Patron: Col J Fuster                                          PO Box 484,
             COL Commandant RACT 3MD	                         Black Rock. Vic. 3193
	
President:	  John Davidson                            Secretary: Bob Tyler

Website; www.3md-ract.raasc.org.au
Email ; tyler.bob.cg@edumail.vic.gov.au
Telephone Number ;(W) 8586 4201  (AH) 9584 3791 

3RD MILITARY DISTRICT RAASC/RACT ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER 3/2011
(May 2011)


    
 Committee
    Members  

    		

    Col Commandant		          Col Rex Rowe

    President			          John Davidson

    Vice President		          John Pearce

    Secretary			          Bob Tyler	

    Treasurer			          Bob Glaister

    Membership/ Web Master	John Casey

    Members			          Leon Slusarski

    Member/Merchandise Offr	David Angee

    Member/Golf Club Pres	Danny Hill

    				

    RSL Liaison Officer		Ian Ward

    	Past President		Laurie Taig (RIP)

    
	Special Funds Committee
	President			John Pearce
	Members			Ian Ward
					Brian Neal
					Michael Jefferson
	Padre				Maj Dave Horne

Reminder - Pls provide Email address to assist in mailing costs

Vale - Lest We Forget

Sick Parade
Morris Penn 
Wally Syrett
Bruce Williams

Diary Dates

5 Jun - Pilgrimage to the Shrine (Corps Birthday)
3 Jul -  Reserve Forces Day Parade
6 Nov - AGM and Lunch

Presidents Report

Notice of motion at AGM 7th Nov 2010  AGM 
Point 2 of the motion  - Regarding support given to troops in situ with the necessary resources and equipment to do the job that is required of them.
A letter has been sent on behalf of the Association to the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, Minister of Defence with a copy to Air Chief Marshall Houston AC.AFC.
A follow up letter was sent 23rd Feb 2011 as no reply had been received, I have sent a request to Hon. Greg Hunt MP for Flinders (my local member) for his action.
His response was very prompt and he said he will follow up on this matter.
RAEME day of Remembrance Service at the Shrine
I represented the association at this service.

Members Input

One of our members, Jennifer Hume, wrote to us with 2 suggestions.
1.	In the March edition of Mufti, she read about a cruise that will be in situ at Anzac Cove for the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landing in 1915.
Jennifer thought maybe (as an association) some of our members may consider attending this event, and be able to achieve an even better price.
2.	Monthly social "meetings" where we could meet fellow members in a more relaxed atmosphere at various RSL's
These suggestions were discussed at our meeting on the 28th March and Bob Tyler will be listing the local RSL's and dates of the get togethers and we will
see what interest there is from members in relation to the trip to Gallipoli 2015.
These suggestions will be discussed at the AGM in November 2011.
Jennifer thank you for your suggestions and we would encourage others to also put forward any ideas or suggestions.

Membership/ Web Master - John Casey

The Association has purchased it's own computer to enable it to administer/update its own Web Page, without the need to go through a third party.
John Casey is putting a lot of time and effort into the Web Page and we thank John for his efforts.

Patron

Col.  Rex Rowe attended the Corps conference in March. He raised the issue of how  Associations  access assistance from Corps funds for activities in support
of RAASC/RACT personnel.  The committee agreed that any requests for assistance should be in writing to the supporting Honorary Colonel Commandant,
who will then forward the request with a recommendation to the committee for consideration.
We thank our Colonel Commandant for raising this matter at the conference.
Bob Tyler will be using this option to request funds/help from the Corps for our future events.    

Anzac Sunday April 2011at Beaumaris RSL

It was a perfect autumn day for the march.  Although only 12 members paraded, it was good to see some new faces attending the service.
We were  sorry to hear that Roy Colwell 's  wife is waiting for a hip replacement and that she is in considerable pain.
Hope she doesn't have to wait too much longer and that the operation gives her much needed relief.

Anzac Day - Monday 25th April

It was an excellent day, with a turn-up of 60 members, a big improvement on previous years. 
The Association should be proud of its members-all in uniform ( Association) and marching in step with a band not too far away. (Thanks to Ian Ward !! )
It was good to have our Honorary Colonel, Rex Rowe marching with us.
There were a number of members who attended for the first time, or after a long absence.
Graeme Lakeman from Queensland,  Reg  Whitehead, Phillip Spray, Alfred Martin, James Hewson, Greg George,
Lorraine Onans, and  Larry Dallas.
It was also good to catch up with the Dight clan, Jenny, Anne, Cathy and grandson Harper and John Pearce's brother-in-law with his grandchildren.
Margaret Coyne, Lorraine Drew, Andrew Tower  and Dennis McDonald showed interest in joining the Association.

It was good to talk to some people interested in joining the Association

Reserve Forces Day - Sunday 3rd July

Following a very successful launch of the RFD in February. (a report was in our Newsletter 2/2011 March)
We hope that the Association will double its members on parade this year as this celebration will be bigger and better than last year.

Secretary's Notes

The busy month of April has finished for another year, with the preparation of the Vehicle support for the March as Senior Tpt Marshall 
and then the arranging for our re-union. Not forgetting the Beaumaris RSL parade on 17 April. When the month is over its all been tiring but fulfilling.
What has happened over the past few months. Well there has been the launch of this year's Reserve Forces Day at Mentone College - great parade.
Myself and Christine received a Medallion each for the support we have given each other during our Military careers as were many other spouses.
During this period I have been in hospital for surgery on my left knee and also has my right cataract removed, this month will enter hospital again to have my left eye cataract removed.
Work is progressing on the planning for the Pilgrimage to the Shire (Corps Birthday) parade to be held on 5 Jun at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Support has been confirmed from HOC, 4 CSSB and the RAASC Vietnam Vets Assoc. The biggest problem is , no band, still working on this problem.
The Padre and I have been twigging the service all will be okay on the day.
During the next few weeks leading up to the Pilgrimage I would have attended a number of meetings including RAASC Vietnam Vets AGM, RFDC (Vic) and
Kidred & Association Committee Meeting.

Reminders

5 Jun - Pilgrimage to the Shrine (Corps Birthday)
3 Jul -  Reserve Forces Day Parade

Senior Citz's

> Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days 
> interesting. Well, for example, the other day, Mary my wife and I went into town and 
> visited a shop. We were only in
> there for about 5 minutes. When we came out, there was a cop writing out a parking 
> ticket. We went up to him and I said, 'Come on, man, how about giving a senior citizen 
> a break?'He ignored us and continued writing the ticket.
> I called him a daft arse. He glared at me and started writing another ticket for 
> having worn-out tyres. So Mary called him a s#*t head. He finished the second ticket 
> and put it on the windscreen with the first.
> Then he started writing a third ticket. This went on for about 20 minutes. The more we 
> abused him, the more tickets he wrote. Just then our bus arrived, and we got on it and 
> went home. We try to have a little fun each day
> now that we're retired. It's important at our age.

Summary from Col Comdt Rex Rowe on the RACT Corps Conference held at Bandiana

Corps Conference. 
 
Although I only attended the last day of the RACT Conference, the subsequent Committee meeting and the dinner I was impressed by attendance
by a good number of the Corp's SNCO, WO and Officers. Deputy Chief of Army, MAJGEN Paul Symon and BRIG Greg Bilton, Director General Development and Plans
- Army both delivered excellent presentations relating to Strategic Reform and how Army is transitioning to a new structure to cater for what is being called Force 2030.
There are a number of challenges associated with this transition, one of which being that Army is currently over strength. From a Corps perspective each of the RACT trades
are to be reviewed again to ascertain their role and shape in the new force structure. Heads of Corps, BRIG Mulhall, subsequently spent time exploring this issue with the
senior Officers and WOs and it has been decided that the Corps should closely examine the 10 year Defence Capital Acquisition Program and Force 2030 to examine the
role and relevance of our RACT trades into the future against the plans.

Corps Committee. 
 A significant portion of the Committee's time was spent discussing the issue of Princess Anne accepting the role as our Colonel in Chief of the Corps. BRIG Mulhall
      will communicate with Princess Anne in due course in order to start identifying appropriate timeframes for her to present a new Corps Banner. It was highlighted that Princess Anne
      is already the Colonel in Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps, RASigs and a number of NZ Army organsiations and that a banner will take up to 18 months to produce.
     The Committee discussed how this activity might fit in with the Corps' 40th birthday celebration and the centenary celebrations for the 1914-1918 war.
     While a decision is yet to be made, Bandiana has been nominated as one of the sites for consideration for presentation of the new Banner. Princess Alice's Banner will be laid up
      at the Kapooka Chapel after the new banner has been presented. A sub Committee is being formed to work through the options for the 40th birthday celebration and we will hear
      more soon as the clock is ticking.
 Head of Corps is producing a Corps Vision which will no doubt be posted on the Web Site.
 There was discussion about our current suite of awards for RACT soldiers in light of a lack of nominations. The RSM is undertaking some work to ascertain the appropriateness of the awards and whether they require a "top'n'tail" so that they are seen as something worthwhile.
  I raised the issue of how Associations access assistance from Corps Funds for activities in support of RAASC/RACT personnel. The Committee agreed that any requests for assistance should be in writing to the supporting Honorary Colonel Commandant who will then forward the request with a recommendation to the Committee for consideration.

Par Oneri
 
Rex Rowe
Director General
Land Support Systems

Subject: Officers
 
A RAAF Group Captain was about to start the morning briefing to his staff.  While waiting for the coffee machine to finish its brewing, the Group Captain decided to
pose a question to all assembled. 
He explained that his wife had been a bit frisky the night before and he failed to get his usual amount of sound sleep.  He posed the question of just how much of sex was
"work" and how much of it was "pleasure?"
A Wing Commander chimed in with 75-25% in favour of work. 
 
A Squadron Leader said it was 50-50%.  A Flight Lieutenant responded with 25-75% in favour of pleasure, depending upon his state of inebriation at the time.
There being no consensus, the Group Captain turned to the Corporal who was in charge of making the coffee.  What was his opinion?
Without any hesitation, the young Corporal responded, "Sir, it has to be 100% pleasure."
The Group Captain was surprised and, as you might guess, asked why?
"Well, sir, if there was any work involved, the officers would have me doing it for them."
 
The room fell silent.
 
God Bless the lower ranks. (Thanks Danny)

Picture ID- Who is it

These are just a couple of names from the membership Ron Brown,  Sgt Ron Ritchings

The member was SSgt Ron Ritchings  CQMS Ex 33 Tpt Coy

Melbourne Water Transport Unit - Re-Union

Melbourne Water Transport Sqn will be conducting its Thirty Year (30) re-union on Sunday 14th Aug 2011 at Clayton RSL for lunch (approx 1230hrs).
Attendees are required to register with Robin Thomas on 0413 006 140 or write to PO Box 47, Gembrook. Vic. 3783.

Women in the Service (Army) setting the pace

Check out the attachment from the Army Newspaper March 13 issue

Attached is Email from Jan Hume

Jan has suggested a number of thinks that we as an Assoc should look at developing.
These are:

a.	100th Anniversary of Gallipoli Landing Tourers
b.	Monthly get together at RSL Clubs within Metro area. We can certainly work on the later. My suggestion is as follow
a.	May  - Cheltenham RSL
b.	Jun/Jul Assoc functions planned
c.	Aug - Mitcham RSL
d.	Sep - Broadmeadows RSL
e.	Oct - Greensborough
f.	Nov - AGM/Christmas Clayton
The plan would be to hold them on the 3rd Sunday of the Month except AGM.
Open to suggestions . Let me hear from you 

RAEME Presidents Luncheon
Attached is a flyer inviting members of the Association to attend