SERVICEMEN'S ASSOCIATION NATIONAL NASHONASHO 51 72 NAVY • ARMY • AIRFORCE NEWSNEWS NATIONAL SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF AUST (QLD) INC. Issue No 128 May 2017 Feature Stories: President and Treasurer Reports Pages 1, 2 Brigadier Neil Harvey Weekes Pages 4, 5, 6, 7 75th Anniversary of Battle of the Coral Sea Page 8 Directory Front Cover A delegation of Timor-Liste soldiers and veterans State Management visited Townsville as part of their visit to Australia. A wreath laying ceremony was held at the National Committee Service Memorial at Rowes Bay. Council asked President: permission to use our memorial as a wedding with Alex Garlin 07 3847 9690 400 guests were using ANZAC Park where the 0417 621 411 Cenotaph is located. Vice-President: Warren Cockburn OAM 07 4162 17 93 FOR CLARIFICATION 0418 192 821 Following publication of the November edition, a Secretary: member contacted me with concerns that I had Len Matthews 07 3205 8674 included details of a bank account in one of the book reviews. The information in the article was Treasurer: provided to me by the author and was in a flyer that Neal Freier 07 3348 2080 he had distributed freely around the community. I 0427 000 408 can accept the members concerns as he is quite Assistant Treasurer: correct in stating that we are continually told not to Trevor Jones 07 3217 9293 provided details of our accounts. However, it is Wacol Supervisor: now accepted practice for business to include Barry Loose 07 3408 6103 details of bank accounts on statements and Assistant Wacol Supervisor: invoices. The account details, on their own, mean Colin Waite 07 3808 9256 nothing, what is important is NOT TO REVEAL the Personal Identification Number (PIN) Administration Manager: Tony Stevenson 07 3397 7512 State Welfare Officer: Phil and Heather Donoghue 07 3889 4054 Official NSAA State Chaplain: Merchandise Thomas (Tom) Andrews OAM 07 3396 8033 OFFICIAL NSAA MERCHANDISE 04 0845 7931 Beret $32 Editor Nasho News: Beret Badge – Pewter $5.50 Vince Crowley 07 4779 9460 Beret Badge – Silver Six Sided Logo $20 Book – 20 Year History of the NSAA 1987 to 2007 $25 0428 193 076 Caps Embroidered with Nasho Logo $17.50 Editor Branch News Coffee Cup with Nasho Logo $ 9.00 John Hardy OAM 07 4095 4154 Flag – Association Logo White Full Size (6'x3') $220 0408 939 910 Flag – Association Logo White small size (hand waver) $12.50 Welfare Officers: Lapel Badge – Association Blue $5.50 Phil and Heather Donoghue 07 3889 4054 Lapel Badge – Navy, Army or Air Force $6.50 Lapel Badge – Tri-service $6.50 Membership Officer: Medals Full Size Unmounted Swing Court Stephen Sheridan 07 3324 1277 ADM $18 $22.50 $27.50 ANSM $18 $22.50 $27.50 Duo ADM+ANSM $36 $45 $55 State Office Miniatures Unmounted Swing Court ADM $12 $16.50 $21 Eric Sivell Park, 171 Boundary Road, Camp Hill, ANSM $12 $16.50 $21 Brisbane 4152 Duo $24 $40 $45 Medal Ribbon Bar with ADM+ANSM medal ribbons $15 Office Hours: 9.00am to 1.00pm Necktie with Nasho Logo $33.50 Nasho Pocket Patch – Bullion Thread – Red $36 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Nasho Pocket Patch – Queensland Red Logo $10 Nasho Port $13.50 Phone (07) 3324 1277 Nasho Key Rings Acrylic $4.50 Nasho Wattle Key Rings $10 Email: [email protected] Number plate covers ‘I Am a Nasho’ $22 Mail to: National Servicemen's Association Shirts – Chambray short or long sleeves S M L XL XXL (add $3 for XXXL size) $36 P.O. Box 7014 Holland Park East Qld 4121 Shirts – Polo White or Maroon S M L XL XXL (add $3 for XXXL size) $31 Web: www.nashoqld.org.au Stubby Holder with Nasho Logo $5.50 Nominal Roll/Webmaster Video – 50 year anniversary celebrations $5 Video – Last March Out at Wacol $5 Alex Garlin 07 3847 9690 [email protected] Wall Plaque – 6 sided Nasho Logo on Timber $42.50 National Website: www.nashoaustralia.org.au Pay by Credit Card – add $1.00 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. PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Alex Garlin) I would like to extend a warm welcome to all National Servicemen Partners and Guests on the occasion of the 2017 AGM. For the first time, I report that the “Grim Reaper” has overtaken our Membership, with the February edition of our National News “Last Post” reporting the death of 33 of our Members and the February RSL News “Last Post” reporting the death of 520 Members. Our Branches are still holding up with only the closing of the Maryborough Branch, but its loss was offset with the re-establishment of the Hervey Bay Branch 45 kilometers away. It has been an exceptional year with so many achievements finalised for the year. The greatest achievement to date is the area in which you are all sitting today. In our first official opening of the Everyman’s Hut we had 180 Members and Guests attend a Church Service and sit-down dinner. This function was well received by all who attended. I have a lot of people to thank for the effort they put in cleaning out the surplus material left inside the hut. To date we have only just scratched the surface. The Chapel urgently requires a paint job and thanks to Colin Waite we have received a quantity of paint at no charge through Taubman’s Paints. One of the next endeavours will be the Lecture Hut which needs the ceilings and wall linings to be removed, then electrically rewired and new sheeting to be applied. The floor will also need to be carpeted or sanded and varnished. NATIONAL SERVICEMEN AND THE RECEIPT OF MEDICAL TREATMENT WITH THE SERVICE BEING COVERED BY DVA WHITE CARD After being told that National Servicemen are not entitled to medical treatment under any DVA card system that argument has been “tipped on its head”. Two DVA Gold Cards and four DVA White Cards have been gained by well-known National Servicemen. Out of respect for their privacy their names will be withheld. It must be said that this was not handed to them without a great deal of struggle within the system. IF YOU DO NOT ASK, YOU WILL NOT PREVAIL Tony Stevenson and I regularly visit any National Servicemen who are hospitalised in any of the Brisbane hospitals, North or South. Over the past year Lois and I have visited many Branches as far as Cairns and the Tablelands to South West Toowoomba, Warwick and Dalby and South to the Gold Coast North. We have been well received by all of the branches we have visited. TREASURER’S REPORT (Neal Freier) Hello to all Members and Supporters. I was unable to attend the recent March AGM , Delegates & General Meeting held at Wacol, but those of you who attended would know that I had prepared a fully audited Financial Report along with a short report to explain certain matters that I thought should be drawn to your attention. My report was fully accepted as I expected. I pride myself in keeping accurate records and being up-front if I have any concerns, particularly about spending. If any member has a question relating to our finances I will answer it. I want to particularly give a big ‘Thanks’ to every branch treasurer in the State. You all got your financial reports in to me on time. The consolidating of these reports is complex, time consuming and necessary so the Grant application form can be completed and sent in on time to the Anzac Day Trust Committee. On the subject of Grants, we recently applied to the DVA for another quite large Grant and I am hopeful we will be successful. I have explained this before – our only income is from membership fees and sale of merchandise and both of these are dwindling. To keep us up and running I apply for Grants. PAGE 1 On the subject of Grants – How many of our branches have got off their backside and applied for a Grant? - Not too many!!! I have detected some envy and resentment from a few of our regular disgruntled knockers who only seem to emerge at our bi-annual meetings to criticize and never to offer anything constructive. Enough said ! I guess every organization has to put up with a small percentage of these people. Everyman’s Hut is really looking great. We have applied for a Grant to have it air-conditioned and fitted out with 150 very classy chairs. I am quietly confident that will happen. I am also hopeful we will receive another grant for solar power and batteries at Wacol which will reduce our power bill down next to zero. On the subject of Wacol I want to acknowledge the work and progress at our Wacol precinct. All is because of the many hours spent by Barry Loose and Col & Joyce Waite. Most people have absolutely no idea how many hours they put in at Wacol, but I do and I thank you.