JUNE 2016 Vol 39 - No 2
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Listening THE CENTENNIAL EDITIONS 2014-18 POSTJUNE 2016 Vol 39 - No 2 Raining tears for ANZACs The Official Journal of The Returned & Services League of Australia WA Branch Incorporated ROCKINGHAM OVER 300 NEW & USED HOLDEN VEHICLES IN STOCK! For the BEST DEALS on Holden please contact Jeff Osborne Jeff is a Retired RAAF Warrant Officer who served from 1968 until 1990 – a total of 22 years in the Royal Australian Air Force. We can provide you with excellent Service and Great Deals when purchasing your Holden vehicle and assisting Ex-Servicemen and Ex-Servicewomen who qualify for TPI Discounts. 2016 2016 2016 Captiva Cruze Colorado7 • 16” Alloy wheels LTZ WAGON Z-SERIES • Leather wrap steering wheel • 19” alloy wheels • Leather appointed seats • Traction Control System • Bluetooth® audio streaming • 17” alloy wheels • Descent Control System • Touch-screen 7” colour display • Holden MyLink System with 7” Colour • ABS Brakes • Traction Control System Touch-Screen • Holden MyLink System with 7” Colour • ISOFIX child seat anchorage system • 6 Speaker Audio System Touch-Screen • 6 Airbags • Multi-function steering wheel controls • USB Input • Electronic Brakeforce Distribution • 5 Star ANCAP safety rating • 6 Speaker Audio System • Rear View Camera • 6 Airbags • Rear parking sensors • Driver and front passenger Airbags • Front and Rear Park Assist • Bluetooth® audio streaming • Bluetooth® audio streaming • Electronic Stability Control • Enhanced voice control ON ROAD TERS AT E P N Y WA N N I O S AT PICKARD ME 9550 9550 AVENUE 0 S A 2 V www.rockinghamholden.com.au E CORNER ENNIS AVE & PATTERSON RD, ROCKINGHAM (OPPOSITE BUNNINGS) DL1781 052516-329 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-1pm LATE NIGHT WED 8am-9pm The Listening Post JUNE 2016 3 Cover: contents Rain bucketed down 4 Passionate singer for Christmas in July on Perth’s ANZAC Day 5 Graham Edwards’ final President’s Pen Parade but Vietnam 7 Light Horse nationals for Perth veteran Doug Wyness – as ‘wet as a shag’ – 9 Bits & Pieces wasn’t at all deterred 11-12 Your letters contact from honouring the 13 Centenary Program fallen. Doug, who 16 Women must have an RSL voice Editorial and Advertising Info lives in Mandurah, did two tours of Vietnam Editor: John Arthur 9287 3799 with the 32 Small Ships Squadron, Royal 17 Time for a change of attitude Email: [email protected] Australian Engineers and says he saw worse 18 WRAAC 65th anniversary celebrations Graphic Design: Type Express weather in Vietnam. Doug was one of 6,000 21 Vietnam Veterans’ big day Printer: Rural Press taking part in the 100th parade through city 23 Bloody battle of Long Tan streets which were lined with 30,000 people. Contact Details The photo was taken by Leanne Scadden, a 25 Truck Sams cycles home The Returned & Services League first-time volunteer on ANZAC Day. 26 Battle of Coral of Australia - WA Branch Incorporated ANZAC House, 28 St Georges Tce The Listening Post has been swamped 27 The Listening Post: from the archives PERTH WA 6000 with news and reports from sub-branches 28-29 New 10th Light Horse Troop for WA PO Box 3023, EAST PERTH WA 6892 and we have expanded this edition to cover 30 Cadets big ANZAC Day Email: [email protected] them. If it gets repetitious, we apologise 33 Inspiring ANZACs of the Year Website: www.rslwahq.org.au – but it is your magazine! We couldn’t fit Facebook: www.facebook.com/rslwahq every good story into the magazine so if 35 Battle of Delville Wood Telephone: 9287 3799 yours missed out please let us know by 36 Super sleuth finds medal’s home emailing [email protected] Fax: 9287 3732 38 Perth soldier returns home from Vietnam This edition contains the final President’s WA Country Callers: 1800 259 799 40 WA’s young hero never forgotten Pen from Graham Edwards AM. Our Contact Directory September edition will welcome the new 41 Sun sets on WA’s heroes CEO / State Secretary: State President Peter Aspinall. Graham 45-82 ANZAC Services 2016 Philip Orchard AFNI has been a driving force in switching The 83-85 Sub-Branch News Executive Assistant to the State President Listening Post to magazine format and in and Chief Executive Officer: Nola Keen 87 Cockburn’s Indigenous street names promoting the use of digital platforms such ANZAC House & Club Manager: as the website, Facebook, Instagram and 88 Notices Matthew Holyday: 9287 3714 Twitter. The RSLWAHQ Facebook Page 89 Crosswords & Sudoku Membership: Andrea Hunt (Mon-Thurs): 9287 3705 now has more followers than any other RSL 90 Last Post page in the country. Thank you for the kind Financial Services: Peter McGlade: 9287 3718 feedback from our last edition and we hope Helen Beech (Mon-Thurs): 9287 3703 you enjoy this one. Deadline for next edition: Events Coordinator: Wendy Moss Friday August 19, 2016 Social Media Manager: Royceton Hardey Previous Editions If possible, submissions should be typed Receptionist: Rowena Bush Copies of The Listening Post published and double-spaced. The preferred method Records and Information Manager: since February 2014 are available on our of receiving submissions is via email. Helen Starkie (Tues and Wed): 9287 3713 website Photographs should be attached separately Centenary Program Manager: and a minimum of 1Mb. This is your http://www.rslwahq.org.au/News/ magazine and contributions are welcome. Sharon Harford 9287 3706 Listening-Post.aspx Support Services - Welfare: Address to: The Editor, For older archived copies of The Listening Rosalind Howat: 9287 3707 / 0417 905 742 The Listening Post RSL, Post, go to the National Library of PO Box 3023 East Perth, WA 6892 Australia site http://pandora.nla.gov.au/ Board 2014-2017 pan/142460/20140626-1414/ Email: [email protected] State President: Mr Graham Edwards AM www.rslcentenary.org.au/index.html Opinions expressed by contributors in Vice President: Mr Denis Connelly articles and reproduced articles are the State Treasurer: Mr Phillip Draber Publishing individuals’ opinions or the authors of such reproduced articles and are not necessarily State Executive Publishing of The Listening Post: Greater Metropolitan Region: Published 4 times a year and has a those of the RSL. Reproduction of articles Bill Collidge RFD, Scott Rogers, Rick Green readership of over 25,000. (or extracts) contained in The Listening and Gabby Ryan Post are welcomed, provided the source is Great Southern Region: Peter Aspinall To all sub-branch Presidents and acknowledged. The Editor reserves the right Eastern Region: Donna Prytulak Secretaries: Send photographs and a to accept, reject, sub-edit and re-arrange Mid West Region: Ross Davies short article on special activities at your material submitted for publication. sub-branch to The Listening Post. Pilbara/Kimberley Region: John McCourt Infringement of Copyright Laws: Trustees We cannot accept Newspaper clippings for Mr Don Blair OAM RFD www.rslwahq.org.au publication without express approval from Mr Wayne Tarr RFD ED the Newspaper Editor as we may infringe Mr Kevin Trent OAM RFD www.facebook.com/rslwahq on Copyright Laws. 4 The Listening Post JUNE 2016 Passionate singer for Christmas in July International entertainer Nicki Gillis is performing at this year’s Christmas in July at the ANZAC Club. Nicki Gillis has Don’t miss out on Friday July 8! It costs entertained only $36 per person and includes a two- course meal and glass of bubbly. All are worldwide, welcome. Please book with Sharon or including three Wendy on 9287 3799. tours to our “Nicki has a broad repertoire and her voice is just amazing,” says Tracey troops overseas. Fickling, who has known Nicki for many years. “She’s a true-blue Ozzie girl and is so passionate and patriotic”. Nicki Gillis has entertained worldwide including three tours to our troops overseas. She is an entertainer, singer, songwriter and music teacher. Nicki has recorded many albums with top 10 singles on the country charts in Australia and in the UK, with a No. 1 in the UK with her own song ‘Be A Star’. She has been heavily involved in entertaining current and former service personnel – and will talk about her experiences overseas to perform for Australian, US, British and NATO troops in Iraq, East Timor and the Solomon Islands. Nicki’s music is essentially country and performances engage audiences from many different demographics and musical genres. She donates significant time to charity and women. In 2010 she was granted during the war, at home and abroad. work and is a strong supporter of honorary membership of the Blue A group of volunteers will provide an returned Australian and UK servicemen Mountains Vietnam Veterans and RSL presence at the show undertaking Associated Forces Association. In knitting and making slouch and nursing 2011 she was made a member of the hats as well as advising people that they Australian Forces Entertainment can join the RSL. The volunteers will Association and won the Australian comprise currently serving members, the Entertainment Industry’s highest award RSL Poppy ladies and other women’s for a country performer. groups, such as the Returned Ex-Service The July function is one of many Women’s Sub-Branch, to ensure as wide activities planned by the RSLWA’s a variety of people as possible are there Women’s Network, chaired by board to represent the RSL. member Gabby Ryan. The network has also agreed that the Another activity will see women next RSLWA Women’s Forum should participating in the Perth Royal Show align with International Women’s Day from Saturday September 24 to Saturday and that there would be an ongoing October 1. commitment to schedule the forum to align with this date. An exhibition is being developed entitled Women of the Empire Subsequently it was agreed that the and Unsung Heroes.