David Archibald Bessell was born in Tasmania on 14 November 1945. He was called up in the second ballot on 10 September 1965. David was studying Law and did not commence his National Service until 20 April 1966 when he enlisted as 6708453. He was selected for officer training and commenced at OTU on 6 May 1966 with Class 2/66. In Senior Term, David was posted as PMC of the Cadets Mess. He graduated with his class on 30 September 1966 as Graduate Number 247 and was allocated to the Intelligence Corps and on 1 October commenced his posting at the Army Intelligence Centre at Middle Head in Sydney. On completion of his Corps Training David was posted to HQ Southern Command and based at the Melbourne suburb of Watsonia from 13 February 1967. It was during his time at Watsonia that David met Patricia, who was to become his lifetime partner. Above right at a Mess Function at OTU: Rear: K. L. Mahar, Dave Bessell, Bill Hewitt, Geoff Bennett and Bob Rickard. Front John Howe, Jim Slavin and Pat Savage. On completion of his National Service David discharged from the Army on 19 April 1968. He returned to Tasmania where he finished his law degree and, for a time, worked in the State Prosecutors Office. David would later become the Litigation Partner at Page Seager, Tasmania’s leading legal practice. As so often happened, lifetime friendships were developed at Scheyville and at Watsonia. Fellow classmates Bill Hewitt, Jim Slavin and Ian Dawson, along with Portsea graduate Brian Goodes, enjoyed the Bessell hospitality at his off-grid rural retreat at Judbury (which he meticulously built himself) in the beautiful Huon Valley in Tasmania. Dave organised numerous treks for us to explore the wonders of the Tasmanian wilderness, ALWAYS followed by excesses of food, wine and tales tall and (un)true, all cooked, curated and recounted by Dave himself. He was a man with unmatched breadth of knowledge, talent, wit, warmth and concern for others. Right: Brian Goodes, Dave Bessell and Ian Dawson at Bruny Island in 2014. David was the loving husband of Patricia, father to Ben, Josie and grandfather to four. He showed remarkable courage and resilience and gave his all in his three-year battle with cancer. Sadly, David lost that battle on 5 December 2022. A private funeral was held. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed. (Ian Dawson, 2/66)

Click to access 2023-AGM-Minutes.pdf

From Michael Keats (The Wollemi National Park Project):

Does anyone, especially in the early days of OTU, remember using Camp Coricudgy during the Senior Term Exercises? Michael said that the map below was from 1962.

Neil Leckie

nkaleckie@optusnet.com.au

0400 573 802

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