R.A.A.F Airfield Defence Guard |
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June 2008 |
"The Pom" |
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have recieved the following information from Margaret Leahy Communication Group DVA. There will be a formal ceremony to unveil a plaque for Lance Corporal John Gillespie on Monday 18 August 2008 at 12 noon at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, Anzac Parade, Canberra. Regards Steve Hartigan. |
Hello Pom, Did you ever find your lighter? That would be a low act if someone took it. Pom, in the few photos you have of me you have my name as (Power). Could you correct it at all? I am just about to go over to Cambodia to help clear landmines. I leave in May. Regards Peter. Well Peter i owe you a huge apology as i missed adding you to our nominal rolls and for mis-spelling your last Name but the Pom is now on the j.o.b and the error or oversight corrected. The Pom |
Ladies and Gentlemen, We have recieved this letter from Jethro Thompson directed to Charles Walford: I would like to thank you for responding so efficiently to my friend and neighbour's request for information regarding my evacuation from the ‘minefield’ in 1967. Along with three others I was seriously wounded and owe my life to the efficient response by the helicopters and the staff at 36 Evacuation Hospital. After forty days as a patient I was returned to Australia, repaired, rehabilitated fitted with an artificial leg and arm before being turned loose on the community. Life has been hard but mostly happy and extremely rewarding, and almost daily I give thanks to your people for their role in making it all possible. Forty years later I have started to put pen to paper for the benefit of my children and grand children. In my pursuit of accuracy I have sought as much information from official documents but had no idea about searching RAAF records. Asking Peter proved to be a real smart move: now I know that the helicopters were RAAF, have the name of the crew, who made the radio call for ‘Dust Off’ and the time. Once again I thank you and I will forward a copy to Bernie, Graham, Diane, Steve and Peter. Regards John. From Steve Hartigan. We don't often get to hear of what happened to the many folks that we pulled out of the jungle and the response to Jethro's request shows that everyone still deeply cares. My thanks to everyone as well for the huge and immediate replies. Steve Hartigan. |
Pom; Memorial cross erected for Gillespie and deceased VC Long Hai hills as sent to me in case you do not have it Warren Barclay |
CITY PARADES TO HONOUR IRAQ SERVICE Australians who served in southern Iraq over the past five years will be honoured with official welcome home functions in June and July. The events will mark the end of Australian Defence Force deployments - Al-Muthanna Task Group, Overwatch Battle Group West and Australian Army Training Team Iraq - in southern Iraq. BRISBANE: June 28, Brisbane City. More than 500 hundred Defence Force personnel will march through the streets of Brisbane accompanied by convoys of vehicles used to support the operations. Timings and exact routes of both parades will be released closer to the dates. DARWIN: July 5, Darwin City. A Welcome Home Parade conducted through the streets of Darwin will involve about 500 soldiers accompanied by vehicle convoys. Four of the six task force rotations to southern Iraq came from Darwin's 1st Brigade. Timings and exact routes of both parades will be released closer to the dates. TOWNSVILLE: July 20, Townsville. A Welcome Home activity will be held in conjunction with the opening of the Gecko's family facility at Lavarack Barracks. Timings will be released closer to the date. Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664 |
Dear All Can I register now? The registration process for the Family Study Program has begun. Only the group of randomly selected Army Vietnam veterans and Army defence force members will be sent invitation letters. If you would like to participate as a Vietnam veteran, defence force or family member, you can by registering for the study. You may register by doing the following: click here to register online; http://www.dva.gov.au/health/research/fsp/vv call DVA’s Health Study Line: 1800 502 302; or click here to download a registration form (PDF 100KB) to complete and return Reply Paid to the Family Study Program. Please read the information in the Q&As before registering your participation in the study. Your consent to register to participate in the study will be required. Consent information is available to read on page 4 of the registration form (PDF 100KB). DVA can not contact family members directly or take personal details of any family members from someone else. Each family member, including adult children, partners, ex-partners and siblings must register themselves. The contact details of the Family Study Program are shown below: DVA’s Health Study Line: 1800 502 302 Regards Peter Holz |
Just found the site and thought I may throw a bit of light on one missing name in
photo. Standing in middle row second from right and next to Kevin Walsh is me. Tom Dubravcic Service No A316428. Thanks for display. Regards Tom Tom has just updated some info on 4 course The Pom |
Subject: tin can bay Hi Pom, Just arrived home from Tin Can Bay after 6 days. My eldest son bought a house in Cooloola Cove so thought I would go up and have a look. Visited the Coolola Cove markets last Saturday where the Vietnam Vets have an office in the building. Must be a couple of ADGy's there as the ADG Pennant was on the wall. Couldn't recognise any faces however we all look somewhat different these days. I have a feeling Boomer Soanes and Barry Hogan are up that way somewhere. Sat out the front of the yacht club (with a stubbie) overlooking the water and the military grounds where Matthews had us for a month without a beer ration. Brought back old memories. If anyone is up there my daughter in law is working at the yacht club a couple of days a week. Her name is Pim and she is Thai. Take care old mate. Steve Hicks Sounds as if you had a great time Steve and it's a bugger gettin' old i imagine the mirror in the bathroom is telling me lies but hey it had to happen sooner or later. My daugther has just spent a week up in surfers paradise and my oldest daugther is getting married in Queenstown NZ next May so it looks as if the Pom will have to get the old kit bag out and start packing Hope all is well down your neck of the woods The Pom. |
Bob, I've been doing the Grey Nomad in DPCUs thing again. Arrived at Tindal, NT on 19 May to work as OIC Air movements and heading back to Ipswich on 4 July. Attended the 20th Anniversary SGTs Mess Dining in Night on 30 May and had a terrific time. The Mess Committee invited all former CMCs and their spouses to attend and about 13 of the 19 were there on the night. Attached photo was taken for a PR segment a few days ago. Regards to all, Vic |
UNCLASSIFIED Hey Pom, Just looking through the ADG site and seen that the date you have indicated is the 28 Jun 08 for the parade in Brisbane. If this is the reserve forces day parade then it is on the Sunday the 29 Jun 08 stepping of at 1000h from the corner of Creek and Adelaide. Thought I would let you know. Cheers, Gary Thompson G.W.C. THOMPSON WOFF /WOD 23SQN Ph: (07) 5461 2407 Mob: 041 792 0069 |
Better late than never. ANZAC day Canberra 2008. Doug Gale, Ron Stewart, Ron Sherriff, Bob Kinnane, Ron Sherriff's Daughter and Jason Brown. Regards Bob Kinnane |
Jazza's Wine and Cheese tasting Night Oop's were's the cheese ????????????? |
Gday Pom. I got home last night after another week in Adelaide. Had to go back on a bit of business. Whilst there, I ran into " Cliffy Sheer ", just out of hospital after a minor operation, Martin, " Bluey " Campbell, Steve Russell, Les " JAZZA " O'Gorman, and yep, we have found him again, Big Ben Kuchel. Cliffy wasn't feeling too hot, Steve has got more sense, but the rest of us ended up at Jazzas for a wine and cheese evening, minus the cheese, Mostly minus the wine too ( check out the " mud "in Jazzas home brewed wine ) and just good old South Aussie West End. A rather good time was had by all and I have not been so sick in a long time. I must have enjoyed myself ...... Captain kookaburra. |
Gday again mate. My email address on the site has changed. shicks@harboursidehaven.com.au Thanks..........Steve Hicks |
Hi Pom Kenny Carswell and Tex Bryson called and said its about time i came back into the fold . so after talking to them i agree and tex is forwarding the appropriate paperwork and i have found you on the web and thought i had better forward my email address . which is dsh90201@bigpond.net.au cheers mate Des Sherry (course 19) |
Query re LAC Graeme John Mounsey A317243 G'Day All, Has anybody more info in regards chemicals used by RAAF in the late 60's?? I have sent an email to Ros to inform her about the good old Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK). Great stuff for dissolving Pliabond glue, clearing sinuses and removing warts. Ted Mac Members I have received a phone call from Ms Ros Bryan who is a DVA advocate in Victoria currently acting on behalf of Graeme Mounsey. Graeme currently is making a claim and Ros would like to contact anyone who worked with him during his posting with No 2 Squadron at Phan Rang 26Nov68 to 27Nov69. Graeme was a Supplier and I’m advised he worked in the store. Ros is making enquiries as to the possibility of various solvents being handled in the store. She mentioned kerosene, turpentine and tourmaline (I have been unable to identify the latter, could it be tolulene?). Unfortunately Graeme is very ill with MS and currently he is unable to converse with Ros. Even if you weren’t at Phan Rang at the same time but worked in the store and have relevant information it would be of assistance. Ros can be contacted on 03 5682 1900 or email rosbryan@bigpond.com If you feel uncomfortable with that arrangement I would be happy to pass on any information. Gary Olsen Secretary/ Trasurer |
The email address for this lady was no good :( rosbrayan@bigpond.com Can you forward on and or add to it ? Tar old fellow :) Tomo Sorry to say, being an ADG at Phang Rang I don't know of any supplies used there, But I do know the free fire zones where sprayed with a defoliant ???? Agent Orange ? I saw a twin rotor blade chopper spraying, I was told it was a fire fighting exercise, Try searching Google for Huskie's choppers. I was there from March 1971 till May 1971. The areas we patrolled in had dead trees with their leaves still on, so it was fresh spraying all grasses were dead too! Pom ! the web site admin guy was there too and should confirm this ? Also look at the US supplied mossie repellent we used, in a small green plastic bottle, it would make you lips etc. go numb and was great for lighting fires.God know what was in it ! ????? If you see old US pic's of ground/combat troops etc. yanks carried these small bottles on their helmets ! If you can make contact with Flt Barry Williams , he was our boss and would know all! Best of luck to you both Tomo ====================================================================== Well Tomo I could add a page and a half to this story but i cannot prove anything for certain i too served at Phan-Rang 04 march 70 till 04 march 71 and can recall seeing Fairchild providers the C-123 doing low runs spraying what we were told was Mossie repellent along and around the perimeter of the base .... and although the vegetation was sparce it wasn't barren. Anyway here's my two bob's worth After my return from Phan-Rang i was posted to Richmond were later i started having problems with joints swelling and it continued till i was posted to Williamtown were it only got more frequent and more uncomfortable and with more numerous trips to see the base Medical Officer actually on one occassion when my lower jaw swelled up and got that large it made my head tilt to one side the MO tolds me i had an infected tooth the dental officer on examination sent me back to the MO( Sqn Ldr Bultler ) with a letter seeking a Please Explain as he couldn't find anything wrong with my teeth ......... i ended up at the hospital at Richmond to undergo a series of medical tests and interviews with a trip to see the Professor of Tropical Diseases followed by tests to see if i had any allergy's ..... all i was told was i had picked up some freeloading parasite that when it died it caused the area in died in to swell ..... Hmmm well it never died were it was needed the most if you know what i mean. Anyway being the typical ADG when i returned to Williamtown and i still had these swelling i told the powers to be i was alergic to tree's and escaped a few exercises and was made the section goher. In March 1974 i was discharged and after a while things subsided and returned to normal till i got employment working at a Agricultural outlet called Allag Services in Matland this company sold and distibuted ag chemicals which i would unload and load as needed on a daily basis. This company also ran a pest control service called ABK Services which operated out of the same premises that i worked in, they used to dump any unused or left over chemical spray from their trucks tanks into the backcorner of their yard and i recall seeing dead trees along the rear fence line of their property ... nowadays the old Allag site has been levelled and sealed with asphalt and is a car parking area in Bulwer Steet Maitland. Now around the same time there was a fair bit of Radio conversation going on on the local radio stations about Agent Orange and since the Pom was starting to get his old problems back read as the swellings i made the odd phone call to become part of a study to see if i was suffering any effect from Agent Orange or not. More tests and probes but no outcome or results to tell me what was wrong with me and the Pom was none the wiser but i did ask. Years later when i applied to get my student pilots licence my medical was rejected on the grounds of a Red Flag that was attached to my RAAF Medical records. Well whats this red flag attached to me for, was the next question well i never got an answer from Russell St and the good old RAAF but i did get my licence to fly. I went on to get a full unrestricted Pilots Licence which i still have. I suppose giving me the clearance to fly was possibly easier than explaing what was wrong with me and maybe cheaper. So till this day i have never recieved an explanation from the goverment about what i have or have had in a medical condition ................. The Pom. |
Please recall fellas when we got out payout from the Agent Orange settlement i recall it was about $ 1000-00 that was it as the case was settled in the states
and Australia's Veterans had their settlement money shared out amongst all i believe. |
I have the great pleasure of announcing the presence of Sluggo Wheat on the net Sluggo's email address sluggo12@bigpond.com The Pom. |
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have received the following Via Michael Gibb State Secretary of the Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently and believe it to be an excellent idea. I believe that it could also apply to all states where our returning troops are to have a march past. To All, By now it is common knowledge that our service personnel who have recently returned from Iraq are to march through Brisbane this Saturday 28th June. I have since made a few inquiries about any organised support by veterans on the day. Unlike the occasion in 2003, when there was a massive support organised for their march, I was unable to locate any organised veterans’ support this time. However, today I spoke on the phone with an Administration Officer from the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera about support from veterans. This lady was very pleased to hear that veterans were anticipating coming into the city, wearing their medals and standing in support of the service personnel. She conceded that she had not thought of giving a formal invitation to the veteran community, but was very pleased to hear that some of the veteran community were thinking of them. Therefore, please spread the word far and wide to encourage as many veterans as possible to go into the city on Saturday, wear their medals proudly, and support our service personnel as they march through Brisbane. The march begins at 10.00 hours in Adelaide Street, and the salute is to be taken as they pass the City Hall. So, find a good position somewhere in Adelaide Street and cheer them on. Kind Regards, John Clarkson Vice President and Welfare Coordinator, Caboolture TPI Association. So folks if you have some spare time I believe that this measure of support would be very well recieved and appreciated by our troops. Regards Steve Hartigan |
Gday Laurens Sorry but i have not heard from Roy for ages nor do i have his email address so i'll add this to this months ADGie page and lets see what happens ............ anyway say Gday to the old fella will ya. The Pom. ----- Original Message ----- From: Laurens...."FOR A FREE TIBET" To: ozflea@bigpond.com.au Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:26 AM Subject: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION G'Day "Pom" I am looking to contact Roy Zegers..... I don't think I ever met him but did know his sister when she joined the Airforce in about 1966/67. Back in those days (66/67) I was in the Army and shacked up with a delightful woman by the name of Jan Wilkes who worked as a tailoress for an infantry unit. She also joined the RAAF, and married a guy by the name of Sheedy. From my understanding he became a RAAF version of an RSM. They both left the service in the late 80's. Jan was killed in a car accident last year and it came as a hell of a shock to lose a long time friend. I think that may be why I am looking to re-establish my connection with Roys sister. My brother was an ADG and at one time (1968) we were in Vietnam at the same time.....him in Vung Tau and me in Nui Dat. His name was Dutchy.... a much quieter man these days and living in Adelaide........... but I probably do not need to tell you that. Would you please let me know if you are able to give me Roys email address..... I do not recall his sisters name even though she was a good friend and still have photos of the 3 of us knocking around in Bundaberg and Brisbane. Those were the 'good old days' when we knew nothing and felt good about it. Thank you for your help Laurens Wildeboer |
The lost photo's of Phil Crisp |
Hit on Ian or Phil for a lost glimpse of the past |
Hi Pom, I have just finished reading a book "The RAAF in Vietnam" by Chris Coulthard-Clark, and it covers all units that served in Vietnam. It mentions ADG's throughout the book, and has a chapter dedicated to the ADG's who served in Vung Tau and Phan Rang. For those interested, it is a book worth reading. Regards, Hank Hurkens |
Brisbane Welcome Home Parade 28 JUN 08 |
Click the image for more pic's fellas |