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News and Reunions!

DFRDB UPDATE YEARS END 2017

Introduction.

As we look back over 2017 we must wonder what we have achieved and at first glance it does not look so good. We have certainly made our Politicians aware of our concerns and our mailing lists have continued to grow. These are not victories certainly not what we want but defeat is not on our radar.

With a project like this we have learned that if you write to your local member and that person is a member of the Government your letter will be flick passed to Minister Tehan who will reply to your Local member using the same letter they have been using since about 2015. The letter is then forwarded to you; your Local member feels warm and fuzzy and has not done a thing for your cause. The other major party follow the same path except your letter goes to the Shadow Minister. There is very little difference in the content in the two letters and some of the phrases are the same. Some independents have been very supportive.

Petition.

The Minister has had the petition for close to three months and as yet no reply, the wheels of government turn very slowly. We anticipate a knock back from the Lower House and then the petition to the Upper House can be tabled.

Jacquie Lambie and Pauline Hanson.

Both of these Senators have been very supportive and we should thank them for their efforts, the loss of Jacquie may well only be a short term event and in all honesty we need her back in either the Upper or Lower House.

Our Plan.

We will continue with our fight as long as we have your support. We will continue to badger the Government and the Opposition. We will request a face to face meeting with the Minister and try to put our case without his Public Service minders. We will approach Paul Murray and Graham Richardson from Sky News to try and get our message out in the open and we are seeking a major newspaper journalist who would be able to do a feature article. We may still be forced to go down the High Court road.

Christmas.

We wish you all a happy and safe Christmas, thank you for your support and may we finish this

project in 2018

Regards, Jim Hislop (Lt Col retd) and Herb Ellerbock. (WO1 retd).

Legacy Survey.

Melbourne Legacy is conducting a survey regarding younger veterans who served in the ADF in any capacity post 1991. So far, the survey has lacked RAAF participation, and we have been approached for help to encourage anyone who has served post 1991 to complete this short survey.

The survey takes only a short amount of time to complete, and can be accessed via the following link HERE ;

Bomber command.

For the last couple of years Catherine Wallis has been assisting the Bomber Command Association (BCA). In April 2018, the UK will officially open the International Bomber Command Centre. It is a fantastic centre, with memorial walls, peace gardens, a world class interactive museum and an education centre. It will ensure these important stories are not lost.

Australia has about 10 Bomber Command Veterans (all 93yrs plus) who are able to travel and who would love to see the new centre and attend the opening. Unfortunately, BCA have been unable to obtain government funding for this.

Catherine has set up a GoFundMe campaign to get them there, she says:  “I think we owe these wonderful veterans a last opportunity to see their legacy. What I ask is that you would consider sharing this campaign widely, especially amongst your Facebook, Instagram and other groups, so that we have a chance to meet our target. All monies raised will be administered by the Bomber Command Association and shared equally among those veterans able to travel.”

You can donate HERE

GEMS Patron.

Greg “Jacko” Lyons says:  “We are known as Ground Equipment Maintenance Association Inc and we have been honoured to welcome our first Patron - Air Vice Marshall Warren McDonald the current  Deputy Chief of Air Force who started his RAAF carrier as an MT Fitter Apprentice. So obviously we’re excited... See our web site HERE.”

Garbage!!

The following email is once again doing the rounds:

“Anzac Day

It cost the Federal Government $500,000 to find out how to best celebrate 100 years of the Gallipoli landing and this is what the dickheads came up with:

‘That we will upset some people in the community by celebrating Anzac Day (you know who they meant).  My God!! ………… For F***s Sake!!, As well as the Aussies, Brits, Scots, Kiwi’s, Yanks, Canuks, Gurka’s, Fuzzy Wuzzies, Frogs, Poles, Cloggies, etc. we have Japanese and Germans march on Anzac Day as well.  It’s a day that all countries involved commemorate their mates who did not return. Now!!! …. Are you ready for this?.....The Federal Gov. is now going to throw another $100,000 to someone to find out WHY it was suggested we tone down Anzac Day.

What a bunch of dumb bastards, we have 'governing' our country!! What the Hell is this bulls**t about 'toning down' ANZAC day because it may offend immigrants in Australia?  What an absolute crock of s**t! This is Australia because all our forefathers and brothers fought for us!!! This is one special day that 'we' proud Aussie's pay our respects to the many heroes lost fighting for our freedom and “OUR” Country!  ……………… YES!!! ….“OUR” Country!!!

So who cares if some DAMN ILLEGAL immigrant , funded by “OUR” taxes,  gets offended because of tribute we rightfully shower upon “OUR” ANZACS!  If you're a proud Aussie too, please send this on just to remind everybody whose country they're in !!”

If you’re a proud Aussie, with just a small amount of intelligence, you’ll flick it straight to its rightful place, the bin, as it’s all crap!.  Once again, someone with an axe to grind has found a small piece of information and amended it to suit their own biased, bitter and inflammatory political outlook.

There was a meeting held and that meeting did put forth some recommendations, but they were soundly rejected by the Government. If you want to read the true version – see HERE

B24 Liberator Restoration.

B24 Liberator Restoration Australia is a not-for-profit organisation which is located in a WWII hangar at Farm Road Werribee. The organisation has been restoring a B24 Liberator aircraft over the past 20 years, which is now well advanced following countless hours of painstaking restoration.

B24 Liberator Restoration Australia is preserving aviation and RAAF history and is providing the often understated benefits of fellowship and fostering community spirit. The restoration site receives many visitors throughout the year and hopefully will receive Museum status in the near future. More information about the group’s operation can be obtained by visiting its website at http://www.b24australia.org.au/home.

The group is seeking to fill its Honorary Treasurer position commencing the end of January 2018 following the retirement of the present incumbent. The new incumbent would ideally be a qualified accountant or someone with extensive bookkeeping experience.  Position duties include:

• maintenance of financial records, including monthly financial reports

• receipts (shop, donations, membership revenue) and payments (internet banking)

• liaison with National Trust regarding donations

Accounting is EXCEL-based to maintain the system’s simplicity. Position workload is estimated at 2-2.5 hours per week.

This voluntary position would be a rewarding experience for a suitably qualified person to work with a group of passionate, dedicated individuals. The Association has a B24 Liberator Branch based at the Werribee complex.

Interested parties should contact Judith Gilbert, Secretary B24 Liberator Restoration Australia at liberator@b24australia.org.au or phone (03) 9734 0094.

Vietnam War Losses.

The Vietnam War was a hugely costly war for the US and its Allies. Apart from the numerous lives that were lost, the equipment losses were also staggering:

Lives lost:

Aircraft loses:

The US Military lost almost 10,000 aircraft during the war, mainly due to antiaircraft artillery or missiles, The RAAF lost 13, 3 Caribous, 2 Canberras, 2 Sabres and 6 Iroquois.

Click HERE for the full list of aircraft losses – the numbers are staggering.

Long Tan Cross.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Dan Tehan, recently announced that an important piece of Australia’s military history will soon find a new home after the Vietnamese Government gifted the original Long Tan Cross to Australia.

Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick received the Long Tan Cross from the Dong Nai Province People’s Committee at a small ceremony at the Dong Nai Museum in Biên Hòa last month. An Australian Defence Force member then travelled with the cross on its journey to Australia.

The Long Tan Cross was erected by Australian soldiers as a memorial to their fellow diggers who fought and died at the Battle of Long Tan on the 18^th August 1966, Australia’s most costly single engagement in the Vietnam War. It was removed from the Long Tan battle site some time after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. It was reportedly used as a memorial for a Vietnamese Catholic priest until the 1980s when it was restored and eventually placed on display by the Dong Nai Province Museum in Biên Hòa in the late 1990s.

Approximately 60,000 Australian men and women served in the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1975, including 521 who lost their lives and more than 3,000 who were wounded. For many Australians, the Long Tan Cross has come to symbolise our involvement in the Vietnam War. It is a powerful memorial to the service and suffering of Australian soldiers.

The Cross will now remain in Australia for perpetuity and will go on display at its new permanent home at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra from 6^th December.

Appy Reunion – Werribee, 2018

Phil “Dick” Tracy would like to invite all ex-Appies to the 2018 reunion in Werribee which will be held on Saturday the 20^th January at the Werribee RSL.  Doors open at 1.00pm

You can see further information HERE.  

Veterans Support Services over Christmas.

DVA has released a Media Release advising what and when support services will be available over the Christmas break.  You can see it HERE.

Aussie Warriors.

Noel Hadfield sent us this: