Eyes & Ears - 2012

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 1 - January 2012

Feature Story

. 131 DIV LOC BTY ARTY SVYS AT NUI CHUA CHAN SVN      1968 – 1969

“A Recollection” by Geoff Jebb

“Chua Chan is located in Long Khan Province about 60 km east of Saigon and 10km east of Xuan Loc...” – Geoff goes on to recount a story of the last major battle fought in SVN in March/April 1975.

It’s an intriguing read and insight accompanied by photos told by Geoff.

Feedback is welcomed, plus memories of other times and events would just add more to our patchwork of time in 131.

Other Stories.                                                                                      

• Ernie Newbold continues his series on Decorations, Badges and Awards for service in South Vietnam - Part Two – The Vietnam Medal
• A couple of “Bankies” have part of their pasts revealed.
• An Australian Federal Police (AFP) Operations Medal is awarded to Bill Slape in Thailand.
• Murray Poustie catches up with Barrie Follington and Peter Meaney gets us up to date on one of our former BC’s Brian Kennedy – both might appreciate some contact.
• Bill Taggart 1/83^rd gets a great discussion going in their section.
• Vale contains a follow-up on Terence “Lofty” James Hayes and a report on Jeffrey Bruce Evans’ funeral.

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 2 - February 2012

Feature Story - Australian Forces Radio Vietnam (AFR) 14 Feb 1972‏ - 40 years ago!

Other Stories -

• Ernie Newbold continues his series on Decorations, Badges and Awards for service in South Vietnam-Part Thee – The Vietnam Campaign Medal
• What were you doing in the ‘50’s?
• The National Service Scheme, 1964-72.
• John Browne finds an old post card.
• Ed reminisces over a polishing brush?
• Rieny ‘Van’ Niewenhoff– details some of his volunteer activity in Geelong
• Bill Taggart 1/83^rd g sends some comments about Aussie FO’.

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 3 - March 2012

Feature Story - The Slouch Hat – its origin, history and who else wears it?

The name "Slouch Hat" refers to the fact that one side droops down as opposed to the other which is pinned against the side of the crown....

Other Stories.                                                                                     

• Geoff Holden is into it this month with 3 items - a question that needs answers, he and his brother, Martin (“Mick”), in SVN and his own story with a “slouchie”.
• Ernie Newbold continues his series on Decorations, Badges and Awards for service in South Vietnam - Part Four – The Australian Active Service Medal, 1945 – 1975
• What were you doing in the ‘60’s?
• Peter Ravelje starts a series “A Pocket Guide to Vietnam” – this is a real “period” bit.
• Dave Auld includes an interesting “Army” yarn.
• Some mates of Don Simmons seek “mateship” for a Pioneer in need.
• The web site is generating lots of interest with thousands of hits.
• The 4^th May AWM Dedication ceremony is gathering numbers.

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 4 - April 2012

Feature Story - ANZAC Day 2012 – were you there?

Read the stories and check out the photos...think about next year!

Other Stories.                                                                                     

• 22^nd April, 1966 saw the Advance Party of Det 131 Divisional Locating Battery RAA depart Sydney, Australia on the H.M.A.S. Sydney for South Vietnam. This was the birth of a camaraderie that has endured some 46 years...
• What were you doing in the 1960’s? - Vietnam - Australia's Longest War...this is the decade that most of us spent some time living in a rubber plantation – Barry Campton was 23 in1960! 
• Bert Blink discusses a recent purchase – “Hi Paul
  I recently purchased a copy of "Fire Support Bases Vietnam-Australian& Allied Fire Support Base Locations& Main Support Units" By Bruce Picken, Big Sky Publishing, 2012...
• Ernie Newbold continues his series on Decorations, Badges and Awards for service in South Vietnam -  Part five - The Anniversary of National Service Medal, 1951 - 1972
• More web site momentum with hits.
• John Blake tells about some 1/83^rd mates...
• Bill Taggart (1/83^rd) sent in some a couple of internet links...

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 5 - May 2012 - Special plaque dedication edition

Feature Story – the ONLY story in this edition...

.  Det 131 Locating Artillery Battery RAA  - had a Plaque Comemorated at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on 4^th May 2012.

This edition has stories and is crammed with photos at the Service in the precinct of the AWM, then inside on a tour, the dinner that night and some wind up Saturday shots – it was fantastic!

Go and have a look – it’ll be great to see some faces and read some of the items – it’s full of memories of a very proud time.

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 6 - May 2012

Feature Story –...

.  “Brothers in SVN” features Kevin Browning and his Brother and their chance meeting...

Other Stories.                                                                                     

• Some late stuff on ANZAC Day
• Photos and stories of some yarns and a bit of expose from Grahame Dignam on one of our well known Locators
• The last in the series "What were you doing in the '60s"
•  A new Ernie Newbold series called "Customs" commences
• The web site is growing with more Member Galleries photos etc.
• The "Vale" section has some poignant piece

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 7 - June 2012

Feature Story –

Det 131 Locating Artillery Battery RAA turned 60 years of age and it was celebrated in fine style in Maitland -

Also inside this month’s edition we cover -

• Allen Morley recollects construction in Nui Dat in '67
• Steve Boutlis discovers an interesting web link
• The two Combat badges get a work over by Ernie Newbold
• The 131 Locators Assoc welcomes some new members and the web site continues to expand and is worth continuing to look at
• The 1/83rd section is worth a squiz too

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 9 - August 2012

Feature Story –Vietnam Veterans Day – 2012

Long Tan cross - 27 July 2012 by Lauren Beckman. Source – Australian War Memorial

Also inside this month’s edition we cover -

• Vietnam Veterans Day ceremonies.
• A continuing article on "FSPB Dampier" in July 1969.
• Bruce Irvine locates a classic photo of '66.
• Craig Cook chimes in with another classic '66 photo as well.
• "Identify yourself...1987" highlights some great responses - still gaps though!
• The July 1969 quiz also has some classic responses.

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 10 - September 2012

Feature Story - Long Tan gets some additional information...

Spike Chase provides us with another insight to that time in the Detachment in August 1966...

Also inside this month’s edition we cover -

• Some more Vietnam Veterans Day ceremonies
• Some interesting thoughts on the First 24 hours home....
• A search for human interest stories from blokes from the UK who were with us in SVN..
• Bill Taggart gets a response from Ernie Newbold .

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 11 - October 2012

Feature Story –

“The Monastery” - I was part of the crew positioned there as a combined Listening Post, Forward Observation Post and Protection Party with a small American forces infrared searchlight team...

Also inside this month’s edition we cover -

Tuesday 18^th December, 2012 put in your diary to attend...

• Kim McGrath puts the Slouch Hat on correctly...
• Ron Mason mentions the Vietnam Veterans National Museum...
• Richard Chaplin could be in a BBC doco...
   “1989 – A memory Test” – resuts of the survey...
• What’s an “Un-Vale”...

Eyes & Ears - Vol 5 No. 13 - December 2012

Feature Story –

The message above, hung up in 1968, is still relevant to ALL of YOU and YOURS!          

 Hope you had a great Christmas and are going to have a fabulous NEW YEAR!...