RAR National Memorial Walk

You are here: Home / Archives for Dads Army

by Leave a Comment

NMW REPORT – NOVEMBER 2020

Smile Hello All,

Everyone well? I hope so.

Healthwise, I am aware of Kiwi and Margaret in RSL Care’s Fairview, Ron Woodrow still limping around at home, Margaret Devereaux still fighting on at home with Norm healing after his op. However, on the bright side Rod Wyatt turned up last week and looked resplendent astride his trusty steed, the red Ride-On Mower. Between he and Kucksy they had the lawns looking neat and trim in no time. The other good news is that Darryl Backwell has finished his stint in hospital and is convalescing back home. And Bob Kyte is back as a brand new man after an expected overnight stay in hospital extended to 10 days.

The old and bold and the usual have turned up over the last couple of weeks and as usual the Walk is looking as well as it can be although a bit messy in some areas where work in progress is ongoing mainly the Western Bank: the turf delivery has been delayed till the second week in December. The Northern Garden is still awaiting the Poinsettias to arrive from Mexico and the Russellias (Firecrackers) to start flowering but the Rosemary is doing well. All that will be needed then is a watering system to be installed and some fresh mulch and it will look a treat.

Our special Remembrance Day service at the NMW for the 145 pupils of the McDowall State School went well. A full report will be presented in the December Report. Over the years we have built a special relationship with the School which has a good number of Defence family children.

I am still persevering with lawn in front of the Contemplation Building (CB) and it is doing reasonably well although it is suffering from heavy foot traffic. I have mentioned this before that Defence were going to put in a pedestrian path there but they started at the other end and apparently ran out of money or materials when they got to the far side of Kapyong car park driveway hence the hapless hordes instead of crossing the road to the other footpath across our grass then they have to navigate the Military Police car park until they find another footpath to continue their journey. I am tempted to plant Murraya as an all-round hedge but might run into a bit of trouble as there are gas cocks, water cocks and electrical manholes that all need access by emergency services.

Here is Doug Spice, our Waterman. We presented him a small knick knack made of wire, nuts, washers and bolts that represents his job. Ted donated it for presentation in appreciations of Doug’s never-ending quest to direct water (with pressure) to where it is needed. The cost/benefits of a timed irrigation system is being assessed

Here I am giving the new IET march ins to 8/9 RAR a briefing on the Regimental’s NMW and with the 8/9 RAR Padre Leo Orreal reciting and introducing them to The Regimental Prayer.

Greg Decker, the NMW’s Project Officer getting some help from a 6 RAR IET work party. The help from both units 6 RAR and 8/9 RAR is very much appreciated and the new soldiers leave with a fair idea of what is The Royal Australian Regiment and its Regimental Family. They see the Regimental motto Duty First expanded on by the RAR Associations and the National Memorial Walk to a motto of Keeping The Spirit Alive.

But as we all know it can’t be done in half an hour or so as it is a long learning curve which must be lived to be appreciated.

Today at the Walk a lot of small jobs like re-staking of leaning trees as well as the normal raking of leaves among the trees were completed.  Which will soon be a serious job when both Battalions training allows as the fuel (leaves and branches) among the trees will need to be removed as the fire season is soon to be here.

A major task that is taking some doing is the discovery and removal of carpet in certain areas of the trees. No mean feat as the roots, over the years, have claimed the carpet as their own and are loath to give it up.  A job needing to be undertaken because when and if it rains it needs to naturally soak into the ground and not the carpet.

All in all, things are progressing and the area looks as well as it can be expected with the general lack of rain.

Today with Ted, I escorted our Patron Major General Stuart Smith and DVA’s Repatriation Commissioner Don Spinks on a show and tell visit of The Walk. It was Don’s first visit and he was impressed with its purposes, presentation and the dedication of the Regiment and particularly Dad’s Army to keeping the spirit alive. Stuart expressed concern at the reducing number of visitors by the entry and escort limitations being imposed.

Here is the latest Dad’s Army photograph. What a fine bunch of elder retired warriors. Ages range from 72 to 94

Front Row: Left-Right- Ken Cupples, Dan Penman, Ken Falvey, Dave McDonald, Doug Spice, Ted Chitham, Theresa Muggeridge, Rod Shaw, Derek Nixon-Smith.
Back Row: Left-Right – Cec Zabielo, Arthur McDonald, Louis Kucks, Mick van Brugh, Alan Wendt, Rod Newham, Trevor Pond, Allan Wayne, Bob Kyte, Mal Black, Barry Shipway and Robert Cross

That about wraps it up for the month. Keep safe, look out for a mate and remember by your actions you are Keeping the Spirit Alive.

Happy 72nd Birthday to the Royal Australian Regiment (23 November 1948)

Regards

Dave

Dave

Manager RAR NMW

by Leave a Comment

Dads’ Army Report – Monday 25th May 2020

Another fine Brisbane morning last Monday with most of the usual people turning up and still working in pairs and being very aware of social distancing and we still got it done.

A bit of Admin first up, Trevor Pond went into Brisbane Private Hospital on Tuesday morning for his back operations. He expects to be home next Tuesday. He is in a private room which has a phone and visiting hours a fairly liberal. I think his first op was today so maybe a phone call before a visit maybe the go. I leave it up to your good sense.

Yesterday I had to go for a Hearing test at Ashgrove and I could hear a voice that I couldn’t quiet recognize in the consulting room. Lo and behold out came Darcy Dugan. He is looking well and still doesn’t mind a chat. You would be pleased to know Wombat he had shoes AND socks on. Anyway he tells me Gail and he are well. 

Ted phoned Margaret at the RSL Care’s Fairview at Pinjara Hills last week seeking her help to identify the persons in the photos published in her personal Booklet on planting the NMW memorial trees. You can see the Booklet (text and photos here). Margaret was pleased we had posted the booklet on the NMW website but due to her failing eyesight was unable to help but did offer names of those who might help such as Ken Cupples, John Stevens, Ron and Gerry Woodrow to name a few. Kiwi is well and he would like to visit the Walk when restrictions are removed. Ron W and I will arrange it at a suitable time for Kiwi.

Well the Walk is looking as well as can be expected with very little rain. It is all neat and tidy and given a good mow by Bob Kyte and trim by Norm Deveroux and two to three blokes on blowers with the never ending battle against the leaves and bark. It keeps Ken Cupples busy carting the rubbish to our mulch pile.

Derek Nixon-Smith is doing a marvelous job to keep the Contemplation Building in good order during Owen’s absence.  

Barry Shipway, Rod Newham and Mick van Burgh were busy planting the two trees that needed replacing. If you don’t know, Shippy, he does medal mounting. I got him to make up seven sets of miniatures for my grandchildren.  A top job and at real “mates rates”.

As usual Robert Cross was “Mr Anything to be done Dave?” a real help and  jumps in whenever he can.

Cec did his usual with the rubbish cans and Dan Penman paid us a visit from Bli Bli and between he and  Ken Falvey have their areas looking neat and tidy but yet again, as with everyone else, would love to green up with some rain. Which reminds me that our waterman Doug has the patience of Job trying to keep the sprinklers working but the can only do so much.

Work in progress on both the Western slope and the Northern slope around the Contemplation Bld is slowly but surely continuing. Ted is a glutton for punishment, with all the trouble he had with getting rid of the Golden Pendas on the Northern slope he went home and got rid of the one in his garden.

Some of the boys decided they would give the hibiscus a bit of a trim, it ended up more like a marine buzz cut, however, it will grow back.  The reasoning for this bit of work was to allow access to the Ironbark tree that was in the centre. It has a lot of potential dead fall to be trimmed or maybe the tree should be cut down as it is close to the road and could pose a real danger. Anyway up to Spotless now to consider it a risk.

It turned out to be a special day as we had a visit from the RSM 8/9 RAR, Mick Carroll, the RP Sgt Michael Watto “Watson” and the Mascot handler. They made the visit to see what they could do to help us throughout the year. Mick is going to liaise with the new RSM 6 RAR to make it a Regimental tasks with both battalions helping out and see what the Regimental Family is all about. Will keep you in touch but any help would be much appreciated.

See photos from today’s activities here

That’s all for this week. As always look out for you and yours and don’t forget your mates with the simple question – RUOK?

Cheers and Take Care

Dave