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

7 Even as the cars were getting ready to roll, he was not showing any sign of excitement but the smile on his face as he returned after completing his lap around the MCG in the leading car was priceless. And finally, the School of Artillery has been my point of call when I wanted to get some contemporary servicemen, a couple of Bombardiers came down from Puckapunyal and they loved the day. Good on them. Peter Smith (PJ) ANZAC Day in Perth from Darryl Cooper Hi 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. Since Anzac Day Batesy has taken his boat up to the Abrolhos Islands, off Geraldton, along with two of his business partners and Moe. They spent a couple of weeks up there and from all reports had a ball, diving every day and catching plenty of crayfish. Ron says the two days they dived on the wreck of the Batavia were the highlight. Alge and Wendy Sukys are heading to England in August to trek from one side of the country to the other. Wendy has a few reservations about the trek but Spooks is confident she'll enjoy it. A lot of the guys will remember Wendy from the Townsville RSL, where she was a barmaid.