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

1 4 TH FIELD REGIMENT (SVN) ASSOCIATION AKA 4TH FIELD REGT OLD BOYS NEWSLETTER NO 20 – JUNE 2010 Correspondence to: All subs to: Peter Bruce Gabby Hayes PO Box 328 36 Ravel Street Myrtleford Vic 3737 Burpengary Qld 4505 Email: pjbruce8@bigpond.net.au Email: gabbyhayes@ozemail.com.au · News and photos from the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of 4th Field Regiment in Townsville. · ANZAC Day Reports from around the country. · Battery Events · Photos · What next for our Old Boys Association Pete’s Ponderings. The 50th Anniversary celebrations of the raising of 4th Field Regiment was held in Townsville from the 25th April to Sunday the 2nd of May. The week started with a Dawn Service on the Regimental Parade Ground and was attended by around 300 current serving members and many past members of the Regiment and their families. A new memorial to fallen members of the Regiment was the back drop for the service. The memorial was to be formally commemorated later in the week. The Regiment had a very busy week with preparations for the Freedom of the City of Townsville on the Saturday and the Open Day on the Friday. At the open day the Soldiers gave accounts of the latest equipment and of new equipment in the making. The gun race was a highlight and again proved how tough the gunners have to be. The barracks area is one big construction site at the moment as new offices and accommodation lines are being built. We were all hosted to breakfast by the Regiment and then back to town for the main march and service. Later in the week a Regimental Church Service was held in the Lavarack Chapel and on the Friday the Regiment held an open day. This was a great opportunity for all the old boys to get up front and personal with much of the equipment the Regiment uses today. There are some interesting items on the way too. The gun race was a big draw card and the teams from each battery did a magnificent job man handling the light gun (in name only) around the obstacle course. The new Main Q Store was named after a WO2 Ivan Rickeby who was a legendary Quee in the early days of the Regiment. A plaque and sign now acknowledge the event. MajGen Tim Ford (Rtd) launched a new book “107 Field Battery RAA: Australia, Malaya, Vietnam 1965- 1971. (more about the book later). The granting of the Freedom of the City of Townsville to 4th Field Regiment was a great honor for the Regiment. The parade and march along the Strand was very impressive and the Regiment should be very proud of its achievements. The Regimental Ball was held in the grounds of the Casino on Saturday night. A great event in a wonderful setting and a great way to end the weeks celebrations. It was great to see so many of the younger soldiers there in the tux and suites with girlfriends and wives. The 1 RAR Band provided the entertainment and there was even a dance floor set up. The final event of the week was on Sunday when the RSM, WO1 Tom Byrne, hosted past and present members at the area Sergeants’ Mess.