Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 1 January 2021.

No 150

Army School of Artillery 1946 – 1998 52 Years at North Head

No 150 – Here’s a hearty welcome to 2021! Let’s have a look at what we’ve got in store...

We open up with a bit of a backwards glance at The School of Arty at North Head, there are a couple of good Recollections from both David Dougherty and Nick Armstrong. Then a couple of queries from yours truly, Ken Osborne gives an insight into a “Passion”, we solve a photo query, then prepare yourselves for a heap of great mail (always good to catch up), the Association took a break in January. Vale has an history update from Peter Ravelje of real interest.

Let’s keep in touch again this year – it helps keep us alive


Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 2 February 2021.

No 151

 

Home at “Kokoda Barracks, Holsworthy.

No 151 – We’re into 2021 with vengeance!

Let’s have a look at what we’ve got in store...

Another “head-scratching” exercise this time back to Holsworthy, a VVAA WARNING NOTE – please read carefully, Jim Dickson gives us a heads up on “The Long Shadow” book, Ernie Newbold enlightens us on DVA Car Allowances – another good “note-taker” one, The School of Arty article (Feb 2021) gets some responses, “Lanyards” get a look at, then get to read some Mail – always good, Notice Board is worth looking at, then of course there’s the Association’s activity to explore.

Vale sadly has the very recent passing of Des McGuiggan, plus Ian Campbell gives us some more in-depth detail on Joe McNeill and Peter Ravelje sent in an interesting anniversary extract on “Operation COBURG” history losses.

Read on and enjoy – we look forward to re-connecting in March.

Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 3 March 2021.

No 152

As at 31st March, 2021 it’s been 12,233 days since this photo was taken…

No 152 – This ends three months into 2021!

Let’s have a look at what we’ve got in store...

We start with a “Not Located” exercise, the some revelations about “The School”, Rieny Nieuwenhoff discloses a “history” doc which raises questions, Kokoda Barracks gets a follow-up, then there’s a head-scratcher quiz, Vaccinated…?, we get to see the unveiling of plans for the new National Vietnam Veterans Museum, then there’s an avalanche of mail, the Notice Board is loaded (thanks for the input), then next is the Association’s doings. The Birthday List is followed by Vale and some a couple of Passing notices and memories.

 We hope you enjoy the read and we look forward to keeping in touch.

 Keep in touch.


Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 4 April 2021.

No 153

No 153 – Another ANZAC Day celebrated.

Let’s have a look at what we’ve got in store...

We kick off with ANZAC Day photos and stories, then to another quiz, we connect with Adrien Baker,  then there’s a Lost Medal mystery solved, Barry Guzder gets a group together, have a look at a couple of fun photos, then there’s a heap of mail, have a look at the Notice Board, then it’s into the Associations section followed by an update for Terry Weekes’ passing in Vale.
 
Settle back and relax and enjoy the read.
 
Keep in touch

 


 

Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 5 May 2021.

No 154

May is a month of Memories...

No 154 – We kick off with “May’ as a memorable month.

Let’s have a look at what we’ve got in store...

FSB Coral-Balmoral is our starting point, then we recollect other “Mays”, we get a Mid-Year update from the 20th Regiment RAA, then try and pick some faces in a “Quiz Time” photo, we then get a glimpse at the first section SVN “Locators Locations” Project, Lost Medals gets a mention, then the Mail section bows in – always good to get this input, hey, have a look at the Notice Board for a Bob Billiards’ article, then we wander through the Associations “doings” – worth a read too. Vale contains the passing of David Troedel – another solid Locator.

So, grab a comfy chair, relax and read.

Keep in touch
 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
 

Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 6 June 2021.

No 155

No 155 – Well, that’s another half a year gone.

Let’s have a look at what we’ve got in store...

We revisit our Shield ‘Dragon’ thanks to Lionel Outen, take a ‘journey’ with Allen Morley, continue the Nui Dat Locators Locations Project, commence a history ‘head scratcher’, Terry Erbs gives us a heads up via Russ Hamsey re: the Puckapunyal Combined Arms Heritage Learning Centre, then we get into our ‘heart’ with heaps of really great mail, then you can have wander through the Association’s doings.

So, get a hot cocoa, relax and enjoy the read.

Keep in touch.

 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

First Australian killed in Vietnam some 57 years ago this month –

No 156 – Goodbye July, hello August!

Now what we’ve got to read this month...

We open up with a Vale of the first Australian serving member KIA’d in Vietnam, have a personal Recollection of ‘Operation Overlord’ by Eddie Ticker, we visit the Nui Dat Locators Locations Project – Arty Tac, Cathy Billiards takes us to Coolangatta with Bob and family in their ‘Gogo’s’, then we get into mail – it’ll keep you glued to your screen, there’s a media release introducing the new Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Notice Board gives us a ‘Warning Order for 2022’, then it’s into the Association’s doings.

So, keep warm and enjoy the read.


 

Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 8 August 2021.

No 157

VIETNAM VETERANS DAY –  AUGUST 18, any year.

 

Photo: John Delacca

No 157 – It’s almost spring!

Now what we’ve got to read this month...

We open up with a Vietnam Veterans Day – 18th August, we then get into some history – Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan etc, we continue on with ‘Locators Locations’ Project with this time covering Listening Posts (LP’s), we do a quiz with a few of Bob King’s photos (grey-matter testers!), Warwick ‘Brookey’ Brooker and Terry Erbs unveil a Surveyor peculiarities in SVN, we commence a support programme for the  ‘181 Day’ service criteria for the non-awarding of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, then it’s into Mail – good reading, there’s a Warning Order for Reunion in April 2022 in Brisbane, then into the Association information. We sadly received a late Vale notice

  Ok maybe you can have a look at the t shirt/shorts drawer
 
Keep in touch.
 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 9 September 2021.

No 158

 

Now what we’ve got to read this month...

We start with a story on the two blokes above, we continue with Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the we have a look at Radars – Locations and Members, the RVCM gets a mention, we have a Quiz, John Vitkovsky makes a comment re: Bob King’s “Splintex, we have a look ant he most popular Conscription “day” month, Graham Williams has a query with the V2 Rocket, then there’s a plethora of really good mail, an update from Peter Pioro alias the “Advocate”, the Notice Board has the 3rd October as a note, then we’re into the Association’s information – always worth a read and we finish up with a Vale Reversal.

Enjoy the read – we look forward to keep hearing from ALL of you.  

Keep in touch.
 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 10 October 2021.

No 159

 

October, 1967… A bright memory –

Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-10. Performers Patti McGrath (left) and Denise Drysdale chat with troops from the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) during a barbecue lunch at the base. At left is drummer Garth Thompson of “The Strangers” group.

The “Det” group is from l to r – Bruce Irvine, Ian Yerbury, John Vitkovsky and Joe Clendenin.

Now let’s see what instore for this month...

We start with some fun stuff with the blokes at Nui Dat in October, ’67 getting entertained, we then revisit the workings behind the Reunion and Banner for the 1987 Welcome Home Parade as editorialised by Peter Summers, we continue with the article on Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the we have a look at No. 6 in the Locators Locations in Nui Dat covering the Survey Section, then there’s Quiz Time, some identifying of a photo from last month, the “Splintex” story continues, we start a new article with reference to ‘Australian MIA’s of the Vietnam War’ by Ashley Ekins, an update on the RVCM submissions, more info on the V@ Rocket by Kevin Browning, then mail, mail and more mail, an interesting ‘topic’ by Terry Erbs and Kevin Browning, and then on page 27 9phew!) we get tho the Associations activities! However, on a sad note we have two Locators in Vale.

 You’ll need a bit of spare time to cover this edition. We hope you enjoy the read and we look forward to keep hearing from ALL of you.

Keep in touch.
 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 11 November 2021.

No 160

 

It’s great to share another period in time with you all…

Card: Ernie Newbold

Now let’s see what November offered...

Christmas with the Survey blokes in ’67 and a couple of Remembrance Day photos, we have a look at the last episode in Australia’s involvement in SVN, then in Locators Locations the RAEME Section finishes the series off, Kevin Browning puts in an article on a 12-Ponder restoration with some great photos, Grahame Dignam gives a look at some drone activity, then there’s a follow up with the V12, a look at a 9.2 inch howitzer, Patti and Denise get a follow-up look in too, then there’s the final section to Australian MIA’s in SVN, there’s an another update on the RVCM submissions, then there’s our mail – fantastic! I put in a 2022 Photo Project, then it’s into the Association, including the AGM – check out the ZOOM photo!

We do finish with a couple Vales – it’s great to honour them.

It’s another 26-pager, so settle back and I hope you enjoy the read.

Enjoy the Festive Season and catch you all in a month.  

Keep safe and in touch.
 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 14 No 12 December 2021.

No 161

 

Another Ernie Newbold intro-card.

Now for the last edition for 2021...

Christmas is cooked and its New Year time, Vic Danko keeps up to date with some universal Infantry signage, Keith Ayliffe gives us some insight on behalf of November Platoon, 2012, then there’s another 181 Day piece of mail, Ian Campbell gives us coverage of his visit to the “Werribee Gun” unveiling, Kevin Browning supplies with some info on the RAA 150th Anniversary painting availability of prints, then the Mail Bag dams break with some great reading, Ed highlights a possible problem with “@bigpond.com”, then it’s into the Associations business (the last until February, 2021) and then sadly, as usual, Vale has information.

That’s about it, so settle back and I hope you enjoy the read.

Catch you all in next year..

Keep safe and in touch.

 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul