August RSL Monthly Newsletter

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Angeles City Sub Branch Philippines www.rslangelescity.com ‘Lest We Forget’ President Vice Presidents Secretary Treasurer

James Curtis-Smith Noel Roach Vic Meller Dallas Drake Bob Young

Editor

Larry Smith

Email address’:

Clubhouse: Ponderosa Hotel president@rslangelescity.com

secretary@rslangelescity.com treasurer@rslangelescity.com

editor@rslangelescity.com

Newsletter # 29 ** August 2009 PRESIDENTS REPORT August 2009 August 18th in each year marks the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966 when Australian army personnel of D Company 6RAR was engaged in a fierce battle with Viet Cong in a rubber plantation known as Long Tan near Nui Dat in Vietnam. The battle wasn‟t the biggest or most protracted battle that Australian troops experienced in the Vietnam war but it was so significant that its anniversary is now recognized by Australians as Vietnam Veterans Day. This Sub Branch will honour the memory of those who served and who paid with their life by a commemorative service commencing at 11.00am at Clark War Cemetery and followed by a light luncheon and refreshments at the Ponderosa Hotel following. A meaningful day in the diary of the RSL and I invite all who can make it, to attend.

It seems that every President‟s Report now contains a report on medical missions conducted for underprivileged children by this Sub Branch in and around Angeles City. On Saturday morning, August 1, 1120 children from Barangay Pulungbulu were examined by doctors and senior nursing staff, and we filled prescriptions free from out of our Charity Fund for each child. In excess of 3500 medications and vitamins were dispensed. Photographs of the mission appear on our web page. My thanks to the senior nurses from Angles University Foundation Medical Centre who assisted with the examination of each child, and

2 also nursing students from Holy Angel University, who assisted with the recording and dispensing of the medications. Since our first mission in September 2008 in excess of 4500 underprivileged children have individually been assisted from our missions.

Photo left is some of our volunteer staff who assisted the administration of the medical mission.

What is so satisfying to our members who have become involved in our medical missions is that not only do we have a lot of fun and fellowship in raising funds through our weekly chook raffles (without chooks) at Shano‟s and the annual Australia Day Fiesta, but we actually purchase the medications and hand them to the recipients. Unlike so many other charities these days, not one centavo of the funds raised is spent or applied for administration and the entire fund is applied to the missions. A wonderful and satisfying feeling.

Also this month a further 150 mosquito nets were purchased and donated to the extremely poor families living in squatter accommodation on the banks of the river near Friendship. The nets are distributed by and at the discretion of Dr. de Guzman, and he advises that after the first 100 nets we purchased were distributed, he noted a marked decrease in the cases of dengue contracted in this community.

The Australia Day Fiesta Committee has been meeting and our program for 2010 has been fixed. We kick off with our Beauty Pageant and dinner on Wednesday January 20, Bell Ring on Friday 22, darts and pool competition Saturday 23, street party and curry cook off on Sunday 23. I have no doubt that our weekly Tuesday social may well continue into Australia Day on Wednesday 26 and the activities will finish off with a family day at Angeles Sports Club on the following Sunday the 31 st. In conjunction with the week‟s activities our Giant Raffle will take place and we are putting together prizes for the raffle at the moment.

We are looking for prizes to be donated and if you can assist please contact us and let us know.

In the days preceding Vietnam Veterans Day, Reg Tulip of the NSW Branch will be with us and giving TIP training to some of our members to assist others in the welfare and pensions activity of our Sub Branch.

Our thanks to Reg and to the Branch in funding his air fares to visit us.

JAMES E. CURTIS-SMITH President

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**** **** **** **** **** Our Sub Branch gives a big welcome to the following new members: Ian Boustead * Denys Pickering * James Brown * John Morris, NSW * Brett Smith, NSW * William Pevy, NSW * Roderick Willder, WA * Leslie Conry, NSW * David Messent, A/C * Welcome back to : John B Zahra, VIC *

DON’T FORGET August 18th Vietnam Veteran’s Day 1100hrs Clark cemetery August 18th Vietnam Veteran’s Day Ponderosa Hotel 1200 Noon

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Vietnam Veterans Day Vietnam Veterans Day is commemorated on 18 August every year. The day was originally known as Long Tan Day, chosen to commemorate the men of D Company, 6RAR who fought in the battle of Long Tan in 1966. On that day, 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought a pitched battle against over 2,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops in a rubber plantation not far from the small village of Long Tan. The Australians prevailed, but only after fighting in torrential rain for four hours. They were nearly overrun, but were saved by a timely ammunition resupply, accurate artillery fire from the nearby Australian base, and the arrival of reinforcements by armoured personnel carrier. Eighteen Australians lost their lives and 24 were wounded, the largest number of casualties in one operation since the Australian task force had arrived a few months earlier. After the battle the bodies of 245 enemy soldiers were found, but there was evidence that many more bodies had been carried away.

On the third anniversary of Long Tan, 18 August 1969, a cross was raised on the site of the battle by the men of 6RAR. Veterans from the battle gathered at the cross to commemorate the fallen, and the day was commemorated by them as Long Tan Day from then on. Over time, all Vietnam veterans adopted the day as one to commemorate those who served and died in Vietnam. In 1987, following the very successful Welcome Home parade for Vietnam veterans in Sydney, Prime Minister Bob Hawke announced that Long Tan Day would be known as Vietnam Veterans Day. Since then, it has been commemorated every year as the day on which the service of all those men and women who served in Vietnam is remembered. **** **** **** **** **** **** Editorial Comment. Being a Vietnam Veteran, and having been a member of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) I personally did not agree that Vietnam Veteranâ€&#x;s Day should have been made for the 18th of August. I felt that this took the shine off the deeds that Delta Coy 6 RAR achieved at Long Tan. The government at the time could have chosen any other day of the year, but let 6 RAR commemorate their Long Tan legacy. However the decision was made and I accept that and commemorate Vietnam Veteranâ€&#x;s Day on 18th August like all others.

Warrant Officer Class 2 William John (Big Jack) Kirby DCM There have been tomes written about the Battle of Long Tan, and we have done articles on the subject in previous newsletters. I would like to enlighten you to a particular character of 6 RAR and his deeds at Long Tan. His name was Jack Kirby.

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Jack was a veteran of the Korean War, the Malaya Emergency and as part of that campaign served in Borneo. Back in Australia he was posted to 6 RAR and appointed as Company Sergeant Major (CSM) of Delta Company.

Anyone who knew Jack thought of him as a very competent Snr NCO and in his position as CSM, a fair and approachable disciplinarian. But his actions at Long Tan made him stand-out (in more way than one) which earned him an award which is second only to the Victoria Cross (VC) for valor in the field, the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). The equivalent award for officers is the Military Cross (MC).

Jack was not a small bloke in any sense of the word, he was well over six foot tall and had the stature to go with it. And it is this stature that made him stand out at the Battle of Long Tan. (The picture below left of Jack taken as a Corporal in Malaya in 1957 illustrates his size).

When the Battle of Long Tan commenced, Jack was occupying his position as CSM within the confines of company HQ. His duties have no ending but during battle his main focus is the replenishment and distribution of ammunition.

It was this task that Jack was totally involved in during the battle. He was everywhere at once, running around the company area re-distributing ammo, rallying the soldiers and doing other tasks as directed by the officer commanding, Major Harry Smith MC. Jack was doing this at the crouch and his full height, flitting between the rubber trees in full view of everyone.

This at a time when soldiers were being killed and wounded, firing from the prone position on the ground. In the maelstrom of bullets and artillery fire, Jack did not receive a scratch.

Jack was awarded the DCM for this action. (Shown left) However the vagaries of war sometimes have strange and un-explainable endings. It was one of these vagaries that on the 6th February 1967, in another contact with the enemy during Operation Tamborine, Jack Kirby DCM was struck down and killed by mis-directed artillery fire. Four others were killed and 13 wounded as a result of this accident. He joined a growing list of statistics of deaths and injuries attributed by ‘friendly fire’. His passing left a huge hole within the company and indeed, the whole of 6 RAR. Lest We Forget

Ed

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And just in time for Vietnam Veteran’s Day………..

Last Vietnam War veterans' remains found Flying Officer Michael Herbert (l) and Pilot Officer Robert Carver (r) disappeared over the Vietnamese jungle in November 1970

The remains of Australia's last two Vietnam War servicemen, missing for almost 40 years, have been found in dense jungle near the wreckage of their bomber.

Air Force investigation team recovered bones - believed to be those of Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver - at the site where their Canberra aircraft was found in April.

The pair and their plane disappeared over a remote area of Quang Nam province, near the Laotian border, on 3 November 1970.

Their families have been informed of the discovery.

Minister for Defence Personnel Greg Combet paid tribute to the men, and to the sacrifices they and their family made.

"These airmen gave their lives in the service of their nation," he said. "I hope finding the remains of the airmen will bring some comfort to the families."

Mr Combet also thanked those - including several former Viet Cong soldiers - who helped in the location of the crash site.

"Invaluable assistance has been given by a number of former North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers and their commanders as well as many local villagers. "Their compassion and commitment to assisting this vital mission is greatly appreciated," he said.

Flying Officer Herbert, 24, from Glenelg, South Australia, flew 198 sorties over Vietnam before his death at the controls of the bomber. His colleague, Pilot Officer Carver, also 24, from Toowoomba, Queensland, was serving as navigator on the ill-fated flight.

The pair's remains have been taken to Hanoi, but no arrangements have yet been made for the repatriation of their remains.

August, being the month for commemorations of Vietnam Veteran’s Day in Australia, here is a little reminder of how the local Vietnamese girls observed us. It will bring a smile to your dial. Ed CHEAP CHARLIE To understand this ditty you need to know a few things.

Charlie should be pronounced charlee Cheap Charlie meant mean or unwilling to spend money Uc-dai-loi is Vietnamese for Australian (pronounced 'ook da loy') Saigon Tea was served to bar girls as whisky and coke at inflated prices when a 'round eye' was paying. It was never alcoholic and was usually just cold tea.

Sung to the tune of Nik-Nak, Paddy Whack, Give a dog a bone Uc-dai-loi , Cheap Charlie, He no buy me Saigon Tea Saigon Tea cost many, many P, Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie Uc-dai-loi , Cheap Charlie, He no give me MPC, MPC cost many, many P, Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie,

6 Round eye was the Asian slang name for any non Asian person.

MPC was Military Payment Certificates which replaced American dollars. It was an American attempt to get US currency out of the system.

MPC was of no use to the NVA or VC and could be changed by the authorities regularly to maintain currency control. All Allied troops had to use it.

P stood for piastre which was local currency. In other words, money.

Mamma-san is a female bar/brothel owner.

Baby san just means baby

Uc-dai-loi , Cheap Charlie, He no go to bed with me, For it cost him many, many P, Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie, Uc-dai-loi , Cheap Charlie, Make me give him one for free, Mamma-san go very crook on me, Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie, Uc-dai-loi , Cheap Charlie, He give baby-san to me, Baby-san cost many, many P, Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie, Uc-dai-loi , Cheap Charlie, He go home across the sea, He leave baby san with me Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie

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Oldest WWI veteran dies aged 113

Henry Allingham, the world's oldest man and one of the last surviving World War I servicemen, has died at the age of 113, his care home has said.

Mr Allingham served with the Royal Naval Air Service in WWI, later transferring to the Royal Air Force at the time of its creation.

Last month, Mr Allingham, born in 1896, became the world's oldest man.

The Queen said he was "one of the generation who sacrificed so much for us all".

Mr Allingham, whose life has spanned three centuries and six monarchs, has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-

7 great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild. His wife Dorothy, who he was married to for more than half a century, died in 1970.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to the war hero, calling him a "tremendous character".

'War memories' Mr Allingham joined the Royal Navy Air Service in September 1915 and served in Ypres before transferring to the RAF in April 1918.

In November last year, he took part in ceremonies to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. Speaking before events began, Mr Allingham said he couldn't forget the war even if he wanted to.

"I saw too many things I would like to forget but I never will forget them, I never can forget them," he said.

For decades, he buried his war memories, avoiding reunions and refusing to discuss the events with his family.

But, in 2005, he was persuaded to unveil an RAF memorial in France and decided it would have been disrespectful to his former comrades to refuse.

Veterans minister Kevan Jones said he was "greatly saddened" to hear of Mr Allingham's death.

"For one of his age, his vigour for life was extraordinary," he said.

"I was humbled to meet somebody who had led such an amazing life and we owe such a huge debt of gratitude to him and his generation." ****

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AND A WORD FROM THE LAST SURVIVING BRIT VETERAN

Claude Choules says WWI was 'boring' BRITAIN'S last surviving World War I veteran has shrugged off his achievement and even described the conflict as boring.

Claude Choules, 108, who lives in a nursing home in Perth, Australia, reacted calmly when told he had become Britain's only survivor from the 1914-1918 war.

"Everything comes to those who wait and wait,'' he told The Australian newspaper.

Mr Choules was informed by his 80-year-old daughter Anne Pow over the weekend that the death of 111-year-old Harry Patch, Britain's last soldier who fought in the Great War's infamous trenches, had made him the country's sole survivor.

Patch's death, a week after that of fellow veteran and world's oldest man Henry Allingham, 113, prompted a national outpouring of grief in Britain.

Mr Choules served on HMS Revenge during a 41-year naval career which spanned both world wars, witnessing the surrender of the German Imperial Navy in 1918 and the scuttling of the fleet in Scapa Flow, The Australian said.

8 He was seconded to the Australian navy in 1926 and remained in the force for 30 years.

However, Ms Pow said her father had always said war was mostly very tedious punctuated by moments of extreme danger.

Mr Choules was married to his wife Ethel for 80 years until her death at 98 and was a regular dancer up to just a few years ago, the report said.

The dersdesders.free.fr website, regarded as an authoritative chronicle of veterans of World War I, says there are now just three veterans left alive including Mr Choules. The other two are American Frank Buckles, 108, and Canadian John Babcock, 109, who both live in the United States.

Neither Mr Buckles nor Mr Babcock saw active combat, the website says. ****

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Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List VA067

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Tuesday, 4 August 2009

95th ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE ‘WAR TO END ALL WARS’ On 4 August 1914 German forces crossed the Belgian border and set in train an escalating conflict that would soon engulf Europe. Australia‟s pledge of support to Britain ultimately cost some 60,000 lives in a war that lasted four years and affected almost every household in the country.

Minister for Veterans‟ Affairs Alan Griffin said the 95th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War was an opportunity to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who served in the „war to end all wars‟.

“More than 416,000 Australians enlisted in the First World War and of those more than 60,000 lost their lives on the battlefields of the Western Front, Gallipoli, the Middle East, in the skies above many of these battlefields and at sea,” Mr Griffin said.

“Some 160,000 Australians returned home injured or ill and Australia‟s repatriation system grew out of our duty of care to these men and women and to the families of those who did not return. We continue this duty of care today, supporting around 370 war widows of First World War servicemen.

“We are also ensuring our First World War veterans are commemorated through enduring tributes.

“The Australian Government is contributing $10 million over the next four years to establish a Western Front Interpretive Trail to better tell the story of Australian service in France and Belgium. The concept will tell Australia‟s story to visitors of all nations right across the Front, by working with communities and with regional and national authorities to improve existing facilities or create additional ones on Australian battlefields.

“This is long overdue recognition of Australia's contribution and by acting now we can improve interpretative sites as we move towards the centenary of our involvement in the First World War.

9 “Each year on Anzac Day thousands of Australians gather at Gallipoli and now in France to honour those who served in these locations, but also those who served in all of the other wars and conflicts since. Our commitment to commemorate their service remains strong,” the Minister said.

The Department of Veterans‟ Affairs hosts several websites on Australia‟s wartime history. To learn more about Australians at war, visit www.australiansatwar.com.au, on the Western Front www.ww1westernfront.gov.au, at Gallipoli www.anzacsite.gov.au and the Second World War ww2australia.gov.au

www.beyondtheblackstump.com

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List VA060

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

NEXT STEP FOR REVIEW OF MILITARY COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS The Minister for Veterans‟ Affairs, Alan Griffin, announced that the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements‟ steering committee has been appointed, and met yesterday to commence its consideration of almost 50 submissions from the service and ex-service communities.

“The appointment of this steering committee is the next step toward delivering the Government‟s election commitment to review the current military rehabilitation and compensation arrangements,” Mr Griffin said.

“The steering committee members combine an extensive knowledge of veterans‟ entitlements, rehabilitation, safety and compensation law and policy.”

10 The review‟s steering committee is chaired by Ian Campbell, Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. Its members are: Major General Craig Orme, Department of Defence; Ms Peta Furnell, The Treasury; Ms Joan Ross, Department of Finance and Deregulation; Ms Michelle Baxter, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; and Peter Sutherland, an independent expert in military rehabilitation and compensation law and a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University College of Law. “We need to ensure that the experiences of those who have been through the military rehabilitation and compensation system are considered as part of the Review, and I am grateful to those organisations and individuals who have made submissions,” Mr Griffin said.

The next stage of investigations and consultations will include visits to Defence Force facilities and consultations with current and former members of the Australian Defence Force, ex-service organisations, key agencies and other stakeholders. The Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Ex-service matters and the Ex-Service Roundtable will also be consulted for their views during the Review process.

“The Review is critical in identifying solutions for wider concerns relating to military rehabilitation and compensation. It is a significant step by the Government towards addressing concerns with military rehabilitation and compensation legislation and the administration of the schemes.”

The Review is examining the adequacy and suitability of military rehabilitation and compensation arrangements including perceived disparities and inequities between legislative schemes. Its terms of reference and further information about committee members can be found on the review web page from links at www.dva.gov.au.

The Review is expected to report to Government in the first half of 2010, subject to the complexity of the matters raised. **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

FUZZY WUZZY ANGEL PRESENTED WITH MEDALLION The first commemorative medallion honouring Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels‟ care for Australian soldiers during the Second World War will be presented by the Minister for Veterans‟ Affairs, Alan Griffin, at 3pm today.

Speaking on Papua New Guinea‟s Remembrance Day, the Minister said he was honoured to be in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to present the first medallion at a special service in Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby.

“Australians have long revered the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels for their role in carrying supplies to troops fighting in nearly inaccessible terrain and for their care in evacuating the wounded,” Mr Griffin said.

“Many Australians who became sick or wounded during the New Guinea campaign owe their lives to these civilians, who are affectionately known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

11 “They earned great respect for their strength, ingenuity and compassion.

Their contribution is the basis of much of the goodwill and warm relations between the two countries.”

The Medallion was announced by Prime Minister Rudd and Prime Minister Somare on 28 April 2009. The Medallion features the image of a blinded and barefoot Private George Whittington (see picture left) being helped along by Raphael Oimbari, which came from a photograph taken on Christmas Day 1942 near Buna on the PNG north coast.

An estimated 50,000 Papuan and New Guinean citizens assisted during the Second World War by carrying supplies, building bases, airfields and other wartime infrastructure, and evacuating the sick and the wounded from the fighting.

The medallions are available to surviving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and the widows or widowers of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. The Australian Government is seeking to ensure all surviving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels are honoured. More information on nominations is available from the Department of Veterans‟ Affairs or the Australian High Commission in PNG. While in PNG, Minister Griffin is also attending events commemorating Remembrance Day. “The men whose lives depended on the work of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels rightly held them in high esteem. It is a mark of the enduring nature of that esteem that we continue to honour those efforts which began 65 years ago,” Mr Griffin said. **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

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o, who were the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels???. It seems appropriate on their ‘Remembrance Day’ to remind ourselves, and educate others about ‘who they were’.

Ed

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels was the name given by Australian troops to a group of Papua New Guinean people who, during World War II, assisted and escorted injured Australian troops down the Kokoda trail. "Fuzzy Wuzzy" was originally used by British soldiers in the 19th century as a name for Hadendoa warriors on the Red Sea coast of the Sudan, and referred to their elaborate butter-matted hairstyles. The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels were named for both their frizzy hair and helpful role.

In the year 1942, during the Pacific invasion, the Japanese had built up a force of 13,500 in the Gona region of Papua with the intention of invading Port Moresby. The key to the offensive was an overland track across the Owen Stanley Ranges. The track ranged from the small village of Buna on the north coast of Papua and went up the slopes through Gorari and Oivi to Kokoda. The track was approximately 100 miles (160 km) long, folded into a series of ridges, rising higher and to 7,000 feet (2,100 m) and then declining again to 3,000 feet (910 m). It was covered in thick jungle, short trees and tall trees tangled with vines.

On 29 August 1942, the Japanese task force broke through the Australian line forcing the Australians to retreat further back to Templeton's Crossing. Eventually, the Australians were forced to retreat to the shipping port of Myola.

12 4000 Australian lives were lost in the campaign. It is speculated that this number would have been much larger had it not been for the help of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. As one Australian digger has noted: “They carried stretchers over seemingly impassable barriers, with the patient reasonably comfortable. The care they give to the patient is magnificent. If night finds the stretcher still on the track, they will find a level spot and build a shelter over the patient. They will make him as comfortable as possible fetch him water and feed him if food is available, regardless of their own needs. They sleep four each side of the stretcher and if the patient moves or requires any attention during the night, this is given instantly. These were the deeds of the „Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels‟ – for us!”

No known injured soldier that was still alive was ever abandoned by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, even during heavy combat. As of Anzac Day 2007, only three of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels were still alive. In July 2007, grandsons of Australian WWII soldiers and grandsons of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels took part in the "Kokoda Challenge".

And to finish off, a Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel poem 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels' Many a mother in Australia, when the busy day is done Sends a prayer to the Almighty, for the keeping of her son Asking that an angel guide him, and bring him safely back Now we see those prayers are answered, on the Owen Stanley Track For they haven't any halos, only holes slashed in their ears And their faces worked by tattoos, with scratch pins in their hair Bringing back the badly wounded, just as steady as a horse Using leaves to keep the rain off, and as gentle as a nurse Slow and careful in the bad places, on the awful mountain track The look upon their faces, would make you think Christ was black Not a move to hurt the wounded, as they treat him like a saint It's a picture worth recording, that an artist's yet to paint Many a lad will see his mother, and husbands see their wives Just because the fuzzy wuzzy, carried them to save their lives From mortar bombs and machine gun fire, or chance surprise attacks To the safety and the care of doctors, at the bottom of the track May the mothers of Australia, when they offer up a prayer Mention those impromptu angels, with their fuzzy wuzzy hair.

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A MOTHER’S REPLY We, the Mother's of Australia, as we kneel each night in prayer Will be sure to ask God's blessings, on the men with fuzzy hair.

And may the Great Creator, who made us both black and white Help us to remember how they helped us to win the fight .

For surely He, has used these men with fuzzy wuzzy hair To guard and watch our wounded, with tender and loving care.

And perhaps when they are tired, with blistered and aching back He'll take the Yoke On himself, and help them down the track.

And God will be the Artist, and this picture He will paint Of a Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel, with the Halo of a Saint.

And His presence shall go with them, in tropic heat and rain And he'll help them to tend our wounded, in sickness and in pain.

So we thank you Fuzzy Wuzzies, for all that you have done Not only for Australians, but for Every Mother's Son. And we are glad to call you friends, though your faces may be black For we know that Christ walked with you - on the Owen Stanley track.

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When Trooper Mark Donaldson was awarded the Victoria Cross (Australian Award) and it was published in this newsletter, it got me thinking about including a Victoria Cross segment in this forum. I won’t include Donaldson just yet, but will work backwards from the latest, so the next one will be Keith Payne and so on. I will start with this issue and call it:

VC Corner.

Keith Payne VC 24492 Warrant Officer Class II Keith PAYNE Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam 24th May 1969, Konum Province, South Vietnam "On 24TH May 1969, in Kontum Province, Warrant Officer Payne was Commanding 212th Company of 1st Mobile Strike Force Battalion when the battalion was attacked by a North Vietnamese force of superior strength. Under this heavy attack the indigenous soldiers began to fall back. Directly exposing himself to the enemy's fire, Warrant Officer Payne, through his own efforts, temporarily held off the assaults by alternately firing his weapon and running from position to position collecting grenades and throwing them at the assaulting enemy. While doing this he was wounded in the hand and arms. Despite his outstanding efforts, the indigenous soldiers gave way under the enemy's increased pressure and the Battalion Commander, together with several advisors and a few soldiers, withdrew.

Paying no attention to his wounds and under extremely heavy enemy fire, Warrant Officer Payne covered his withdrawal by throwing grenades and firing his own

14 weapon at the enemy who were attempting to follow up. Still under fire, he then ran across exposed ground to head off his own troops who were withdrawing in disorder. He successfully stopped them and organised the remnants of his and the second company into a temporary defensive perimeter by nightfall.

Having achieved this, Warrant Officer Payne of his own accord and at great personal risk, moved out of the perimeter into the darkness alone in an attempt to find the wounded and other indigenous soldiers. He finally collected forty lost soldiers, some of whom had been wounded and returned with this group to the temporary defensive position he had left, only to find that the remainder of the battalion had moved back.

Undeterred by this setback and personally assisting a seriously wounded American advisor he led the group through the enemy to the safety of his battalion base. His sustained and heroic personal efforts, in this action were outstanding and undoubtedly saved the lives of a large number of his indigenous soldiers and several of his fellow advisors.

Warrant Officer Payne's repeated acts of exceptional personal bravery and unselfish conduct in this operation were an inspiration to all Vietnamese, United States and Australian soldiers who served with him. His conspicuous gallantry was in the highest traditions of the Australian Army" Keith PAYNE was born on 30 August 1930 at Ingham, Queensland. He currently resides with his wife at Mackay Queensland

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Below is a letter from Senator Barnaby Joyce on the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) currently under consideration by the Rudd government. It’s cynical but revealing. Ed

Senator Barnaby Joyce Leader of the Nationals in the Senate GET TO KNOW YOUR ETS, TAKE IT OUT TO DINNER It has become apparent that there is a general lack of understanding in the community about exactly what an ETS is.

People may understand the sentiment that surrounds it but they don’t really understand how it works and how it will affect them.

The ETS, which will be the Employment Termination Scheme or the Extra Tax System, take your pick, has not been properly explained to the Australian people away from the politics that surround it. There is a need to explain exactly what it is and how much it will cost the Australian consumer.

Over the weekend I addressed a meeting on the Tweed and clearly most people I spoke to were not aware of what Mr’s Rudd’s proposed scheme is going to cost them.

This morning while getting a lift on the Gold Coast the gentleman driving me said the same thing, “we don’t actually know what an ETS is”, so I think that we in politics have a duty to start telling the Australian people exactly what the ETS means in very simple terms.

15 If your actions in work, enjoyment or at home, away from you actual breathing, involve the emission of carbon dioxide then you have you a problem and the Government is going to tax you to stop.

Let’s look at some examples to bring this home to the dinner table. If you live in a cave with a candle you would probably be OK, but if your house is wired up for power then every electrical appliance will be attached to a power generator which in all likelihood will pay a tax and that tax will be passed on to you, the consumer. The price of toasting bread has just gone up, the price of ironing the school uniform has just gone up, the price of vacuuming the living room has just gone up and the price of watching the Sunday afternoon game on TV has just gone up.

If you live on a diet of naturally grown wild berries and lentils, which you scavenge for in your back yard, then you’d also probably be OK. But if you’re associated with the consumption of food, that’s either grown with the use of carbon intensive processes, or if you like to eat beef, mutton or lamb, which involves the emission of methane and is apparently a super form of carbon, then under Mr Rudd’s proposal, you’ll potentially have to pay for the privilege.

Put simply, a single beast, which ends up on our supermarket shelves as steak, roast, mince or sausages, emits about 70 kilograms of methene and according to the Kyoto protocol this has to be multiplied by 21 which means that each beast is responsible for emitting around a tonne and a half of carbon.

Utilising NAB modelling on the price of a carbon permit, a tonne and half of carbon, multiplied by about $50, is equivalent to an additional cost to the farmer of approximately $75 dollars per beast per year. $75 dollars per beast per year = no beef industry in Australia!

If the consumer wants to eat beef and can afford to pay for it then you will be buying it from a country that doesn’t have an ETS. The price of beef in Australia will be above the price paid in other countries that don’t have a beef industry which will result in you paying better than $100 dollars for a prime cut roast.

Quite obviously the quality of the Australian standard of living, as reflected in our diet, will be reduced.

When it comes to lamb and mutton, sheep emit around 10 kilograms of methane, so using the same formula; this means around 210 kilograms of carbon per year, per sheep which equates to Australian sheep farmers being slugged about $10 per sheep annually and this will ultimately drive sheep meat out of the market.

So, if you decided to have a lamb roast for dinner this Sunday, which the gentleman in the car giving me a lift today said he was planning to do, then expect to pay almost $100 dollars at the butcher for it.

This is the sort of reality that we as Australians have to understand we’d be signing ourselves up for if Mr Rudd gets his way with his ridiculous Emissions Trading Scheme.

(Senator) Penny Wong has said publicly that she would not accept the proposition put by Malcolm Turnbull that would exclude agriculture, so lets not play ducks and drakes here, agriculture in Australia is going to suffer massively if Mr Rudd gets his way and the biggest losers in all this will ultimately end up being the consumer as they struggle to pay to fill the family shopping basket each week.

16 If Mr Rudd’s plan was actually going to make a difference then it would be slightly plausible, but the fact is, it is not. Mr Rudd’s ETS will not result in the planet being cooled and has not even the slightest prospect of doing anything for the global climate.

Mr Rudd’s ETS is merely a gesture, a token.

There are all sorts of wonderful gestures we can offer as comfort for the world’s problems, however if imposing a tax on consumers, which Mr Rudd wants to do, is the right way to deal with things, then we may as well impose a tax to bring about world peace. Mr Rudd keeps coming up with all these peculiar ideas. Imposing a crippling tax on consumer’s, forcing us to pay massively inflated prices at the supermarket for the food we eat and forcing Australian farmers out of business is implausible, short sighted and dangerous. ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

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