Free Time
Family picnic
Campus February 1973
After the long overdue recognition of students' families, they could feel free to bring them onto the campus out of working hours other than under the guise of spectators at unit sports.
Added to the periodic balls, dances and after-church lunches, the campus could provide sporting, beachside and relaxation facilities which were equal to any around the Bay.
OCdt C.G. O'Donnell with daughter Karen Jane (now a captain in the army) was able to take advantage or the picturesque grounds to entertain old school friends who were visiting from Newcastle.
Photo: KJ. Nicholas
Sailing on the Bay 1981
As the Australian Force Vietnam was being withdrawn, it redistributed its amenities equipment around the army at home, a Corsair dinghy being allocated to OCS.
While the combination of free time and favourable weather was hard to come by at Portsea, there were occasions when those so inclined could take the boat out and even make a family day of it.
Identified: I.D. Cooke, D.N. Thornton and W.A. Fleming, launching the dinghy by hand over the beach from its boatshed in front of the School on the foreshore of Ticonderoga Bay, demonstrating their knowledge by the risky business of raising the sails before getting it safely in the water.
Photo: D.N. Thornton
Car Rally 1970
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Summer Safari from Geelong- Castlemaine-Melbourne attracted rally ing enthusiasts L.J. Hiddins and J.G. Clark who took a Fiat 124 into fifth place.
Cadet cars were at first banned from Portsea, but when this was relaxed an array of vehicles from bangers to sports models came with each new course. They arrived in convoy from Spencer Street Station, following the bus which carried the train and air travellers. They could be used to go to sporting functions and so allowed a quick escape to leave directly after.
The School required them to be kept in roadworthy condition and checked this regularly: nothing was exempt from inspection.
OCS Scrapbook 1970
Free Time