Lighthouses of Australia Inc

91st Birthday Cake

2006 Commonwealth Lighthouse Service Reunion

by Lew Dickson, LoA Inc member. All photographs courtesy John Lone.

The 2006 CLS reunion was held on Saturday 1 July, once again at the Brisbane 18ft Sailing Club in Bulimba.

Due to ill health, our regular convenor (ex Shipwright/Senior Carpenter) Bob Todkill was unable to organise the event, so Jack Duvoison ably assisted by Mike Stock and Mark Oliver did the honours.

Comparable to last year, 76 people attended, representing all branches of the lighthouse service, including administration, ships company, maintenance, and lightkeepers, not forgetting some wives, partners and friends. This reflects the popularity of this annual get-together, so its continuation would seem assured.

Harry Calvert , Peter Brown, Graham Rutledge, Capt. Jim Carrodis & Ron Hodel

L to R: Harry Calvert, Bob Todkill, Margaret Todkill, Jack Duvoison, John Lone, Beverley Duvoison

L to R: Mike Poulson, Suzanne Kempnick, Bernie Kempnick, Harry Calvert, Jan Calvert and John Lone

Among the attendees were Ron Coat and Fred Erikson from Adelaide, Ron Hodel (Darwin), John Lone (Ingham), Paul and Elizabeth Weaver (Burnett Heads), Lindsay and Pat Adcock (Buderim), and several others now residing on the Gold Coast.

Notable among Ships Company were Cape Ships' Masters Jim Carrodis, Mike Samson, Bernie Partridge and Mate Ian Wood also a Ships Master. "Prism" article contributor, poet Mike Pitcher, turned up with a well presented album depicting, complete with narrative, the construction of Hydrographers Passage navaids and the mammoth restoration task of Frederick Reef light – the foundations of which had been seriously eroded.

Ron Coat & Lew Dickson

Bob Todkill & Terry Ward

Graham Rutledge & John Lone

International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW) participant & radio ham Col Gladstone was observed in animated conversation with Qld region radio tech officer Eric Allen, no doubt discussing their favourite topic.

Australian Maritime Services Manager John Sugarman again provided a generous bar tab as did the organisers, and the Club caterers did us proud with sangers and a selection of finger food including whiting fillets.

A jumbo sized get well and thank you card for his past efforts, was signed by all present, and duly presented to Bob Todkill by Jack Duvoison who also presented Bob's wife Margaret with a bouquet of flowers.

An appropriately iced anniversary cake was provided, and Adelaide carpenter Fred Erikson was accorded the honour of cutting the cake.

Harry Calvert and Graham Rutledge

Roly Carnie and Lew Dickson

Fred Erikson cutting the cake

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