President Frank Wust extends greetings to all members and families associated with the association.

Once again several members of the association gathered to march on Anzac Day in Brisbane. The group was led by our president Frank Wust who, for the first time, rode proudly on motorised transport behind the association banner carried by
members of his family.

After the parade members of the association and their partners gathered at the Geebung RSL for lunch followed by the Annual General Meeting. Office bearers elected were:

Lt Col Richard (Dick) Battersby (retired) gave a very interesting talk on his time in the Territory including his wartime experiences and the work done in the early stages of the expansion of the PIR in the 1950’s. He provided samples of pamphlets that were used as propaganda during the war as well as an introduction to pidgin for newly arrived Australians.

Peter Jesser and Jock Wilkinson were elected to Life Membership.

Ian Ogston gave a briefing on the work of visiting PHD student Tristan Moss who is conducting some research into the role of the Australian Army in pre independence New Guinea. A number of members have been interviewed as part of this project.

Terry Edwinsmith talked about progress with respect to a proposed visit to Port Moresby that he is trying to arrange. It sounded very interesting.

DATE CLAIMERS

• Thursday 28 July Annual Qld Reunion of 2/14th Battalion Assn at New Farm, Brisbane (Contact Greg Ivey for information. All interested in the Kokoda Track from 1942 to the present are welcomed to this Luncheon.)
• Sunday 7 August Annual Kokoda Day Commemoration at Sherwood/Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch (Contact Secretary, Kev Horton for information.)
• Monday 8 August Annual Kokoda Day Commemoration at Cascade Gardens, Broadbeach (Contact contact to Alan Whelan, Secretary of Surfers RSL which organises the service & has carriage of the day?
• Date Claimer for 2012 – 23 July 2012. PNG Remembrance Day and 70th Anniversary of the beginning of the Battle for Kokoda. (Often overlooked, it was a PIB patrol led by Queenslander, Lt John Chalk who made the first battle contact of the Kokoda campaign at 4pm on 23 July 1942.)

Greg Ivey distributes an on line bulletin “PNG Attitude” which contains some interesting articles and a range of opinion on current events in PNG. If you don’t already receive this and are interested please contact Greg and I am sure he will arrange to flick it on to you.

As newsletter editor I would be pleased (delighted) to receive items of interest from members for publication. Upcoming events of interest to the Association or recollections of time spent in PNG etc would all be welcomed for inclusion. It would also be appreciated if you could supply new email addresses when you change. Without this it can be difficult to keep in touch.

I will send this newsletter to everyone on my mailing list twice; once with the photograph and once without. Sometimes there are problems downloading photographs which can take up a lot of memory.

Take care.

Phil Adam
dulfil@uq.net.au