Kellaway and J . A . Kyd ). and Yarrawonga ( W . A . Mcintyre ond his son BU I ) had an exciting night hm1ting down these midget submarinM . The above were all members of the club , or almost so . I . A . Kyd was the club Secretary . I was in HMAS Geelong having returned to Australia on the day of the attack . Wepul to sea , searching for the ' Mother ' submarine , but although we heard a couple of ' pings ' and used most of our depth charges we were not able 10 claim a ' kill '. Several amusing incidents occurred during the period dealt with in ! his chapter and we shall close on
a lighter note .
In 1934 a very high-ranking dignitary replied 1oa request for the honour of his presence at dinner by saying lhat be and his lady would be pleased to accept the invitation ! This resulted in a quick conference and an instruction to the Secretary for • quick ring around For those aucnding the dinner 10 bring their ladies . This was to be the first time ladies had ever crossed the portals . They had been . of course . preceded by female staff but that was not considered quite lhe same thing .
As a result of this incident , at the next meeting held on 26 November I 934a morion was put forward by a gentleman and seconded by another gentleman . We will not mention their names ! The motion was lhat ' ladies be not invjted to any functions within Ille precincts of the club ', What followed was a meeting containing more minutes on the one subjecullan any other in the club ' s records . We will spare 1he reader the arguments for and against but will simply report that a tired Chairman finally mled , · The question has been well discussed and it is time a ballot be takeo '.
The scrutineers handed out ballot papers , collected them and retired to count lhe vote . T . 1ey finally
returned to the meeting reporting a majority against the motion .
And so ladies made their entrance to the clubnot as members but cenainly allowed within the premises . Thank goodness for progress !
Another int . cresting incident occurred early in World War ll . It was in relation to a complaint againsra member in 1940 . The member was present and was addressed by the Commodore :
It has been conveyed to the Committee of this club that you in connection with a dispute as to your food did call one oftlle club employees a ' bloody bastard '. TheHouseCommitteebavingdeaJt with the matter , we now call upon you to state whether you admhordeny such action and , if you admit it , have you any information to offer ? The Committee docs not intend to say anything more except to address I . he above question to you .
In reply , the member emphatically denied the allegations , remarking that be was not in the habit of using such language or indulging in SP betting or smacking ladiM ' bottoms !
After Ille member had left the room the Committee unanimously decided that the member ' s conduct was such that ne merited expulsion from the club . but before taking tllat action it was decided to give the member the opportunity of tendering his resignation . After being informed of the Committee ' s decision the member told the Flag Officers that he would like tlie matter reconsidered . The Committee reconsidered the mntter but their decision stood .
HMAS Swordsm1111 ' s binnacle and Ille steering wheel from HMAS Tmtoo .
The gavel presented to the club by Norman Wallis in 1938 . It is made of teak from HMS Nelson , launched in England in 1814 .
91