Junior Recruits Honoured at Dedication Ceremony

Junior Recruits who joined the Royal Australian Navy between 1960 and 1984 were honoured this past Tuesday at a Memorial Dedication Ceremony to commemorate their service to Australia and their exceptional contribution in times of peace and in times of war.

Just over 2,000 people attended the Ceremony, with the Hon Nick Goiran MLC representing Premier Colin Barnett. The dedication, performed by Chief of Navy Vice Admiral RH Crane AO CSM RAN, recognised and honoured the sacrifices these boys made for their country.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to have been involved in this ceremony, and pay proper and due respect to the service of these men who were at the time just boys,” Hon Nick Goiran MLC said.

Many served on Active Service as seventeen-year-old members of the RAN in a variety of units during the Vietnam War. These included destroyers on the Gun Line, Logistic Support and Escort roles as well as Clearance Diving and Helicopter Units based ashore in South Vietnam.

Hon Nick Goiran MLC officially represented the Premier and the WA Government, and stated that the service of these Junior Recruits, many of whom also attended the ceremony, was inspiring to all Australians. 

“On the 13^th of July 1960, 155 boys started their training to serve our Navy. They couldn’t vote, many may not have ever even driven a car. But they were ready to be trained to fight and defend Australia. 155 boys became men, not knowing that over the next 24 years, another 13,000 would do the same.”

Many more Juniors served the nation during the Indonesian Confrontation, the two Gulf Wars and in the many peace operations conducted by members of the Australian Defence Force in recent decades.

The ceremony was funded by the ANZAC Day Working Group and through generous private donations and fundraising through the sale of a commemorative medallion together with a $10,000 contribution from the State Government.

The land on which the memorial stands was provided by the Department of Defence.