured (at right) is the Commanding Officer of HMAS Moreton, CDR Phillipa Hay (RAN). Photo courtesy of Sub-Section patron, Mr Rod Chaipello.
A sign complete in good taste! This was the scene as the COVID-19 regulations-affected sausage sizzle fundraiser got under way at Bunnings Virginia on 14 February 2021. Photo courtesy of Peter Collins.
At the presentation of a consignment of uniform insignia, badges and other ephemera at the Army Museum of South Queensland on 6 April 2022 were (from left): Terry McLeod (Sandgate Sub-Section), Brian Powell (co-donor), Phyllis Powell (legatee), CAP Adele Catts (Curator, Army Museum of South Queensland), CDR Darryl Neild OAM (RAN, Retd.), Treasurer of the Sandgate Sub-Section, and Darby Ashton, Sandgate Sub-Section President.
A contingent of Sub-Section members gathered for the annual inspection of TS Paluma Australian Navy Cadets unit on 23 July 2022.
After a landscaping working bee on 27 July 2022, the street frontage of TS Paluma looked very spick and span. Photo courtesy of Darby Ashton.
The 4 May 2024 Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser Crew at Bunnings Virginia (from left): "Oggie" Fernandes; Secretary, Don Churchward; Treasurer, Darby Ashton CGMM; Social Media Curator, Peter Collins CGMM; Vice-President, Allan Bird; and Terry McLeod. Photo courtesy of redoubtable Patron (and crew member), Rod Chiapello.
Social Media Curator, Peter Collins CGMM (centre), briefs his Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd.), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (right), on why the Canon Garland Memorial Medal he was about to confer on Sub-Section President, CMDR Darryl Neild OAM (RAN, Retd.), on 4 April 2024, was apt. Darryl, over many years, has strived to raise public awareness about the life and legacy of the late Reverend Canon David Garland OBE, the "Architect of ANZAC Day."
BZ to Shipmate, Mr. Arthur Beards, on a half-century of valuable service to Naval Association of Australia Sandgate Sub-Section, as Naval Association of Australia office bearer and community leader. #OurVeterans #TYFYS #DefenceChaplainsMemorial #AnzacDayPrecinct #NAAQLD
Naval Association of Australia Sandgate Sub-Section President, CMDR Darryl Neild OAM CGMM (RAN, Retd.) at the 19 May 2024 monthly meeting presented this Certificate of Appreciation to our Social Media Curator, Peter Collins CGMM. #OurVeterans #TYFYS #DefenceChaplainsMemorial #AnzacDayPrecinct #GarlandMemorial #NAAQLD
Sandgate Sub-Section's Christmas 2024 Party Placemat ver. 1.0.
Sandgate Sub-Section's Christmas 2024 Party Placemat ver. 2.0.

Queensland

Sandgate - Q50