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

2 ANZAC DAY REPORTS Apart from Townsville, we would have been well represented around the country. Mick Long and Lance Grimstone with wives travelled over to the West for ANZAC Day. (see separate report). I saw a photo of the 4th Field Regiment Banner in the Sydney march. Compliments of the RAA Association of NSW magazine “ Gunfire”. It was a bit hard to pick out any individuals in the photo but I’m sure Kerry Boyce and Andrew Murray would not have been too far away. It would be great to have more input on other ANZAC Day activities—maybe next year? TOWNSVILLE FROMALAN HUTCHINSON’S PERSPECTIVE Dear Peter, It was good to catch up again, this time in Townsville for the 50 th Anniversary of the reformation of 4 th Fd Regt RAA. Joan and I arrived in Townsville early so as to enjoy the ANZAC Day Parade and fellowship. And what a day it was. The parade has to rate as one of the best in the country. Recently returned from active service troops, immaculately turned out, led the parade, followed by current and ex serving members, then came a host of other dedicated groups of various associations and bringing up the tail, proudly, were the schools. On the way back up the Strand after the Parade I noticed several lost “soles” This could be puzzling to some, but Emily Macdonald of the Townsville Bulletin on 29 April (front page and page 4) “These boots weren’t made for walking” headline explained it all. Apparently, if these new boots are locked away for several months they lose their soles! According to a quote from Defence, blaming the loss of sole on the fact that whilst Soldiers were overseas their ceremonial boots weren’t swapped for new ones! Is it clearer now? I almost had stitches(1) laughing. Well done Defence. The fact of the matter is the boots were poorly made and the whole incident could only be classified as disgraceful, as was mentioned in the same article. There is however, a good side to this story, someone in Defence has discovered a new technology for boot making, stitching(2) as well as glue! Now that’s something. OK, I have stopped laughing. That’s what you get when you don’t have soldiers looking after soldiers’ gear. On the other hand, the 2 Billion cut in Defence expenditure per year for the next ten years (or as the SRP would say and the Government would have us believe, “savings”) surely couldn’t have anything to do with the shoddy boots. But I think someone should tell the Government that it will always cost more, not less, to have our Troops doing what they are doing across the World. A very sincere thank you to the officers and members of 4 FD Regiment, with a special mention for Maj Matt Finnerty for taking on such a task in the first place (dealing with senior products of cordite and wind) for the manner with which we were hosted through-out the week, from the Dawn Service and ANZAC Day function at Jezzine Barracks, Regiment Open Day, the Freedom of the City and the Regimental Ball, also, the Sunday Sgt’s Mess gathering hosted by The CO Lt Col Weller CSC and RSM WO1 Tom Byrne OK I missed the Rugby Match, I am told it was good. It was a pleasure to visit such a fine Unit once again, as it was to once again catch up with all of you from many years ago from 105, 106, 107 and 108 and HQ Bty’s. Ubique Allan Hutcheson (1) Something one gets from laughing (2) The lack of which in the glued sole of Army boots causes(1)