4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Newsletter - September 2021 Edition

4 TH FIELD REGIMENT (SVN) ASSOCIATION AKA 4TH FIELD REGT OLD BOYS Patron: David Anderson. Treasurer: Gabby Hayes. NEWSLETTER No 43 – Autumn 2021 All Correspondence to Peter Bruce, 33 Cathie Circuit, Lake Cathie NSW 2445 or pjbruce8@bigpond.net.au Mobile is 0419 349 317 G’day everyone I trust this latest edition finds you all safe and well and coping with the various Covid restrictions in each state. I understand in some areas there seems to be no difference from ‘normal’ times but in others, mainly capital cities there has been a range of restrictions impacting on our daily routines. Here in the Mid North Coast of NSW, we have been very fortunate with little impact at all. We all have to sign in and out of just about every business house and be seated while having a beer at the club or pub but while we are all safe, this is a minor inconvenience. The 4th of February has passed and many of our Old Boys returned home from SVN on that day. I have not heard of any major activities but I’m sure many reflected on the date 50 years ago with a variety of feelings and memories. 11 March is the next significant date in our Old Boys history as this is the date the Regiment officially came home from its second tour of SVN. There are a few photos around of this flight home and one of my memories of arriving in Sydney were the dropped bottle of Scotch that crashed to the floor and of course no one owned it! 107 Battery were the last to return home in May 1971 after handing over to 104 Battery of 12 Field Regiment. I spent the night of the 11 March, 1971 in some hotel in Sydney before flying back to Townsville the next day and seeing my daughter Belinda for the first time. Quite an emotional ride as you could imagine. Belinda was four months old then and celebrated her 50th recently with a week long party at a farmhouse in the bush with a variety of friends. Susie and I stayed for an afternoon but then left it to the ‘younger’ ones to party on. Syd Farrow and I are going to meet for Lunch on the 11th March 2021 at the Laurieton United Services Club (LUSC) in Laurieton. We will probably tell lots of stories and reminisce too much. Open invitation to any Old Boy to join us for lunch. I just need you to let me know if you are coming because of Covid bookings etc. It would be great if a few of you could join us. So, what are we doing as a group to celebrate our safe return to Australia 50 years ago? Very little it seems. Marches may go ahead in some areas but with many restrictions. Our suggestion is march if and where you can and there may be a couple of functions you may wish to attend. Brisbane March details are somewhat up in the air but looks like it may go ahead at this stage. Brisbane locals will know where to meet to march but there is a booking still to be confirmed by management, at the Story Bridge Hotel from 1.00pm. Let me know if you