1. Brief report from the AGM

Formal Minutes from the AGM will be distributed in the next month so this is only a brief report. Those elected to lead the Association for the next year are: Frank Wust (President) Don Graham (Vice President) Kev Horton (Secretary/Treasurer) Peter Jesser (History Officer) Richard Boddington (Editor) Frank Cordingley (Website Manager) Ian Ogston (Assistant Secretary) Noel Wust (Brisbane Representative) Frankie Maclean, Russell Ward, Graeme Johnson, Phil Parker (Interstate Representatives) Irene Heath (Committee Member) and Greg Ivey (Membership Officer). LTCOL Maurie Pears MC continues as Patron of the Assn.

To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, several initiatives were endorsed. Vice President, Major Don Graham will lead a Pilgrimage of ex-Servicemen and family Members to Port Moresby in June 2015. President Frank encourages all Members to attend the Dedication Service for the new Plaques honouring the PIB, NGIB, and PIR at the Gold Coast on 8th August 2014. Commemorative and social events are planned for this date to create a reunion of ex-Servicemen from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

2. History of the Pacific Islands Regiment

First instalment.

Presented on the next pages are some extracts from an illustrated history of the Pacific Islands Regiment as chosen and authorised by our Patron and author, LTCOL Maurie Pears MC. The original booklet was compiled and edited by MAJ N. Granter (1PIR) for publication in 1970, the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Papuan Infantry Battalion.

Sections from this history booklet will be reproduced in this Newsletter as we are approaching the important 75th anniversary of the PIB founding, in June 2015. We thank SGT Graeme Johnson for the colour images of the book cover. Graeme collected and retained his copy of the original booklet following his National Service with 2PIR at Moem Barracks.

To be continued.