4th Field Regiment (SVN) Association Newsletter No 59 - 2025

It was great to get some correspondence and phone calls following our last newsletter. From John Hume on 8 Dec24 Hi Pete and all other members. Here in Perth, we are still progressing with our group. Though numbers are dwindling two members passed during the year and one is going through early stages of Dementia, those on here will know Alf Hickinbotham. Alf still has long term memories but as we all know, and I had the same experience with my father it's a horrible disease. Anyway we are still socialising we have lotto entries and the punting club is still going. We have our Annual Chrissie lunch tomorrow, (9 Dec) at the Windsor hotel in South Perth, with our better halves. Our group started way back with the Heart Health programme, through DVA, some of us were already in touch but this programme brought together new friends ,and we have continued the weekly exercise' s though now down to half a dozen members, we used to walk around Lathlain park for about 5 k's we now walk in the local pools ,Myself and Dave Drabble would be the ones from our regiment still walking. Others were Alf till recently, Ron Fritchley, and Brian Cunningham. Anyway, all the best to everyone and have a great Christmas and all the best for the new year. Best regards. John Hume From Shane Oxenham . Peter, Thanks for the Newsletter. As usual, an informative and interesting read. It was interesting to see the timings for the Regimental deployments. Somehow, I managed to serve in each of the Regiments during a Vietnam deployment. I don't know about others but, to me, the Battery was major area of interest while overseas. Best wishes to you and yours for Christmas and the New Year. Shane Oxenham Dave Hanlon sent us a new email address. Thanks Dave. From Peter Dunn. Hi Pete. Congratulations on your continued hard work keeping the Old Boys in ‘loose touch’. It is appreciated. I agree with our Association becoming a Life Member (of the RAAHC) as has been suggested. Also, when the ‘last man’ is standing he should pass the collective wealth to 4 Regt or the Artillery Association. Once again thanks for your ongoing efforts and have a very safe and peaceful Christmas. Cheers Pete. Ian Prewett sent this one in. Every morning, the CEO of a large bank in Manhattan walks to the corner for a shoeshine. He sits in an armchair, examines the Wall Street Journal and the shoe shiner buffs his shoes to a mirror shine. One morning the shoe shiner asks the CEO: "What do you think about the situation in the stock market?" The man answered arrogantly, "Why are you so interested in that topic?" The shoe guy replies, "I have millions in your bank," he says, "and I'm considering investing some of the money in the capital market." "What’s your name?" asked the executive. John H. Smith was the reply. The CEO arrives at the bank and asks the Manager of the Customer Department, “Do we have a client named John H. Smith?” "Certainly,” answers the Customer Service Manager, "he is a high-net-worth customer with over 12 million dollars in his account." The executive comes out, approaches the shoe shiner, and says, "Mr. Smith, I would like to invite you next Monday to be the guest of honour at our board meeting and tell us the story of your life. I am sure we could learn something from your life's experience."