PIB-PIR September 2019 Update

1. Membership drive 2019-20

Since our June AGM, we have put energy into recruiting New Members especially former Australian Servicemen who worked in PNG as part of the ADF, or attached to the PNGDF.

Membership Officer, Kevin Smith, is now handling Membership enquiries and applications in a new, streamlined way. Being also the Website Manager, Kevin has revised the information and the Form on the Website (www.soldierspng.com) Please help your Association by recommending this Website to your former Service mates who can find the one-page Form under Membership on the Website’s Home Page. (A copy is also attached at the end of this Update.)

Several New Members have liked the option of becoming a Financial Life Member for $50, and no more fees are required in the future. Existing Members are welcome to pay $50 to upgrade their Membership at any time, and stop paying an annual fee. Some of our recent New Members include: — (Lt) Colin Beszant in NSW — Dr Harley Carey in QLD — (Sgt) Brian Jones in QLD — (Maj) Langley Kidby in QLD — (Capt) Ian Kuhl in QLD — (Sgt) Kimberley Looke in QLD — (Cpl) David Melandri in Qld — (Fl. Sgt) Gary Pettet in WA — (Cpl) David Scott in QLD — (Cpl) David Williams in QLD — (Cpl) Peter Young in QLD

2. National Reunion in October 2019

Some Committee Members and other Members have already registered to participate in the Hunter Valley Reunion for Chalkies/PIR from 15-17 October. Highlights will include the unveiling of an RAAEC Exhibit inside the Infantry Museum and a brief drive-thru of Singleton Barracks; enjoying the local vineyards followed by the telling of tall stories; the presence of several senior Servicemen and women; and some Association business on the sidelines.

A photo of the two organisers (Garry Screen & Steve Beveridge) appears later in this Update for those who haven’t met them yet.

A fishy tale – One Saturday morning a Digger woke up early, dressed quietly, made some lunch, grabbed his fishing gear, slipped quietly into the garage and proceeded to back his ute out into a torrential downpour. Along the road it was blowing a gale and the radio said the weather would be bad all day. He decided to return home.

Quietly undressing, he slipped back into bed. He cuddled up to his wife’s back with romantic intentions and whispered: “The weather out there is terrible.”
She sleepily replied: “Can you believe my husband is out there trying to catch a fish?”

3. Second World War Veterans

• Don Collins and wife Ann visited family on the Sunshine Coast a few months ago so local Members took the opportunity to meet them as part of the 75th Anniversary of the formation of 1 NGIB and 2 NGIB in 1944. Don was presented with our highest award, Honorary Life Membership, by Vice President Greg and Secretary Kev accompanied by wife Lindy (see photo later).
Recent events prompted Don to share some War-time 2 NGIB incidents that have increased our knowledge of Service life in that Battalion. The Association is grateful to Don for expanding our information about War-time conditions.

• As soon as practicable, the Association will also present our highest award to other NGIB Servicemen – Bill (William) Scott (3 NGIB) of NSW and Laurie Stevens (2 NGIB) of QLD. Laurie Stevens suffered an injury to one leg some months ago and the injury is not yet resolved. The Association hopes that appropriate medical treatment will soon be applied to restore Laurie’s mobility.

4. Representatives across Australia

The Association is very fortunate to have Representatives who provide a regional perspective to Committee decisions and can also be a communication point for our dispersed Membership. These people are:

WA – Graeme Johnson (Email: CJJ.COTT@DREWJ.COM)

Regional QLD – Graham Carnes (Email: CARNESGJ@BIGPOND.COM)

VIC – vacant
SA – vacant
NSW – Garry Screen (Email: sugaz.screen@gmail.com) – from 1/11/19

You can help our Association in these ways:
• put your hand up to represent Victoria or South Australia (Just send an Email to Secretary Kev Horton: kevhorton49@gmail.com )
• send your news, photos or questions to your closest Representative who will pass it on to Secretary Kev.

The Deer Hunter – A Digger kills a deer and brings it home. He decides to clean and serve the venison for dinner. He knows his kids are fussy eaters and won’t eat it if they know what it is – so he does not tell them. His young son keeps asking him: “What’s for dinner?” His dad just says: “You’ll see.”

They start eating dinner and his daughter keeps asking what they are eating. “OK,” says her dad, “Here’s a hint – it’s what your mother sometimes calls me.”

The girl suddenly screams at her little brother: “Spit it out! It’s arse-hole!”

5. 80th Anniversary of PIB in 2020

2020 will mark the 80th Anniversary of the Formation of the Papuan Infantry Battalion at Port Moresby in June 1940. The historic decision to raise a local/indigenous Battalion within the Australian Army for the defence of New Guinea was debated for months in New Guinea and in Australia. The circumstances were well-covered a long time ago by the highly-credentialled historian Hank Nelson and reviewed more recently, using Cabinet records, by the researcher Bruce Hunt.
Federal politicians, faced in War-time with the consequences of their low priority on defence spending, seem to have overcome Army indifference to New Guinea and colonial opposition voices to authorize the raising of a low-budget indigenous Battalion.
From humble beginnings in 1940, the PIB grew and developed into an efficient jungle-fighting echelon which was feared by the enemy and prized by other Australian units. The PIB evolved under Australian leaders with the NGIB into HQ Pacific Islands Regiment in 1944; was disbanded in 1946; provided experienced NCOs for the new PIR in 1951; and left a legacy of Battle Honours proudly carried by the PNGDF today.
Our Association will mark the PIB’s 80th Anniversary during 2020 at Commemoration Services, at Meetings of members, and in our Newsletter/Website channels. If you have a suggestion for how this Association could observe the 80th Anniversary, please contact Greg Ivey (Email: IVEYGJ@GMAIL.COM)

6. 183 RECCE FLIGHT REUNION – MOOLOOLABA 2020

183 {Independent} Recce Flight was a unit of the Australian Army’s Aviation Corps and was based at Lae Airport from 1968 to 1976. The Flight provided support to the PNG Defence Force, other units of the Australian Army who were operating in the Territory of PNG, such as Survey and Engineer units, as well as Search and Rescue missions and civil aid support, including civil disasters.

Former members of 183 Recce Flight will be holding a reunion on the 21st and 22nd October 2020 at Club Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
The reunion is being coordinated by Dave Williams, who is seeking input and/or photographs from anyone who had close contact with 183 Recce Flight during its operations in TPNG. Dave can be contacted by email daveandmaxine@bigpond.com or mobile 0427 529 195.

Final words – Three Diggers were discussing what they would like to be said over their casket before burial.
First mate said that he would like to hear his loved ones say that he was a great husband and father, and that he was generous to his mates.
Second mate said that he would like to hear people say that he was involved in the RSL and made a difference to veterans.
Third mate said that he would like people to say: “Look, he’s moving!”