Radschool Association Magazine


Radschool Association Magazine - Vol 39 Page 14
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Videos. If you use Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, you could find some of these videos will not open, that is because MSIE does not like Flash Video. This is a strange thing for Microsoft to do as more and more videos these days are in Flash Video format – that’s any video that has the .FLV extension. There is a cure though, you can download VLC Media Player for Windows from HERE, associate it with .FLV files and you won’t have a problem. VLC will play just about any video format. There are a lot of photos in these two pages and will take a few minutes to load. Our suggestion is to let the page fully load before trying to scroll down to read it.

RTFV-35 Sqn Reunion. Over the 4 days, 26^th February to 29^th February, 2012, a lot of ex RTFV-35 Sqn blokes, along with their wives/partners, got together in Brisbane to celebrate the departure of the Squadron from Vietnam. RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam, (RTFV), which operated the Caribou aircraft, was formed in Vung Tau in 1964 and on the 1^st June 1966, RTFV was re-titled No 35 Squadron. On the 19^th February 1972, 40 years ago, the last of the RAAF’s Caribou aircraft left Vung Tau for their return flight to Richmond. This made it the first of the RAAF’s squadrons committed to Vietnam and the last one to leave. The idea for this recent re-union germinated in Townsville in November 2009 when past members of RTFV-35 Sqn and 38 Sqn, gathered to farewell the Caribou aircraft which was honourably retired after 45 years of service. John Sambrooks, who likes a cold beer on a hot day, and on a Thursday, and a Saturday – in fact on any day ending in Y, and who is the secretary of the RTFV-35 Sqn association, thought it would be a great idea to get together again to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Squadron’s departure from Vietnam – an idea that was readily accepted and agreed to by most. John and his lovely partner, Andrea, then spent the better part of the ensuing 2 years cajoling Governments, Government Departments, organisations and individuals to part with some of their money to subsidise costs. Venues and events were considered, investigated, some disregarded, others accepted and finally a program was put together and broadcast to all.
The wonderfully-well put together program which was organised by Sambo and Andrea (who was “Shanghaied” into the effort), included: Sunday 26^th Feb · A “Meet and Greet” at the Kedron Wavell Services Club. · Sausage sizzle bar-b-q at the Oaks. Monday 27^th Feb · Bus trip to the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra. · Lunch at the Caloundra RSL Club. · Pizzas at the Oaks. Tuesday 28^th Feb · Bus trip to Aerospace Australia at Brisbane Airport to see how the MRH90 and the ARH Tiger helicopters are built. · Ceremonial Dinner at the Kedron Wavell Services Club. Wednesday 29^th Feb · A Dedication Ceremony where the RTFV/35Sqn plaques were mounted at the ANZAC Shrine in Brisbane. · Tour of Castlemaine-Perkins brewery to see how XXXX beer is made followed by a few samples of the brew at a Beer-b-q in the Ale House. If you missed it – you missed an excellent event. Stew Bonett is planning another which will be held at Coffs Harbour in 2014, put it in your diary. Dates etc will be notified in due course.
Seen at the Meet and Greet:

Back Row L-R: Don Payne, Allan Rogers, Kath Rogers. Front Row L-R: Pat Kimberley, Gary Kimberley, Lyn Payne.


L-R: Wendy Bebbington, Brenda Williamson, Dianne Kirby, Pat Piggott.


L-R: Dennis Window, John Sambrooks, Allan Shaw, Geoff Brand, Jim Williamson, Nigel Murray, Ted Strugnell, Laurie Rappo, Bob Hodgson, Norm Bruce.

L-R: Susan Bothman, Peter Franks, Bob Williams, Cathy Williams, Jeff Pedrina, John Griffiths, Robyn Pedrina.

L-R: Hugh McCormack, Wayne Oldfield, Des Pryce, Ted McEvoy, Jim Cameron, John Webster, Dick Salter.

Back Row, L-R: Jim Maguire, Nev Rogers, Doug Angus, Bill DeBoer, Front, L-R: Colleen Rogers, Sandra DeBoer
These two girls, Andrea Butler on the left and Sheryl Benneworth, manned the gate and made sure no one snuck in, they kept all the money safe and sound, answered a ton of questions, sold a heap of merchandise and handed out about a million “show-bags”.

Sambo had arranged to have a photographer at the Meet and Greet as he wanted to divide everyone into groups for photos. People were assembled into crews corresponding with when they served in Vung Tau. Starting with those that were there for Christmas 1964, photos were taken of groups that spent their Christmas in Vung Tau - right up to 1971.

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living"

The Class of 1964.

L-R: Trevor Hill, Eric Evans, John McDougall, Ray Piggott.
Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.

The Class of 1965.

Back Row L-R: Ron Glew, Ken White, Keith McDowell, John McDougall, Bob St John, Charlie Downs, Ray "Luigi" Hanlon. Front Row L-R: Stuart Bradley, Jack Bennett, Reg “Rocky” Rockliff, Gary Kimberley, John Hartigan, Terry Topping.
Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.
The Class of 1966.

Back Row L-R: Fred Olsen, Brian Peck, Jeff Pedrina, Graham Johnson, Max Turner, Ken Davies. Front Row L-R: Keith Kinch, Jim Cameron, Gordon Nicholls, Stew Bonett, Dirk Van Kessel (Peter Forster), Geoff Hall.
Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.
The Class of 1967.

Back Row L-R: Brian Dwyer, Kev Erwin, Jim Maguire, Graham Palmer, Robert “Eckles” Eley, Wally Little, Bob Williams, John McDougall. Front Row L-R: Peter St John, Jack Bennett, Hugh McCormick, Doug Angus, John Webster, Ted McEvoy.
Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.

The Class of 1968.

Back Row L-R: Keith McDowall, Len Bebbington, John Griffiths, Nev Rogers Front Row L-R: Wayne Frew, Des Pryce, Wayne Oldfield, Dick Salter
Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.

The Class of 1969 - the "A Team"

Back Row, L-R: Bill DeBoer, Nidge Murray, Ken Matthews, Allan Shaw, Trev Benneworth, Stuart Bradley, Col Duffield, Peter Franks Front Row, L-R: Don Payne, John Barry, John Sambrooks, Barry Kirby, Jim Williamson, Trevor Wallace.
Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.

The Class of 1970.

Back Row, L-R: Frank Robinson, Geoff Brand, Dennis Window, Kerry “Chuck” Connors, Rob Collins. Front Row, L-R: Nev Young, Tom Mills, Allan Rogers, Don Henny.
Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.


The Class of 1971.

Back Row, L-R: Barry “Sluggo” Patrick, Ted Strugnell, Lyndon Johnson, Wally Little, Laurie Rappo. Front Row, L-R: Brian Patten, Terry Daly, Ted Barnard, Tony Sommer.
Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.


It was then time to get all the blokes together for a group photo.


Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.


And to bring a touch of colour and glamour to the scene, it was time to get all the lovely girls together.


Click HERE to see the photo in HD and click HERE to print it out.

A man is driving down a deserted stretch of highway when he notices a sign out of the corner of his eye...It reads: SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION 10 MILES He thinks this is a figment of his imagination and drives on without second thought. Soon he sees another sign which reads: SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION 5 MILES Suddenly he begins to realize that these signs are for real and drives past a third sign saying: SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION NEXT RIGHT His curiosity gets the better of him and he pulls into the drive. On the far side of the parking lot is a stone building with a small sign next to the door reading: SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS He climbs the steps and rings the bell. The door is answered by a nun in a long black habit who asks, 'What may we do for you! my son?' He answers, 'I saw your signs along the highway and was interested in possibly doing business....''Very well my son. Please follow me.' He is led through many winding passages and is soon quite disoriented. The nun stops at a closed door and tells the man, 'Please knock on this door.' He does so and another nun in a long habit, holding a tin cup answers the door. This nun instructs, 'Please place $100 in the cup then go through the large wooden door at the end of the hallway.' He puts $100 in the cup, eagerly trots down the hall and slips through the door pulling it shut behind him. The door locks, and he finds himself back in the parking lot facing another sign: GO IN PEACE. YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS. SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU SINNER

More on the reunion on Page 15


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