Sept 2013

Hello to you all,
The Secretary Bird and her hubby are now back in chilly Tasmania after our 6 months in the warmer climates.
I am writing this to inform one and all of our reunion in 2014……it will be held at Coffs over the weekend from Fri 15th August to Sunday 17th Aug at our usual venue, Park Beach Bowls Club. The itinerary will be the usual Friday night “meet and Greet”. Saturday night our Dinner and Sunday Morning our General Meeting with BBQ lunch to follow
Now you have definite dates to book your accommodation. Closer to the time I will contact you to finalise definite numbers etc..
John and I have booked at Park Beach Caravan Park from the 6th to the 23rd inclusive – that should give me time to do the before and after “secretarial” bit and pieces, and hopefully Ken and Jim will still have their sanity after dealing with this rather underdone secretary.
The Vietnam Commemorative Walk in Seymour has been highly recommended as a “must visit” and from the photos we have seen this is true and is on our list “to do” next visit to Victoria.
On our trip back down south in August we stopped in Bendigo for me to have a hamburger with the lot and a thick shake to try and put a bit of spark back into my tired body which was suffering after a rather enjoyable night out at the local Chinese at Jerilderie!
Whilst there, a lady called out asking how the Secretary Bird was? Said lady was Helen Rouse and she spotted the spare wheel cover on the back of the van, so stopped and looked for us, it was great to have a chat with her.
On our trip north in May we stayed at the Nanango Caravan Park and enjoyed a couple of days with Bloo and Barry Broomhall, being lucky to catch them at home before they set off further north for their fishing trip.
Hope this finds you all well,
Cheers
Jenny Pidgeon.

Recently Ron and Mardi Wicks ventured northwards from Millicent accompanied by another couple and towed their trailer Sailer up to Queensland.
Whilst here they secured their cars and trailers in Rudi Maas Marina (not too far from Beenleigh) and set about exploring the magnificent waterways of Moreton Bay from the Northern tip of the Gold Coast up to Bribie Island and back.
Whether we will get to see any photographs or a more detailed report remains to be seen, but I did drop a couple of hints when Patsy and I joined them on board “Anticipation” for a couple of drinks at Horizon Shores Marina.
It was a bit of a pity that communications were left to the last minute as the Morcoms had only just left the area the day before.
Next time anyone comes up this way, give us about a weeks warning so we can gather a few bodies who nowadays are spread a bit more thinly around the district.
Needless to say a good evening was had on board, some of Mardi’s special dip, a wine or two , then off to the nearby Jacobs Well tavern for a bite to eat followed by a mild “kidnapping” of the Wickses for a late night cup of coffee in downtown Broadbeach.

After three weeks at Brampston moved to Mission Beach lovely place palm trees line the beach with golden sand and clear blue water. They had a free workshop making a woven basket out of Palm Leaves.i did not do too well, Went well the next day. Then I heard this Indian music coming out of this hall near our caravan park went and investigated to find women doing exotic dancing they said to me come and join in so I did it was sunset they had candles lit in the middle of the floor it was so much fun you danced around doing what ever you wanted. I hung my head out of the window to whistle to Robert that I was in this hall and then went back to dancing.

Have been riding our bikes again along the beach to our favourite Coffee shop for Coffee “so much for exercise” and in the afternoon go for a long walk. No slimmer though.

Sunday Fathers Day Chloe our darling dog gave Robert a present and we cooked him breakfast his favourite food. He had a lovely day. Night before we went to the casterway Resort and had a sunset meal it was so yum then a free movie The Goddess On the Lawn it was a huge screen so no problem seeing or hearing

We are on our way Home leaving Mission Beach then to Bangal Beach which is a free stay,nice fish and chips. That was the only shop. It was a great spot lovely beaches. Then Bowen 2 night stay at a Caravan park had a look around nice Bakery. Australia the movie was Made there. Magnificent panaromic views from the lookout to tropical islands sparkling blue seas. Free staytonight

Cheers Jenny Robert

Okay. In the diary. On another note Graham and Jenny Morcom had a week on the Gold Coast recently. Managed to catch up with Glen and Patsy Hutley at the Surf Club at Broadbeach for a delightful lunch and chat.

The ladies of 87tpt in Victoria got together a few weeks ago for a lunch in the city. We have been doing this for at least a year now and it is great to see Kathy Smith (Bevan’s widow) and Jennie Hurnall make the effort to come to Melbourne for the day. Of course the talk is usually of grandchildren and what else has been happening in our lives since we last met.

Had a good Anzac Day in Renmark, then on to Adelaide to park up the van so we could do 15 days on Kangaroo Island, magic place and 15 days was about right for the island, don’t think we could have done it in any less time and I might add that May has got to be the best time to see it, (end of the season, no crowds).
On return to the mainland Mother developed a few health problems which kept us in Adelaide for a bit longer while she got her treatment. Not to worry we used the time to have a month on the Yorke Peninsular, Wendy enjoyed the stint back in time at Kadina and Moonta, most of you would know about her Cornish heritage?
Anyway we thought that all was good so off to the north we headed, but some times the joys of ageing are not all that easy to find!
Wendy still wanting to stealing my thunder (sympathy). We are in Coober Pedy, have been for the last couple of weeks, you may ask what does one do in Coober Pedy for a couple of weeks, well that’s easy. I caught a wog in Port Augusta, took it to Woomera where we had to sit for the best part of a week then we moved up here to Coober Pedy where that wog got a fair bit worse and yours truly had a ride in the ambo and spent a day in the hospital, the cough had caused some terrific chest pains, oops the old ticker they thought, 24 hours later they let me loose felling much better.
Not to be out done Wendy went the same way only with out the chest pains any way that’s where she looks like being for the next few days, hooked up to a different drip.
OK that’s your lot for now.
Take care

Here is our travel log of what we have been doing. Please pass it on.

We broke down in Toowoomba and stayed 3 Days getting the car. Repaired

From Toowoomba on to Michell where the natural Thermal pools are. We did not swim in them this time. Barcaldine they had happy our Damper and tea it was the best Damper I ever tasted it had dates in it. I said to my self save some for a cuppa tonight but to my horror thousands of ants decided to go into the caravan and eat it. We spent over hour cleaning the Ants out. So much for another bite of the Damper.

The travelling is going well Longreach has lots of things to do Hall ofFame,Paddle cruise on the Thompson River watching the wonderful sun set and drinking wine, then after on the banks enjoying bush Poetry and dinner around the Camp fire.

It was loads of fun Galloping along outback dirt track on a Cobb & Co stage coach mud was flying as the roads were wet a friend of ours sat on top with the driver he was covered in dirt good thing he had a dry as a bone on.

On the road again stayed at the Blue healer Road House they had the best T-bone steak it was a real blokes meal mash potatoe chips veg Steak and buttered bread on the side I struggled a bit to eat it gave Rob some he had no problem eating it all. I got a great photo of a Brolga what was walking around the caravan

Stayed the night Burke &Wills Road house they had a funny sign on the toilet door KEEP TOILET DOOR SHUT BROWN SNAKES LOVE FROGS IN THE TOILETS.

Yeah we arrived at Gregory Downs by the River what a beautiful spot. Our friends saved us a spot over looking the river, there was lots of shade to relax under and read. When hot float down the crystal water and enjoy life. Met lovely people to chat to and have Happy Hour which is drinks and nibbles by the camp fire.

Normanton tried to get a coffee and lunch at The Bakery, alas it was closed, so went and stocked up at the 4 square supermarket and got a pie there for lunch

Well my lovely friend love to hear your news.

Love Jenny
Robert Chloe

Jenny Pidge forwarded this youtube’ video of the Memorial Walk at Seymour.
I reckon it is well done and i hope you will possibly enjoy it. It might even tempt some of us to call in and have a look at the wall itself next time we are down that way.

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Since the recent Anzac Day parade here in Brisbane there have been a couple more opportunities for some members to get together.

The first of these Occasions was on Thursday 30th May when the Army Transport Association held its annual RACT Corps birthday function.

I know that for the vast majority of 87’s members the RACT means very little, but the fact remains that it was the Corps that took over when RAASC was disbanded so I guess we are stuck with that. A number of our members who did a few extra years service did actually serve under the RACT flag as it came in to being in 1973, and besides all that history stuff, it is still a great excuse to get out and enjoy a great meal and partake in a little service type banter.

A few or those who attended this year from 87 were; Ted and Dot Baulch, Jim and Marie Thomson, Glen and Patsy Hutley, Ken and Joy Purdie as well as our regular gang of girls, Pat Jerome, and Jeanette Henderson.

A social and happy gathering indeed held at the Coorparoo RSL and topped off by a truly magnificent meal, minimum speeches by Ron Butcher (ATA President) and Maj Gen David Ferguson AM., CSC (our old Ops Capt in SVN) and in Patsy winning the Door Prize; two nights accommodation in the Coolum Caprice resort on the Sunshine Coast.  What more could one ask for.

EVENT NUMBER TWO.

The second occasion and possibly a bit more formal of the two, was the Actual Corps Birthday  and Presentation of the Princess Royal Banner Parade held at Amberley Army Base, home of 9FSB and 26 Transport Squadron.

A number of 87 Transport Platoon members were present at the Parade and it was good to see John John made the trip up from the deep south.

The Parade was interesting and well done and a few significant ties to us “Oldies”  were obvious.

Perhaps I should go back a day or two and present this story from my perspective rather than an historically correct version.

A couple of months prior to the Parade Col Lesley Woodroffe (The Colonel Commandant of Qld) contacted me through the ATA and asked could I possibly find some historic vehicles to put on display to represent the Corps throughout the years. As I already had three of my own that represent the Corps’ activities through the early Vietnam years and strangely enough, all wearing the 519 Tac signs of 87 Transport Platoon, I agreed to do so. We found around about ten vehicles that fitted the bill, mostly from the MJCQ, of which I am also a member, and set up what I feel , was a pretty good cross section display of vehicles.

Of my three vehicles, one, the Mk3 is not road registered, so after a little bit or wrangling it was arranged that it could be picked up and delivered by ‘Her Majesty’ on the back of one of the Army’s leased nice new shiny Kenworth prime movers and drop deck trailer. When this opportunity presented itself I looked at the overcast sky, weighed up the comfort factor of driving a ‘gunbuggy’ in inclement weather and jumped at the opportunity and as a result the two of these vehicles enjoyed the ride.

Saturday Morning dawned slightly overcast but with no predicted rain so Patsy and I set off on the trip in our remaining vehicle, Daisy the S2a short base Land Rover.

Here we met up with the rest of the members of the display. Stephen Stansfield’s immaculate two berth ambulance. Stephen was an ex Medic with 2 Fd Ambulance, but well after our time.

Phil Lloyd supplied his Austin Champ, which was slightly before most of our time and was the precursor to the Land Rovers we drove.

Shane Hodby (Jeep Club) turned up in a Studebaker 2 1/2 tonner, the precursor to the Mk 3, and alongside the Studie is my Mk3 and then my 1/4 ton Landrover.

Bob Lewis, some 87 members may remember the name, Bob was posted from 1 ALSC to 87 but never quite got out of Saigon, (There is a great story there, but we won’t go into that here.), came to the show in his Holden Staff Car.

Nigel and Leisa Ward and Leisa’s father, Glen O’Neill supplied their 15cwt CMP Blitz and second world war jeep as well.

The Army put on a great Trades display with all types of vehicles and AD displays set up for the general public to wander around and inspect.

“Onslow” my gunbuggy created quite a stir amongst the younger soldiers, especially once it was pointed out that we used them as convoy escorts, and collective almost unbelieving gasps were heard as in today’s Army ASLAVS do that task in air conditioned, armoured comfort.

As a result of all this attention he (Onslow) was afforded his own tent for display.

Patsy, a Royalist through and through, was absolutely delighted to be offered a chance to have her photograph taken alongside Penny Wensley AC, Governor of Queensland, so she jumped at the chance.

A couple of shots of the Parade itself ;

And one for Sprucey. This shot is of the RACT Pipes and Drums marching off their last Parade as a separate entity, as they are now being disbanded, regurgitated and swallowed up by the Corps of Bands. A bit sad I suppose really, but I then again politics is politics.

A FEW FAMILIAR FACES

Richard Adcock 26/04/13 at 1:16 pm

Good to see a few of you turn out for Anzac Day. Here In Adelaide only saw Brooksy at the Dawn Service and little B R W Smith after the march. But I had a good day, and the weather was perfect.
I marched with the V V A
. Hope those who turned out where ever had a good day.
Regards Pommie Adcock