Hobart Reunion 2009 Report
HOBART REUNION 2009 NEWSLETTER/REPORT
OVERVIEW
The Hobart Reunion was adjudged to have been an outstanding success by those who attended. This was for four main reasons:
- The number who attended. 141 members and partners attended most events that were conducted. This was seen to be a great attendance given the difficulty and costs associated with getting to and staying in Hobart and the potential of inclement weather at this time of year.
- The sympathetic weather system over Hobart during the week. Although it was not warm, the rain and dismal weather did not affect any activity, though it did threaten the Remembrance Service. The day in Port Arthur was positively balmy and considering it snowed in Hobart on New Year’s Day, the weather just has to be accepted as it is. As it was it was good!
- The program of events. While the reunion extended over five days, the activities were sympathetic to all and the pace was gentle and varied. The Vietnam Veterans’ Day Remembrance Service was fixed and other activities were planned about that event. It was mentioned in feedback that the City Walk could have been earlier in the schedule to provide an orientation and this is agreed.
- The City of Hobart. Hobart and its people were extremely hospitable and we were made to feel most welcome by the staff at Anglesea Barracks, by the Vietnam Veterans, by the staff at Port Arthur and the team on the Peppermint Bay cruise. A welcome by His Excellency, the Governor and media coverage of our reunion added to the welcome.
ANGLESEA BARRACKS ACTIVITIES
The Meet and Greet on the evening of 17 August, a tour of the Barracks, a visit to the Military Museum and a barbecue lunch on Thursday 20 August were conducted at Anglesea Barracks.
- Meet and Greet. The Base Manager of the Barracks came to our rescue by offering the use of the Officers’ Mess at short notice when we were bumped by a bigger function from the Grand Chancellor Hotel for our Meet and Greet. As it turned out, this was for the better and all enjoyed initial great prices and then ’free’ drinks and nibbles as we worked out who was there. Information packs and memorabilia were distributed and all seemed to have a good time as raffle tickets were sold.
- Barbecue Lunch. We were most grateful for the Sergeants Mess providing their facilities as there was a risk of inclement weather and it was the best shelter and facilities that could have been provided. Though a little congested, there was plenty of food and adequate drink to make it a very happy event.
- Meeting. A short general meeting was conducted following the lunch. The Officer Commanding the present day 85 transport Troop, Captain Matt Pascoe and a soldier of the unit, Private Steve Richardson were introduced as our guests of honour for the evening dinner. They were great mixers and seemed to enjoy their involvement. Both made a good impression of the present day soldier on the older and bolder and we are grateful to the Head of Corps (HOC) of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport, Brigadier David Mulhall, permitting and funding their attendance. The following items were addressed:
- Website. Bruce Wilson spoke of his intent to keep the website ‘alive’ if there was sufficient interest. There was consensus that the site provided a very useful means of communication if used by members and kept up to date and Bruce undertook to keep it going.
- Formation of an 85 Transport Platoon/Troop Association. There was consensus that the feasibility of forming a unit association be pursued. The matter will be raised with the HOC to determine the Army’s requirements and the current members of 85 Transport Troop to determine their interest.
- RAASC Plaque Dedication. The Australian War Memorial has agreed to an RAASC Plaque being laid to commemorate those units which served in South Vietnam and this is to occur in the period 25 -28 March 2010. The activity would include a Corps Meet and Greet function on Thursday evening, plaque laying on Friday afternoon, Corps dinner on Friday evening, concluding with a church service and barbecue lunch on Sunday. It was agreed that former members of 85 Transport Platoon should attend and be represented as a group. Bruce Wilson volunteered the ‘Canberra Reunion Committee’ to arrange a unit function on the evening of Saturday the 27 March 2010 and a registration of interest form is attached to this newsletter for submission to him by 30 November 2009.
- Reunion 2011. Two proposals were initially offered: Vietnam and Darwin. Of these, Darwin was preferred by most but as there were no volunteers to undertake the coordination and as we have no member living in Darwin it was seen as impractical. There was little interest in meeting in Vietnam. Narelle and Spike Milligan then offered to arrange a reunion in Cairns. Subsequent discussion agreed that it should be in North Queensland with the Milligans to decide where it should be. They have opted forTownsville given the number of members living in that area and the proximity of Army and request as many as possible offer them assistance. Viv Rooks and Rod Murphy have offered assistance based on their experience in arranging reunions, but the legwork will have to be undertaken by those living in the area.
VIETNAM VETERANS DAY REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
On Tuesday 18 August we attended the Vietnam Veterans’ Day Memorial Service at the Hobart Cenotaph through the kind permission of the Tasmanian Vietnam Veterans allowing us to attend as a group. TV coverage that evening highlighted our attendance and a photo of the banner and some of our members appeared in The Mercury the next day. It was a cold and blustery day, but the rain held off and the Governor welcomed us to Hobart as part of his address. Rod Murphy laid a wreath and John Snare gave a short address on 85 Transport Platoon before we retired to the Lindisfarne Sailing/RSL Club for lunch and an afternoon of very pleasant socialising.
PORT ARTHUR VISIT
On Wednesday 19 August, 93 members of the group travelled in two buses to Port Arthur. After one of the buses tried to leave half of its passengers behind, an enjoyable day was had by all, visiting the Blowhole and Tasman Arch en route to the historic relic of Tasmania’s ‘bad’ days. It is a beautiful area and it was a beautiful day, belying the past and more recent history of this site. Following an orientation by local guides we were free to visit the buildings before and after a cruise of the harbour.
HOBART TOURS
Thursday 20 August saw members having the choice of a visit to Cascade Brewery or an historic walk of Hobart. The proposed visit to the summit of Mount Wellington was cancelled due to the small number wishing to undertake this trip and the risk of there being no or limited visibility. These visits proved to be most enjoyable and all returned to Anglesea barracks for guided tours of the historic Barracks and the Military Museum which featured a Tasmanians in Vietnam exhibit. Additional photos will be included by Tasmanian members of the unit as a result of this visit (both before and after shots!). These activities preceded the barbecue lunch and general meeting addressed previously.
DINNER/DANCE
The Dinner/Dance was held at the Royal Hobart Sailing Club in Sandy Bay on the Thursday evening. The HOC of RACT had hoped to join us at some stage during the reunion but was unable to due to a clash with a Townsville commitment. He sent a message which commenced the evening’s proceedings, a copy of which is attached to this newsletter.
A vote of thanks was moved for the excellent arrangements and hard work done by Rod and Jan Murphy in coordinating the reunion and a token was presented to each of them in gratitude of their work. They did an outstanding job.
Our guests of honour were introduced and the words of Matt Pascoe provided information on what the current 85 transport troop is doing. It is apparent that there is an interest from the present unit in its past and it would be of benefit if a similar attendance could be arranged for each reunion. Unfortunately, technical difficulties precluded him showing a DVD of recent activities and exercises involving the unit. Although he had been warned, this prevented a repetition of a long winded and self focussed speaker with whom we had previous experience. And the evening rocked on with a great band and a lot of fun.
PEPPERMINT BAY CRUISE
The Peppermint Bay Cruise was included as a ‘recovery’ event and was well attended by about 60 members on Friday 21 August. It was an overcast and showery day, but that had no effect on participants as the cabin was warm and spacious and the galley was busy! A feature of the trip was the viewing of the marine life on the bottom of the Derwent River. The clarity and detail of the underwater camera was exceptional. A regional lunch pack while cruising past bird sanctuaries and fur seals was most enjoyable before a walk around Woodbridge (in the sun!) and a return to Hobart via the Tasman Bridge to hear of its tragic meeting with the Illawarra when a span of the bridge was brought down.
Everyone departed from the Hobart waterfront on our return, agreeing that it had been a great week; in one person’s view “The best yet!”
CONCLUSION
While a lot of work fell into the hands of rod and Jan Murphy, your Committee provided input and assistance at various times and enjoyed putting the program together and seeing things fall into place. We had some frustrations, not the least of which was the reluctance of the department of Veterans’ Affairs knocking back two submissions for a grant and the reluctance of Tasmanian businesses to assist in providing raffle prizes and concessions for travel and accommodation. TT Line (Spirit of Tasmania) and TasVillas were the exception and assisted in both areas. Also, Events Tasmania provided a substantial rebate for people staying three nights or more in hotel/motel accommodation. This allowed us to provide free drinks for the Meet and Greet and the Dinner/Dance. Thank you to these contributors.
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