Radschool Association Magazine

Radschool Association Magazine - Vol 11

Next reunion 25-27 April 2003

31 July 2002

Page 10

35Sqn marching down Adelaide St in Brisbane, ably led by Rocky McGregor. A total of 53 blokes marched behind him this year

Anzac Day - 2002

The Anzac Day 2002 celebration in Brisbane, which seems to be getting bigger and better each year, was as good as you would want-from both a participant’s and spectator’s point of view.

There was a huge number of marchers with the final bunch of Army blokes going down the street some 2½ hours after the start, yet the crowd of many many thousands refused to budge and stayed to the last.

This year the march was led by the RAAF with the Navy second, and the Army bringing up the rear. Next year the RAAF goes to the back.

It was very interesting to see the make up of the crowd, there were blokes and their girls dressed in leather with tats and metal bits sticking out of them everywhere, there were grannies, young families, kids, old blokes, lots of girls, blokes in suites, mums with prams, they waved flags, clapped, cheered, called out, some had small banners saying "Thank You!", in all, it was a very moving experience, and if you’ve never marched, you should.

Old Radtechs, John Butler and John Broughton - stepping it out.

Apart from the march which is a way of declaring to the public that you were proud of what you did, that you were proud of the Squadron or unit that you were in, that you were proud to be with the blokes that you did it with, it is also a time when blokes and blokettes meet up with mates from long ago, it’s a time when you can see someone you haven’t seen for 20-30 years, yet when you do meet again you chat on as though it was only yesterday.

A lot of blokes did only 6 years, yet the mates they made in that short time they keep forever. Mates from civvy street "just ain’t the same" - wonder why - perhaps it’s something to do with the selection process ...

Next year it’s our turn. We’ve been in touch with the people that control the march in Brisbane and written to them to ask for permission to march under the yellow Radschool banner that first came to life last year.

If we get the OK, and we hope it’s just a formality, then we’ll fit in somewhere towards the back with 2 and 35 Sqns and we can march under the banner of the RAAF’s School of Radio.

A fit and healthy Pete DeJonge at the Anzac Day muster. What do they say about a bloke who doesn’t drink, smoke and go out with bad women ...

We’ve also been in touch with Allan George who is still in, and is possibly the RAAF’s longest serving member (from 1965-now), and we’ve asked him to lead us.

Allan is not certain if he can get away, it will all depend on what’s happening this time next year, but he’s working on it and hopes to be able to make it.

The march and the socialising afterwards will be the start of our reunion in 2003 which we hope to make bigger and better than ever.

Please try and make it.

John "Porky" Donohue-at his first march, surprised at the huge crowd that had turned out to see him ...

If a bride wears white because white is the colour of happiness, why does the groom wear black!!

Here's one you've just got to try ... http://duplo.org/wille/

Page 10