4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Sep 25 Newsletter

look forward to the future of the 108 Field Battery family. For more information and contact details, have a look at the 109 Battery notification on the AAA website. From Alan Betts on 5 August. G'day all. To bring you all up to date since I discharged in 86, Dianne and I have lived in Terry Hills Sydney, 97 Bribie Island QLD and in 2002 moved back to my hometown, Bundaberg. Travel has not been great in our life; however, we went to Singapore in 2010 and did a cruise up the west coast of Malaysia and in 2015. I was lucky enough to get a ticket/permission to travel to Gallipoli for ANZAC day. I was on a seven day trip based in Istanbul and did all of the tourist things like Troy and a full day guided tour of Gallipoli before Anzac Day. On Lone Pine I found a marker for A W Betts which I later found out that he was my great uncle. if you have not been there, it is well worth the trip. The number of grave sites is amazing. Dianne and I have two children Belinda and David and six grandchildren. Unfortunately, our daughter Belinda passed in 2020 aged 47, one girl aged 5 days and one boy aged 2 and a 1/2 also passed. Dianne, who some of you may remember from when she worked in the typing pool at the School of Artillery Manly, passed in 2023. She had been ill from 2010 and had a double lung transplant in 2015. So, the 2 thousands has not been great in our life. All of my family live on farms or in town and we visit often. To fill in the rest of my time I volunteer with Crimestoppers. (Ed. I had a great chat on the phone with Al just recently. I always had a lot of time for Al and he has certainly had some issues but led an interesting life. He is off to Europe on a river cruise later this year) From Bill Foxall 7 August 2025 Dear Peter. Thank you for your email and thank you for your continuing efforts on behalf of 4 Fd Regt Old Boys. I know that we all appreciate your work. Unfortunately, I have only occasional contact with other ex 4 Regt members although I do see Rod Pearce (2LT 106 Bay SVN 70) reasonably regularly. He lives nearby and we both belong to the same sailing club All is well with me and I have been fortunate to have had no health issues and remain reasonably fit and active. I retired from full time work in November last year but still have some small involvement assisting my previous colleagues when needed. It keeps my hand in but it’s nothing too onerous though. Sailing is my passion and I do as much sailing as I can. I sail mainly on Sydney harbour these days but in May this year I had the opportunity to sail back from Hobart on the tall ship James Craig. It was all very physical and tiring but a lot of fun. I also assist in a number of volunteer organisations. I have been an active member of the NSW SES for over 20 years, I am a director of the RAA Historical Company (RAAHC) and I am involved with a group whose focus is on the protection of the military and social heritage of Middle Head in Sydney. That, along with regular trips to Cowra NSW to my partner’s farm to assist and helping with grand children keeps me busy and off the streets. I try to keep up to date with interesting RAA matters through the RAAHC and through my son Nick, a Brigadier in Canberra. Earlier this year I attended the Graduation Parade at RMC to watch my grandson Toby graduate - all very exciting. He is now a subaltern in 1 Regt RAA which his father commanded. Naturally I would have preferred that he serve in 4 Regt but maybe in the future! So three generations of Foxalls all Gunner officers! I am very proud of that. That’s about it Peter. Take care and look after yourself. Cheers. Bill