Description
Description: RAN Tally Band – HMAS Cerberus – circa 1960s.
Maker’s Name: N/A
Condition: Very Good
Comments: Royal Australian Navy – Tally Band – HMAS Cerberus – circa 1960s.
This was used by sailors and WRANS, selected from the lower deck to become Midshipman and eventually Officers, the sailors selected were referred to as Topman. These tally bands are now scarce.
In the 60`s and 70`s there were a number of these sailors, training at CERBERUS, before being posted to the Naval College at H.M.A.S. CRESWELL.
HMAS Cerberus is the Royal Australian Navy’s primary training establishment, located at Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is also an official bounded locality of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.
The site for the Cerberus naval base on Hanns Inlet, between Sandy Point and Stony Point on Western Port Bay was purchased in 1911. The 15 square kilometres base was opened in September 1920 and became known as Flinders Naval Depot in 1921. The Post Office opened on 2 December 1912 as Flinders Naval Base, was renamed Flinders Naval Depot in 1925 and HMAS Cerberus, Westernport in 1963.
HMAS Cerberus now occupies most of Stony Point to the north and all of Sandy Point in the south.
From 1930 until 1958, Cerberus was the home of the Royal Australian Naval College, until it was clear that the base was becoming overcrowded and the College was moved back to HMAS Creswell. With the outbreak of World War II, many temporary buildings were erected to facilitate the training of wartime recruits. Many of these buildings were later demolished or replaced.
The primary role of HMAS Cerberus has always been the training of Navy personnel. With the establishment of four tri-service schools over the last 13 years, this role has been extended to training Army and Air Force personnel. Specific courses offered include: the School of Survivability and Ship Safety which specialises in fire fighting, damage control and nuclear/biological/chemical defence; and seamanship and weapons training.
The base is also the home of the Recruit School – for all sailors their first contact with life in the Navy. HMAS Cerberus comprises numerous training and recreation facilities, two chapels and a small marina. Training is provided for about 6,000 personnel annually, averaging 800 trainees at any one time.