SERVICEMEN'S ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL NASHONASHO 51 72 NAVY • ARMY • AIRFORCE NEWSNEWS NATIONAL SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF AUST (QLD) INC.

Issue No 141 August 2020

Feature Stories: President/Treasurer Reports Page 1 2020 Order of Australia Pages 2-6 Last Post Page 8

Directory Front Cover State Management State Management Committee Patron: Committee 2020/21 Councillor Angela Owen Front Row: Tony Stevenson President: Alex Garlin 07 3847 9690 OAM; Angela Owen; Alex 0417 621 411 Vice-President: Garlin; Len Matthews. Tony Stevenson OAM 07 3397 7512 Secretary: Back Row: Tom Andrews Len Matthews 07 3205 8674 OAM; Len Ramsay; John Asst Secretary: Ingrid Lundgren 07 3324 1277 Hardy OAM; Gordon Treasurer: Tunstall; Neal Freier; Neal Freier 07 3348 2080 0427 000 408 Pat Dunne. Asst Treasurer: Pat Dunne 07 3396 8723 Inserts: Ingrid Lundgren Wacol Advisor: and Vince Crowley. Barry Loose 07 3408 6103

Administration Manager: Tony Stevenson OAM 07 3397 7512 Official NSAA Welfare Officer: Merchandise Vacant OFFICIAL NSAA MERCHANDISE Chaplain: Beret $32 Thomas (Tom) Andrews OAM 07 3396 8033 Beret Badge – Pewter $5.50 04 0845 7931 Beret Badge – Silver Six Sided Logo $20 Book – 20 Year History of the NSAA 1987 to 2007 $25 Minute Secretary: Caps Embroidered with Nasho Logo $17.50 Coffee Cup with Nasho Logo $ 9.00 Gordon Tunstall 0412 886 042 Flag – Association Logo White Full Size (6'x3') $220 Flag – Association Logo White small size (hand waver) $12.50 Lapel Badge – Association Blue $5.50 Editor Nasho News: Lapel Badge – Navy, Army or Air Force $6.50 Vince Crowley 07 4779 9460 Lapel Badge – Tri-service $6.50 0428 193 076 Medals Full Size Unmounted Swing Court ADM $18 $22.50 $27.50 Editor Branch News ANSM $18 $22.50 $27.50 John Hardy OAM 07 4095 4154 Duo ADM+ANSM $36 $45 $55 0408 939 910 Miniatures Unmounted Swing Court ADM $12 $16.50 $21 Membership Officer: ANSM $12 $16.50 $21 Duo $24 $40 $45 Ingrid Lundgren 07 3324 1277 Medal Ribbon Bar with ADM+ANSM medal ribbons $15 Miniature Metal Ribbon Bar ADM+ANSM $10 State Office Necktie with Nasho Logo $33.50 Eric Sivell Park, 171 Boundary Road, Camp Hill, Nasho Pocket Patch – Bullion Thread – Red $36 Brisbane 4152 Nasho Pocket Patch – Queensland Red Logo $10 Nasho Port $13.50 Office Hours: 9.00am to 1.00pm Nasho Key Rings Acrylic $4.50 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Nasho Wattle Key Rings $10 Phone (07) 3324 1277 Number plate covers ‘I Am a Nasho’ $22 Shirts – Chambray short or long sleeves S M L XL XXL Email: [email protected] (add $3 for XXXL size) $36 Mail to: National Servicemen's Association Shirts – Polo White or Maroon S M L XL XXL (add $3 for XXXL size) $31 P.O. Box 7014 Holland Park East Qld 4121 Stubby Holder with Nasho Logo $5.50 Web: www.nashoqld.org.au Video – 50 year anniversary celebrations $5 Nominal Roll/Webmaster Video – Last March Out at Wacol $5 Wall Plaque – 6 sided Nasho Logo on Timber $42.50 Alex Garlin 07 3847 9690 [email protected] Pay by Credit Card – add $1.00 National Website: www.nashoaustralia.org.au Postage not included

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER The material contained in this publication is in the nature of general comment only, and neither purports, nor is intended, to be advice on any particular matter. Readers should not act or rely upon any matter or information contained or implied by this publication, without taking appropriate professional advice which relates specifically to their particular circumstances. The publishers and authors expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person whether an Association member or not, who acts or fails to act as a consequence of reliance upon the whole or part of the publication. Views expressed in any Editorial may not necessarily be those views held by the Management Committee. STATE PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Alex Garlin) Oops, I have spoken too soon. The gates are closed again. We are making arrangements for our meetings to be held on the 12th of September 2020. However, we may have to wait until next year. As of the 1st of August, we have six weeks until our AGM meeting and we may still have to postpone them. This is not what I had intended to do as these meetings set out our arrangements for the year. We will confirm whether the meeting is on or off as soon as we can. DO NOT BUY AIRFARES. If we do have to postpone then we may have to consider holding the AGM on line through Zoom or similar. The Association has had an invitation from the State Library for five Nashos to speak about their life in the service. Nashos from Navy, Army, Air Force, Vietnam and Officer Training at Scheyville were interviewed. These interviews will be able to be viewed at the State Library on a digital wall frame in the near future, We are still working on the Nasho Nominal Roll. We are in the process of trying to get the Southern States to add their names to the roll. Have you checked if your name is on the roll and if your details are correct? I wish all our members good health and please adhere to the COVID-19 recommendations

TREASURER’S REPORT (Neal Freier) COVID-19 has had an impact on everyone including the Nashos. Our AGM was to be held in March and had to be postponed. We have pencilled in 12th September for our AGM but that is not certain at this stage. If the second wave of COVID-19 hits Queensland, then the AGM will have to be postponed again. Once we know we will advise our members. Each year after our AGM I furnish an Annual Information Statement to the ACNC. I have been in contact with the ACNC who understand the situation because of the virus. They are content for me to just complete their Annual Information Statement which I will do. Even though it is not necessary I will also attach a copy of our fully audited financial report. On the subject of finance, I am happy with everything. We are in the process of applying for several grants all of which are necessary to keep us in a sound position. Our patron, Angela Owen, is always on the ball and has identified two recent grants we can apply for. Angela also acquired a near new desk computer which she gave to us. Angela also gave us a carton of hand sanitizer which will be distributed to branches. Well this would be the shortest report I have furnished. Outside of COVID-19 there is no bad news. I hope you all keep in good health and are happy.

EDITORIAL (Vince Crowley Editor) The issue this month is ‘typos’ – there are everywhere. There would not be a newspaper in Australia that doesn’t have typos. Don’t we love telling another person about their typos. Recently, at a funeral, the last line of the 23rd Psalm read ‘swell in the house of the Lord’ instead of ‘dwell’. I get pulled up for spelling Whiskey with an ‘e’, but only by Scots. We are not all perfect, so let us get on and enjoy life. The other issue is ‘Texts to the Editors’. In our paper, we have half a page on five days and a whole page on Tuesday. We have about ten regulars who spar with each other, the armchair football coaches, and of course the political combatants. They are a sorry lot and at end of the day achieve very little.

PAGE 1 2020 MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (O.A.M.) AWARDEES This year, six people (that we know of) associated with the Nashos have been recognised by being awarded an OAM. Like many persons who are recognised by various organisation, these persons are surprised by the award and, in turn, acknowledge the people with whom they work.

NANCY DAWN BATES OAM Wife of Tony, Member of Hervey Bay Branch Citation: For service to the community of Maryborough Media Note: Fraser Coast Chronicle; Community of Maryborough; five other awards. In August 2014 Tony Bates was asked by his wife Nancy where he wanted to spend the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing. He thought for a minute. “Maryborough is the best place to spend it because the first man ashore at Gallipoli came from Maryborough,” he declared, before adding fateful words. “And I don’t know why we don’t make more of it.” Nancy raised the subject of recognition for Duncan Chapman over a coffee the next morning with then Fraser Coast mayor Gerard O’Connell, formed a committee and ran a community campaign to raise funds. A statue of Lt Duncan Chapman was unveiled for the centenary, but by that time Nancy had bigger ideas. She realised how few people understood what happened at Gallipoli and the sequence of events on the Western Front,” she said. “We also had a statue of a man peering at the cliffs of Gallipoli, so we set out the build a stylised sculpture of the Anzac Cove landscape and to tell that story of the original Anzacs in a personal, chronological, multi-layered trail with storyboards, audio effects and sculptures.” Tony, who served in Vietnam with Psychological Operations and is a member of the Hervey Bay Nashos, has sometimes wondered about the four-year interruption of the couple’s travel plans but is happy with the legacy, rated world-class and the best memorial to the original Anzacs outside of Canberra. He is, however, well used to his wife becoming passionate – “I could call it obsessed” – with ventures aimed at making the Fraser Coast region a better place to live. That culminated in an extraordinary week in July this year when Nancy received an Australia Day OAM and a plaque announcing her as a 2020 Queensland Great. The presentations converged after being delayed by COVID-19. Citations recognised Nancy’s journalism career. She was the first female editor of a daily newspaper in Queensland and the second in Australia. On her retirement after more than 20 years in the role, she was described as a trailblazer. She had led campaigns to recognise Maryborough as the birthplace of Mary Poppins author P. L. Travers; to raise funds for the iconic Brolga regional theatre; to build an Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA) rated cross country course; to encourage unity in the amalgamated Fraser Coast, and to earn Maryborough fame as home of the World’s Greatest Pub Crawl. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said there would be few people - and perhaps no one - who had made more of a positive impact on the Fraser Coast community. “Every day, I see things - both physical and in the sense of community spirit - that would not have happened without her guidance, hard work and inspiration.” Pictures: Nancy and Tony with the statue of Duncan Chapman. Behind are three boats of 9th Btn that landed first at Gallipoli; Duncan Chapman before the stylised cliffs of Gallipoli. Editor’s Note: If you haven’t visited the memorial honouring Gallipoli in Queens ark then put it on your bucket list and while you are there continue through the park and visit the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

PAGE 2 MARIA ROSLEEN BOLAND OAM. Supporter Member, Bribie Island Citation: For service to nursing Media Note: Redcliffe Hospital; Nursing

Maria was born & bred in Cooma, a small country town in NSW, and nursing is in the family. Her mother was a Nurse, her sister is a Nurse, her Niece is a Nurse, and her daughter Graduated as a Registered Nurse 12 months ago and now holds the baton for Maria as she retired 12 months ago. After completing high school Maria worked in a Department Store in Cooma until she was old enough to apply to the Cooma District Hospital for Nursing Training in 1969. Throughout her training at this country Hospital, she was fortunate enough to learn from dedicated senior nurses. It wasn’t long before she rose to a senior nurse, mentoring & teaching those coming up the ranks. As a Registered Nurse at Cooma Hospital in the brand new Coronary Care / Intensive Care Unit where she saw a conglomeration of patients from Cardiac Issues, Post-operative care, trauma through car accidents and many a skiing accidents often smashed Pelvis’s etc. as the Hospital was the nearest to the snowfields. Maria wanted to know more about the disease entity of such cancers, and so she entered the world of further Professional development at the NSW College of Nursing ( now the Australian College of Nursing) where she was able to be a distant education student. She went on to complete Grad Certificate in Oncology; Grad Certificate in Haematology Haematopoetic Stem Cell transplantation in Nursing; Post Grad Certificate in Breast Cancer at La Trobe University; and Post Grad Diploma in Nursing Science( Breast Cancer). A few of Maria’s challenging roles have been Charge Sister of a 32-bed Medical Ward at Calvary Hospital in Canberra, Clinical Nurse Consultant in a large outpatient clinic at The Canberra Hospital, commissioning the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at The Canberra Hospital. She was fortunate enough to be able to commission the Zita Mary Medical Oncology Outpatient Clinic at Calvary Hospital in Canberra. Maria has been recognised by her peers and the wider community, winning many awards. She was runner- up in Care & Compassion category for QLD Pride of Australia Award; several Community awards through different community associations; won then The Annual Mary Potter Award at Calvary Hospital ACT in Association with the Medical Oncology Unit she commissioned at Calvary Hospital. She has also won an award concerning the restructure of The Canberra Hospital Oncology/Haematology outpatient department in Canberra. Through her further Professional Development throughout the years, due to her qualifications, she was able to apply for the role of Clinical Nurse Consultant Breast Cancer Coordinator at Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospital where she stayed for 11.5yrs until it was time to retire. That in itself was a difficult decision as she continued to love what she did; however, She had Breast Cancer twice herself, once in 2009 and again in 2016. She also hit her fifty years of nursing in January 2019, and she thought it was time I started to put myself first instead of continuing in the role which would have finally been to her detriment. Maria’s award of OAM was a great surprise to her as she would never have considered herself for such an honour. She gladly accepted the award in the light of all those in the nursing profession, and as it is The Year of The Nurse this year, the award was even more appropriate.

PAGE 3 BRUCE CATER GIBSON-WILDE OAM Member of Townsville Branch Citation: For service to the community of Townsville Media Note: Townsville Cinema Group; National Trust of Australia (Qld); Publications

The award application was initiated by the committee members of the Townsville Cinema Group, which screens feature films not shown in local commercial cinemas. The group stated in 1961 at a time, before television, when many film societies operated around Australia, screening narrow-gauge 16mm prints of international films, often in church halls or other small venues. Soon after the University College of Townsville (now James Cook University) opened in 1961, Bruce was one of a small group of enthusiasts that started a monthly screening of feature films. He became involved in due to his previous involvement with the Brisbane Cinema Group. Also, he had a new 16mm projector as part of my lab equipment when I started the Physics Sept at UCT. David Stratton was another film enthusiast who became involved with the Sydney Film movement and led to his well-known film reviews on SBS and ABC television. In Townsville, the group first screened in the old Theatre Royal, and then the refectory at UCT Pimlico Campus (now TAFE). Bruce remembers the enjoyment of the early years of carting two 16mm projectors and cans of films, putting out chairs, and running the projectors. Around 1970 we tried 35mm in a commercial cinema and soon went fully 35mm at Warrina Cineplex. Now it’s all digital at Event City Cinema- and soon to be downloaded from the web. What changes he has seen over the years. The award included is 45 years with the National Trust and the many publications in colaboration with my wife Dorothy, who received an OAM in 2012. Bruce says that his award should be shared with the many TCG volunteers who have worked so enthusiastically over the past 60 years.

BRUCE JAMES MILLER OAM Vice President Caboolture Branch Citation: For service to veterans and their family Media Note: Caboolture-Morayfield and District Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia; Caboolture-Morayfield and District RSL Club; Caboolture Citizens and Services Club; National Servicemen’s Association, Caboolture

Bruce was born and educated in Melbourne and was part of the call up of April 1966. He initially went to Puckapunyal for basic training, but after a few weeks, he was selected for officer training and travelled to outer Sydney for training. After six months at Officer Training Unit (OTU) Scheyville Bruce graduated to (Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps), completed Corps Training and then posted to Randwick in Sydney. After several postings in the Sydney area, he was posted to a unit on a warning to deploy to SVN. After 11 months of operational service, he returned to Australia. At this stage, he had enlisted in the ARA and was looking forward to a career in the Army. Bruce had opted to transfer to RAAOC (Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps) on the reorganisation in 1973, and over the next few years, he was an instructor at the RAAOC Centre, a Staff Officer at HQ 1 Div and the Director of Supply in the PNGDF. On return from PNG, Bruce attended Army Staff College Queenscliff and was then posted to Army HQ as the Staff Officer assisting a Brigadier. A nine-month trip to the US Army followed, and on return, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel overseeing the Integrated Logistic Support function at Logistic Branch. In 1988 he moved to HQ 1MD, and in 1989 I resigned from the Army.

PAGE 4 After his Army career, Bruce held many positions in the mining and construction industries. His work took him all over the world, and he spent time in Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Mali, Laos, PNG and The Philippines. Bruce retired in 2009 and decided to get involved on a regular basis with the RSL, in particular, the Caboolture Morayfield and District Sub Branch. He has been on the sub-branch executive for over 12 years and held the positions of President (6 years) and Vice President (6 years). He was the Patron of the National Servicemen’s Association, Caboolture sub-branch for three years and is currently the Vice President. BARRY McGOWN SCOTT Member of Brisbane South Branch Citation: For service to animal conservation, and to the community Media Note: Koala Foundation; Tasmanian Devils Club, Brisbane; Somerville House Foundation. The award recognised his work with Australian Koala Foundation; Tasmanian’s Devils Club, Brisbane; Somerville House Foundation; and leadership roles in several Organisations Barry has worked in a variety of areas, and the award could have come from any of them. He was a founding member of the Tasmanian Devils Club in 1981 and has been a Past President and now Patron and was Deputy Commissioner for Tasmania at Expo 88 and brought many Tasmanians together to support Expo 88. They support the Tassie Devils conservation and send funds to their refuges. Having three daughters, Barry became involved with Somerville House Girls School and was Chairman of the Foundation Establishment Committee. Later he was elected as Founding President from 1984 to 1988 for the School’s Foundation, the first girls’ school foundation in Australia. The School needed more land, and he negotiated with the owners of the Oasis Pool and Zoo complex in Sunnybank. The complex was purchased, and he became their manager. There was a unique disease-free group of Koalas on the site, he studied them, and decided to form the Australian Koala Foundation in 1985 and became the National Chairman from 1985 to 2003. They have become international and raise funds for koala research and retention of habitat. Barry was also President for 2 years of the Life Underwriters Association of Queensland 1980 to 1982 and chaired an international conference. There were many other groups that he became involved with. Barry did his National Service Training at RAAF Laverton Victoria in 1952. He was an early bird, Service Number A6488, and was selected as one of 12 pilots in an intake of over 1000. Gained his Private Pilot’s licence, but had never been in the front seat of a car. Later flew many types of light aircraft, gliders, balloons, helicopters and jets, here and overseas. Nasho training was excellent, and he’s had so many adventures with this knowledge. Barry is currently Deputy President of the RAAF Nashos in Brisbane. He led the Air Crew Association march on Anzac Day for a few years, until the Association ran out of pilots and closed down – sad. ANTHONY (TONY) ATHOL STEVENSON OAM Vice President: NSAA SMC; President: Brisbane South Branch; President: Salisbury RSL Sub Branch Citation: For service to veterans and their families Media Note: National Service Association of Australia (National, State, Brisbane South); RSL (South East District Sub Branch and Salisbury Sub Branch) Tony is reluctant to talk about himself as he is a team player and acknowledges what other people do. Tony is known as ‘Mr Nasho” as he is a walking encyclopaedia of things National Service and RSL. As many have said this is finally recognition for the voluntary work he does for the National Servicemen’s Association and the RSL. He attends the State Headquarters at Camp Hill four days a week from 9 am to 1 pm. On these days he performs the duties of Administration Office, Merchandise Officer, Welfare Officer. He is a State Delegate to National Meetings and, represents the Association at meetings with politicians and Government Departments including DVA.

PAGE 5 Tony joined the Association in 1994 as a committee member of the Brisbane South Branch and has been on the committee since that time. He is also a member of the Royal Australian Artillery Association. A recent significant achievement for Tony was the approval of the Veterans Card and Pin that he had lobbied for some time. For ‘relaxation’ he plays bowls and golf. It is unfortunate that his wife Bev is not alive to enjoy the recognition of Tony being awarded the OAM. Bev passed away on 7th January 2020

WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA Barend Kruysmulder (Brisbane North West) Editor. In the August and November Editions of the Nasho News we had the story ‘I was a POW of the Japanese’. Now we have the story of how Barend and family arrived in Australia. The twist to the story is that they were housed at ‘Camp Columbia’, the site to later be occupied by 11th National Service Battalionand where Barend was a Nasho. On the 28th November, we took off very early, and we seemed to be flying for a long time. We landed at the Air Force base at Townsville around noon and, were welcomed into a huge, airy dining and recreation hall with ceiling fans keeping the whole place nice and cool. It was the airmen’s mess hall which seemed to us to be the absolute height of luxury. We sat down to a lunch of cold meat and salad, rockmelon with icecream and jugs of pineapple juice to wash it all down. We had about twenty minutes after lunch to relax in comfortable cane lounge chairs before boarding the aircraft for the flight to Brisbane. We landed just on dusk at Amberley airforce base, and all the adults were interviewed by Red Cross officials to sort out who had a definite destination and who needed help for further travel or settlement in Brisbane. By the time we boarded our bus, it was dark and the first stop was at a hostel at Amberley followed by a stop at Ipswich. We were assigned to the Wacol Transit Camp which had been an American army settlement during the Pacific war and was called “Camp Columbia”. As we were the only ones going there we were the last ones remaining on the bus and the driver wanted to know all about us, so Mum happily chatted to him while Mabel and I gazed in awe at the city lights of Ipswich. On first sighting of street lights, Mabel whispered to me in Dutch “Kijk, net als vroeger in Singapore!” - look, it’s just like before in Singapore. It was the first time we had seen street lights since the Japanese bombing of Singapore, after which there was a nightly black-out of all public lighting. The bus dropped us at a small office where a very kindly Red Cross volunteer lady took all our details, gave us each a pack of toiletries - soap, talcum, toothbrush and toothpaste and a washcloth. Mum was also provided, courtesy of the Australian government, twenty pounds for herself and ten pounds for each child so that we could go shopping in Brisbane for some decent clothing, shoes and other essentials. She also got books of clothing and food coupons for those restricted items which required coupons to buy. Bearing in mind that the basic adult award wage in Australia at that time was around three and a half pounds a week, Mum’s fifty pounds was a substantial sum of money - a little over three months’ wages. Mum was also given some glass jars of infant food for Kees - fruit, custard and some savoury mush. A lady escorted us to our cottage handing Mum the key with some ceremony and also a little leaflet giving us details of where the dining hall was, meal times, bus timetable, general store and doctor’s rooms. It had been a long day, and as the dining hall was about to close, we decided to wait until breakfast time. We were just too tired. Mum gave Kees the infant foods to eat, and then we explored our cottage before going to bed. It all looked very new and comfortable, a bit like motel accommodation. The cottage was designed to house two officers with a large bed-sitting room each, furnished with two beds, an armchair and small desk. A short corridor separated the rooms off which were a separate bathroom and toilet. Each room also had a wash-basin and shelf above it with a tumbler in a waxed paper bag. We had our first taste of true civilisation. Early the next morning, we woke up with the sun streaming through the Venetian blinds and birds loudly chattering and twittering in the bushland surrounding us. Mum’s watch had stopped working a long time ago, so we had no idea of the time. We checked the leaflet for breakfast times at the hall and found that it started at 6.30 am. Being summertime in Brisbane and already very bright we assumed that it was around 7.30 or even later. We were pretty hungry by now so quickly showered and dressed and found our way to the dining hall using the little map on the back of the leaflet.

PAGE 6 When we got there, the doors were locked, and there wasn’t a soul in sight. We sat ourselves down at the top of the stairs by the entrance and waited. A long time went by when finally a large, jolly woman came huffing and puffing up the steep path leading to the hall, and she looked surprised to see us. “Are youse ‘ere for brekky darlins?” she boomed. When we nodded in the affirmative, she said it was only 5.30 and it would be another hour before the doors opened. She had come to start things up in the kitchen before the other staff arrived. We told her we had no clock and had arrived late the previous night so had not had any dinner either and she was suitably horrified. She went in through the back door and came back with some bananas, biscuits, a slab of fruitcake and two-pint bottles of cold milk, two aluminium mugs and a knife, all packed in a small cardboard box. She suggested we go back to our cottage with the goodies and return in an hour when we could have a proper breakfast. Our first day in Brisbane had got off to a surprising start. When we returned to the hall, the place was fairly busy but our lady-friend from early morning spotted us and moved a few single people around making room for us to eat together. On the table was a packet of corn flakes, jugs of cold milk, bowls of fine white sugar, racks of toast, jam, marmalade, honey, a basket with various fruit and a thermos jug of tea. The staff arrived with a bewildering assortment of crockery, a bowl, a glass, a cup and saucer and a range of cutlery. Helpfully they explained that the bowl was for the cereal, small plate for toast, and the cooked breakfast would come on a plate from the kitchen. Mum discreetly asked how to eat the cornflakes as we no idea what that was. We soon cottoned on, and cornflakes became a firm favourite. A woman came and asked us what we wanted for our cooked course and when we looked blank she asked how many eggs we wanted, fried, scrambled or poached, bacon and sausages or bacon and kidneys, baked beans or grilled tomatoes - the list went on, only to confuse us more. We said thank you we wouldn’t have any cooked course, just toast and tea to follow the three bowls of cornflakes I had already eaten. Mum and Mabel had two each and Kees had porridge washed down with lots of milk.

FLASHBACK – EDITION 19 JUNE 1995 SETTING UP SUB-BRANCHES: ANSWERS TO SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW SUB- BRANCHES WORK. The reason why we are setting up sub-branches in towns and districts is so members in those areas can have their own events, e.g. they can march in their own ANZAC Day March. All NASHO’s who join the NATIONAL SERVICEMEN’S ASSSOCIATION of AUSTRALIA in Queensland, belong to the N.S.A of A. QUEENSLAND INC. not a sub-branch. Sub-branches are only for members to get full benefit from the Association in their own area. Sub-branches can let their members know about any event through the Nasho News which goes to every member and by personal contact or through local newspapers. If there are new members signed up by sub-branches, the committee then sends the application form and membership fee to the treasurer of QUEENSLAND INC. for processing. Membership fees goes to QUEENSLAND INC. because the running costs are greater and they produce the NASHO NEWS (Newsletter) for all the membership throughout Queensland. Sub- branch committees can use the newsletter to inform their members and other members of local events and news etc. It belongs to all members and its our line of communication. If we did not have a newsletter we would not have an association. SUB-BRANCH FUND RAISING: At all sub-branch events, they can sell raffle tickets and merchandise. Sub-branches do not need a lot of funds to operate. I hope this gives members more of an idea about sub-branches. If there are any more questions please do not hesitate to ask any Queensland committee member.

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LAST POST This LAST POST includes Nashos who are not members of the Association. No Branch is shown beside these Nashos.

1/709957 BARNARD, Herbert (Herby) John Wacol, 1/1954 (Townsville) 1/702582 BECKMANN, Kevin Clifford Wacol. 1/1952 Mackay 1/714990 BRIGGS, Rev Keith Norman Wacol, 1/1955 Brisbane North 1734233 BROAD, Timothy William (Tim) Singleton, 2/1968 (Townsville) 1/717278 BROWN, Leslie (Les) Arthur Wacol, 2/1955 Caboolture 1/722125 BURKITT, Noel James Wacol, 2/1956 Burdekin 1/715839 COOPER, Alan George Wacol, 1/1955 Beaudesert 1/716580 DOLLERY, Lawrence (Laurie) Reginald Wacol, 2/1955 Brisbane North 1/713798 DUCE, Leonard Charles Wacol, 3/1954 Hervey Bay 1/701771 GARTRELL, Henry Raymond (Ray) Wacol, 1/1952 (Townsville) 1/725659 GULLIVER, Norman Richard Wacol, 1/1957 Townsville 1/710366 HICKLING, Ralph Edward Wacol, 1/1954 Caboolture 1/703848 HODSON, Thomas Kevin (Kevin) Wacol, 2/1952 (Townsville) 2/710726 HULM, Raymond James Holsworthy, 2/1952 Bundaberg 1/716171 JACKSON, Neville David Wacol, 1955 Mackay 3/726584 JONES, Alan Robert Puckapunyal, 1955 2/721501 KENNEDY, Peter John Holsworthy, 2/1953 Bris. North West 1/717166 KERSWELL, Kevin William Wacol, 2/1955 Dalby 1/720836 KRAUSE, Brian Edward Wacol, 2/1956 Brisbane North 1/709637 LAHTINEN, Allan Eric Wacol, 1/1954 Ingham 1/708535 MacMILLAN, Dugald William Wacol, 2/1953 1/721731 McCOOMBES, Francis Raymond Wacol, 2/1956 Ipswich 1/714238 MEISSNER, Emmerson Carl Wacol, 3/1954 Bundaberg 2/748950 NELSON, Raymond Fredrick Holsworthy, 3/1955 Redlands 1/717355 PARKER, Richard Allan Wacol 2/1955 Gympie 1/705593 PICCONE OAM, Luigi (Lou) Wacol, 1/1953 Cairns A115559 POWELL, Kenneth William Rathmines,3/1954 Rockhampton 1/707176 SIM, Allan Joseph Wacol, 2/1953 (Townsville) 3/715376 STEELE, Douglas Stewart Puckapunyal Gold Coast South 1/720231 TESSMER, Dudley Arnold Wacol, 1/1956 Toowoomba 1/704568 THOMAS, George Albert Wacol, 4/1952 Unattached 1/7 THORNE, Garry William George Wacol, 2/1953 (Townsville) 1/729049 TONG, Gordon Joe Wacol, 1/1959 Pine Rivers 1/706842 TOWERS, William Benjamin Wacol, 1/1953 Townsville 3/782364 VEITCH, William Edgar Puckapunyal, 2/1958 Sunshine Coast 1/710716 VELLA, John Charles Wacol 1/1954 (Ingham) 1/705929 WOODHEAD, Frederick Wacol, 3/1952 Townsville LEST WE FORGET THEY SERVED AUSTRALIA

PAGE 8 THE PADRE’S CORNER. G’DAY EVERYONE. Greetings to you all and as I write this article I hope that everyone is coping with how things are in our world today. It is unbelievable that the coronavirus is still a real problem through our world. My prayers and thoughts are with you all regularly, as a group, and person- ally for those whom I know real well. Please stay safe and do what we are supposed to do. This Article made me Stop and Think how DREADFUL our WORLD has BECOME. “ TELLING GOD to GET OUT “. Billy Graham’s daughter was interviewed on “The Early Show” and Jane Clayson asked her, “How could God let some things like this happen?” (Regarding Hurricane Katrina and today it could apply to the coronavirus.) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, “I believe God is deeply sad- dened by all such things, just as we are, but for years people have been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed off. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us alone?” “In the light of recent events ---- terrorists’ attacks, school shootings, wars etc. and now this year around the world, the coronavirus. I think it may have started when Madeleine Murray O’ Hare (she was murdered and her body found only a few years ago) complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and, authorities said, ‘OK’. Then someone said, ‘you had better not read the Bible in schools.’ The Bible says, ‘thou shall not kill and thou shall not steal and love your neighbour as yourself’ and the authorities said ‘OK’. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said, ‘we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem.’ (Dr. Spock’s son committed sui- cide). People said, ‘an expert should know what he is talking about,’ and they said, ‘OKAY’. Now we are asking ourselves why so many children of today have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers, their classmates and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a lot to do with

‘WE SHALL REAP WHAT WE SOW’ ! Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world is going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspaper and television news says, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send ‘JOKES’ through email and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the LORD, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in schools and the workplace. Funny how when you forward this message, you will not always send it to many on your address list be- cause you’re not sure what they believe or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what others think of us than what God thinks of us”. Read this and pass it on if you think it has merit. If not, then just delete it --- no one will know that you deleted it. BUT, if you discard this thought process, don’t you ever dare sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in today. I believe what I’ve written here for you and may God bless you all “REAL GOOD”. Also feel free to make contact with me at anytime. 0408 457 931 or tomhelen61@yahoo. com I am only an old Nasho from Wacol’s First Intake, 1956 who wants to serve you, wherever and whenever I’m needed, if possible. I would like to thank

Thomas S. Andrews, OAM. (State Padre).

PAGE 9 BRANCH NEWS Edited by John Hardy (john.hardy51@bigpond com) Under the Privacy Act, details about the person including Birthdays, illness and hospitalization cannot be included to Branch News without the person’s consent. Closing Date Wednesday 21st October Folding Date Friday 13th November

BAYSIDE: (Meeting 1st Tuesday of each month at 1030 hrs at Wynnum RSL, Tingal Road, Wynnum. Meetings however are currently cancelled until further notice.) Bayside has generally coped pretty well during the lockdown and we are all looking forward to the resumption of our meetings. It has been hard to have missed out on ANZAC DAY but most of us attended our own driveway services which by all reports were very moving. Bayside normally have a service at our memorial which last year was attended by about a 1000 people. The photo I have chosen shows how lonely our memorial was as our President and Vice President (Maurie Friend and Col Jones) laid a wreath and recited the Ode on a beautiful morning. Even though there was no one there, it was still very emotional. Bayside have attempted to keep every member in touch and involved by putting out a weekly news-sheet. Nearly everyone contributed to the content which has been most satisfying. The need for this has now passed and so we will be reverting back to our Bayside Bulletin which is published every two months. Our BMC have started meeting and plans are being drawn up for the remainder of the year. We are just waiting for ‘The Word’ when we are allowed to have meetings. We were all thrilled that Tony Stevenson was awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honour List. Congratulations Tony; this is so well deserved. Branch Contact: Secretary Pat Dunne 07 3396 8723 BEAUDESERT: (Meetings 1st Monday of even months 1030hrs. Venue: Beaudesert RSL Function Room) Our activities have been very restricted since March due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place here. With the easing of restrictions we were able to hold our morning tea in the park following our committee meeting on 6th July it was great to get some of our members together again. We then held our General Meeting in the RSL Club Function Room on the 3rd August where the widows of deceased Nashos were invited to attend the meeting to be presented with “Widows Pins” and have lunch with all of us afterwards. We have been unable to attend several of our member’s funerals recently and also unable to visit our Nashos in local Nursing Homes. We hope all of our other branches are making the best of things. The photo shows not “Christmas in July 2020” but members enjoying our Christmas Luncheon 2019 with SMC Administration Officer Tony Stevenson.

PAGE 10 BRIBIE ISLAND: (Meeting: 1st Tuesday each month at 1130 hours. Venue: 25 Boronia Drive, Bellara). Meeting – 1st Tuesday of the month. Contact John Price – President – 0439 287 747. Anzac Day 2020 – Whilst unable to take part in our normal activities, i.e. Dawn Service and March, Members and Supporters gathered at the end of their driveways to commemorate this very special day. The photo shows Branch President John Price, with some members and neighbours in attendance reading the Ode of Remembrance at 6am. Gus Angus played Amazing Grace on his bagpipes and emotions ran high as the Last Post and reveille was played by our neighbour Emily. We were contacted by our local Member Simone Wilson to ask us to make a contribution to a time capsule which was being prepared to commemorate Anzac Day 2020. We prepared a document telling the story of the National Servicemen’s Association and its role in Australia’s history. The time capsule is buried in the Vietnam Vets Park at the Bribie RSL grounds. As we have been unable to meet during this difficult time, we have kept in touch with our members and supporters by phone, email and snail mail and are pleased to report that everyone is well. We have sent birthday cards to all who have celebrated their birthdays during this time. We are proud to acknowledge Maria Boland OAM, wife of our member John Boland, who received her award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Her citation reads – “For service to nursing”. Maria retired in 2019 after a nursing career spanning more than 50 years. Congratulations Maria! We wish to acknowledge the passing of Karen Highlands President of the Busy Fingers Charity on Bribie Island. Karen worked tirelessly to fund raise for breast cancer and raised over $40,000. As President of Busy Fingers, Karen supported many organisations on Bribie Island and supplied the Bribie Island Branch with a fridge and other catering equipment. She will be sadly missed. Our Branch has been busy planning a reunion lunch which took place on Tuesday 4 August and formed part of a day out. We took a coach to Buderim to visit a lovely plant nursery and then on to the Caloundra RSL for lunch and then an inspection of their excellent museum in the grounds. Forty members and supporters participated in our reunion and we sincerely thank the State Office for the grant which will allow this event to take place. Branch contact – President John Price – 0439 287 747. BRISBANE SOUTH: (Meeting: Last Sunday each month 0930 hours. Venue: Runcorn Tavern). Our Branch has had our first monthly meeting after a long break and it was followed by a very enjoyable lunch, where we all shared stories of our “lockdown” time. It was also a chance for Branch members to officially congratulate our President, Tony Stevenson, on the receipt of his OAM in this year’s Queens Birthday Honours list. Tony received his award for his service to “Veterans and their families”. Congratulations also to Brisbane South member Barry Scott who also received an OAM in this year’s list. Barry was recognised for his “service to animal conservation and the community”. While no outings etc. are planned for the near future, we’re looking forward to our regular schedule of meetings while staying vigilant with distancing etc. Branch contact: Len Ramsay – Branch Secretary – 07 3209 5541. BUNDABERG: (Meeting: 2nd Saturday of the month 1330 hrs. Venue: Bundaberg RSL Board Room) Hi all. Well, what can I say about our Branch!! Nothing much since the virus came a calling to our great country. It would appear that perhaps we will get back to holding our August meeting as we will be able to spread out in our meeting room to meet the current regulations. The photo shows our Branch Welfare Officer, Anthony Bruce OAM, laying a wreath at the Bargara National Servicemen’s Association Memorial on behalf of our Branch. Thanks Tony! Our Branch President Mick Harvey provided transport for WWII Veterans and then attended the Women Veterans function commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the end of WWII held in Bundaberg on Friday 14 August 2020. If restrictions keep on lifting, we may be able to get back to holding our subsidised luncheons and the coach trip to the Noosa Everglades may be able to be finally organised for later in the year when the weather warms up. We have lost yet another member during the pandemic and the numbers are falling constantly. Stay healthy!! Mick Harvey, Publicity Officer. Branch Contact: Secretary Brian Trost 07 4151 3485. CABOOLTURE and DISTRICT: (Meeting 2nd. Monday each month 1000 hrs for 1030 hrs start. Venue Caboolture R.S.L. Club, Beerburrum Road.) Rather sadly, this article begins on a rather sombre note. Already this year, the branch has recorded the passing of another four (4) Members. Our ranks are now thinning at an accelerated rate and, given our demographic age group, there’s nothing we can do to stem the tide! Moreover, out of the gloom comes the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with its mandatory lockdowns, restrictions on public gatherings, and ongoing self-distancing requirements. Nevertheless, with the recent easing of public gathering limits, the branch will now convene its first G.M. in five months with a meeting and luncheon format at the Caboolture RSL Club in August.

PAGE 11 Hopefully, this will be the forerunner of a series of such affairs. Indeed, as a significant group of branch members reside in Woodford and surrounds, the branch’s executive is currently negotiating with the Woodford RSL Sub- branch board to hold our September meeting and luncheon affair there. We now sincerely hope that the worrying second wave outbreak of the virus in Victoria and N.S.W. does not infiltrate, or outflank, our border checkpoints and dampen aspirations here once again. Finally, on a very pleasing note, the branch wishes to advise that our Vice- President, Lieut. Colonel Bruce James Miller (Ret’d), has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (O.A.M.) in the General Division of the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list “for service to veterans and their families.” Heartiest congratulations Bruce! Branch Contact: Secretary Graeme Marlow (07) 5498 8037. CAIRNS and DISTRICT: (Meetings 2nd Thursday each month at 1030hrs Venue: Upstairs at the Cairns RSL boardroom.) Since the lockdown from the COVID-19 virus, we have been fortunate to have three Committee meetings. the most likely date for our next general meeting is Thursday 13 August. Members have been kept up to date with our monthly reports. It is on a sad note that we have to report the passing of Loui Piccone OAM on the 2 July aged 86. Successful in business, a very generous and well respected gentleman of his home town of Edmonton. Loui was a much loved man by his family and will be sadly missed. His funeral service can be viewed at https://livestream.com/rapidspin/events/9200972. Loui had been our Cairns Patron since 2008 and is shown in the photo with our Branch members at his Hambleton Hotel, Edmonton where he also owned an IGA store and another at Manunda, Cairns. On this occasion he was presented with a Nasho shirt and a certificate of appreciation. He entered Wacol in the first intake 1953 and completing his training with the Queensland University Regiment; R.I.P Loui. Branch Contact: President Pat Galwey Ph 07 4045 1667. GOLD COAST NORTH: (Meeting: 2nd Tuesday each even numbered month 0930 hours. Venue: Mudgeeraba Light Horse and National Servicemen’s Precinct, Mudgeeraba Showground.) The AGM is the exception, held third Tuesday in February. During the “lockdown” no activities were conducted. Our members all observed the isolation and social distancing rules, keeping to themselves as much as possible. With the easing of restrictions, forward planning has begun. General and SPOONS meetings were recommenced in August with social events to start in September. Planning has commenced for our 25th year Anniversary to be celebrated in October; all being well. The Branch was formed in Southport on 31 October 1995, as Gold Coast and Districts. After the formation of Gold Coast South branch in 2001, our branch was named Gold Coast North with the branch later becoming Incorporated. A combined event is planned to be held with the Annual Christmas Party. At present there are seven foundation members still on the member list. Congratulations to Tony Stevenson, on his OAM award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours; a well-deserved reward for his many years of work in the various organisations. Branch Contacts: Secretary, Roy Payne, 0448 234 036, President Brian Handke, 07 5630 8071. GOLD COAST TWIN TOWNS: (Meeting: Bi Monthly 4th Friday at 1000 hours QLD Time and 11 am NSW Time. Venue: RSL Twin-Towns, Anzac Room, Tweed Heads NSW). What a year 2020 has become it will be something to be remembered by all in more ways than one. Firstly our Branches haven’t been able to meet since February 2020, due to the Virus that’s been continually upsetting many, who have been fortunate enough to survive through it. Unfortunately we have not communicated much other than the odd phone call since February and with a good majority living the other side of the QLD Border it has made it even harder as the line has been drawn between us on all boundaries. Try getting across without the right pass, doesn’t work! Most Specialists are on the QLD side (make sure you leave early) and some venues our QLD members need to visit are on the NSW side; it’s fun believe me. A dental appointment close to the border but not over meant walking the last 500m to get there 10 minutes late. Bumper to bumper the last 3km. They told us most patients were an hour late. We are not bored; a half hour outing could lead to half a day out. Let’s hope some miracle happens soon so we can go somewhere else other than the doctors Stay safe and keep well. Branch Contacts: Vice President: Tom Hughes - 07 5513 0665 or Treasurer: Noreen Hughes 0438 447 497.

PAGE 12 HERVEY BAY: (Meeting: 4th Wednesday every month 1000 hours. Venue: Hervey Bay RSL, 3rd floor.) Hervey Bay NASHOS have been preparing for a full return to meetings in the coming months. The RSL and everyone else, having to obey the laws regarding distancing of patrons; the Hervey Bay branch will be having their first meeting back on the 26th August 2020. We have also made our bookings with the RSL for our Annual Charters Lunch and our Annual Christmas Lunch, although much will have been changed with previous years, it will be a good to get back to some sort of semblance. We have been tidying up paperwork and looking towards the future of our branch. While the lockdown was on, the Committee completed a bullet plan for future reference towards closure, whenever that will occur. A lot of our members have come down with various ailments and we wish them all a speedy recovery. We still have our monthly Newsletter we send to all members, those who do not have EMAIL addresses, we try and post out. This way our Members and Supporters keep up to date. We have been phoning and visiting our members, and many appreciate the visits or calls. We hope ALL fellow Branches well, and remember “KEEP YOUR DISTANCE”. Contacts President Brian 0467 642 730 or Secretary Ray 0427 799 971. INGHAM: (Meeting: 2nd Tuesday of the Month 1800 hrs. Venue: Ingham RSL.) 25th April 2020 will go down as the year of “The Phantom Anzac Day”. In the Hinchinbrook Shire, it was surprisingly well remembered by the local community and especially by members of the Ingham and District Branch of Nashos. A small group of the public attended the formal ceremony at the Ingham Cenotaph. Rick Butler, our Patron, Nasho and Viet Veteran, ex-President of the Ingham Branch of the RSL, laid a wreath on behalf of Vietnam Veterans and Nashos. Treasurer, Gordon Schmeirer, made an early morning pilgrimage to our Nasho Memorial at the Ingham Cemetery and attached a “Poppy to our Sacred Wall”. President John Pearson, draped the Australian Flag across his home porch and with lighted candle, played a recording of the Last Post. Many others watched the early morning live Anzac Day TV broadcast from the National Capital, Canberra. Still others, in their own way, and in silence, remembered “The Fallen”. Several photographs were sent to the Editor which conveyed the depth of feeling of Branch Members including; • Shown in the photo is Nasho John Piotto with wife Elsa and family also present, gathered for a roadside service, at their Macknade residence. • VP Franco Pagliuso with his partner, Dianne, in the early morning eastern light, in their driveway. • Rick Butler, assisted by his wife, Gloria, organised a Gort Street gathering in front of their residence. • Nasho Tom Duffy, a resident Cane Farmer of Abergowrie which became the most successful Soldier Settlement Project ever undertaken by the Commonwealth Government turning wild bush and jungle land into fertile agricultural land. The diggers secured a block of 60 acres and they turned their hand to pioneering sugar cane farms, living in tents or sheds, with wives and children. Many of them ended up very successful farmers, businessmen and community leaders. The roads of Abergowrie, mostly have names that immortalise WWII battle grounds - Tarakan, an island off Borneo, Tobruk, North Africa, Kokoda, New Guinea, El-Alamein, Egypt. Branch contact: Secretary Maurie Filei. Phone 07 4776 1752. INNISFAIL BABINDA TULLY: (Meeting: 4th Tuesday each month 1800hrs. Venue Innisfail RSL). The nationwide lockdown meant most of our planned activities had to be cancelled. Branch members participated in “Light up the Dawn” observances including the Cassowary Coast Salvation Army Nasho Gwen Hammerton and her husband Ted travelled between six homes of returned servicemen and women to sound the last post. Several members also gathered at Rob and Margaret Saunders residence where a mini service was conducted including the reading of some scriptures. Further, both President David Grima and VP Charlie Catalano quietly laid a wreath at the Johnstone River cenotaph. Battle of the Coral Sea commemoration on 3 May and the Tri-Branch Christmas in July on 5 July could not go ahead. We did however hold a committee meeting in our President David Grima’s farm shed. It was good to catch up with some members and now that restrictions have lifted we held our first general meeting since February on 28 July. The quarterly Tri-Branch meeting was well attended with members from Cairns, Tableland and this branch making the trip to Little Mulgrave, a halfway point. The back page photo shows the Branch members that attended the El Arish Soldier Settlement Centenary commemoration on 1 August. Many dignitaries were in attendance including the Governor of Queensland and his wife Kaye. VP (Victory in the Pacific) Day at Rocky Creek on 15 August, Vietnam Veterans Day on 18 August and an inter-branch rifle shoot at Kurrimine Beach on 22 August were also attended by members. We seem to have been spared the worst of the virus here in the far north thankfully, and hope every branch has fared as well. Branch Contact: Secretary, Margaret Saunders 0428 612 770.

PAGE 13 PINE RIVERS BRANCH: (Meeting: 3rd Wednesday each month at 0930 hours start. Venue: Pine Rivers RSL William Able Centre, Kallangur). The President Kevin Holding was pleased to welcome twenty two members of the Branch to McGavin View Kurwongbah for a combined meeting and BBQ. The group did so enjoy the company that they departed some two hours later. The Branch are saddened at the loss of Gordon Tong of the Royal Australian Medical Corps who passed away on 1 June 2020 aged 81. Gordon served on the SMC in the early days and his name appears as a SMC committee member in October 1999. Gordon took on the role of Nasho News Editor and produced Edition 45 Dceember 1999 to Edition 58 September 2002. Gordon went on to serve on the SMC until April 2006. Gordon also took on the role of Branch President of Redcliffe at one stage. The photo shows Gordon when he attended the opening of the National Serviceme’s Memorial in Canberra on 8 September 2010. He will be sadly missed. All Branch meetings are in limbo at this present time. Branch Contact - Len Matthews 0732058674. REDLANDS: (Meeting: 1st Sunday each month 0945 for 1000 hours start. Venue: Gallipoli Room, Redlands RSL once we can meet as a group again.) While precautions imposed to protect us all from the COVID-19 outbreak have made it impossible to continue our normal activities, our branch has continued to look for ways to support our members. Our desire to find opportunities to resume activities has been tempered by our determination to not do anything which would put our members at increased risk. Unfortunately, the risk is not diminishing and the danger at the time of writing is greater than ever. Our BMC is giving consideration to offering assistance to our members in paying their annual membership fee. It is possible that if we did this it could assist the State Administration as well as the members. We are hoping that the introduction of such a scheme would simplify our paperwork at the end of each year. There is however a number of complications to overcome so as to enable its introduction in an equitable manner. We will be seeking our members’ comments on this proposal at a General Meeting as soon as it is possible to hold one and maybe by circular letter if restrictions continue for an extended period. Queensland RSL Sub Branches have released details of another Health and Fitness Programme for Veterans and Peacekeepers. Once again Nashos are excluded. We have tried to speak to anyone at Veterans Health about the possibility of extending the programme to Nashos, at least in part……No reply. Eric Shaw, President. Branch Contact: Les Warner, Membership / Development Officer, 07 3821 2894 Mobile 0450 577 186. ROCKHAMPTON: (Meeting: 4th Wednesday of each month. 1000hr for 1030hr start. Venue: Frenchville Sports Club) With the partial relaxation of rules governing social distancing, it was a welcome sight to see near sixty members attend our 22 July meeting. John Day made a sterling effort by contacting all members to advise that the meeting would go ahead. Great concern was expressed by members when Padre Barrie Harvey informed us that the complex containing the heritage-listed buildings of the 42nd Battalion military barracks might soon go to a commercial developer. Many Nashos completed their obligatory CMF training there. Apart from an associated sentimentality, the main building contains one of the best collections of military memorabilia to be seen anywhere. A dedicated band of volunteers led by committee president, Rev Barrie Harvey, fears for what future lies in store for the Central Queensland Military Museum. (Updates will appear in future editions of Nasho News.) An invitation from Gracemere RSL President, Steve Robinson, for us to attend their Celebration Dinner commemorating the anniversary of the end of WW11 was warmly welcomed. A service to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day was again conducted at the Rockhampton Crematorium Memorial Wall to honour the memory of 2 National Servicemen Pte James G COX (7RAR, Phuoc Tuy, 1967) and Pte Kevin J PRIOR (9RAR, Bien Hoa, 1969). Another service then followed by a grave-side service at the North Rockhampton Cemetery for Sapper Anthony LISLE (1st Field Squadron RAE, Vung Tau, 1969). LESTWE FORGET. The photo shows team leader, Barry Kearney (2nd left) discusses matters of maintenance at St. Christopher’s Chapel with L to R Bob Doak, Kevin Richardson, Rod McCallum and John Day. This unique structure was built by the American 542 Engineers Ship and Shore Bn in 1943. During WW11 some 70,000 American troops experienced R and R in this region. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, the very popular American Independence Day Service was not held at the chapel. Branch contact: Secretary John Phillips. Ph: 07 4928 1017 / 0418739113..

PAGE 14 SUNSHINE COAST: (Meeting: 2nd Tuesday of the odd month at 1000 hrs. Venue: Maroochydore RSL) In these troubled times we have tried to keep our members updated and our branch afloat. We managed to hold a small picnic at Mudjimba (with social distancing) on the 10th August and to celebrate VP Day in conjunction with Drysdales who have been celebrating this event since 2003. It was the 75th anniversary of the end of the WWII in the South-West Pacific. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 8th September if the Maroochydore Sub- branch is open by then. We can only look forward to Christmas and better and safer times. If any members need assistance please get in touch with the Branch President Ted Weidner. The photo is this time last year; how times have changed. Branch Contact: Ted Weidner phone 07 54435915. . TABLELAND: (Meeting: 2nd Sunday of each month at 1000 hours. Venue: Nasho’s shelter at the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park). Branch meetings resumed on Sunday 14 June with a good attendance by members and supporters. Following our National Servicemen’s Day held on Sunday 9 February, our Branch has decided to make donations to two Tolga organisations. Firstly a 40” Smart TV and bracket has been purchased and mounted by a volunteer from the Tolga Museum at the Tolga Salvation Army church. This is where we hold our annual commemoration for the deceased Nashos from the previous year. This will make it much easier for everyone to see the presentation the next time that we hold a memorial service there on 14 February 2021. Branch President John Hardy and Secretary / Treasurer Terry Edmondson are shown handing over the TV to Salvo’s representatives Miriam Newton-Gentle and MAJ Peter Townsend. John and Terry attended the first church service on 19 July since the COVID-19 restrictions eased to gauge the effectiveness of the installation; it worked well. Across the road at the Tolga Museum where our Private Joe Ramsay Memorial Vietnam collection is housed, we approved a $1,000 donation towards their public liability insurance. Their fundraising efforts have been hampered this year because of the COVID-19 State 1 and 2 restrictions. A story about our Private Joe Ramsay Memorial Vietnam Collection appears in the latest RSL News Edition 2, 2020. Eleven members attended VP Day 2020 at the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park on Saturday 15 August 2020. In a well-attended ceremony despite COVID-19 restrictions, two new unit plaques and six personal plaques were unveiled. Our Branch had involvement in both the unit plaques with Bob Barkworth unveiling the Reserved Occupations plaque and the erection of a Australian Women’s Land Army plaque as a Branch initiative. This plaque was funded by DVA Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program. A coverage of the event can be view on the link at the Tablelands Regional Council Rocky Creek Web Site - https://www.trc.qld.gov.au/lifestyle-leisure/ rocky-creek-war-memorial-committee/ . Branch President John Hardy and Terry Edmondson will attend at the Association’s AGM at Wacol on Saturday 12 September short of a couple of sawdust brained Logan women’s actions intervening. Branch Contact: Secretary Terry Edmondson Ph. 07 4095 4154.

PAGE 15 TOOWOOMBA (Meetings: Odd months, 2nd Tues 7:00pm; Even months, 2nd Sun 1:00pm; Venue: Irish Club Hotel (Meals available before meetings). Toowoomba Nashos have been affected, as have many others by the Virus, but it has not stopped the members checking on each other in the interim. On 14 July, we had our first monthly meeting since March. We look forward to our normal routine such as bus trips and dinner functions for the members and the widows. We have a newly elected President- Bill McMillan. At the annual meeting in March, the other office bearers continued in office. Our individual members commemorated Anzac Day by standing to attention at Dawn in their respective driveways as demonstrated in the photo by Leo Camm and Barry Baldwin along with the Branch mascot. We all remembered in our own way, replacing the Anzac Parade, which of course was called off. Our new president headed off from his driveway and marched in uniform along (you guessed it) ANZAC Avenue and was spotted by the local press, had his photo taken and featured in the TV news. Good Branch publicity!!!. Well done Bill.” Branch Contact: Secretary Phone 07 4633 2564. .

TOWNSVILLE: (Meeting: 2nd Wednesday each month 1930 hours. Venue: Townsville RSL.) Fortunately, we were able to get our AGM in before the shop shut. We have only missed one Committee Meeting and on 12 July we held our first General Meeting since March. Welfare Office, Leon, has made contact with our ailing members and as an RSL Chaplain, sadly, he has had more business than he would like. For some years we have debated getting three new flag poles with internal ropes to replace the three that required lowering and raising and lowering and raising when we had a service. Tuesday, 4 August was significant day for Townsville Nashos, it was out with the old poles and in with the new ones. Soldiers from 3CER (Combat Engineer Regiment) with big Tonka toys and ably supported by NQ Sappers had them out and in before Noon – they only started at 11am. Thanks to the nearby Rowes Bay Caravan Park who babysat poles for a month pending all the approvals. The 4 August was also a very sad day for Townsville Nasho as Neville Hines, our Vice-President and BBQ Co-ordinator resigned, leaving a big pair of shoes to fill. Thank you, Neville for your many years of dedicated service. Branch Contact: Secretary Ian Kuhl 07 4778 2313. WARWICK: (Meeting: 3rd Tuesday of every 2nd month 12 noon. Venue: Warwick RSL. King Street.) Fortunately we had our AGM before we all had to shut down due to the COVID-19 virus. Our next meeting will be scheduled for August if all goes well. The Warwick RSL where we hold our bi-monthly lunch-time meetings has finally opened and everyone will be surprised to see that new murals have been painted on the walls as you enter from the main entrance. Our esteemed President Ron, has been laid up and had various trips to hospital in Toowoomba and Warwick and is slowly recuperating at home. Get well soon Ron. Plans are being prepared for a bus trip towards the end of the year. Contact Secretary: Tom Bryant - Phone 07 4666 6070.

PAGE 16 NASHO NOTICEBOARD Got a reunion planned? Looking for an old Nasho mate? Want to get information on anything? This is your page . . .

WACOL SUPERVISOR The SMC is seeking a younger person to take on the role of Wacol Supervi- sor. The main role is to inspect all the facilities at Wacol on a regular basis, to arrange for necessary maintenance; be available to give access to contractors into the property; and liaise with PNGVR Museum staff. The Supervisor is a member of the State Management Committee and expected to attend meetings of the Committee.

STATE MEETINGS The meetings planned for 21st March, 2020 were postponed to 12th September 2020. However, it now appears likely that the meetings may be further postponed or scheduled as a video conference. Three State Meetings will be held at the Wacol Heritage Precinct on Saturday 12th September 2020. The Meetings are Delegates, General and Annual General. Branches are entitled to two delegates for the Delegates Meeting and any Eligible Members can attend the General and Annual Meetings. The timings for the meetings are: Arrive Wacol Heritage Precinct: 0830hrs Early Morning Tea on arrival: 0830hrs Delegates Meeting commence: 0900hrs to 1130hrs 2.5hrs Lunch: 1130hrs to 1215hrs 0.75hrs General Meeting commence: 1215hrs to 1415hrs 2hrs Afternoon Tea: 1415hrs to 1445hrs 0.5hrs AGM: 1445hrs to 1615hrs 1.5hrs Depart from complex: 1700hrs The Agendas for the meetings will distributed at the respective Meetings. Some business will be Draft By-Laws at the Delegates Meeting; Notices of Motion at the General Meeting and Election of Officers at Annual Meeting.

FLASHBACK: Edition 31 August 1997 CHAPLAIN'S CORNER ‘BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT PUT ON GOD’S ARMOUR TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL Bible – Ephesians 6 v 10. El Arish Centenary Celebrations – 1 August - “From War Horse to Plough Horse” Memorial – L to R Bill Dray, President Innisfail RSL Sub Branch; Innisfail Branch Nashos – John Wakefield, Lido Tomasin, David Grima (President), John Paterson, Rob Saunders and Shane Knuth MP, Member for Hill.

NATIONAL SERVICEMEN’S ASSOC (QUEENSLAND) INC. NEWSLETTER POSTAGE PRINT POST P.O. BOX 7014 HOLLAND PARK EAST PAID QLD, 4121 PP10000/3661 AUSTRALIA