4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Newsletter - March 2022 Edition

4 TH FIELD REGIMENT (SVN) ASSOCIATION AKA 4TH FIELD REGT OLD BOYS Patron: David Anderson. Treasurer: Gabby Hayes. NEWSLETTER No 47 – Autumn 2022 All Correspondence to Peter Bruce, 33 Cathie Circuit, Lake Cathie NSW 2445 or pjbruce8@bigpond.net.au Mobile is 0419 349 317 From our Patron, David Anderson Gooday Peter I’ve been a little remiss in keeping you abreast of happenings in the Anderson household over recent times. Covid restrictions (understandable in the early days, but questionable in more recent times), have disrupted our lives in some ways, however we’re lucky not to have been affected as much as the elderly and those in aged care facilities, children missing out on essential education and small businesses having to cope with massive loss of trade. As disruptive as the last couple of years may have been, we should perhaps reflect on what our grandparents and others had to deal with during the Depression, Spanish ‘flu, World War I and its aftermath and little or no welfare support or health services. It puts many of the present issues into perspective…. I’ve kept myself relatively busy what with the local Probus club and the local RSL sub- branch. I’ve also committed to keep fit with regular 12 km hikes up and down the coastal headlands of Lennox Head and through regular gym visits. My gym exercise regime has been fairly robust over recent years and I’ve come to realise that if I don’t ease up a bit I’ll risk dropping dead before my time, so I’ve had a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) program developed for me - which is no less exhausting but does provide routine breaks through each 45 minute session. Our outback caravan trips, prior to Covid, have been fantastic. One trip took us through Carnarvon Gorge (where we met up with Bryan and Pam Slattery) up to Kakadu and then along the Savannah Way beneath the Gulf of Carpentaria to Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands and then back home. The last trip took us through Innamincka and the Strzelecki Track to the Flinders Ranges and then down through the Eyre Peninsula and across to WA. We finally went home via the Great Central Road from Laverton across the dirt through Tjukayirla, Warburton, Warakurna and Docker River to Ayers Rock. There’s so much to see and experience once one decides to leave the comfort of one’s home! We sold the caravan last year as border restrictions limited our travel options, however, we plan to revisit the red dirt soon but stay in local pubs and whatever else we can find along the way. I’ve tried to keep in touch with a number of 4 Field Regiment folk. I’ve already mentioned Bryan Slattery and regularly see Keith Hall who often visits us from Brisbane. More recently I’ve met up with Kevin O’Brien who wrote an excellent book entitled ‘Defending Middle Head’ last year (which I recommend) and who is currently giving a number of excellent talks in Brisbane on Afghanistan. I see Lance Grimstone occasionally and, whilst in Perth