4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Newsletter - June 2010

11 Anyway, for the time being I’ll keep putting out a newsletter from time to time. I originally did this in Publisher but then realised that not everyone has Publisher on their computer so went back to word. I’ll re work the data base for email addresses and if everyone would send me a quick radio check just so I know I have your correct email address. Any thoughts on the direction we should take would be most welcome. Meanwhile, while Susie and I were up in Townsville, I ran in to Dave Alderton all be it so briefly. He now lives in Narooma but I haven’t got an address for him. He and Tony Darlington spent most of the Townsville trip out fishing I believe. I also ran into Peter Van Der Mere who I had not seen for many years. It was great to see him although we did not get a chance to spend too much time together. Ian Prewett and his partner Tracey came down from Mosman for ANZAC Day and Susie and I went up and stayed with them for a couple of days after the birthday celebrations. They were perfect hosts and we are most grateful to them for looking after us. Prew and I managed to hold our own in a golf match against two local burglars and kept our losses to $2.00 in a skins match at Mareeba. Prew’s home course at Mosman where he is the President was too wet to play. They had 29 inches of rain in January alone. We also caught up with Col Parkin, John Wilson and Eddie Bessey. John and Eddie live at Carlyle Gardens which is an over 50’s lifestyle village with fantastic facilities. John and Denise Wilson gave us a guided tour of the whole complex and we were very impressed. The resort has its own RSL Sub Branch would you believe. ANZAC Day in Perth with Darryl Cooper H i Pete, Are you back home from your trip to Townsville for the reunion? You guys would have had a big week up there, hope it all went well. Unfortunately I couldn't make it, however it was great to catch up with some of the fellas from the east on Anzac weekend in Perth. I hadn't seen Geoff Dunkley, Lance Grimstone and Mick Long since the Welcome Home parade in Sydney and Ric Liddlelow since Vietnam. Others to turn up were Colin Montford, Jim Edwards, Ron Fritchley, H K Smith, Dave Drabble, Moe Armstrong, Alge Sukys, Ian Johnson and Ron Bates. After the Anzac march a pub crawl took place starting at Anzac House and ending up at Rigby's Bar where we saw out the rest of the day, with lots of laughs, reminiscing and rehashing of old stories. The following day everyone, along with their partners, were invited to join Ron and Sue Bates on their boat "The Club". The weather was on our side so we cruised down the Swan River and over to Rottnest Island. Plenty of food, beer and wine was had aboard before we went ashore to visit the Quokka Arms for lunch and some people even managed to fit in some sightseeing! All too soon it was time to head back to the mainland. Those who were able to make the trip enjoyed a fantastic day that reluctantly ended after a pretty rowdy session back at the pen at the Royal Perth Yacht Club. Most of the crew were meeting the next day for a barbecue lunch at Dave and Theresa Drabble's place. Wendy and I were unable to attend as we had to get back to Bunbury because we were heading up to Shark Bay a few days later for a month of fishing.