The Suggestions
RC Dettman, who gave his address as Rifle Range, Swanbourne, WA, wrote to the local member of the Federal Parliament on an unknown date to expound on how the First Transport party should have been made welcome at the neighbouring army camp.
The local member was Kim Beazley Sr, later Minister for Education during 1972 to 1975, in the Whitlam Labor Government.
Kibitzer is a Yiddish word, used much more frequently in American English than in Australia. It describes someone who hangs around a board or card game, giving advice to one or more of the participants. The advice is not necessarily helpful. A kibitzer, by extension, can be active in other spheres of activity.
It seems a good word to describe the Swanbourne camp neighbour who, as he wrote, had been "over to see them frequently".
Mr Dettman started his letter with his very positive view of the Displaced Persons he had met. Read on ...
RIFLE RANGE,
SWANBOURNE,
WA
CONFIDENTIAL.
Mr. Beazley, M.H.R.,
Dear Sir,
Paper cutting re Balts reception herewith I have
been over to see them frequently and they over here. The
following observations might be very well advised to the Minister
"what should take place on arrival of migrants to Australia".
1. The whole lot were really a first class lot and should be
welcome to Australia by everybody.
2. On arrival, really the Manager cf each Camp should see that
amenities such as cards, footballs, tennis gear, draughts
etc etc. be available to enable them to occupy their time.
None were provided to the Balts, all they did was to walk
between Swanbourne on the hot dusty roads to Graylands
Camp and back here again. They had no money, so could
not go in buses to Perth etc. They did go to the Beach,
but were not provided with any Beach rescue apparatus,
though I offered one to the Manager.
3. The Manager should definitely reside in camp. This manager
went hom (sic) 5 p.m. daily. A caretaker is not good enough. You
want someone to talk Australia to them, and I may say they
were very eager indeed to get all the information they could
get.
4. I rang Claremont Picture Theatre and got the Manager to provide
on Sunday night free pictures for the whole 800, which they
thoroughly enjoyed, but this should have been done by the
management. No radio, piano, or any other form of amusement
was provided! hence they were indeed neglected. They were well
looked after regarding meals and accommodation, and were fully
thankful for all that.
5. All had hair 6" long and the Manager said barber was badly
needed. Then why did they not get one? On arrival in
Melbourne, those who meet them will bear this out.
6. A canteen was provided by an outsider whose charges were too
high until stopped. Then why not get the canteen's services to
supply the canteen requirements? Why an outsider?
7. Would suggest the kind of person to be manager would be of the
Y.M.C.A. type, with all amenities on tap, snd to reside at the
Camp whilst migrants are there.
8. What about getting the Immigration Department to advertise in
the papers for the Xmas period in Perth for people in homes
to take some of the children for one or more days into their
homes. Many have never seen fruit or sweets, a Father Xmas
turn out would not go amiss, if they are to remain in W.A.
over the Xmas. Surely our W.A. folk would be pleased to rise
and help them The Claremont Picture Theatre will give another
free night or two any night but Saturday.
As I told you before, I reside next door to the Swanbourne
Camp and will only be too pleased to help the Minister gratis in
anything to help these people get a first good impression of
Australia, and surely one employed by the Migration Department should
give all their attention and organising powers to keep these people
when they arrive, such as
Amenities of a11 kinds whilst waiting to go elsewhere.
Drives to the various resorts,
Beaches
Zoos
…
into Australia Homes,
+ the Public Parks
Lectures on Australia, Perth Beaches, class of agriculture, etc.etc.
Sufficient money to travel to Perth and back,
Emple (sic) fresh fruit
to This is really just a few remarks to help the business
along/the credit of the Minister.
Yours faithfully,
Sgd.
R.C. Dettman. F.2433
(I'm guessing that F.2433 is Dettman's phone number.)
Clearly, Mr Dettman had done one very useful thing in initiating the free movie night enjoyed by the First Transporters. Some of his other remarks annoyed the Acting Commonwealth Migration Officer for Western Australia so much that the movie night barely got to mention in his response.
The Response
Here is RW Gratwick's answer to the statements made in RC Dettman's letter.
Not correcting the date below, implausible because it is more than 9 months before the Heintzelman's arrival, 15 February 1947, might be part of Gratwick's emotional reaction to Dettman's letter.
AIR MAIL.
2nd January, 1948.
MEMORANDUM :
TRANSIT CAMPS.
With reference to his memorandum 47/3/10366
dated 15th February, 1947, regarding correspondence ex-
changed by Mr. Dettman through Mr. Beazley, M.H.R., and
the Hon.Minister for Immigration concerning the manage-
ment of the Swanbourne Centre, the Secretary is advised
that every effort was made in the limited time, to
provide the Balts with all amenities available,
2. The items mentioned in Mr. Dettman's letter,
deemed worthy of reply, are set out hereunder :-
(1) It is agreed that the Balts were of first class
type, and expressions of good will and appre-
ciation were heard from members of the West
Australian community, many of whom enquired
whether any of these persons were available
for employment in this State.
(2) The Camp Manager provided ample writing materials,
accommodation, magazines and comfortable chairs
at selected points for the use of the Balts.
From my observations these people were happy with
their freedom to walk the country side and to the
beach. In regard to money, it was noted that
Commonwealth Banking facilities offered, were
fully availed of for the exchange of currency;
probably there were a few Balts who were un-
financial.
(3) The Camp Manager was not at any period absent from
the camp before 11 p.m. or midnight, when a watch-
man came on duty. This statement can be verified
by Mr. Dettman's daughter-in-law who resides in
an Army Building within the Camp area.
(4) Although Mr. Dettman may have been instrumental in
promoting a free picture night, action was also
taken by our Camp Manager to provide a camp
concert at Graylands which was broadcast by 6 KY.
(5) It is considered that the privilege of wearing long
hair belongs to the individual. It is not com-
pulsory to shave hair in transit centres even if such
is essential in concentration camps.
(6) The Canteen prices are according to the Price Fixing
Commission. Evidently Mr. Dettman refers to an
incident when the Canteen Manager sold fruit on
the rifle range to troops. The control of the
canteen has been discussed on another file where
it is stated the Army was unable to conduct this
facility.
(7) It is a matter of opinion as to whether a person of
the Y.M.C.A. type could manage transit centres
with the efficiency and diligence which has been
displayed by the Camp Managers. It might be
mentioned that the Y.M.C.A. in this State does
not possess amenities. In approaching the Army
for the loan of a piano it was found that
those available had been issued to messes, and
enquiries in the city revealed it was not
possible to hire a piano.
(8) In view of Departmental expenditure approved for the
arrangements in hand to provide suitable
Christmas celebrations at Graylands Camp, it was
considered unnecessary to request the general
public to privately entertain the Migrants during
the Festive Season. However at the suggestion of
a Mrs. Evans of Armadale which was broadcast by
6 P.M. on 22nd December '47, approximately 80
migrants accepted private hospitality. From
enquiry it is known that Mr. Dettman did not
entertain any of the'New Comers' at his home
during the Christmas Season.
3. While the public spirited bleatings of Mr. Dettman
may impress a minority who are not acquainted with his
attitude, those who know him ignore his attempts to derate
the efforts of others.
4. In conclusion it is mentioned that no effort has
been spared in order to provide these "New Australians" with
every comfort, advice and assistance, during their residence
at the Transit Centres.
5. Attached hereto for information, is copy of a
letter received from one of these "New Australians".
(R.W.Gratwick).
A/g.COMMONWEALTH MIGRATION OFFICER
FOR W.A.
The Secretary,
Department of Immigration,
CANBERRA. A.C.T.
On the file, the nearest letter 'from one of these "New Australians"' is the one from five of them to the commander of the Swanbourne camp, reproduced in our previous blog entry.
The Answer
The strange date of 15 February 1947 is explained by correspondence earlier on the Western Australian Immigration Office's file. The Secretary had written to RW Gratwick on 15 December 1947. (Judging by the signature, in reality the person behind the cover note was an official known as Andy Watson, later to become senior in the Immigration Department.) The Central Office file involved was numbered 47/3/10366. Here is the note or, in official parlance, the memorandum.
The memorandum speaks of "copies of correspondence" but only one item has been filed. It is a copy of a letter from the Minister for Immigration to Kim Beazley dated 4 December 1947. That date strongly suggested that RC Dettman compiled his suggestions on 2 or 3 December, if not earlier, and maybe hand delivered them, for Beazley to get such a timely reply.
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The Background
The Swanbourne Rifle Range was established about 1913 on land acquired in 1911 and operated as a joint military and public facility until 2014. Since then it has been used solely by Australia's Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), and has been incorporated into the Swanbourne army camp now that it is the home of the SAS.
RC Dettman is likely to be the Robert Carl Dettman, who enlisted in the First Australian Infantry Force (1st AIF) on 22 April 1918. He was already 32 years old, married with two children, having been born in December 1885. He had previous experience in the military reserve. Presumably due to this and his life experience, he was engaged as an officer, at the lowest rank of Second Lieutenant though described as "Honorary Captain". His appointment to the 1st AIF ended in January 1920.
From National Archives of Australia files not yet digitised, it looks like he stayed in the employment of the Commonwealth Government in areas related to the military. He may well have been the resident manager of the Rifle Range at the time that the Heintzelman passengers stayed next door in the Swanbourne army camp.
And he may well have reached the rank of Major during service in the Second World War, a fact that RW Gratwick was not worried about remembering. If Dettman was no longer on active service, the use of his military title was discretionary.
SOURCES
Canberra Times (1978) 'Assistant secretary retires', 10 July, p 7 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110896379 accessed 07 Jul 2025
National Archives of Australia: Department of Immigration, Western Australian Branch; PP482/1, Correspondence files [nominal rolls], single number series; 82, General Heintzelman - arrived Fremantle 28 November 1947 - nominal rolls of passengers https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=439196 accessed 27 June 2025.
National Archives of Australia: Soldier Career Management Agency; B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920; DETTMAN R C, Dettman Robert Carl : SERN Honorary Lieutenant : POB Kyneton VIC : POE N/A : NOK W Dettman Florence https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3502670 accessed 4 July 2025.
Wikipedia, Kim Beazley Sr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Beazley_Sr. accessed 5 July 2025.
