Anzac Day 2016
ANZAC DAY, BRISBANE.
A fine but windy day in Brisbane saw 35 members and family march. The numbers marching now caused the RSL to commence the march at 9.30am instead of the usual 10am and this will be the case in future. A good indication of numbers is that we were Association 105 in the March and with the Army in last place our Association did not step off until 11am.
A number of visitors joined us, Bob Emery and Jim Monfries from South Australia, the Blake and Harbeck families and Susan Weare.
Grant and Neil Harbeck always turn up to carry our banner and this year we were fortunate to have two strong, young banner carriers as, with the strong wind blowing, it would have been a struggle for any of us oldies to manage it.
The usual memorial service was held at the Cenotaph this year as the Hall of Memories restoration had not been completed, and Bob Emery played “The Last Post” on his trumpet at the service. Then followed the gathering at the Royal Exchange Hotel and we had some 75 there for a wonderful get-together. President Phil Ainsworth gave an address and also launched the Association’s new book “Keepers of the Gate” which tells the story of 37 individual NGVR men who were in New Guinea when the Japanese invaded in 1942. The usual toasts were proposed and overall a wonderful time was had.
Thanks go to John Holland for arranging the Jeeps for our members who could not march, Colin Gould for his work in ensuring we had a great venue for our reunion, Paul Brown and Doug Ng for their work in selling memorabilia and arranging the service at the Cenotaph and Mike Griffin and Peter Rogers for their manning the door to ensure no gate crashers.
This and the following three photos are of the march.
John Batze and his daughter Rowena Langan in a jeep.
Bob Emery playing “The Last Post” at the Association Service at the Brisbane Cenotaph after the Anzac Day March. The Hall of Memories at the Cenotaph is the usual venue for the service but renovations to the area were not completed in time for Anzac Day and the service was held at the Cenotaph.
At the reunion after the Brisbane Anzac Day March. L-R:
Bob Emery, Phil Ainsworth, Bob Collins and Jim Monfries.
Both Bob and Jim’s fathers won Military Medals in New Guinea in WW2, Bob Emery with the NGVR in the Markham Valley and R.B. (Peter) Monfries with M Special Unit as a Coastwatcher on New Britain. Bob and Jim came from Adelaide specially for our Anzac Day Service
