INFANTRYMAN The Journal of the RAR Association SA April 2015 Keeping the Spirit Alive Fond memories of ‘Mad Dog Smith’ will last forever ot unexpectedly it was like a military Everything was in place when he died on 6 Nexercise. Every contingency worked out January 2015. in the finest detail well in advance. The leaflet states: Warrant Officer Class 1 - Regimental Noel Smith Sergeant Major Noel “Mad Dog” Smith - spent weeks planning his funeral. 25 June 1935 - 6 January 2015. His daughter Kirsty maintained a dossier Loving ex-husband of Beverley highlighted with coloured tags to denote the Loving father of Leigh and Kirsty. various facets of the funeral. Fond father-in-law of Leese and Paul. Adoring Noel designed the leaflet handed out at Grumpa to Harley,Theo and Mia. Loved son of his Centennial Park funeral which listed Frederick and Alice Happy sibling to Eileen (dec.); his military career from joining the senior Len (dec.); Don (dec.); Max; Fred; Terry (dec.); Betty cadets at Collingwood Technical School (dec.); and Shirley (dec.). in Melbourne from1949 to 1950 as a Sgt Platoon Commander. The back page Eulogy page 7 highlighted his service medals and awards. ANZAC DAY ARRANGEMENTS Fighting for the The RAR Association SA will participate in a number of activities on ANZAC Day best veteran Saturday 25 April 2015. The Association will participate in the ANZAC Day Commemorative March with: health outcomes! • Forming up on the western side thought it prudent to officially brief you as to what is of Pulteney Street between North I happening with the RGH and what role the RARA is Terrace and Rundle Street/Mall. playing in not only looking after our members interests • All marchers in location at 9.50am, and march at six but of all veterans in South Australia. abreast. We need to be mindful that the RGH and its future is a • The Order of March will be part of an overall overhaul of the Health System in SA o President’s Party with our President leading because quite frankly it is busted and if it’s busted you followed by the RAR Association Banner. need to fix it. Although the RGH holistically fits into the o Battalion associations marching in order of overall health and hospital mix in SA it is a special place battalion seniority (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 2/4, historically and emotionally for many veterans in SA. 5/7 and 8/9 RAR). Sadly the media and others has focused on the word o The SASR will follow our last battalion "closure" of the RGH as a major headline which in association. reality is not the case. “Closure” has a finality about it • We will proceed to the corner of Pennington Terrace, with visions of buildings knocked over, new commercial from Sir Edwin Smith before halting and dispersing. buildings or hotels being built and veterans out in the • Mascots are not allowed. street, which is totally untrue. • Family members who wish to march are to do so in As a part of the Veterans Advisory Council our Patron, Group 12 B. Laurie Lewis and I, as members, have been involved • 7 RAR will march in Group 12A in discussions with the Hon Jack Snelling the Health The RAR Association will take unit association banners to Minister and The Hon Martin Hamilton Smith, the the March from its clubrooms and will collect them from Veterans Minister, and there is going to be an extensive the Old Lion Hotel after the March for their return. and detailed consultative process in which the veteran After the March there will be a commemorative service community will be involved before any decisions are at the Cross of Sacrifice, with food and drinks at Torrens Training Depot and reunions. All associations except made. and Trojan’s Trek have also been Moose Dunlop 4 RAR SA will be having their reunions at the Old Lion involved in the discussions through Moose's work in the and 4 RAR SA will be having their reunion at the Joiners’ mental health space. Arms, Hindmarsh. Continued page 3 - From the Command Post Adrian Craig, Ceremonial SECRETARY’S REPORT _ or a bunch of old crocks our Association Executive are the absolutely vital heads down quiet achievers; Fofficers and club management stalwarts do an Ceremonial Officer Adrian Craig does a magnificent amazing job serving the association`s membership and job organising the many Regimental commemorations, wider Veteran community. To begin with our esteemed services and attendant logistics required for these things Patron Laurie Lewis AM an octogenarian of considerable to happen, doing such a great job that no one is ever wisdom continues to put in many hours of volunteer aware of the hours of planning, organising, editing and work as a member of the SA Veterans` Advisory just plain hard bloody work that has gone into making Council as well as many other long term RAR Assoc. services the benchmark in commitments to other worthy veteran South Australia. Who of us is fully aware of related groups and projects. Our President the hours and kilometres that Ken Duthie Mick von Berg MC has a work schedule puts into educating our future citizens of that includes regular interstate travel their nations legacy of service and sacrifice? (much at his own expense) that would rival Visiting schools with his fantastically senior executives of major companies; interactive educational road show, again member of the Prime Ministerial Advisory putting in hours of committed work and Council on Veterans` Mental Health, SA travel at his own expense. I can tell you it is Veterans` Advisory Council, Chairman hundreds of schools, thousands of children Royal Australian Regiment Association who would otherwise be totally ignorant Corporation as well as the National RARA SA Secretary Robert of the service and sacrifice made for their Executive of the RAR Association and the Whinnen with his grandsons future. We continually receive letters of day to day management of RAR assoc. Lincoln, 6 months, and appreciation from school Headmasters (SA). All this and Mick is well into his Rory, 2 years . Robert says: and students as well as being informed of “Love them both beyond septuagenarian years that most expect to school projects that have been initiated comprehension.” be time to pursue their own hedonistic life as a result of Ken`s sparking the fire of style. interest and thirst for knowledge in young As for the club social activities we all owe a collective minds. Also there are the mundane tasks of thanks to our stalwarts such as Vice President RARA the day to day financial management of the association (SA) RSL Sub Branch President Rod Graham, RARA and club as well as keeping up the website, for this we (SA) Club Manager Greg Dwiar AKA “Spike” and the must thank Mike Bevan and as well acknowledge the regular team of volunteers at the bar and dixie bashing; contribution of Tony Boyce. We can’t forget our mostly Colin Abel, Neil Nichols, Adrian Craig, Tim Karasoulas unsung scribe of the Regiments history Fred Fairhead and others who pitch in when needed. Then there who has ensured the recording of our history in Korea and Vietnam. His “A Duty Done” The RAR in Vietnam is acknowledged as the seminal work on the RAR`s Dressing of the Graves – 20 May 2015 involvement, as well as being the major fund raiser Kernewek Lowender – Wallaroo Cemetery for our RARA (SA) Welfare Fund. Please attend the 42252 Sgt Bernard Lyle Smith AGM on Sunday July 12 at 10:30 for an 11:00 start to th demonstrate your support and perhaps join the RARA KIA 9 March 1969 5RAR (SA) Team and inject some new blood for 2015-16. he dressing of the graves is a tradition which has been established by the Cornish Association of SA Robert Whinnen Tin helping to stage the Kernewek Lowender which was Secretary started in 1970. The ceremonies are held to draw attention to the Warning Order pioneers and the esteem in which each was held. The ceremony at each cemetery takes just over an hour. Regimental Dinner At each grave a floral tribute is laid on the grave and The Royal Australian Regiment (SA) Inc. the citation read and then placed on the grave for the duration of the Lowender. at Regimental HQ – Linden Park This year the committee has advised that they propose to dress the grave of Bernie Smith, who was sadly Saturday 30 May 2015 at 1800hrs. killed on his second tour of Vietnam with 5RAR. This A sumptuous three course dinner will be prepared event is of particular significance for me as Bernie was and served by external caterers to give our team one of my NCOs on the first tour and many of us from the night off to enjoy the evening the Reconnaissance Platoon have stayed in touch with Dress: Ladies – After 5 Jan, his widow, and his two sons, one of which is now Maj Gen Stuart Smith AO DSC, commander of 1st Men – Suit and tie with miniature medals Division in Brisbane. Cost: $60 a head payable in advance. There is a simple grave site service at which those attending are all guests, as the local committee is First to book will have confirmed places organising everything and there are also other graves which are limited. to dress. Anyone is welcome to attend but in particular members of the 5RAR Association. The family will Last day to pay Friday May 22. be in attendance and a good roll up would be both Pay Club Manager Greg Dwiar appreciated and respected.