In 1976 the new chief of our Emergency Squad,  Supt Bob Mathieson selected me to attend a two week stint to train with SAS in WA with the members of the WA Emergency Squad so as to upgrade my training skills as the chief instructor of our own squad.

I was very fit in those days as my brother in law Lou Platz lived with us. Lou played rugby league with Wynnum, Qld and later Australia and most  afternoons we would run from Carina for 2kms to the Pacific Golf Course and train on the hilly terrain of the course. I knew that I would be under the spotlight on the course and I did not want to let down our state with my fitness.

Together with a member of the SA STAR squad we stayed in a motel near Swanbourne for two weeks, receiving the usual hospitality you would expect  from our WA colleagues.

The first four days of the course were spent on Rottnest Island where the SAS had a training facility. We arrived there in an army landing barge and settled into the barrack accommodation. Early morning PE with followed by long distance runs, which I managed to keep up with the front runners. Class room with map reading, operational planning and tactics the main theme with some outdoor activity.

On return to the main land we settled into a very heavy schedule of training and operational exercises. Each morning there was one hour of unarmed combat drill in what is known as the "Killing Room", very physical stuff. The remainder of the course concentrated on honing our skills on their rifle and pistol ranges, walking through their very sophisticated street training scenario shooting facility, abseiling (backward and forward) down cliffs and from choppers , live firing combat exercises, orienteering and finally an overnight siege exercise. A very busy schedule with amazing professionalism shown by all of their training staff.

Always very pleasant to spend at the end of day, relaxation in their Sgt's Mess which was filled with an amazing display of memorabilia. Watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean was also a new experience for me as well.

I was very fortunate to be given this opportunity to train with this elite group of soldiers knowing that the skills I gained could be passed on to our own members of the PES.