The Final Dining Night - Saturday 15 October 2016


The final formal Dining In night was held on Saturday 15 October 2016 at Jimboomba.  Age and other reasons have caught up with us and the decision was made to end them while some of us are still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.  Below are a selection of photos of the event.
Over the years Dining nights were held:

1992/3                   Army Aviation base, Oakey, Qld. (2)
1996/97                Victoria Barracks Officers Mess. Brisbane (2)
1998/99                Combined Services Club, Brisbane. (2)
2000/12                Under canvass - Barry and Pam Wright's property, Jimboomba. (25)  Photos available on Dining Nights page.
2012 and 2014     Greenbank RSL (2)
2013/16                Ted and Heather McAllan's property Jimboomba.  ( 9)   (photos below)

Pre-dinner...

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Bob Collins and Capt Noel Parker, RAN Retd. Noel served at Lombrum, the Naval Base on Manus Island with the Royal Australian Navy.
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Elaine Glover (wife of Association member Kerry Glover) and Helen Nixon.  Helen attended the majority of our field dinners.
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  Photographer for the night, Ian McDougall (Beaudesert RSL),  
  and Trevor Connell
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  Bob Collins and Andrea Williams.
  Andrea has been on the   Committee of Papua New Guinea   Association of Australia, and held   positions of Editor of their   Magazine and President. 
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  Denise and Dick Marshall,   newly arrived neighbours of   Barry and Pam Wright and Ted   and Heather McAllan.
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     Association member Glen O'Brien and wife Ping.
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  Association member Leigh       Eastwood and Helen Nixon.
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  Elaine Glover and Jim               Donnelly
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 Ian McDougall, Bev   Stevenson, Tony Stevenson   (Vice President Sydney South   Nashos) Bev McDougall

The Dinner...

Chef for the evening, Karen, preparing the meal.
The seating plan
Jason Freimanis, ex Australian Army, playing the didgeridoo 
Waiting for Association member Mal Zimmerman to say Grace in Pidgin English.
From L.  Glen O'Brien, Douglas Ng (back to camera), Vena Pearn, Maj Gen John Pearn AO. RFD., Bob Collins, Phil Ainsworth, Andrea Williams,                       Trevor Connell, Ian Thompson.
Above and below.   Waiting for the meal.
Dining President, Bob Collins about to make an announcement.
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  Kerry Glover and          Trevor Connell
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Association President, Phil Ainsworth, Patron, Maj Gen John Pearn, and Leigh Eastwood about to unveil the newly refurbished Mr Hagen PNGVR badge.  Leigh had taken it to his work at Newcastle and carried out a complete refurbishment using Kwila timber, a PNG hardwood as background.

Photos of the unveiling below.

Post-dinner drinks ...

Leigh Eastwood, Ping and Glen O'Brien.
Paul Brown and Leigh Eastwood.
Ian Thompson, Andrea Williams, Jason Freimanis
Above and below.  Dining President Bob Collins gives an address prior to the dinner.
Barry Wright, Maj Gen John Pearn, Vena Pearn, Bob Collins enjoying a pre-dinner drink.
Bruce Johnson, Vena Pearn, Barry Wright, Marie Zimmerman.
Chris Lawrey, Bev McDougall, Andrea Williams.
Glen O'Brien, Trecee Trammel, Barry Wright, Bob Collins.
Pam and Barry Wright.

And for the dedicated... the next day.

Above.  The mess at the camp site on Barry and Pam Wright's property where many of the members stayed while carrying out the preparations for the dinner and the clearing of the site afterwards. 
​ Below.   The kitchen at the site.
Above. Kitchen at the site.  Below self explanatory.
The stands for the tables are still standing.  Bruce Inch donated money for suitable timber to be purchased for the tables.