Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 1 January 2022.

No 162

 

These blokes RTA’d 30th January, 1968…

Now for 2022’s first...

You’ve ALL had time to recover from the New Year carryings-on, so time for some reading…we can start with an RTA memories project, then another project – “Lost Locators”, Bob Billiards gives us an Insight/Reflection, Grahame Dignam supplies us with some details on Peter Pioro and wife’s AO awards, Quiz Time reappears, an update by Richard Barry OAM on the RCVM submission, then we open the flood gates on Mail and there’s heaps to catch up on, where still having trouble with bigpond.com, then there’s some info in the Association section (next meeting 8th February).

Then, sadly, we note Vic Claxton’s passing in Vale – May He Rest In Peace.
 
Phew that’s it, so settle back and I hope you enjoy the read.
Look forward to hearing from you.  

Keep safe and in touch.

 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 2 February 2022.

No 163

 

These blokes RTA’d 30th Fenruary, 1968…

Now for February’s edition...

January’s gone…let’s kick it off with some info on the he RTA’s, then continue with “Lost Locator” Project, hey, Eyes & Ears (re-booted version) turns 13, we get a notable Media Release from our Minister for Veterans Affairs, a catch-up on the RVCM project then starts the Mail avalanche, we then get into a busy Notice Board (worth the read – have a read of Pete Ravelje’s one on “SkyBus”), then comes the update from the Association.

That’s it for No. 163, so settle back and I hope you enjoy the read
Look forward to hearing from you.  

Keep safe and in touch.

 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 3 March 2022.

No 164

 

                                                                                        Another February Depart Nui Dat trio…

OK, What’s March’s edition offering...

Heck! Easter’s on its way! Let’s have a look at what’s on offer – some of February’s RTA’s, then continue with “Lost Locator” Project, hey, we have a bit of a look to see what the rain has and continues to do, some interesting news on “uncrewed” aerial systems, then it’s into Mail (and there’s some great reading), the Notice Board details some ANZAC Day information, then we finish off with the Associations activities.

Settle back and I hope you enjoy exploring No 164.
Look forward to hearing from you.  
Keep safe and in touch.

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 4 April 2022.

No 165

 

ANZAC Day, 2022…Another morning that starts memories…

Now tighten your seatbelts April’s edition is monumental…

ANZAC Day starts the ball rolling – worth every word and photo, then we look at who RTA’d in April, the Lost Locator Project continues, then Keith Ayliffe gives us a great Mick Bohl Recollection, Quiz Time is a bit of fun, the RVCM Project continues with an update from Richard Barry, Vic Rae has a request, then “whoopdeedoo!” we get into the two sections of mail, there’s a couple of items worth considering on the Notice Board and then it’s worth exploring what the Association is and has been up to. The Located section unveils a real surprise!

Settle back and really relax with a long drink - I hope you enjoy the read.
Look forward to hearing from you.  
Keep safe and in touch.

 

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 5 May 2022.

No 166

 

RTA’ing Continues…May, 1968  Bert Blink – a photo titled simply  “Leaving Vietnam”.

Here’s May’s offerings …

We start with May 1970 and the Vietnam Moratorium protests, then there’s a couple of ongoing Projects – RTA in May / Lost Locator, then there’s a couple of Recollections from Phil Mulgrew, Kev Browning and Iain Kennedy, there’s the Quiz, David Dougherty takes us back to 2008 and some communications he had, then there’s some great Mail to go for a wander through and have a read of Association’s activity. Sadly, we have a Vale for Barry Fountain.

Find a comfy spot to relax and enjoy the read.
Look forward to hearing from you.  

 

 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 6 June 2022.

No 167


RTA’ing - 9th June, 1971… Behind Michael Butler and Ron Ryan is Les Falkai and Peter Saint.

Here’s what you can find in June’s offerings …

Hilton Holloway gives us a look at an “End of Tour Ritual”, we get a look a couple of “New Ministers”, we continue on with Lost Locators, then we have the first instalment of “Gunners in Vietnam, 1965-1971” by the late Jeff Evans – it’s an iconic read not to be overlooked, an update on the progress of the RVCM by Richard Barry, then the “Mail” floodgates open, “Notice Board” is worth getting into and the Association’s doings are worth the read too. Then we end up with a Vale apology for an incorrect photo. 

Rug up, get a warm drink, relax and enjoy the read.
Look forward to hearing from you.
 
 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 7 July 2022.

No 168

Here’s what you can find in July’s edition …

We start off with some memorable Battery Anniversaries, then see who RTA’s in various Julys, then we continue on with the late Jeff Evans’ “Gunners in Vietnam, 1965 – 1971”, David Dougherty chimes in with an interesting “131 Radar Ash Island” coincidence, we uncover some interesting statistics in the 2021 Census, Bill Wight has a great story of “My Café experience in Lombok, Indonesia”, whoa the Mail Box is opened and there is some great reading, Notice Board has a couple items that need reading, then it’s into the Association’s engine room. Sadly, Vale contains details of the passings of three Locators.

Settle into a comfy chair, put your feet up somewhere and enjoy the read.
Look forward to hearing from you
 
 You can get to me at – 131eyesandears@gmail.com
Paul

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 8 August 2022.

No 169

1971 August’s RTA’ers –

Gerard (David) Pires, Jorg Kiene, Jeff Evans, sitting Rod Beasley - (photo taken by Rieny Nieuwenhof) In background Peter Fielden and maybe Capt Tim Ford.

Here’s what you can find in August’s edition …

We start off with VVDay 2022, then a couple of Projects, then it’s into Chapter 6 of Jeff Evans’ continuing “Gunners in Vietnam 1964-71”, then there’s a look at who RTA’d in August, the RVCM support programme continues, then the dams bust with Mail, there’s a look at those who served less than 2 years Nasho, then there’s a pretty full Notice Board and then into the Associations goings on.

Settle into a comfy chair as there’s 29 pages, so put your feet up somewhere and enjoy the read.

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 9 September 2022.

No 170

September, 1967 RTA’ers –

William Thomas, Barry Bonser, Jim Hogno, Allan Adams, Mick Luff, George Clark, Peter Gault (Late), Phil Endicott, Barry Follington, Steve Boutlis, John McFadden and Ross Gunnell

Some September, 1968 RTA’ers –

 

Gordon Malcolm, Ken Woodbine, Geoff Holden, Bob Billiards, Nick Armstrong.

Here’s what you can find in September’s edition …

We’ve got a couple of RTA’er groups to examine, then we’re back with the continuing series with Jeff Evans, John I’Anson retells a great post SVN odyssey, Russ Jackson spills the beans on a fabulous ‘Passion’, then whoa the Mail starts and goes on, next is the Notice Board with a mention of 35 years since the Welcome Home Parade, then we venture into Association business which includes the welcoming of King Charles lll, then sadly into Vales for the late Queen Elizabeth lll and our own Jeff Bassford.

 So, find a sheltered spot and settle in for what should be a good read.

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 10 October 2022.

No 171

The LAST Farewell Function of the Detachment, 1971…

Click on the website and here’s what you can find in August’s edition …

It’s an interesting ‘opener’ by Kevin Browning leading to the ‘disbandment’ of the Detachment in November, 1971, there’s a snapshot of the Welcome Home major group some 35 years ago at North Head – what a memory, what a special day, we continue on with Chapter 11 the ‘Battle of Binh Ba’ and beyond by Jeff Evans, then an email from David Dougherty got me to explore ‘Burial sites/MIA’s etc’ with some fascinating info, we also discover a fact on the only SAS Serviceman to Die of Wounds in SVN, Terry Erbs poses a question as to ‘?’s’ in a photo, Rieny Nieuwenhof posts a great photo and story, we open up the ‘Mail’ – great catch-up reading, Peter Pioro’s ‘Advocate’ section has an enlightening response, then there’s a pretty full ‘Notice Board’, then you can explore the Associations activities and reports. Sadly, we do end with a well-known character’s Vale – Ken McNamara – there are some great memories/photos shared.

So, find a sheltered, comfortable spot and settle in for what should be a good read – 33 pages!


Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 11 November 2022.

No 172

Have a great shared time with family, friends and mates!

Art work: Ernie Newbold

Click on the website and here’s what you can find in October’s edition …

The Festive Season is upon us once again, let’s have a look at the November RTA’ers, then there’s a couple of entries for Remembrance Day, then Jeff Evans covers FSB Coral in Chapter 12 of his “Gunners in Vietnam, 1965-1971”, Allen Morley writes to the MINISTER FOR VETERANS' AFFAIRS MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL re: RVCM, then we catch up via Mail (always a great read), there’s a couple of items on the Notice Board and then it’s into Association items including the AGM. Sadly, once again, we remember a mate, Leigh ‘Mouse’ Baker in Vale. 

Ok, enjoy the 30-page read in a comfortable spot.

Eyes and Ears - Volume 15 No 12 December 2022.

No 173

We now take “One small step…” – let’s keep doing it together…

Art work: Ernie Newbold

Click on the website and here’s what you can find in December’s edition …

Hey, we’ve just finished 2022 - let’s have a look at the December’s RTA’ers, then we continue with Jeff Evans as he proceeds with his “Gunners in Vietnam, 1965-1971”, Ken Osborne has a great article on ‘Tet Evening Tracers”, then we’re into mail, we say a farewell to Peter Pioro at the Advocate’s Desk, then there’s some reading on the Notice Board and then comes the Association’s section.

Ok, we hope you enjoy the last edition for 2022.
Look forward to hearing from you ALL in 2023.
Keep safe and in touch.