1st Battalion Battle Group Reunion: Newsletter Jan 18
F.S.B. Coral Vietnam 50th Anniversary
Commemorations of the 50th anniversary of Coral will be held in Canberra and Townsville.
In the previous Warning Order we asked you indicate your intention to attend activities. We now require you to register and pay. (Wherever this newsletter refers to CORAL VETERAN or just veteran, it not only means those who were at Coral, but all 1 RAR 2nd tour 1968-69 personnel.)
CANBERRA
This commemoration event will be conducted by DVA in Canberra on Sunday, 13 May 2018. It will commence at 10.30 am with a Commemorative Service at the National Vietnam Memorial on Anzac Parade. There is no restriction on the number of people that can attend and will include members of all units that were involved in the battles of Coral and Balmoral and the general public. Next of Kin (NOK) of those killed at Coral/Balmoral will be formally invited to attend by DVA.
The Service will be followed by a Lunch provided by DVA at the Canberra Convention Centre. Numbers for the lunch are restricted to veterans of Coral/Balmoral and one guest. This also includes the NOK and Widows/Partner of deceased Coral/Balmoral veterans.
Later that afternoon the Australian War Memorial (AWM) will conduct a special Last Post ceremony dedicated to Coral, commencing at approximately 4.50 pm.
Organizing Committee
Mike Bindley, Tony Jensen and Ray Curtis.
TOWNSVILLE
Program of Townsville events:
Tuesday 15 May
Afternoon
- Coral veterans arrive and settle into accommodation under own arrangements
Evening
- Townsville Mayoral Reception for Coral Veterans
- Timing: 1730h to 1930h
- Location: Jezzine Museum, The Strand
- Invited: All Coral veterans with partner, plus Widows / Partners of deceased Coral Veterans, as guests of honour (Limit 2 persons). CO 1RAR and others at invitation of Mayor of Townsville
- Dress: Coat/Jacket and medals
- Transport: See transport plan attached
Wednesday 16 May
Morning
- Changing of the Colours and Coral Commemoration Parade
- Timing: 0900h to 1130h
- Location: 1RAR Parade Ground, Coral Lines, Lavarack Barracks
- Invited: All Coral veterans, partners and families (special seating enclosure). Past and present members of 1RAR and the public
- Dress: Coat/Jacket and medals
- Transport: See transport plan attached
- Principal Guest: Governor General
Evening
- Coral 50 Commemoration Regimental Dinner
- Timing: 1800h for 1830h to 2200h
- Location: Likely to be on 2RAR Parade Ground due to set up requirements and clash with use of 1RAR Parade Ground for Colours Parade in the morning
- Invited: All Coral Veterans (without partners due to limited seating), VIPs and selected past and present members of 1RAR.
- Concept: Buffet dinner under marquee with 1RAR Band. Ceremonial ‘march-in’ of Coral veterans. Coral veterans seated prominently. Each Coral veteran paired with a digger from 1RAR as a host. Fireworks display during the evening.
- Dress: Coat/Jacket and medals
- Cost: $40. (To be paid with registration either on the 1 RAR Assn website or with the rego form attached.)
- Transport: See transport plan attached
Thursday 17 May
Morning
- Memorial Service
- Timing: 0900h (Step-off)
- Location: Cenotaph on The Strand, after 500m march from Fryer Street roundabout on The Strand to ANZAC Park
- Invited: All Coral Veterans and families, former 1 RAR veterans of other conflicts and Contingent from 1RAR
- Dress: Coat/Jacket and medals
- Concept: All-of-1RAR memorial service with Coral veterans marching under Coral banner at the front, then the remainder of the veterans under their Association banner, with two contingents of 1RAR soldiers one between each of these two contingents; and the 1RAR Band. Groups of contingents with a contingent banner can assemble separately at the Cenotaph.
- Transport: See transport plan attached
Evening
- Coral Reunion Group Memorial Service and Dinner
- Location: Townsville RSL Club.
- Concept: The evening will follow the format of the function conducted in Hobart last year.
- Invited: All Veterans and their guests.
- Timings: Meet at 1730h. Seated by 1755h. Commence Memorial Service 1800h. Dinner 1900h.
- Cost: $85 per head or $165 per couple.
- Transport: See transport plan attached
Friday 18th May
Morning
- 1RAR Open Day
- Location: Coral Lines
- Timing: 1000h commence, BBQ at 1300, Dispersed by 1500h
- Invited: All Coral Veterans, partners and families. All other ex-1RAR members, their partners and families
- Dress: Casual
- Transport: See transport plan attached
Evening
- Disperse under own arrangements
Organizing Committee
Rod McLeod, John Salter, Jack Parr, Bryan Smith, Tony Scott and Ray Curtis.
REGISTRATION
Attached are separate registration forms for Canberra Commemoration (Sunday 13 May), our Coral Reunion dinner (Thursday night), 1 RAR Regimental Dinner (Wednesday night) and other activities at Lavarack Barracks.
Registration for all functions/activities in Townsville, is required by 24 March 2018.
If you have already registered and paid for the Regimental Dinner through the 1 RAR Assn website do not register again through this means, but please advise us of that action.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE ATTACHED FORMS AND RETURN BY 24 MAR 18 TO
Ray Curtis
7/9 Coral Drive
Jerrabomberra NSW 2619
Email: rosandray4@bigpond,com
PAYMENT
The cost for the Reunion Dinner is $85 a Single and $165 a Couple. This cost is the same as last year.
The cost to veterans attending the Regimental Dinner is $40.
Payment can be made by Cheque or Aus Post Money Order made out to Coral Reunion,
or by direct transfer to
St George Bank
Account Name: Coral Reunion
BSB 112-908
Account No. 002103134
50th Anniversary Coral and Balmoral CANBERRA
If you have already indicated your attendance, there is no need to return this form.
Commemorative Service and Luncheon Canberra ACT - 13th May 2018
Name __________________________ Guest’s Name __________________________
Phone Number _______________________ Email ________________________________
Address _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
I / we will be attending the Canberra Commemorative Service YES NO
I / we will attend the Canberra Luncheon YES NO
Please complete all details so we can check our records to ensure your contact details are current.
50th Anniversary Activities TOWNSVILLE
Name: ____________________________________
Phone: ______________________________ Email: ___________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Partner’s Names: _______________________________________________________________
Other Guest’s Name/s: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I / we will be attending the Mayoral Reception Tue 15 May 18 YES / NO
I / we will be attending the Parade Wed morning 16 May 18 YES / NO
Veteran attending the 1 RAR Coral Veteran’s dinner evening Wed 16 May 18 YES / NO
I have already registered on the 1 RAR Assn website and paid YES / NO
(Payment of $40)
I / we be attending the Memorial Service at the Cenotaph Thu morning 17 May YES / NO
I / we be attending the Coral Reunion Group Dinner Thu evening 17 May 18 YES / NO
I /we will be attending the 1 RAR Open Day Fri 18 May 18 YES / NO
I /we will be accommodated __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I / We will you be making use of the buses provide to attend functions? YES / NO
Access to Lavarack Barracks requires some form of photo ID for each person.
What will you use (i.e. Driver Licence)
Veteran _______________________ Official Number on ID_____________ State Issued________
Partner/Guest__________________ Official Number on ID______________ State Issued________
Guest_________________________ Official Number on ID______________ State Issued________
Guest_________________________ Official Number on ID______________ State Issued________
Guest_________________________ Official Number on ID______________ State Issued________ Guest_________________________ Official Number on ID______________ State Issued________
If you intend driving your own vehicle to Lavarack Barracks what is the
Make_________________Model______________Colour_____________Rego No______________
Transport Plan
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Bus Stops:
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Stop 1- Rock pool the Strand (*Jezzine Barracks for Serials 1 and 2.)
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Stop 2- Watermark the Strand
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Stop 3- Cenotaph ANZAC Park (# Fryer St for Serial 7)
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Stop 4- The Ville (for Somalia Reunion only)
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Stop 5- Corner Palmer St and Onoonba Rd
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Stop 6- Townsville RSL
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Stop 7- Bowen Road (TBA)
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Stop 8- Coral Lines Lavarack Barracks
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Concept:
Serial 1. All buses proceed to stop 7 and move via Bowen Rd and Charters Towers Rd stopping at stop 6 then move to stop 5 via Boundary St.
Then move via Flinders St West to stop 3 and stop 2 and then to Jezzine Barracks.
Serial 2. The reverse.
Serial 3. All buses move to stop 1 then via all stop 3 to stop 8.
Serial 4. The reverse.
Serial 5. As for serials 3 and 4.
Serial 6. As for serials 3 and 4.
Serial 7. The required number of buses to move to stop 1 and stop 7 respectively, then via all stop to stop 3.
Serial 8. All buses move to stop 3 then move to stop 1 and stop 7 respectively.
