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May 29, 2020 by Ted Chitham 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

Filed Under: Dads Army, Uncategorized

May 26, 2020 by Ted Chitham Leave a Comment

History – Building the RAR National Memorial Walk

This history of building the RAR National Memorial Walk was written by Margaret Gibbons who with her husband Kiwi Gibbons (The Curator) were part of the group of pioneers who brought the NMW concept into reality. The Regiment is indebted to Margaret and Kiwi for their dedication to “Keeping the Spirit Alive”. In recognition of their contribution to the veterans community both Kiwi and Margaret were awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

READ MORE

We need your help to complete the record by identify those persons in the photographs. If you are able to then please email the details to Ted Chitham at [email protected] Please use this format: Picture # (Number in sequence from the first photo (#1) consecutively to the last photo); Names in order left to right (as you look at the photo) and in rows front to back. Guesses are acceptable. Thanks for your help.

Filed Under: National Memorial Walk, Uncategorized

January 22, 2020 by Jayden Leave a Comment

A Tribute to Volunteers of all Military Associations – Still Soldiering On in Mufti

Still Soldiering On In Mufti.
  Inspired by Lieutenant Colonel Ted Chitham MC OAM (Retired) who has always led the way       

Soldiering is a life experience and for most never to be forgotten. From the very moment that the oath is sworn, you are for the time being, just another unfortunate creature whose mother sold you to the military for a silver coin. 

What the recruiting sergeant conveniently did not mention is that a total and rigid obedience to military regulations was obligatory.

Incredibly as each uncoordinated group experienced the wrath of instructors at varying level of rank, slowly and surely the rabble became a team with instinctive obedience to all commands

 Military history records the deeds of units in both peace and war yet often fails to recognize those who made it so and the powerful spirit of unit pride and mateship which old soldiers carry to the grave and perhaps beyond.  Such spirit and loyalty to unit did not just happen, but began with the very first shrill bark of command by a non- commissioned officer.

In time, with hard and demanding training, strangers became friends and then comrades. Individual views and uncoordinated action were transformed into a team with clear purpose and action.

No one can determine exactly when the precious brother and sister hood arrived to embrace both unit and regiment. However, there is no evidence whatsoever it came to be with a wave of a General’s baton or a space age politician making promises.  

What we do know is that the military family gathered strength with each demanding challenge and recognition of achievements in peace or war. We do know the demands of high standards were met, and with it came even more confidence, battle discipline, individual and collective pride. With all of these assets was the most valuable legacy of the ANZAC spirit.

It is not surprising that as each column converts to mufti, there are many volunteers who continue to shepherd the thinning ranks with sharing and caring and reminding society of who and what they still are.  

Thus my compliments to all volunteers of all military associations and in particular those I have seen at first hand being The Royal Australian Regiment Association (RARA), Battalion Associations of the Royal Australian Regiment, The Australian Training Team Vietnam Association (ATTVA) and 51st Battalion , Far North Queensland Regiment Association

Old Soldiers Never Die

Time has aged those who once wore the proud badge of the Roo The gaps in the ranks of old warriors are more than a few
Gone the spritely step and strong pulse beat
No more the singing round campfires on ready made seats
Yet still the memories of roll calls for so many brothers
Still young soldiers at heart, so ready to help each other
Beat the drums and sound the bugle call
All for one and one for all

Soldiers grow old yet always a powerful regimental spirit is there
 Thanks to volunteers who are seen to be everywhere
They’ve traded rifle for names and addresses of mates in strife
No need of compass to find the home of a widow, once an army wife
Work parties maintain walls with proud names of fallen to be seen
Reunions, charity, funerals and telling school kids what ANZAC means
Beat the drums and sound the bugle call
All for one and one for all

In turn, each generation of the Regiment marches on and on
Until at last it blurs and fades on distant horizons and is gone
In each passing column, volunteers step forward to seize the flame
Dressed in mufti, armed with pen and phone, are on duty again
Old and new sentries have changed and the relief is complete
With mateship, sharing, caring, and despite weary shuffling feet
Beat the drums and sound the bugle call
All for one and one for all

George Mansford © December 2019

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

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