Welcome to the unofficial 28 course website.

Updated April 2006.New forum link, news, e-mail address update, text update, Australian Defence Medal).

There is a new RAAF Radschool Community forum, please visit.

  On the 9^th of January 1974, 33 young men signed up for 9 years service in the RAAF, as apprentices, training as Radio Technicians at Royal Australian Air Force base, Laverton, and RMIT, Melbourne, Victoria. Most were 16, (a few, 15) years of age.

2 years and 10 months later, on the 28^th of October 1976, 15 of them graduated. 8 of them as RadTechAs ('airies') and 7 as RadTechGs ('groundies').  Those were very formative years for us, and many, or even most, of us remember those years as some of the best times of our lives.

According to 'From The Ground Up', by CD Coulthard-Clark, the RAAF Radio Apprenticeship scheme ran from 1948 until 1992, 45 intakes or 'courses', graduating 1,105 Radio Tradesmen. During this same period, the RAAF trained around 4 to 5 times this number of adult trainees (radio), and at Wagga, 4,668 Engineering Trades Apprentices (and many more adult intake engineering tradesmen, though I don't have the numbers for them). The RAN, Army, and several civilian organisations such as PMG/Telstra and BHP also had training schemes. 

This site remembers 28 course, and is meant to serve as a contact point, and eventually, somewhat of a collective memoir for the members, family, friends, and acquaintances of 28 intake, RAAF Radio Apprentice Technician Course (28RAC). The class of '76 (or one of them anyway).

The year 1974 was something of a milestone year for electronics training in the RAAF, a new Radschool training establishment was built. The Radio Apprentice training scheme was changed, 28 course being the last of the Radio Apprentice courses to train at RMIT (the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology). Later courses did a ~2 year course closer in structure to that of the adult trainee scheme. This meant that 29 course graduated at the same time as 28 course, after a 22 month course. 1974 was also the year appies changed to 'blues', rather than the old RAAF 'battledress' uniform. Also, early in 1974, apprentices moved from the old tin huts, into more modern accommodation (which had it's teething problems!).

This site will hopefully evolve and grow, as more of the 28 course members add in their bit of the collective memory. Consider this as the first version. Possibly the site could expand to include a short bio for 28 course members, and photos (then and now) and maybe some 'warries' (stories) that can be shared. The site is inclusive, and is not limited merely to those who graduated (15 from 33 who started), but to past members, and friends of 28 course.

The webmaster will be  maintaining a contact list. If you would like to make contact with other 28RAC members, or have some information to share, please e-mail us  here, or, contribute via our forum, or Guestbook (link below).

At the time this website was first set up (back in late 2004, as a little project under 'computer studies' with daughter Brittany), I did look up those ex 28RACers that I could. A contact list does exist (for about half the course). Our RAAF, RMIT, Radschool, and Appie days are far behind us all now, and represent varying things to all of us, I think. To some, particularly those who stayed in the RAAF for 20+ years, it was the major component of a working life (so far anyway). To me, those 3 RadSchool years were a short, but extremely significant part of my youth. Training which has been of great value in my working life.

We need some warries. Like that party we had in 1974 in the new Rads building. Or trying to do a pushup with Fred Holtman sitting on you. Or how good that beer tasted after a route march ending at the (Meredith?) pub. The Air Show in '76 (complete with F15s and a guest USAF Brigadier General name of Chuck Yeager. Mattress slides down the corridors. Showers that didn't work for months properly. 2nd yr as the only course at RMIT. And how easy was 3rd year? Movies courtesy of Sgt PJ. And do the words 'prairy sh*t' ring a bell? I'm sure there are many more stories, please share them.

To visit the RAAF Radschool Association site click here. 

(The RadSchool Association has gone a bit quiet of late, the last newsletter was Feb 2005. Hope all is well, but I well understand life can get in the way of our other interests).

28 RAC Course Members:

Graduated as RadTechA ('airies'); 

Butler, P (Peter).   Carr, P.C. (Phil),   Foottit, D.D. (Doug),   Macgregor, I.C. (Ian),   McLuskey, M.C. (Mark),   Regan, S.R. (Shane),   Whiteway, C.L. (Col),   Zadow, C.R. (Col).  

Graduated as RadTechG ('groundies');

Benz, S.A. (Steven),   Castles, G.D. (Greg),   Daalmeyer, B.C. (Rob),   Hallas, P.G. (Phil),   Harris, R.R.S. (Russell),   Pritchard, M.R. (Mal),   Tiller, M.P. (Mick).  

Honourable Mentions;

Turner, A.F.T. (Arthur, 'Fuj'),  Hales (Bill),   Kwiatkowski (Ski).

Waiting for the bus to RMIT, 1974.                                             28 course 'in barracks'.                                                   

                    Ocean Grove 1974. (with 27 course)                                                    Building 9, RMIT, 1974.           

         Radschool c 1974 (note Quad Radar and microwave dish on roof).                          Apprentice barracks.                         

A first year appies fortnightly pay in early 1974

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Australian Defence Medal

"...The Australian Defence Medal (ADM) has been established to recognise Australian Defence Force (ADF) Regular and Reserve personnel who have demonstrated their commitment and contribution to the nation by serving for an initial enlistment period or four years service whichever is the lesser....