VENDETTA VETERANS ASSOCIATION (QLD) ABN

Transcription

1 VENDETTA VETERANS ASSOCIATION (QLD) ABN Newsletter - 24/2016 Hello Shipmates, We are now well into 2016 and how time has flown since we got together on Anzac Day in It has been a busy year for the Association with the very successful September reunion in Port Macquarie organised by the Sydney team. It was a great opportunity to meet up with members of the crew again. There were some crew members at the reunion who I had not seen or spoken to seen since the 1970s saw the passing of our former ship mate POMTP Kevin (Bonox) Beveridge, R57828 who will be sadly missed as an active association member until he got sick will see the retirement from marching of our WW2 member, Stores Assistant Gordon Hill. Gordon recently turned 97 and has decided to pull the plug by not marching and instead put his efforts into watching the Brisbane Anzac Day march on TV from the comfort of his armchair. Gordon you have put in a good innings at the march but we will miss your happy smiling face and friendly banter. Also 2016 has seen the recent arrival of Brett Kruse (POSTD and HMAS Vendetta Canteen Manager) to Queensland from South Australia. Brett has moved into the Wynnum Regis aged care facility over at Wynnum. On the 10 January 1916, the Anzac Day Commemoration Committee was formed as a citizen s committee by a mass meeting of people of Brisbane and appointed to make arrangements for, and carry out, the celebration of ANZAC Day as a gift of the people to commemorate the fallen, remember the wounded and recognise the courage of Australia s servicemen. Anzac Day has been continuously commemorated since The Brisbane Anzac Day Parade, together with dawn vigils, memorial services and veterans reunions have been a feature of the commemoration of Anzac Day by the Citizens of Brisbane since its earliest days. This year s march planning has also included recognition of the 100 year anniversary of the formation of the RSL. The RSL was formed in June 1916 by troops returning from WWI with the purpose of preserving the spirit of mateship formed amidst the carnage and horror of battle, to honour the memory of the fallen and to help each other whenever required.

2 The underlying philosophy of the League is mateship and this is as true now as it was in In 1916, there was no formal government welfare service for veterans and the RSL committed itself to provide for the sick, wounded and needy among those that had served including their dependants. The RSL was instrumental in creating: A Commonwealth repatriation system Service, disability and war widows pensions Various employment and retraining programs (and for many years operated its own employment bureau) Child health programs Vocational guidance services. In effect, the RSL was the first national welfare agency in Australia and welfare remains our prime function today. ANZAC Day in Brisbane is year is being lead by the RAAF and for those planning to attend the march there are a couple of things you need to be aware of: a. Navy will step off second this year behind the RAAF. You need to be at our marshalling point by no later than You will be able to find us in the marshalling area (William Street near Elizabeth) from around The banner will be up in William Street down near the front entrance to the Treasury Hotel and all Navy contingents will muster and form up on William Street. b. WW11 veterans able to march the full distance of the parade are welcome to parade behind their banner with one carer or one person of discretionary age. c. Full size medals only to be worn No minatures. d. All financial members have been issued with Association name badges. Please wear your name badges. It is expected that if you don t wear your name badge then the Association is given a gold coin donation in lieu. e. The Parade Marshalls have requested that only veterans should march in the parade. If a veteran requires a carer then one (1) carer may march with the veteran. The squad leader has the discretion to determine who can and cannot join the group during the march. f. Veterans and carers must wear covered footware. No sandals or thongs are to be worn on parade. g. BCC buses will be rotating from with pick-up points at Central Station, Queens Park and Elizabeth Street to take participants to the marshalling area. h. All public transport on Anzac Day is free to veterans. Wear your medals so the inspectors can pick you out easily.

3 ANZAC DAY AM FALL IN FOR MARCH on WILLIAM STREET near ELIZABETH STREET AFTER MARCH BUFFET LUNCH & ANNUAL GET TOGETHER (Lunch will be served at 1230) JADE BUDDHA Bar & Casual Dining 1 Eagle Street Pier, BRISBANE COST $35.00 PER PERSON for Buffet Lunch only (A Cash Bar is available) WIVES, PARTNERS & FAMILIES ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE LUNCH FOR CATERING PLEASE RSVP BEFORE Wednesday, 20 April 2016 PHONE: or MKRAUSE@bigpond.net.au MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS ARE DUE ON ANZAC DAY $5.00 WW2 VETERANS - $10.00 ALL OTHERS Vendetta Veterans Shop Vendetta Veterans Association gold badges are still available. These can be obtained when you renew your membership on ANZAC Day or by posting a cheque/cash/money order (or by EFT) for $20.00 to the above address. Badges will be forwarded by return mail. Name badges are available if you have lost the one you were issued with. Replacement cost is $ For replacement name badges send us the details and the money and we will arrange for your replacement to be made and forwarded to you. We have decided to give the polo shirts a rest for as while but there are few still available. The shirts are white with blue side inserts and have a pocket. The collar has HMAS Vendetta printed on it. We have 6 shirts left in stock. 3 x size S, 2 x size M and 1 x size XXXL. These are available at a below cost reduced sale price of $25.00 each. Details on how to purchase is on the membership renewal form.

4 Association Caps are available with either blue or gold writing. Pictures are available for viewing on the web site There are plenty in stock and cost $15.00 each plus $7.00 for P&H. You can pre-order badges, shirts and caps before Anzac Day for delivery on Anzac Day to save on P&H. Naval Memorial South Brisbane The services of a renowned Queensland sculptress have been sought to create a bronze statue of a sailor in pre-1960 No1 rig uniform with a seabag at his side waving goodbye. The sculptress has completed similar projects, such as The Year of The Outback, which stands outside the Council Chambers at Boonah. After numerous site suggestions the Brisbane City Council has offered a location adjacent to South Bank Memorial Park opposite the Queensland Maritime Museum. The statue will be 2 metres high on a 2mtr octagonal plinth it is visualised that the front will feature a plaque of blue granite with the Naval Logo in gold and the Naval Ode each of the other sides will carry a plaque depicting the ships names in all wars since Federation. WW2 will have all the Battle Honours due to the number of ships involved, is hoped that this memorial when finished will serve as the pinnacle place for all naval events, long overdue in Brisbane. To date, a memorial such as this has not been erected in Queensland and therefore is truly unique and worthy of acknowledgment. It will stand for years to come, marking a moment in time when naval veterans banded together to right an injustice, making a difference not only in their own lives but in the lives of many. Whilst initial fund raising efforts have raised a considerable amount the target has not yet been reached. Also the Brisbane City Council has identified some engineering issues with the current plinth which need to be addressed before work can commence.

5 VENDETTA VETERANS ASSOCIATION (QLD) ABN Fiona Street, Telephone: (07) Bellbird Park Qld MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2016/2017 Vendetta Veterans Association (Qld) 58 Fiona Street Bellbird Park Qld 4300 NAME:. ADDRESS:. TELEPHONE: . VENDETTA VETERANS BADGE: (Badges are available at $20.00 each includes P&H) Please forward me a badge $20.00 enclosed VENDETTA VETERANS ASSOCIATION shirts are available for $25.00 plus $8.00 for P&H while stocks last. If you want one please circle your size S M XXXL VENDETTA VETERANS ASSOCIATION caps are available for $15.00 plus $7.00 for P&H AMOUNT ENCLOSED: For EFT Payments: Account Name: Vendetta Veterans Association (Qld) BSB No: Account No: $5.00 per year for WW2 Veterans - $10.00 per year for all others.