QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION Inc

24 Walcott Street St Lucia 4067

Phone (07) 3721 4308

Volume 13 Number 3

July 2001

President's Report

This is my final report before the Annual General Meeting.

The last year I consider has been a successful one for the Association.

In terms of functions we have held the AGM in September last year at which approximately 40 members attended. Mick Bond and Gina Privitera spoke about their experiences in East Timor.

The Back to the Regiment night in March was successful with about 60 attending.

Anzac Day attracted a number of members of the association and members of the Toowong RSL. The Association paid for breakfast.

Membership wise we have retained the same number of members as we achieved in 2000. (Approximately 200). This is notwithstanding the fact that at the end of 2000 we needed 43 members to renew.

Whilst we have good representation from the 1950s to the early 1980s I am still not happy with our levels of membership from the late 1980s and 1990s. We are in the process of attracting recruits from that era. We have now a fairly comprehensive list of all officer graduates of the Regiment from 1980 until 2001. This will assist with this recruiting campaign.

The association in the last 12 months has supported the Regiment by the donation of a number of prizes to best students on the officer courses presently conducted by the unit.

We have had good sales of ties and pins. We have only a handful of ties remaining (out of 100) and some pins remaining.

The history is another issue. A draft history from 1909-2000 has been prepared. I expect it will be complete in the next few months. Distribution is another issue. That is a matter for consideration by the AGM.

Financially we are fairly sound. I leave the details to our treasurer to announce at the AGM.

I ask that you consider serving on the executive of the association. There is not much of a commitment involved.

I thank the present members of the committee for their hard work during the year 2000/2001. I hope they are able to continue to serve in the next year.

I would also thank the last Commanding Officer LTCOL Wayne Lynch and the new CO LTCOL Peter Jeffrey for their support of the Association over the last 12 months and look forward to a rewarding relationship into the future.

The guest speaker at the AGM will be BRIG Sam Harrison. He will give us an historical perspective on the Regiment. I encourage our younger members to come as it will be of interest to compare the modern day ADF to the one of years past. Of course one can always learn from one’s past.

Paul Smith.

What’s Inside

» Sunray’s Sitrep: From the CO’s desk

» Notice of the AGM Dinner, Friday 14 Sep at the United Service Club – also a Reply slip & committee nomination form

» Walcott Street Warrior installment

» Where are they now? – foundation Association Secretary, Len Eacott

» Current Association membership list – please advise us of any inaccuracies noticed.

From the CO’s Desk

The Regiment has just completed its mid-year series of courses. This included Module 1A (two weeks) of the First Appointment Course and the Officer of Cadets Officer Course (one week). Both were successfully conducted at Gallipoli Barracks. The next major training activities for the Regiment are Module 1B and another Officer of Cadets Course. Both are to be conducted in the first weeks of December this year.

In early August, the Regiment’s ‘establishment’ will be reviewed. This will be conducted as a formation-wide activity in an effort to better standardise the university regiments. I will not be proposing any radical changes from the current organisation. However, it is possible that the RMC Detachment-Townsville may be integrated into the Regiment.

On 11 August, the Regiment will be conducting a Beating Retreat ceremony on University Oval No. 7 (the oval opposite the depot). This promises to be an excellent activity in which the Regiment can showcase its talents in drill and music.

Lastly, a call for support: The Army Reserve in general is suffering from a lack of new recruits, and so too is the Regiment. We are currently recruiting for a broad range of soldier trades and officer cadet selection boards will begin soon. So, if you have sons, daughters, nieces, nephews or neighbours who may be interested in serving with the Regiment, please ask them to call the Regiment’s Recruiting Cell.

The Regiment now has a new series of telephone numbers.

Orderly Room 3721 4308

CO 3721 4333

OPSO 3721 4304

ADJT 3721 4302

Recruiting 3721 4329

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Jeffrey

Commanding Officer

AGM Dinner

Friday 14 September 2001

Notice is hereby given that the Association’s Annual General Meeting will be held in conjunction with a dinner to be held at the United Service Club Wickham Terrace on the evening of Friday 14 September 2001.

Timings: 1900 for 1930 Cost: $55

Dress: jacket and tie

Agenda

(The necessary business component will be painlessly handled during a convivial dinner):

Confirmation of minutes of 2000 AGM

Management Committee’s Report

Treasurer’s Report

Election of Management Committee

Appointment of Auditor

Address by Brigadier Sam Harrison, former Commanding Officer and Honorary Colonel

Brig Harrison with Major General Kevin Cooke at the 1999 Regimental Dinner.

Walcott Street Warrior

Below is a further continuation of Garry Collins’ reminiscences of QUR in the 1960s. If memory serves correctly, an extract of this small saga last appeared in the newsletter in November 99.

By 1967 the army’s commitment to South Vietnam had increased to a two-battalion task force along with the associated combat and service support units. To provide the necessary manpower the government had decided to introduce conscription rather than call up the CMF. Some members of the CMF were no doubt miffed at the implied insult to our military prowess involved in this decision but others were happy to have been excused a difficult obligation. Once we had turned 19 most of us had probably signed in a company roll book to indicate that we were volunteers for overseas service should the need arise.

4 RAR had recently returned from Malaya and was the last of the existing all-regular infantry battalions in the ARA to receive an influx of National Servicemen. Once its quota of National Servicemen reinforcements were taken on strength the battalion began the process of preparing for a tour of duty in Vietnam. I spent 5 weeks of the uni vacation in January and early February attached to the Signal Platoon. We spent two weeks doing routine platoon training at Enoggera and then Support Company went to the Jungle Training Centre at Canungra for the 3 week sub-unit course that was a standard component of the training that infantry battalions did in preparation for deployment to Phuoc Tuy Province. Rather than operating in its various specialist roles Support Company was trained in straight rifle company work on this course. The final exercise phase of the activity took me back to Wiangaree for a second visit.

As the start of the university term was approaching I was due to complete the attachment and march out the day after we returned from the exercise. Once the activity had gone non-tactical we had walked out along the border track to an embussing area and then drove back to Enoggera arriving at about 1900 hours. Not wanting to waste any time I decided to go home the way I was rather than getting cleaned up before leaving the barracks. I phoned for a cab and when it arrived at the Sergeants Mess I dumped by pack and webbing in the boot and blithely got in beside the driver. He was polite enough to make no comment about my body odour but I swear I could actually see his nostrils twitch. This was perhaps not surprising as I had been wearing the same set of greens for a full week. While I was certainly eagerly looking forward to a hot shower and some clean clothes, I had pretty much gotten used to the smell.

That August, at the instigation of Captain Dave Woodrow who had recently been posted there from QUR, a number of us attended an alternate camp with 4 Signal Regiment. At the time, this unit was located on the lower level of Gona Barracks at Kelvin Grove with its headquarters in the two storey building which, in more recent times, has been occupied by the Australian Army Band – Brisbane. In reality 4 Signal Regiment was an “integrated” unit long before the term was officially coined by the army. It was essentially a CMF unit with a CMF CO but it also owned the small contingent of Regular RASigs personnel who manned the signal centre at Victoria Barracks. Its CMF component included the task force signal squadron for 7 Task Force as well as other sub-units normally to be found in a Divisional Signal Regiment.

Besides myself, the QUR contingent included an agricultural science student named Ian Crellin and a bloke who was already working for the Department of Primary Industries by the name of Dan Daley (?). During Week 1 at Greenbank we were given introductory training in a range of Corps signals work and then for the mobile communications exercise that occupied Week 2 we were deployed as a three man radio detachment. This meant that we got to drive around the countryside (the Spring Mountain Training Area?) in an Austin Champ and pass radio traffic from designated locations. It did occur to me that driving was often much more pleasant than walking with one’s house on one’s back. However, geography as much as anything else, was to dictate that I would spend virtually all my service in the Corps of Infantry.

Intelligence reports indicate that Len Eacott, the foundation Secretary of the Association, has been promoted to Chaplain Colonel as is shortly to be posted to either Land or Training Command HQ as Command Chaplain. Chaplains apparently refer to advancements rather than promotions. Whatever the term, our congratulations to Len who asks for our prayers.

Association Office Bearers

Position	Name	Bus Hrs	A/Hrs	e-mail
President	Paul Smith	3221 1275	0417629885	pesb@ozemail.com.au
Vice President	Trevor Luttrell	3323 1607	3345 2754	trevor.luttrell@qed.qld.gov.au
Immediate Past President	Garry Chandler	0412 643 850	3273 5303	wellesley@uq.net.au
Secretary	Malcolm Heather		3892 1837
Asst Secretary (QUR 2IC)	Ross Williamson	3721 4308 Tue ni
Treasurer	Andrew Luttrell	3225 8349	3217 7424
Membership Secretary	Peter Morton	3406 6820	3848 4736	pamorton@ozemail.com.au
Newsletter Editor	Garry Collins	3351 4044	3359 5993	gazco@powerup.com.au
Committee Members	Col Ahern	3896 9510	3278 1862
	Barry Schmidt		3878 9275	mukurta@one.net.au
	Michael Bond	3405 6551	3839 5759	Michael.Bond@premiers.qld.gov.au
	Rhys Thomas	3883 0221	3263 2238	rhys.thomas@health.qld.gov.au
	Mal Try	3227 6259	3870 0096	mal.try@env.qld.gov.au
	Michael Thomas	3244 6131	3357 1971	michael.thomas@detir.qld.gov.au
	David Ross

2001 Calendar of Events

Friday 14 September	Annual Dinner and Annual General Meeting (with Brigadier Sam Harrison as featured speaker)
Friday 30 November	Christmas Drinks at the Victory Hotel 1700 – 1930 hr
Monthly drinks	at the Victory Hotel on the last Friday of each month

QUR Association 2001 AGM Dinner

Attendance Reply Form – RSVP 4 September 2001

The Secretary

QUR Association

24 Walcott Steet

St Lucia Qld 4067

Name: ________________________________________________________________

q I will be attending the Association’s Annual General Meeting Dinner to be held at the United Service Club, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane on the evening of Friday 14 September 2001 at 1900 for 1930 hours.

q My cheque for $55 payable to the QUR Association is enclosed.

q I regret that I am unable to attend. Please tender my apology.

(Please tick as appropriate.)

Signature: ________________________________________________

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QUR Association 2001 AGM Dinner

Management Committee Nomination Form

The Secretary

QUR Association

24 Walcott Steet

St Lucia Qld 4067 (Nominations can be submitted on the night.)

Name: ________________________________________________________________

I wish to be nominated for the following position on the Association’s Management Committee for 2001/2002 (please circle appropriate position):

President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Committee Member

Signature: ___________________________________________________

Proposer: ___________________________ Seconder: ________________________

(NB If you’re prepared to serve, we’ll arrange the proposer and seconder!)