Anzac Day has come and gone once again. 87 no longer marches under our own banner here in Brisbane owing to depleting numbers, (what with natural selection and people moving to different areas, our numbers are very small) so nowadays we march under the general banner of the Army Transport Association, and at the post march function tables are allocated to separate groups.
This works well for us at the moment.
The only members from 87 Transport to actually attend the Brisbane march were Ted Baulch, Cliff Hodgson and Glen Hutley,
I dare say others may have attended local services within their own local communities.
As for the Brisbane March, the weather was absolutely perfect, glorious cloud free sunshine and not too hot or humid. A great turn out of well wishers and general public.
Here in Brisbane OHS and some of the other goody goody two shoes organisations have insisted that diggers over 80 cannot march (without signing a waiver) and must ride in an assigned vehicle.
I volunteered one of my vehicles for this duty and it did a couple of laps of the march
.
I take my gunbuggy in the march and carry a few of our old truckies around. This year you may recognise Ted Baulch in the rear, along with Paddy Herron (1 Pl) and myself and Paul Clements in the front.


Ted Baulch, David Ferguson (Maj Gen>) Frank Wolber 5 Coy.

Dongers and his neighbour.

Heath has a new baby sister and her name is Saasha Rose.

She was delivered on Wednesday 2nd January at 9.05am and weighed in at 6lb 8oz. Michelle and baby both doing well. Andrew and Heath are excited to have a baby girl join their family and as grandparents we are proud of them all.

Cheers Yvonne and Brian

Hi.

I spotted your website when I was doing some research. I am involved with a volunteer committee manufacturing the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk here in Seymour. I just thought I’d let you know, in case you haven’t heard of what we are doing. Stage One was completed a couple of years ago – a replica of Luscombe Bowl at Nui Dat. It contains storyboards of the war and some of the major battles. We also placed a beautiful cairn in front of the Bowl in honour of the three sections of the Australian military who served in the conflict. The ground around the cairn and Bowl are covered in pavers with the names of those who served or their families and friends. It is all detailed on our website listed below and I’ve also attached a photograph for you to see.

Stage Two is opening on the 9th of March – brochure above. It is an 80m long x 7′ high, double-sided digiglass wall which depicts both a photographic history of the war whilst at the same lists the names of all those Aussies who served in the conflict. I’ve attached a sample pic of The Wall which appeared in one of our local papers. There are still gardens going in which will represent the rubber trees and rice paddies, paths, artefacts and all sorts of other things, hopefully all in place for the opening. It’s only two and a half months away.
Please would you have a look at what we are doing and pass the word? Our project is huge and almost completed but still, very few people know about what we are doing. We’d love to see all of you come along.

Kind regards,
Carolynne Burgess

VIETNAM VETERANS COMMEMORATIVE WALK

www.vietnamvetswalk.org.au

BURGESS SIGNS PTY LTD

Some of you may be in a position to attend if you are in the area so I thought it might be timely to post up a bit of info.

The link to their website should be at the bottom of this article for those who require further information.

Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Stage 2 Opening

Cnr Emily and High Streets, Seymour Australia

Show map

Starts on 09 Mar 2013

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Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Stage 2 Opening. 2013 Seymour Military Heritage Weekend

The Commemorative Wall, which will include both the names of all Australian veterans who served in the Vietnam War and the photographic timeline, will be unveiled at Seymour on Saturday 9th March 2013 at 1pm. High Street, Seymour. Other activities held during the day cumulating in an evening concert of Vietnam era performers.

The Commemorative Walk is not to memorialise those who served in Vietnam and/or those who paid the ultimate price, but to commemorate the service all who played their part in what turned out to be a tumultuous part of Australia’s history. It will, in the interpretive centre give an accurate history of the times prior to military commitment, the period of our involvement and the aftermath.

The Walk will be a meandering red earth path set in native trees and grasses that resemble rubber trees and rice paddies. These two plants are synonymous with Vietnam. Along the length of this walk will be the name and serial number of every Serviceman and Servicewoman, and civilians who served in their various capacities. There will be areas of contemplation for people to use along the length of this walk.

In 2005, the then Mayor of Mitchell Shire, not what you would call a military buff, but sympathetic to the local military involvement, was looking for an attraction to lure people to into the Shire.

A chance conversation with Vietnam Veterans led to a meeting where the seed was planted. The seed grew as seed do, and the final concept plans are what you see on this website.

This walk will tie all the military sites in the area and the base at Puckapunyal together to form a lasting and highly visible addition to Australia’s living Military history.

http://www.seymour-victoria.com.au/

http://www.vietnamvetswalk.org.au/

Hello to one and all from “The Pidgeon Loft”.
Life has been quite hectic since we arrived back in chilly Tas.
John and I decided we would take a trip o’seas at the beginning of next year and as I have never been away from the fair country of Aust. the need was for me to get a passport, and what a lot of hoo-haa involved. The least favourite for me was the photo, taken with the “ugly camera” as Jo Quinn calls it. Anyway after proving my birth and marriage identity
and parting with the necessary $$’s I now have the passport (feel quite important now).
Our trip is the 40 day cruise to Japan with all the stop-overs in between, leaving Sydney on the 6th March and returning to Sydney
on the 15 April.
We are coming across to the “big island” at the end of Feb with the car and will leave it at Shayne’s in Vic and when we return from the cruise
in April we will stay there for a while and then hook up the van and head north for the winter —– really are birds aren’t we!
We have the family arriving and various times during Dec and Jan so our festive season will be a busy, fun one.
I really am enjoying the Blog site and I am sure once we all become accustomed to it there will be heaps more input.
Wishing you the best for Christmas and the New Year and may 2013 be a beauty for you all – – – cheers John and Jenny

A couple of shots received from Pom and Jenny Hallam recently.

Haven’t heard why they have had to do this, whether it is doctors orders, or perhaps directed to evacuate their regular home because of some natural impending disaster or some other such dreary reason, but they have agreed to go along with it and seem to be making the most of what could easily become a dreary situation.

Good on you Pom, keep up the 87 reputation.

Just a quick email to let you know that we called into Bandiana the other week to check ou the Museum as promised at the AGM.

We got to speak with a lovely young army girl, Naomi Rockliff, who was most helpful. After our initial enquiry she checked out the computer system for any records of receiving the log book and also checked with Ralph Behrends, the curator, who was not in attendance when we were there.

It appears that someone else has made enquiries recently but like us were told that there is no record of the book at Bandiana. I was assurred that everything that comes their way is entered into the system.

Must say the Museum is well worth a visit. We haven’t been there for some 15 years and noticed a big change in the display.

Naomi suggested we should try the Puckapunyal Museum and speak with Joe Linford. Graham and l plan a visit to Pucka in the New Year so will follow up this lead.

On a another note, Naomi indicated she would be very interested in any photos, etc.,, that the unit could send for the Museum to put on display.

There is a small area devoted to transport in Vietnam but this deals with the suppply of fuel – no photos of the ‘bowl’ or others of historical interest. If you would like to email some to then you can at- ralph.behrends@defence.gov.au.

I also mentioned that a small book had been compiled of the time of 87tpt in Vietnam and she was very interested in obtaining a copy of this for their records.

I thought you would be the best person to handle this enquiry seeing as you are now in charge of the website which l must congratulate you for. Very good.

Hope you are both travelling well, his ‘nib’s has been a bit sickly of late. Another cold and it has taken 3 lots of antiboitics to get rid of. Still he is a lot brighter today so on the mend.
Give our regards to everyone in QLD.

Jenny & Blue

We have been informed by the family of Brian Clarke that Brian (Nobby) slipped away during the night of 22/23 October 2012, succumbing to an onslaught of Cancer.

Brian’s family has requested that Brian’s funeral be a quiet Family affair limited to direct family members. The family  have also intimated that at a later date a “Scattering of Ashes “ ceremony will be held to which friends and acquaintances will be invited. We hope to be kept informed on the blog re any updates as they occur.

Rest in Peace Brian, I am positive the thoughts and memories of all members of 87 Transport Platoon are with you and your family at this time.

87 Recently held another successful reunion at the Park Beach Bowls Club in Coffs Harbour. Approximately 28 members plus families turned up for this years get-together. The tried and proven format of years gone by were once again applied and a casual “meet and greet” gathering was held at the Club in a private function room upstairs where old mates met and reminisced of times gone by and any pangs of hunger were quelled by a wide and varied selection of finger foods.

Saturday was set aside as a free morning to do whatever one wished, shopping, sightseeing or simply catching up with mates and by the mid afternoon all had scrubbed up and headed off to nearby Sawtell where the local RSL held a commemorative service for Long Tan Day or Vietnam Veteran’s Day as it is now known. Our numbers somewhat swelled the attendance at this moving service which included a well spoken message by the Padre and a number of dignitaries (including our 87 Widows, laying wreaths at the memorial.

From the service we had to high-tail back to Coffs Harbour as our “Official Dinner” was set for 1830 with a 1900 sit down time frame. The meal was delicious and extremely well presented and a credit  to the catering staff of the Club, not to mention the organiser(s) of the reunion. Take a bow Ken and Margaret!

Following are some mug shots of some of the attendees.

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