Hi Everyone,

On Sunday Nov 22^nd, members from Melbourne and surrounds got together for our annual Christmas Lunch at Waverley RSL.

Present were Bob and Adrianna Wilson, Gerry and Barbara  Geary, Lyn Hatton, Brian and Yvonne Englund, Jenny Hurnall, Des and Margaret Ralph, and friends of 87, Nick and Kerrin Andronica.

Michelle Englund, Andrew, Heath and Sassha, came by to say Merry Christmas, and have a drink with us before lunch.

Apologies came from Jenny and Graham Morcom, Rob Hanisch and Pamela, Viv and Helen Rouse, who were all unable to attend for various reasons.  We missed them all.

Everyone is looking forward to our big re-union at Coffs in August.

Merry Christmas to all, have a wonderful and safe New Year.

Graham is now at the Olivia Newton Centre attached to the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg in room 21, 8th floor.

Graham (Blue) Morcom is now in Palliative Care at Epworth Hospital, Richmond.  Hoping to move him closer to the family at Heidelberg.

Further information for those who may wish to visit Blue

He can talk a little before dropping off for a light doze because of the pain medication.  He is in room 22, at Epworth Richmond and there is really no restrictions on visiting except from 1-2 pm of a day when the lights are turned low for a rest period but this does not affect visitors just so long as they respect other patients and remain reasonably quiet.

Following is an except from the book “Vietnam Veterans, Sons of the hunter Valley” by Maree Rowe 2002.as forwarded by Stuart.

Who are all these youngsters?

As of yesterday, the Federal Government has offered grants for the 50 year celebrations of the Task Force’s commitment to SVN ;

“The Vietnam War Commemorative Grants programme has been established under the Saluting Their Service commemorations programme for 2015–16, and will provide one-off funding of between $4,000 and $20,000 for community-based projects and activities that directly commemorate any aspect of the Vietnam War under the theme of ‘camaraderie’. Examples of projects that may be considered for funding include commemorative events and reunions.”

87 Transport Platoon is applying for a grant under this system, and with this in mind it is rather imperative that the Assocn. has a pretty good idea of attending numbers expected at our 50th anniversary reunion next August.

If you are thinking of attending, please notify your intentions along with numbers of accompanying persons by “leaving a reply” to this post on the blog.

We need your answers by Monday next week at the latest (21 Sept 2015)!

Well I feel that I should put my 2 bobs worth in as the other 2 Blues are trying to suck up the sympathy without sharing it. Funny thing occurred to me when Blue Hickey was telling about the treatment he was getting from his girl and then Jenny came back talking about her blue getting treatment, and this Bloo was like that little piggy, was getting none, thought; bugger this (yes I know it’s between shit and syphilis in the dictionary) so I had a yarn with Blue Hickey about his oncologist and he reckoned she was alright so I’ve sacked my bloke and made an appointment to see her in October when Wendy and I get back from this trip up here in the north of this great state, and it is, seeing we won the footy. If nothing else, at least she’ll be better looking!
Other than that Wendy and I took a drive down the Gillies Hyway into Cairns the other day and I was pleased that I was driving the ute with power steering and not that old Mack with 20 odd ton of logs on the back with NO power steering like I used to, back when I was but a wee lad. Blue and Helen, anybody you want me to say G’day to while we are up here?
Take good care you lot.

And for you and Patsy, yes, we will be putting a week in at Etty Bay, will probably need a week off after all this tourist stuff. Might even find some fond memories of some of the BBQs we used to have down there, when I was but a wee lad???

Take care

Etty bay has to be one of my favourite spots in Australia, lots of fun memories from 6TTU. Glen

Hi Glen,
Thought these photos of the boys would be of interest on the blog……we arrived back in Australia on Friday after a most enjoyable time in Vietnam.

As Stuart says, “not written correctly, but gets the message across”

Found these shots on the internet and now we are aware that at least has a couple of people accounted for in Melbourne. Looks as though it may have been a bit cold Des and Willy.

Meanwhile up at Beenleigh in Qld, Donger Hodgson and myself attended the service at Beenleigh RSL in mild weather (no photo available.)

Anything else happen around the country?

I know that Stu Golland is somewhere up in the Whitsundays as I believe are the Hallams although they may be slightly further north..

Jim and Marie Thomson wrote; Hi Glen Marie & I attended our local (Redcliffe) Vietnam remembrance day ceremony. We both thought it was well done there was also quite a few current Veterans attended which I thought was good to see.