The Newsletter of the Australian Commando Association Queensland
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AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSN INC. Registered by Australia Post ~ Publication No PP100016240 Edition 8 ~August 2016 Pictured from left to right are Peter Laurantus, Brian Murphy, Tom Hall, Arthur Eastwood, Ken Curran OAM and Hugh Ralston AM who were on the original Green Beret Parade after WW2 at Victoria Barracks 60 years ago. FOR A STOCKIST NEAR YOU VISIT GSHOCK.SHRIRO.COM.AU CONTENTS NSW President & Editor’s Report .....................3 REGISTERED BY AUSTRALIA POST PUBLICATION No PP100016240 Events Calendar for 2016 ..................................4 AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSOCIATION INC. NSW Welfare Officer’s Report ..........................5 NATIONAL OFFICE BEARERS Letter from the National Vice President ...........6 LIFE PATRON: Gen Sir Phillip Bennett AC KBE DSO 1st Cdo Rgt celebrates 60th Anniversary of the First Beret Parade..............................7 PATRON: MajGen Tim McOwan AO DSC CSM MV Krait Restoration .........................................8 PRESIDENT: MajGen Mike Clifford AM CSC A Campaigner for Krait......................................9 VICE PRESIDENT: Col Brett Chaloner From the Prolific Pen of Harry Bell .................11 SECRETARY: Maj Steve Pilmore OAM RFD (Ret’d) Unveiling of the Z Special Unit Plaque ...........13 TREASURER: Maj Bruce O’Connor OAM (Ret’d) The John Kinsela Story....................................14 What did you do during the (Covert) War .....16 ACA VICTORIA PRESIDENT: Capt Marc Preston A Brief History of Capt R.J. Allsopp ...............18 ACA VICTORIA Book Review: Double Diamonds.....................19 SECRETARY: Glenn MacDonald ACA National Committee Meeting ................20 ACA NSW PRESIDENT: Barry Grant “Q” Store Order Form....................................21 Aust Cdo Assn VIC..........................................25 ACA NSW SECRETARY: Kevin Mahony Aust Cdo Assn QLD ........................................36 ACA QLD Membership Application/Renewal..................43 PRESIDENT: Nick Hill Deadline for next edition: ACA QLD TUESDAY, 15TH NOVEMBER 2016 SECRETARY: Tony Mills All news on members and interesting articles accepted. (Subject to editors’ approval.) PUBLIC OFFICER: Brian Liddy Barry G EDITORS: Barry Grant Barbara Pittaway The Australian Commando Association’s membership consists of AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSN INC. Registered by Australia Post ~ Publication No PP100016240 Servicemen who have served with Independent Companies, Commando Edition 8 ~August 2016 Squadrons, "M" and "Z" Special units and Special Forces during and since the Second World War. DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed within this publication are those of the authors, and are not necessarily those of the Editor, Publisher, Committee Members or Members of our Association. We welcome any input as long as it is not offensive or abusive but if any member has a problem with a printed article we would like to be informed in order that the author may be contacted. We do encourage your opinion. Official Publishers: Statewide Publishing P/L ABN 65 116 985 187 PO BOX 682, SURFERS PARADISE QLD 4217 Pictured from left to right are Peter Laurantus, Brian Murphy, Tom Hall, Arthur Eastwood, Ken Curran OAM and Hugh Ralston AM who were on the original Green Beret Parade after WW2 at Victoria Barracks 60 years ago. PHONE: 0432 042 060 EMAIL: [email protected] Printed by Galloping Press Front Cover: Pictured from left to right are Peter Laurantus, 138 Bonds Road, Riverwood NSW 2210 Brian Murphy, Tom Hall, Arthur Eastwood, Ken Curran OAM PHONE: 9584 7690 and Hugh Ralston AM who were on the original Green Beret Parade after WW2 at Victoria Barracks 60 years ago. COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 8 I August 2016 1 AustralianAustralian CommandoCommando AssociationAssocciation NNSWSW IncInc. wwww.austcdoassocnsw.comww.austcdoassocnsw.com POPO BoxBox 11313,313, Sutherland,Sutherland, NSWNSW 14991499 CommandoCommando fforor lifelife 1941 - 1946 19551955 - BarryBarrryy Grant,Grant, PresidentPresident KevinKevin MahoMahony,ny, SecretarySecretary Ivan Kelly,Kelly, TreasurerTreasurer [email protected]@gmail.com [email protected]@bigpond.combigpond.com [email protected]@biigpond.net.au 04140414 914914 615615 04250425 279279 111111 04170417 042 886 NSW President & Editor’s Report At recent National Association committee This will be on- meetings, the future of our State Associations has going and will require been discussed. the support of all Among those issues were membership and what members of all States. we are doing for our returned diggers. As a former Prime We need to focus less on being a "beer and Minister stated, BBQ" group and more on welfare issues. “They went forth Part of this strategy is to form closer ties between willingly to do their kindred bodies such as the RSL, Legacy and other duty to Australia; ESO's. Australia must be Earlier this year we sought approval to join the equally ready to do its Alliance of Defence Organisations (ADSO) and duty to them”. membership was granted. Prime Minister Billy Hughes We join such Associations as, the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA), the Naval Association The parade to commemorate the 60th of Australia (NAA), the RAAF Association (RAAFA), Anniversary of the first beret presentation in 1956 the Royal Australian Regiment Corporation (RARC), was held on Sunday, the 24th July 2016. the Australian Special Air Service Association As many of the older members stated, it was an (ASASA), the Vietnam Veterans Association of event not to be missed as within a few years many of Australia (VVAA), the Australian Federation of Totally the veterans of that parade will not be with us. and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Service Men and Well done to the Regiment, most of us recognise Women, the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia, that marching on parade is not one of our core skills Partners of Veterans Association of Australia, the in Special Forces, but after watching the parade, we Royal Australian Armoured Corps Corporation also recognise that we are quick learners. (RAAC), the National Malaya & Borneo Veterans The issue of new State Associations has been Association Australia (NMBVAA), the Defence raised and tentative talks have been held to see if Reserves Association (DRS), the Australian Gulf War there is enough interest in States such as Western Veterans Association, the Military Police Association Australia, Tasmania and South Australia. Australia (MPAA), the Australian Army Apprentices If you are in these States, and wish to participate Association, the Australian Commando Association, please contact us and we will pass on your details. and the War Widows Guild of Australia. C4L This will give our State Associations more strength in dealing with government agencies. Barry Grant There are a number of common issues affecting the members of ADSO, such as DVA Culture and processes, Veterans Disability Payments, Military Superannuation, ADF pay, Defence Housing support, care and accommodation needs of homeless veterans, mental health support programs, the issue of anti malarial drugs such as Mefloquine and many more issues common to sister Australian Commando organisations. Association (NSW) Inc COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 8 I August 2016 3 AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSOCIATION (NSW) INC. EVENTS CALENDAR FOR 2016 OCTOBER 15th (Sat) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION To be held at HMAS Penguin 1030 hours - Subject to security approval NOVEMBER 11th (Tuesday) REMEMBRANCE DAY AT DARLING HARBOUR SERVICE HELD AT THE “KRAIT” Service starts 1030 hours NOVEMBER 12th (Sat) ASSOCIATION XMAS DINNER CARNARVON GOLF CLUB Families always welcome 1830 hours for 1900 hours Please direct your enquiries to our Secretary, Kevin Mahony Home (02) 9644 8794 or mobile 0425 279 111 or Email [email protected] Apply for your wholesale account to get exclusive ADF pricing rates. How to get your wholesale account approved: 1. Create your account via our online store by clicking on the create account tab 2. Select wholesale as the account type from the displayed drop down box 3. Company name = ADF 4. ABN = ADF2016 5. Your account will be approved within 24hrs from receiving your request. 4 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 8 I August 2016 NSW Welfare Officer’s Report WELFARE OFFICERʼS AIM: VETERAN SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS & GROUPS To provide physical, mental, social support for These centres may provide legal and health advice, members and their families. home modifications, hospital visitations, peer support, transportation, recreational groups, appliances, finan- “THE FUTURE OF ASSISTING VETERANS AND cial support, funeral assistance, housing, career tran- THEIR DEPENDANTS” FORUM: sitioning into civilian jobs etc, for veterans and their This was held in February, at the Dee Why RSL dependants. Club. Kevin Mahony & I attended, along with about 80 I’ll just mention some of them, which may be helpful delegates from a wide range of Defence organisations. for Association members, their families and others. Here is some of the information and organisations’ (Google the “www” references); details, which may be helpful for the Association’s 1. Most RSL Sub-Branches have Welfare & Pension members. Officers who may be able to assist you. Some provide funeral benefits to their members. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS: www.rslnsw.org.au DVA is undergoing, a lot of changes, which should 2. Defence Care, ANZAC House, 245 Castlereagh St. be completed by the end of 2016. Sydney. Ph 02 8088 0388. www.defencecare.org.au GPO Box 9998, in capital city. 3. Sydney Northern Beaches Veterans’ Centre, RSL