The Official Anzac Friendship Match
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THE OFFICIAL ANZAC FRIENDSHIP MATCH 26th of April 2014 VIETNAM SWANS vs MALAYSIAN WARRIORS LORD MAYOR’S OVAL, VUNG TAU The Weekend’s Schedule Thursday 24th April 7pm - Bus leaves Commbank HCMC for Vung Tau Arrives approx. 8:30pm ($15 includes bus to ANZAC Dawn Service at Long Tan Cross Bookings via vietnamswans.com/online-shop) Friday 25th April 4am – Bus departs Tommy’s Bar to Long Tan Cross for Dawn Service 6am – Arrive back at Tommy’s for Gun-Fire Breakfast 7:30am – Battlefield Tour (Nui Dat) leaving Tommy’s ($40 – bookings email [email protected]) 10:30am – Bombers Vs Magpies ANZAC Clash Live from Melbourne 7pm – Bus Leaves Commbank HCMC Arrives approx. 8:30pm ($10 - Bookings via vietnamswans.com/online-shop) Saturday 26th April 11am – The Spotted Cow Cup - Mixed Modified Rules. This is a game played in the spirit of friendship and fun with limited contact. Male and Females of all abilities are invited to participate. Simply make yourself known to an official at the ground. 12noon – The Commonwealth Bank Plate – Full AFL Match Legends Vs All Stars – to register your interest today contact [email protected] 2:00 – Pre-match speeches and National Anthems 2:15 – 5th Annual ANZAC Friendship Match Vietnam Swans Vs Malaysian Warriors 7pm – Annual McMillan Dinner Middleton Address – Alex Jesaulenko Imperial Hotel 159 Thùy Vân, Thắng Tam. ($60 – Bookings vietnamswans.com/online-shop) Sunday 27th April FRONT COVER 8am –Bus leaves to HCMC Vietnam Football League 12am – Bus leaves to HCMC Premiership Cup. Thanks to Ron Vernon Welcomes & Messages John McAnulty SMARTER Australian Consul General, HCMC ear Swannies Supporters, I would like to welcome you to the 5thTau. It is my honour to be involved in an event that SAFER Dcelebrates the close relationship between Australia and Vietnam. This week Australians paused to remember the FASTER sacrifices made by their compatriots – from the beaches of Gallipoli to the fields of Northern France, from Tobruk to Kokoda and in Korea and Vietnam and in more recent theatres in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. Friday’s Dawn Service was ENGINEERING an opportunity to show our respect to the fallen, reflect on the tragedy of war and the selfless service of the many, many thousands of men and women who have served to defend and promote the CONSTRUCTION / institutions and values which are the foundation of our societies. PROJECT More veterans are returning to Vietnam each year MANAGEMENT to commemorate the service of their friends and colleagues and contribute to strengthening the friendship between our two countries. I especially welcome them here today. I also would like to acknowledge the veteran and non-veteran community who reside in and around Vung Tau, Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the Vietnam many of whom are doing tremendous work to help Swans and their supporters throughout the country. others in the area. Your efforts to grow this ANZAC Friendship Weekend into the celebration, and commemoration, This event is a wonderful example of the generosity that the occasion deserves are truly appreciated. of the Australian community in Vietnam in regards DRAGON INDUSTRIES to helping those less fortunate. Today’s event will I wish today’s event every success and I look raise money for Swim Vietnam and the Vung Tau forward to next year’s ANZAC Friendship Match Orphanage. I encourage each of you to consider which will coincide with the 100th Annual ANZAC ASIA LIMITED how you might make your own contribution to Friendship Weekend in Vung commemoration of these worthwhile organisations. ANZAC day. PROUD SIGNATURE I’d also like to welcome the Malaysian Warriors to Vietnam and thank them for accepting the John McAnulty SPONSORS OF THE invitation to take part in this special event. HCMC, Vietnam VIETNAM SWANS We welcome all to this special event and we wish both teams the best of luck. CARN YOU SWANNIES!!!! www.dragonindustriesasia.com SMARTER SAFER FASTER ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION / PROJECT MANAGEMENT DRAGON INDUSTRIES ASIA LIMITED PROUD SIGNATURE SPONSORS OF THE VIETNAM SWANS We welcome all to this special event and we wish both teams the best of luck. CARN YOU SWANNIES!!!! www.dragonindustriesasia.com Welcomes & Messages Josh Lee President of the Vietnam Swans importantly, it is also a time that we can celebrate itting down to write this article, I realize the here and now and look forward to the future. that in a few weeks we will be pausing The ANZAC Friendship Match, is more than just a to commemorate the 99th anniversary football game, it is about bringing people together. of the Gallipoli landing. Arguably, this S It is about connecting the vastly different worlds of event more than any other has helped shape the past and present Vietnam. It’s about reuniting old Australian spirit and the bond we share with our friends and providing the perfect chance to make Kiwi neighbors. However, as I look at the date new ones. Maybe most importantly, it is about something else completely unexpected dawns on showcasing the strong friendship that Australia me. Ironically, today (as I write) exactly 15 years and Vietnam share. With that in mind, I extend a ago, is when I embarked on my own military special welcome to our Vietnamese friends, players service. and supporters and thank-you for welcoming all of us with your famous smiles and hospitality. I have Enlisting into the Army on the 9th of April, 1999 no doubt that anyone visiting Vietnam for the first as a ‘wet behind the ears’ 17 year old, I’m not time will leave in love with this beautiful country. completely sure how much I knew or probably even cared about the Sprit of the ANZACs (I was never a Today will see players from no less than seven good student!) and while my personal experience is different countries taking part in three different very different from many of you attending today’s games including, for the first time, a match with game, over the next few years I come to learn much female players This is yet another example of how about the value of mateship and what it meant the ANZAC Friendship Match is about bringing to be a ‘Digger’. This, without doubt, has shaped people together no matter what our backgrounds my appreciation of all who served before me and and celebrating the friendships that we now share. continue to serve today. It is for this reason that I’m so absolutely humbled to be welcoming you to the On behalf of the entire Vietnam Swans community, 5th Annual ANZAC Friendship Match. I welcome the Malaysian Warriors and thank them for all their efforts in promoting the prestige ANZAC Day is a time of reflection. A moment of the day which is undoubtedly enhanced by to thank those who have and continue to make the presence of AFL Hall of Fame Legend, Alex sacrifices so we can enjoy the life we do. But just as Jesaulenko. Alex has been a fantastic supporter of Above: A much younger and beardless Josh Lee during his time in the service in East Timor. the Swans for a number of years now and to have a So as I’m taken back 15 years to reminisce as to man of his status delivering the Middleton Address how the events of then somehow lead me to today, is truly a privilege. I have no doubt that this weekend will see many of you thinking about your own circumstances 45- The ANZAC Friendship Match also serves as a odd years ago. I hope that the ANZAC Friendship fundraiser for two partner charities of the Vietnam Match serves as reminder of just how far our Swans. Gate takings, and money raised through countries have come, how powerful the spirit of the auction of various items at tonight’s McMillan friendship can be and how bright the future looks Dinner will be used to support Vietnamese children when we work together and help our mates out – through the Swim Vietnam program and the Vung no matter where they are from. Tau orphanage. We are all very grateful for the donations (and bids!) that we continue to receive Over the past 5 years this match has grown to from all over the world. mean more than many ever expected and, looking to the future, we hope it continues grow in both I know that for many today will not be their first prestige and impact. But most of all, we hope that ANZAC Friendship Match. It is your continued each and ever year it continues to bring more and contributions that have helped grow this weekend more friends together. And just maybe, in another into the significant event it is and for this, we 45 years a whole new generation of players might thank you. For those who are experiencing it for will themselves here talking about classic games of the first time, we hope you come to understand 1967-71 or even 2014! and appreciate the spirit in which it is held and return again in the future. Finally, thank-you to all Go Swannies the sponsors, volunteers, players and supporters. Your efforts in organising and contributing to this Joshua Lee this weekend are massive and without them today National President simply wouldn’t happen. Vietnam Swans. Welcomes & Messages Shaun ‘Digger’ Di Gregoio President of the Malaysian Warriors reetings on the behalf of the Malaysian Funny to think that we’re not the only ones that Warriors! feel that way. I only recently learned about the existence of the Vietnamese Football League, and G it’s interesting to think that one of the first priorities It’s a privilege to be involved in today’s match on of the blokes stationed here was to set up a footy this Anzac day weekend which, by far, is the most comp.