Anzac Day 2000
The year 2000 has bought us together for the loth year since we first marched as an Association on Australian soil. When we look back with pride to our first march on Anzac Day in 1990, we still have many of the familiar faces marching with us in 2000 even though we have a slight thinning of the ranks due to age creeping up on all of us.
It is good to see that we have not lost the high standards we were proud of in Papua New Guinea and which causes favourable comments on our dress and how well we present ourselves on this most important day of our Australian heritage. However, with all the good that is said, we must not forget that a few of our members are not correctly dressed as stipulated by the Association, i.e. Anzac Day dress, and it would be great to see our Unit uniformly dress for 2001.
The day in Brisbane started somewhat overcast, but as in previous years, the weather for the parade was ideal. The Order of March was led by Colonel Harry N Green, MBE.ED. EM followed by Joe Fisk, PFM.EM in juniper greens and young Lauren Eastwood with the wreath. Next came our Colour Party with the Australian Flag (Col Gould - bearer), Regimental Flag (Bob Collins - bearer) and Papua New Guinea Flag (Simon Hui - bearer). Then followed our Banner and the main body of the Association. Following the Unit were the vehicles carrying our more senior members and those were not quite up to marching the distance of the parade, making a total of 105 members on parade. May I say our members have always been supportive and consistent each year which is greatly appreciated by the Committee, so we must be getting our act together better each year. For the record, our largest attendance was 108 a few years ago.
It is a reflection of the Anzac spirit of our Regiment when we see members making parade each year from various parts of Australia and overseas, no doubt at great personal expense, to be with their mates on Anzac Day.
This year we had a number of younger people join our ranks wearing the medals of their father or grandfather who served in the NGVR or PNGVB. It is wonderful to see these young people take such an interest in their heritage and to see them also join in at the reception after the march. These young people are our future, and it was heart warming to see the senior generation making the youngsters feel welcome.
As is our practice, we paid homage to the Fallen in the Hall of Memories with many young people joining in after the march. Jack Goad, NGVR, and Lauren Eastwood aged 13 years - Lee Eastwood's daughter - jointly laid the Association's wreath.
After the service, everyone proceeded to the Stock Exchange Hotel where various speeches and toasts were made in the traditional manner. John Holland again organised a display of historic material for members and guests to view. Thanks John for your efforts again this year.
The reception went off well without a hitch and without the gate crashers of past years who seemed to blend easily into the Crown once inside. They could not slip past our efficient "sentries" at the door, our Secretary Col Could and wife, Pattie and later assisted by the legal profession, our Solicitor Bruce Crawford. Between 25 and 30 gate crashers were denied entry. As always Colin and Pattie put their heart and soul into Anzac Day and I think I am qualified on our Members behalf to say "an excellent job done Colin and Pattie".
Our usual Q Store Duty Officer, who collects membership fees and takes orders for plaques and stock items etc, Bill Bickerton was an apology this year. Bill is working in East Timor on the rebuilding program, but his place was taken by our hard working Treasurer, Bob Collins.
It is good to see that we have not lost the high standards we were proud of in Papua New Guinea and which causes favourable comments on our dress and how well we present ourselves on this most important day of our Australian heritage. However, with all the good that is said, we must not forget that a few of our members are not correctly dressed as stipulated by the Association, i.e. Anzac Day dress, and it would be great to see our Unit uniformly dress for 2001.
The day in Brisbane started somewhat overcast, but as in previous years, the weather for the parade was ideal. The Order of March was led by Colonel Harry N Green, MBE.ED. EM followed by Joe Fisk, PFM.EM in juniper greens and young Lauren Eastwood with the wreath. Next came our Colour Party with the Australian Flag (Col Gould - bearer), Regimental Flag (Bob Collins - bearer) and Papua New Guinea Flag (Simon Hui - bearer). Then followed our Banner and the main body of the Association. Following the Unit were the vehicles carrying our more senior members and those were not quite up to marching the distance of the parade, making a total of 105 members on parade. May I say our members have always been supportive and consistent each year which is greatly appreciated by the Committee, so we must be getting our act together better each year. For the record, our largest attendance was 108 a few years ago.
It is a reflection of the Anzac spirit of our Regiment when we see members making parade each year from various parts of Australia and overseas, no doubt at great personal expense, to be with their mates on Anzac Day.
This year we had a number of younger people join our ranks wearing the medals of their father or grandfather who served in the NGVR or PNGVB. It is wonderful to see these young people take such an interest in their heritage and to see them also join in at the reception after the march. These young people are our future, and it was heart warming to see the senior generation making the youngsters feel welcome.
As is our practice, we paid homage to the Fallen in the Hall of Memories with many young people joining in after the march. Jack Goad, NGVR, and Lauren Eastwood aged 13 years - Lee Eastwood's daughter - jointly laid the Association's wreath.
After the service, everyone proceeded to the Stock Exchange Hotel where various speeches and toasts were made in the traditional manner. John Holland again organised a display of historic material for members and guests to view. Thanks John for your efforts again this year.
The reception went off well without a hitch and without the gate crashers of past years who seemed to blend easily into the Crown once inside. They could not slip past our efficient "sentries" at the door, our Secretary Col Could and wife, Pattie and later assisted by the legal profession, our Solicitor Bruce Crawford. Between 25 and 30 gate crashers were denied entry. As always Colin and Pattie put their heart and soul into Anzac Day and I think I am qualified on our Members behalf to say "an excellent job done Colin and Pattie".
Our usual Q Store Duty Officer, who collects membership fees and takes orders for plaques and stock items etc, Bill Bickerton was an apology this year. Bill is working in East Timor on the rebuilding program, but his place was taken by our hard working Treasurer, Bob Collins.
Before the march. Karl Aschhoff and Dave Harris
The NGVR contingent lead our Association on the march. More NGVR follow in a truck. Kam on Leo and Shui Hong Wong are the two NGVR in front in back of truck.
Eyes left at the saluting dais. Note Joe Fisk in Juniper Greens and Col Harry Green saluting with left arm (he lost his right arm in a vehicle accident in PNG).
The marchers. L-R. Charles Blake (son of Charles Blake MM NGVR/ANGAU), Bruce Inch, Mal Zimmerman, Brian Jones, ?, ? head turned). John Holland, Barry Beaman, Dave Harris.
Front row L-R. Peter Rogers DFC, Stewart Lewis, Bill Kelly, Tony Milan.
Laying a wreath at the ceremony in the Hall of Memories after the march and before the reception.
At the reception
NGVR table at the reception. Daphne Burton, Stan Burton, Tom Keenan.
Stewart Lewis and Bill Kelly MBE
Leigh Eastwood, Lauren Eastwood, ?.
John Thornton and Bruce Johnson.
Bruce Inch and Alistair Martin
L-R. Simon Hui, Joe Fisk, Tony Milan.
