Sunday, December 18, 2016

Coral Reunion 2017 Early Warning Order

Treasurer Chairman is 
Ray Curtis   
No7 of 9 Coral Drive
Jerrabomberra NSW 2619
H: 02 62559426

1st Battalion Battle Group Reunion ..  Warning Order

F.S.B. Coral Vietnam Reunion and Memorial Service Hobart Tasmania 
Dates Tue 16 and Wed 17 May 2017 

The 49th Anniversary Reunion 2017 in Hobart Tasmania

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

PATRONS          Michael & Anne Barrett

CHAIR                 Wally Fiedler            (ponysoldier@bigpond.com)

SECRETARY/TREASURER   Tony Scott        (ks309031@bigpond.com)
Venue:                   Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart 
MC:                       Tony Scott
Meet and Greet:
Tuesday 16th May 2017 Grand Chancellor Hotel
Commencing at 4.45pm
Memorial Service & Dinner: 
Wednesday 17th May 2017  gather at 1630hrs in the Ballroom at the Grand Chancellor.
All to be seated by 5pm EVERYONE WILL BE SEATED WHERE THEY WILL BE FOR THE DINNER except those involved in the candle ceremony.
There will not be a march this year due to the uncertainty of the weather in Hobart at that time of the year. The ceremony will follow a similar format to previous years only in doors. 
Music will be provided by the Australian Army Band Tasmania.
Following the ceremony and during the pre-dinner drinks we intend to hold the AGM. 


Reunion Registration, Cost and Raffle
The Reunion Registration Form is attached, please complete and it sooner rather than later and return it Ray Curtis will send you a Receipt.  Last year the return of registration forms and issue of receipts by email was very successful and we would encourage you all, where possible to do so this year.
Note:  Registrations close on 20 April 
Again you will find your Entry Ticket includes a $5 entry into the Raffle. 
You can elect to buy more tickets (please do!).      or simply Donate some $s to assist with the cost of mailout, internet, etc.
The cost for the Dinner is $85 a Single and $165 a Couple which includes a raffle ticket per person. Note that the cost is the same as last year. Scotty has been able to come up with some valuable sponsorship, for which we extremely grateful.

Your Registration will be acknowledged in Ray’s Receipt with your Ticket Numbers & with your Raffle Ticket numbers going into the Raffle box as Registrations are confirmed.

Future Reunions. 
At the AGM we NEED to discuss
  1. where the 2018, 50th anniversary will be held, and
  2. what we will do after 2018? Whether we keep the annual Reunion convention.
Your thoughts can be be sent to either Ray or Jack. 
Any offers to arrange future Reunions are very welcome.

The Battle of FSPB Coral Unit Citation for Gallantry UCG.

Jack can you please update progress here
Pushed a long by some Reunion members but in particular from Alan (Jack) PARR (Mor Pl Base Plate Sig Op), I joined together with Jack to progress a Submission to have the Battle of Coral formally recognised for the great battle that it was. I was joined by Neil Weeks & George Hulse (representing the “other” units and attachments).
In 2009 there seemed to be an opportunity to submit a proposal but again their “rules” about backdating awards applied. However, in more recent times we have seen a number of “backdated” pre-1975 awards of Meritorious Service and gallantry ones and still newer ones where they do not only apply to individual units but to a 'war like' Battle Group (of many units & attachments) which would definitely be similar our TF Coral/Balmoral Battle Group. So the precedence has been set. Although 12 Fd Regt (Ian Ahearn & Co) did present a Unit Citation proposal in 2012 but just for 102 Bty and that was not accepted. That was then …this is now.
So, here we go.
Jack & I were as one with driving & producing a Unit Citation for Gallantry  (UCG) Submission that  argues strongly for the recognition of this battle as the biggest, bloodiest, most costly & longest continuous all-out fight in the Vietnam War for Australians. 
After many, many, many, many emails and phone calls and periodic meetings and much research and assistance from many people, WE have finally produced the Submission for the UCG. Jack Parr (Mortar Sig on first night) has been inspirational in his persistence and dedication to the task. We are all indebted to him.
I was pleased with the responses we got from some of the blokes & other units wishing to add something to the story. Not all inputs were able to be included otherwise we would have written a book and not a Submission but they did help reinforce what we had on record or thought. Some will believe they saw some aspects somewhat differently at the time & their view may well be true but can conflict with other views of the same incident which is not uncommon. So please accept that in the spirit intended we have done our best to be inclusive and as accurate as we could.. We had to keep focussed on the bigger battle picture.
Clearly we are proud of what we have finally produced and really hope that is was all worth our collective efforts to finally get it approved.
As you receive this, Defence will have received our Submission.
The next step is to complete our Nominal Rolls (mostly now done), in anticipation of success.
We’ll keep you up to date at future Reunions & on the Net. 
Wish us luck !!!  Lets get it done this year ! But we know the  Defence “system” will buck at this at first.  So, we know it will take more time and more energy …Watch this space !! Wait out !

Vale Pepe
As you all are aware by now, we lost Pepe (our Officer Commanding Reunions) very suddenly in early July, not long after our very successful Coolangatta Reunion. We as a group have a lot to be thankful for, as Pepe was the driving force behind our reunions for the last 15 plus years. He dragged many of us out of the military          wilderness to share a few good memories, tell a few lies, have a couple of drinks and a few laughs. Pepe had very strong ideas on what our group is about and how we go about running our reunions. Not everyone agreed with Pepe all of the time, but I’m sure we all agree that his heart was in the right place. Pepe,” Stand Down”, your duty is done and you are now “Safe behind the Wire” and in good company with so many other Coral Veterans. Farewell old mate. We will remember you.
Ray Curtis

Passing Parade    VALE:
It’s an obvious fact that we will all eventually fall off the twig at some time and we have lost a few more this year. I do this so you know who has passed on.
I’ve had confirmation of the following earlier Deceased Vets.
Bill Farquharson 102 Bty, Barry Hibbard, Eric Bishop 1 Armd LAD, Bob Acquire HQ Bty, and ….more recently, 
Ken Bott 11 Pl D Coy, Alan Good 102 Bty FO Sig C Coy, Warren J Miller,  Rod Quarrel 1 Pl A Coy, and Ivan Everett 8 Pl C Coy,

Your Duty is done fellas…    Rest in Peace.