51 Battalion's Digger's Pics

Bob Henrickson

I reported for full time military training 20th august 1953 at age eighteen. A great & memorable experience and something which should be experienced by all young men. We completed training at Wacol 25th november 1953 and continued in the CMF until 25th november 1956.

Frank Marino

Lee Perren

Josie Naawi Photo

My name is Josephine Naawi (Josie). I enlisted as General Reserve in 1985 at 51st Battalion Cairns. My recruit course was at Townsville with trade course (Cook) at Trade Trg Centre Brisbane.
I am a sole parent with three girls and a son, they are now raising there own families.
I moved from Cairns to Yorke Island in 1992 thus transferred to C Coy where I am still serving as Coy Cook.
I qualified, Subj 4 CPL Cook (GRes) at the ADF School of Catering at HMAS Cerberus, Victoria in 1998.
Was part of the Torres Strait Islander Dance Group from the Bn in Corroboree 2000 that held in Sydney.
Still enjoy serving in the Battalion.

Charlie McCarthy

Served in the Battalion from 1937 to May 1942, C Coy, 10 Platoon, 7 Section as Rifleman. My service number was Q39298. When I enlisted the OC was CAPT Madi Hoare.
All training was conducted within the Battalion majority at The House on the Hill. Weekend training, Coy level then was conducted at Gordonvale with Camps held at Parramatta Park Cairns and Mareeba. The two day route marches from Innisfail to Cairns stick in my mind.
In my early year (age 12) I had an interest morse code and received the training from Babinda Post
Master and also the Railway Station Master, Mr Burnett. I was informed that the Navy had a drastic
shortage of qualified personal in this field.
After consideration I transferred to the Navy on 11 May 1942 us Radio Telegraphist and was issued with a new service number B-V75. Was demobbed after the War in 1946 and remained on the reserve list till 1951