A third generation seedling of the Lone Pine at Gallipoli has been presented to Training Ship Albatross at Lake Illawarra to help mark 70 years of the Navy cadets in Wollongong.
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Every Saturday more than 50 cadets gather at TS Albatross near Illawarra Yacht Club but during the last month they have been active in many other places to celebrate the important anniversary.
The Wollongong flotilla is one of the oldest and most active in Australia. The training ship was once situated at Wollongong Harbour but has been on the shores of Lake Illawarra for the past 18 years in a joint facility it shares with the Australian Air Force Cadets.
Anniversary events have included a recent ball at the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach attended by past and present Navy cadets and their families, TS Albatross commanding officer Karen Poultney and senior Navy personnel and politicians.
A highlight was the presentation of an Allepo Pine from the one solitary pine left standing at Plateau 400 at Gallipoli where the 1st Australian Infantry Division launched a major offensive on August 6, 1915. The other pines were cut down to cover the trenches and the site became known as the Lone Pine Ridge where the ANZAC’s lost around 2000 men over three days.
A solider named Benjamin Charles Smith sent several pine cones back to his mother at Inverell that are thought to be from the Lone Pine. Some of the seeds from a cone were sown and two seedlings grew. One of the second generation seedlings was presented to the town and the other was planted at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
TS Albatross Unit Support Committee (USC) president Andrew Holman said the journey of the Lone Pine cones and seedlings involved the inspiration of youth. So he called to the TS Albatross commanding officer to come forward to accept the presentation of a third generation Allepo Pine from the original Lone Pine from Lone Pine Ridge. “We hope TS Albatross continues to grow the development of Illawarra’s future youth parallel to the growth of this Lone Pine for another 70 years”.
In thanking the USC she said the unit would not be where it was today without the support of the committee and parents of the cadets. She said the unit would find a treasured spot for the special gift.
Mr Holman started the night by sharing some of the history of TS Albatross in the Illawarra. “We are gathered here to celebrate 70 years of operation as a leading youth development organisation. The establishment of our cadet unit was approved in September 1946 and for three months...meetings were held in the Agricultural Hall at the Wollongong Showground where the WEC is no located. From the 10th of July 1947 the unit shared unoccupied space in the old Court House, then known as the Drill Hall. The long term occupant of the hall was the Army. Determined to have their own meeting place the cadets began fundraising.”
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
