2/3rd ALAA Regiment Association Office Bearers
On the 19th July 1940, BA (Bert) Baglin was seconded from a Field Artillery Regiment to join Lt Col JW Rhoden, ED, and three other artillery officers to commence the procedure of the formation of the Regiment.
The Regiment was disbanded on 14 July 1943 although all three Batteries saw service with Heavy Anti-Aircraft Batteries until the end of World War II.
In June 1945 Lt Col J W Rhoden, in conjunction with members of the 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Welfare Association, instigated the formation of a Regiment Association. A preliminary meeting was called on 9th July 1945 by means of advertisements in the Press.
At this meeting the objects of the Association were discussed and a provisional committee, consisting of Messrs WW Gilbert, NC Haines, AG Margetts, CR Speeding and H Slatterie was appointed to draft the constitution of the Association.
The initial meeting of the Association, which attracted 65 members, was held on Monday, 6 August 1945, at the rooms of the 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Welfare Association, 4th Floor, Champion House, Swanston Street, Melbourne to:
- Consider and, if thought fit, adopt the Constitution of the Association
- Elect office bearers
Lt Col JW Rhoden agreed to be the inaugural Patron of the Association.
Presidents
The inaugural President, from August 1945 to August 1947, was AG (Gar) Margetts (9th Battery).
Gar Margetts was succeeded by the inaugural Secretary NC (Gerry) Haines (7th Battery), who in turn was succeeded by SCG Mcindoe (7th Battery) in August 1948.
SCG Mcindoe also served only a year as President and was followed by LJ (Lin) Davis (8th Battery) as President in August 1949.
At the AGM in September 1951, CS (Clive) Rose (RHQ) was elected President.
KW (Ken) Elder was elected President in 1953.
AJ Whitley was elected President in 1955.
There are no records of the Minutes of any meetings (AGM or General) for the period from October 1951 until June 1968 (inclusive).
JC (Jim) Paton (9th Battery) was elected as President of the Association in July 1968 and remained as President until his untimely death in March 1993.
BA (Bert) Baglin (7th Battery) was elected President in April 1993 and served as President until April 1995.
CJE (Cec) Rae (9th) was elected President in April 1995. Cec, one of the three co-authors of the Regiment’s history “On Target” had previously served as the Honorary Secretary of the Association from 1968 until 1995.
JM (Jack) Crittenden (9th Battery) succeeded Cec in 1999 and served as President until 2002.
At the 2003 AGM, RK (Ron) Bryant (8th Battery) was elected as President. Ron, also a co-author of the Regiment’s history, was to be the last President of the Association drawn from the ranks of the original members of the Regiment, and oversaw the transfer of the Association to the descendants of the original members.
Ron stepped down from the President’s role at the AGM in April 2008, when Lynton Rose, son of CS (Clive) Rose (RHQ) and a former President, was elected as the President.
President Lynton Rose stepped down at the 2014 Annual General Meeting.
Anne Rae, daughter of former Secretary and President CJE (Cec) Rae (9th), was elected the first female President of the Association at the 2014 Annual General Meeting.
David McDonald, son of RW (Bob) McDonald, and the Association’s Research Officer, was elected President at the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Association.
Secretaries
The inaugural Secretary, elected in August 1945, was NC (Gerry) Haines (7th) who served in this capacity until 24 April 1947, at which time he was elected President of the Association.
The second Secretary of the Association was WE Kerr (8th) who served in this capacity until September 1948, when Norm Haines was re-elected as Secretary following the election of SCG Mcindoe (7th) as President.
Norm Haines served the Association as its Secretary for a further 20 years until he stepped down and CJE (Cec) Rae (9th) was elected in 1969.
Cec Rae continued to serve as the Secretary of the Association until 1995, when he was elected President of the Association.
The fourth Secretary of the Association was JS (John) Campbell (8th), who served as Secretary until 2008 when the Remembrance Group assumed responsibility for the future carriage of the Association.
The fifth Secretary was CV (Colin) Bragg, son-in-law of JC (Jim) Paton (9th), who was President of the Association from 1968 to 1993. Colin was the Association Secretary from 2008 to 2014.
At the 2014 Annual General Meeting, Malcolm Wrigglesworth, son of WA (Bill) Wrigglesworth (7th) was elected as Secretary of the Association.
Treasurers
The first treasurer of the Association was John Morgan who was appointed in August 1945 on the formation of the Association but John had to resign shortly after as he had been transferred to the country in his banking position.
The second treasurer was John Hilliard, appointed in April 1946 following John Morgan’s resignation. John Hilliard served as Treasurer until September 1948 until a new treasurer was appointed. John Hilliard became auditor of the Association’s Welfare Fund until its transfer to Legacy and RSL Welfare.
The third treasurer appointed in 1948 was another John – John Hepworth, who continued in the position until April 2009 – a total of 61 years. John was of considerable assistance to the committee, and the Association generally, with his knowledge of the commercial world as a partner in the accounting firm of Deloitte’s.
The fourth Treasurer was Ann Bragg, daughter of long time President James Paton (9th Battery), who was elected Treasurer at the April 2009 AGM.
Ann stepped down at the 2014 Annual General Meeting and former Secretary Colin Bragg was elected as the Association Treasurer.
Ian Campbell (son of John Campbell 8 Battery) was elected Treasurer at the 2021 Annual General Meeting
Committee Representation
| Inaugural Committee
6 August 1945 |
AG Margetts, WW Gilbert, SCG Mcindoe, NC Haines,
T Roberts, J Morgan, JR Bishop, JM Hilliard, FH Jorgensen, CS Rosenberg, CR Speeding, GR Wiley |
| 24 April 1946 | AG Margetts, SCG Mcindoe, NC Haines, T Roberts,
JR Bishop, JM Hilliard, FH Jorgensen, CS Rosenberg, GR Wiley, WT Hopkins, DS Humphreys, R Swift |
| 24 April 1947 | NC Haines, SCG Mcindoe, T Roberts, JR Bishop,
JM Hilliard, FH Jorgensen, CS Rosenberg, DS Humphreys, WE Kerr, CC McMillan, HB Anderson, B Tulloch |
| 28 September 1948 | SCG Mcindoe, NC Haines, FH Jorgensen, CS Rose, WE Kerr,
HB Anderson, JA Hepworth, LJ Davis, KW Elder, E Kelly, NR McDonald, AF Young |
| 23 September 1949 | LJ Davis, NR McDonald, CS Rose, JA Hepworth,
NC Haines, W Alexander, HB Anderson, BA Baglin, KW Elder, G Hewitt, JC Paton, CJE Rae |
| 28 September 1951 | CS Rose, LJ Davis, W Alexander, KW Elder,
JA Hepworth, NC Haines, G Hewitt, C Carkeek, R Morris, JC Paton, CJE Rae, R Thompson, AJ Whitley |
| September 1953 | CS Rose, W Alexander, CJE Rae, GMcD Hewitt,
C Carkeek, JW Ecker, R Morris, JC Paton, R Thomson, AJ Whitley, JA Hepworth, NC Haines |
| MISSING | |
| 25 July 1968 | JC Paton, CS Rose, KW Elder, JA Hepworth,
NC Haines, G Hewitt, CJE Rae, FH Jorgensen, T Dawson, R Williams, R Bryant, R Hawting, RM Prideaux |
| 24 July 1969 | JC Paton, CS Rose, KW Elder, JA Hepworth,
NC Haines, G Hewitt, CJE Rae, FH Jorgensen, T Dawson, R Williams, R Bryant, R Hawting, RM Prideaux |
| 23 July 1970 | JC Paton, CS Rose, KW Elder, JA Hepworth,
NC Haines, G Hewitt, CJE Rae, FH Jorgensen, T Dawson, R Williams, R Bryant, R Hawting, RM Prideaux |
| 30 July 1971 | JC Paton, CS Rose, KW Elder, JA Hepworth,
NC Haines, G Hewitt, CJE Rae, FH Jorgensen, T Dawson, R Williams, R Bryant, R Hawting, RM Prideaux |
| 28 July 1972 | JC Paton, CS Rose, KW Elder, JA Hepworth,
NC Haines, G Hewitt, CJE Rae, FH Jorgensen, T Dawson, R Williams, R Bryant, R Hawting, RM Prideaux |
| 27 July 1973 | JC Paton, CS Rose, KW Elder, JA Hepworth,
NC Haines, G Hewitt, CJE Rae, FH Jorgensen, T Dawson, R Williams, RK Bryant, R Hawting, RM Prideaux |
| MISSING | |
| 11 October 1984 | JC Paton, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, BA Baglin, R Thomson |
| 9 October 1986 | JC Paton, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, BA Baglin, R Thomson, J Delahunty |
| 8 October 1987 | JC Paton, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, R Thomson, J Delahunty, L Harris, RK Bryant |
| 6 October 1988 | JC Paton, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, R Thomson, J Delahunty, L Harris, RK Bryant |
| 24 April 1989 | JC Paton, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, R Thomson, J Delahunty, L Harris, RK Bryant |
| 24 April 1990 | JC Paton, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, J Delahunty, L Harris, RK Bryant, D Thomson |
| 24 April 1991 | JC Paton, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, J Delahunty, L Harris, RK Bryant, D Thomson |
| 24 April 1992 | JC Paton, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, L Harris, RK Bryant, D Thomson, J Crittenden |
| 24 April 1993 | BA Baglin, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, R Williams, T Dawson, B Tulloch, L Harris, RK Bryant, D Thomson, J Crittenden |
| 23 April 1994 | BA Baglin, CS Rose, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
R Hawting, T Dawson, B Tulloch, L Harris, RK Bryant, D Thomson, J Crittenden, JS Campbell |
| 24 April 1995 | CJE Rae, BA Baglin, CS Rose, JA Hepworth,
R Hawting, B Tulloch, L Harris, RK Bryant, D Thomson, J Crittenden, JS Campbell, R Thomson |
| 24 April 1996 | CJE Rae, JA Hepworth, BA Baglin, R Hawting,
B Tulloch, L Harris, RK Bryant, D Thomson, J Crittenden, JS Campbell, R Thomson, M Webster |
| 24 April 1997 | CJE Rae, JA Hepworth, BA Baglin, R Hawting,
B Tulloch, L Harris, RK Bryant, D Thomson, J Crittenden, JS Campbell, R Thomson, M Webster |
| 24 April 1998 | CJE Rae, JA Hepworth, BA Baglin, B Tulloch, L Harris,
RK Bryant, D Thomson, J Crittenden, JS Campbell, R Thomson, M Webster |
| 24 April 1999 | J Crittenden, CJE Rae, JS Campbell, B Tulloch,
JA Hepworth, RK Bryant, L Harris, D Thomson, R Thomson, M Webster, J Washbourne, I Rutter |
| 24 April 2000 | J Crittenden, CJE Rae, JS Campbell, B Tulloch,
JA Hepworth, RK Bryant, L Harris, D Thomson, R Thomson, M Webster, J Washbourne, I Rutter |
| 24 April 2001 | J Crittenden, CJE Rae, JS Campbell, B Tulloch,
JA Hepworth, RK Bryant, L Harris, D Thomson, R Thomson, M Webster, J Washbourne, I Rutter |
| 24 April 2002 | J Crittenden, CJE Rae, JS Campbell, B Tulloch,
JA Hepworth, RK Bryant, L Harris, D Thomson, M Webster, J Washbourne, I Rutter |
| 24 April 2003 | RK Bryant, JS Campbell, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
L Harris, B Tulloch, D Thomson, R Thomson, F Washbourne, M Webster, I Rutter |
| 24 April 2004 | RK Bryant, JS Campbell, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
L Harris, B Tulloch, D Thomson, M Webster, I Rutter, H Sauerberg |
| 24 April 2005 | RK Bryant, JS Campbell, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
L Harris, B Tulloch, D Thomson, M Webster, I Rutter, H Sauerberg |
| 24 April 2006 | RK Bryant, JS Campbell, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae,
L Harris, B Tulloch, D Thomson, M Webster, I Rutter, H Sauerberg |
| 24 April 2007 | RK Bryant, JS Campbell, JA Hepworth, CJE Rae, L Harris,
B Tulloch, D Thomson, M Webster, I Rutter, H Sauerberg |
| 24 April 2008 | Lynton Rose, Colin Bragg, John Hepworth, Anne Rae,Graeme Heddle, Matthew Heddle, Ann Bragg, David McDonald |
| 24 April 2009 | Lynton Rose, Colin Bragg, Anne Rae, Graeme Heddle, Matthew Heddle, Ann Bragg, David McDonald |
| 24 April 2010 | Lynton Rose, Colin Bragg, Anne Rae, Graeme Heddle, Matthew Heddle, Ann Bragg, David McDonald |
| 23 April 2011 | Lynton Rose, Colin Bragg, Anne Rae, Graeme Heddle, Matthew Heddle, Ann Bragg, David McDonald |
| 21 April 2012 | Lynton Rose, Colin Bragg, Anne Rae, Graeme Heddle, Matthew Heddle, Ann Bragg, David McDonald |
| 20 April 2013 | Lynton Rose, Colin Bragg, Anne Rae, Graeme Heddle, Matthew Heddle, Ann Bragg, David McDonald |
| 19 April 2014 to 2021 | Anne Rae, Matthew Heddle, Malcolm Wrigglesworth, Colin Bragg, David McDonald, Lynton Rose, Graeme Heddle, Ann Bragg |
| 24 April 2021 | Anne Rae, Gaye Berry, Malcolm Wrigglesworth, Ian Campbell, David McDonald, Colin Bragg, Ann Bragg, Lynton Rose, Alisdair Crooke |
| 23 April 2022 | Anne Rae, Gaye Berry, Malcolm Wrigglesworth, Ian Campbell, David McDonald, Colin Bragg, Ann Bragg, Lynton Rose, Alisdair Crooke, John MacMillan |
| 22 April 2023 | Anne Rae, Gaye Berry, Malcolm Wrigglesworth, Ian Campbell, David McDonald, Colin Bragg, Ann Bragg, Lynton Rose, Alisdair Crooke, John MacMillan, Sue Leidel |
Long Serving Committee Members
John Hepworth 1948 to 2009 (Treasurer for 61 years)
Cec Rae 1949 to 2008 (Secretary from 1969 to 1996, President from 1995 to 1999)
Bruce Tulloch 1949 to 2002
Clive Rose 1946 to 1996 (President from 1951 to 1952)
Jim Paton 1949 to 1993 (President from 1968 to 1993)
Ron Bryant 1968 to 2008 (President from 2002 to 2008; Take Post editor from 1988 to 2008)
Tom Dawson 1968 to 1994
Dick Hawting 1968 to 1997
Roy Williams 1968 to 1993
NC “Gerry” Haines 1946 to 1973 (Secretary from 1945 to 1969)
John Campbell 1994 to 2008 (Secretary from 1996 to 2008)
Dave Thomson Banner custodian and bearer from 1952 to 2009
REUNIONS
Reunions were held at:
| Year | Location | In Attendance |
| 1946 | Artillery Hall, Batman Avenue, Melbourne | ~300 |
| 1947 | RSL Hall, Moonee Ponds | 280 |
| 1948 | Artillery Hall, Batman Avenue, Melbourne | 302 |
| 1949/50 | Artillery Drill Hall, Chapel St., St. Kilda | ~300 |
| 1951 | Lower Melbourne Town Hall | ~300 |
| 1952 | 2nd LAA Regt RAA Hall, McWhae Ave, Caulfield | |
| 1968 | McClures Restaurant, Albert Park | ~150 |
| 1969 | McClures Restaurant, Albert Park | |
| 1970 | McClures Restaurant, Albert Park | |
| 1971 | McClures Restaurant, Albert Park | |
| 1972 | McClures Restaurant, Albert Park | |
| 1973 | McClures Restaurant, Albert Park | |
| 1985 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | |
| 1986 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | |
| 1987 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | |
| 1988 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 109 |
| 1989 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 132 |
| 1990 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 175 |
| 1991 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 125 |
| 1992 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 111 |
| 1993 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 103 |
| 1994 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 95 |
| 1995 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 108 |
| 1996 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 91 |
| 1997 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 92 |
| 1998 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 78 |
| 1999 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 73 |
| 2000 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 53 |
| 2001 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 48 |
| 2002 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 45 |
| 2003 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 40 |
| 2004 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue | 39 |
| 2005 | Victoria Hotel, Little Collins Street | 39 |
| 2006 | Naval & Military Club, Little Bourke Street | 30 |
| 2007 | Naval & Military Club, Little Bourke Street | 25 |
| 2008 | Naval & Military Club, Little Bourke Street | 34 |
| 2009 to present day | RACV, Bourke Street | Between 40 and 60 |
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
Annual General Meetings were held at:
| Year | Location |
| 24 April 1946 | North Melbourne Town Hall |
| 24 April 1947 | RSL Hall, Moonee Ponds |
| 28 September 1948 | Scott’s Hotel, Collins Street |
| 23 September 1949 | Scott’s Hotel, Collins Street |
| 1950 | No meeting |
| 28 September 1951 | Scott’s Hotel, Collins Street |
| UNKNOWN | |
| 25 July 1968 | 99 William Street |
| 24 July 1969 | 99 William Street |
| 23 July 1970 | 99 William Street |
| 30 July 1971 | 177 Toorak Road |
| 28 July 1972 | 177 Toorak Road |
| 27 July 1973 | 177 Toorak Road |
| UNKNOWN | |
| 11 October 1984 | RACV, Queen Street |
| 10 October 1985 | RACV, Queen Street |
| 12 March 1987 | RACV, Queen Street |
| 8 October 1987 | RACV, Queen Street |
| 6 October 1988 | Deloittes |
| 24 April, 1989 to 2004 | Air Force House, Cromwell Avenue |
| 24 April 2005 | Victoria Hotel |
| 2006 to 2008 | Naval & Military Club |
| 2009 to Present Day | RACV, Bourke Street |
BULLETINS
Bulletins were produced for distribution to members.
Bulletin No. 1 was produced in August 1946.
Bulletin No. 2 in November 1946
Bulletin No. 3 on 24 April 1947
Bulletin No. 4 on 12 June 1947
Bulletin No. 5 in September 1947
Bulletin No. 6 in January 1948
Bulletin No. 8 on 17 June 1948
Bulletin No. 9 on 13 January 1949
Bulletin No. 10 on 18 August 1949
Bulletin No. 11 in 1st half of 1950
Bulletin No. 12 in ??
Bulletin No. 13 on 21 September 1951
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS RECORDED IN MINUTES
March 1946 There were 304 financial members.
May 1946 A proposal to produce a “Bulletin” was adopted.
August 1946 The first Bulletin was posted to 697 members.
June 1947 The caterer’s account for the reunion included a cost for 105 broken glasses.
March 1950 A proposal to create a nominal roll of members was adopted.
Sep 1951 A proposal to affiliate with the 2nd LAA Regiment RAA was tabled.
A motion to acquire a new banner was adopted.
October 1985 Resolved that a history of the Regiment be compiled.
Resolved that copyright of the history be taken out.
June 1987 Resolved that reunions be held in the afternoon rather than the evenings.
CJE Rae, L Harris and RK Bryant were made life members.
February 1988 Resolved that an annual newsletter be introduced.
October 1988 The WA Branch was formed (approx 30 members).
That the AGM be held on the same day prior to the annual reunion.
Financial year be from 1 January to 31 December.
March 1991 JC Paton made a life member.
April 2007 A proposal to allow Associate members, comprising the descendants of original Regimental members, was initiated.
April 2008 The Constitution was amended to allow descendants of original members to become members of the Association.
July 2009 The Association applied for and were granted a Saluting Their Service grant of $3,000 to create its website.
October 2014 The Association gave its approval to the Australian War Memorial to copy the Association web site to the AWM Pandora Archive.
PANDORA, Australia’s Web Archive, was set up by the National Library in 1996 to enable the archiving and provision of long-term access to online Australian publications. Accordingly, as a PANDORA partner, the Australian War Memorial has been identifying, assessing, selecting and cataloguing sites of relevance to Australian military history for archiving by the National Library of Australia as part of the PANDORA project.
We would like to include 2/3rd Australian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment and Association website (http://www.antiaircraft.org.au/) in the PANDORA Archive and I would be grateful if you would let me know whether you are willing to permit us to do so, that is, grant us a licence under the Copyright Act 1968, to copy your publication into the Archive and to provide public access to it via the Internet. This means that you would grant the National Library permission to retain your publication in the Archive and to provide access to it in perpetuity.
November 2018 Our submission to have our Regimental Plaque in the Domain Gardens in Melbourne was approved by the AWM Places of Pride team to be added to their data base.
May 2019 Our Regimental Plaque located at the Werribee Race Course (where the Regiment undertook its initial training) was added to the AWM Places of Pride data base.
April 2021 The Association was incorporated and registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria
January 2023 The Association applied for and was granted a further Saluting Their Service Grant of $10,000 to migrate the website from Joomla to WordPress.
Last Updated 11 April 2024