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 Greg Mann Bob Barnes Dallas Drake Ron Parrott

Editor

Larry Smith

Email address’:

Clubhouse: Ponderosa Hotel president@rslangelescity.com

secretary@rslangelescity.com treasurer@rslangelescity.com

editor@rslangelescity.com

NEWSLETTER # 65 ** AUGUST 2012 SPECIAL Long Tan cross comes 'home' by: Brendan Nicholson, Defence Editor From: The Australian July 27, 201212:00AM IT'S a simple cross of weathered grey concrete, reinforced with steel that's rusting in places, and it stood for years in the Vietnamese rubber plantation that was the Long Tan battlefield.

Seventeen Diggers from the 108-strong Delta Company of 6RAR were killed in that plantation on August 18, 1966, in a pitched battle with an estimated 2000 North Vietnamese troops and Viet Cong irregulars.

Twenty-five Australians were wounded and one later died of his injuries. At least 245 Vietnamese are known to have died.

Engineers from 6RAR made the cross and the troops erected it three years later on the battle's anniversary.

Nearly 2m tall and weighing more than 100kg, the cross was carried to the plantation slung below a helicopter.

Ten soldiers who survived the battle formed a guard of honour as it was set in place.

2 After the communist victory in 1975, the Vietnamese removed the cross. For a time it marked the grave of a Catholic priest, and it eventually ended up in the Dong Nai Museum in Bien Hoa City.

In 1987, as relations with Australia improved, the local district people's committee erected a replica cross on the battle site. Now the Vietnamese museum has loaned the cross to the Australian War Memorial for nine months.

The iconic cross was unpacked by staff at the war memorial yesterday. It will go on display on August 18, the 46th anniversary of the battle, and is expected to be a magnet for Vietnam vets.

The war memorial's acting director, Nola Anderson, said that it would mean a lot for veterans to see the cross, which had become a memorial to all the 500-plus Australians who died in the 10-year conflict, and she was delighted to see it arrive after lengthy negotiations. ďƒ• The original Long Tan Cross as it is unwrapped after arrival at the Australian War Memorial "It means there's a real bit of history here that Australians can come and see," Ms Anderson said.

Historian Peter Pedersen said Long Tan defined Australia's involvement in Vietnam and established the Diggers' dominance in Phuoc Tuy province.

"Because of the significance of the battle, and its pivotal nature, it has come to symbolise the involvement and sacrifice of all Australians in Vietnam," Dr Pedersen said.

Few battles were as intense or dramatic, he said. "The bravery, tenacity and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand soldiers at Long Tan have become legendary," Dr Pedersen said.

3 A replica cross still stands at the Long Tan site. "That cross is a pilgrimage site for Australians and Australian veterans going back to Vietnam," Dr Pedersen said.

"Up until recently, possibly right up until now, the replica cross is the only memorial to foreign troops on Vietnamese soil, apart from one to the French."

The cross will be on display at the Australian War Memorial from August 17 until April 2013.

"It's a chance for Australians to come to the memorial to see the cross, and acknowledge that sacrifice and remember," Dr Pedersen said.

The battle of Long Tan was originally called Long Tan Day, commemorated by 6 th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), current and past members. At the Welcome Home parade in Sydney in 1987, then prime minister Bob Hawke declared that 18th August will be called Vietnam Veterans Day. So that is how Vietnam Veterans Day started. Ed NEW MEMBERS We welcome the following new members: Service: Mark Cannon (QLD) * Russell Sweet (NSW) * Daniel Bosgra (A/C) * Edwin McGurk (A/C) * Arthur Herron (A/C) * Affiliate: William Jackson (QLD) * Shiela Garay (A/C) * Dennis Barron (WA) * Ben Morgan (QLD) * Leonard Mace (A/C) * Robert Jones (VIC) * OUR WEBSITE We will soon have a new banner for our website. We think it is OK but we want your feedback. When it is up and running, we request that you look at it and send us some feedback as to what you think of it. We always strive to improve our methods of communications and present them in a pleasant manner.

EXTRA-ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING Be advised that with some pressing matters to discuss, it has been decided that we need to hold an extra-ordinary general meeting at the club rooms, Ponderosa Hotel on the 18th of September 2012, at the usual time of 2:00pm (1400 hours). It is important that as many members as possible attend this meeting.

If you are dying in hospital, or can feel a stroke or heart attack coming on, and cannot make the meeting, there is a proxy vote form for you to use as the last page to this newsletter. Please use it. It is important.

AN INTERESTING AND PLEASING STATISTIC As at 7 August 2012, there have been 840 people throughout the world access our latest newsletter.

We never envisaged such a wide range of readers when we started it off years ago. This is a good result for a small organisation. We must be doing something right. Thankyou readers. Ed th

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RSL EVENTS SCHEDULE Weekly CHARITY Raffle NOW EVERY Wednesday at Emotions Nite Club at 6.00 PM. Phillies Sports & Grill Raffle every Saturday at 6.00 PM. Saturday September 1st Medical Mission BALIBAGO BARANGAY HALL (see map below) Tuesday 4th September 2012 *Australia Day Fiesta & General Committee 1.30 pm Ponderosa * 4.00pm Cherry’s – Stampede- Brass Knob Tuesday September11th 2.00pm Ponderosa * Social Tuesday * 3.00pm Body Shop – Kings HeadOrchid Inn Tuesday September18th EXTRA ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING & Monthly General Meeting 2.00 pm Ponderosa -Social Tuesday Gecko’s, LaBamba, Lollipop Tuesday September 25th - 2.00pm Social Tuesday Ponderosa- 4.00pm Players, BAR,Paradise Garden MEDICAL MISSION SATURDAY September 29th Sta MARIA 1, end of Teodoro St, Balibago

 Location of the next Barangay Children’s Medical Mission at the Balibago Barangay Hall. Basically it is in the street across the MacArthur Highway from Johnnies supermarket.

RESTRICTIONS ON OVERSEAS TRAVEL* PENSIONERS In the July newsletter we gave some insight into restrictions from the latest budget concerning DVA benefit recipients. I mentioned that Centrelink recipients were too varied to cover adequately in the newsletter. That was not exactly correct. Thanks to member Ken Duncan, I can provide some details for those members:

Budget 2012-13: Portability of Australian Government Payments Description of measure

5 From 1 January 2013, the length of time social security and family assistance benefits will be payable outside Australia will change. The maximum period most payments and concessions will continue to be paid to you for a temporary absence outside of Australia, will be reduced to six weeks from 13 weeks.

The following payments will continue to be payable indefinitely, however the rate of payment will reduce after six weeks absence (due to the reduction in the Pension Supplement):   

Age Pension Payments made under the terms of an international social security agreement, and Disability Support Pension, Wife Pension and Widow B Pension (under certain limited conditions).

There are some exemptions to the six week rule, for example:   

Customers receiving certain payments who undertake approved study overseas as part of their full-time Australian course, Family Tax Benefit (Part A) recipients will remain payable for up to three years for a temporary absence, but will reduce to the base rate at six weeks, and Customers who are already outside Australia on 1 January 2013 will not be affected until they return to Australia.

For those on the internet, go to: http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-andresources/budget/1213/measures/international/10572 Biggest change is any recipient of Age Pension presently overseas is ok, but after January 01, 2013, if the person returns to Australia then returns to the Philippines, after 6 weeks, they lose the Pension Supplement. For a single Pensioner, this relates to $60.20 a fortnight.

Thanks Ken for that info. Ed

A couple of newsletters ago our president had a message about preparing for your demise in his Presidents Report.

I have had some feedback from a member regarding that subject, and here is what he wrote: I read with great interest last month your story about death and funerals for foreigners in the Philippines.

I did some investigations from a solicitor here on Bohol, re- a ‘will’ and detected that a foreigner does not need a will if married to a Filipino, as all properties and assets are automatically given to the spouse upon death.

I also invested into a funeral plan here with a St Peters Funeral Homes Plan and my monthly cost for five years is ₱950, or I could pay outright at ₱50,000 for full costs involved. I prefer to be cremated and the additional cost is ₱40,000 for transportation to Cebu, the cremation and all other costs involved.

As regards to death duties, I’m of the opinion that if I don’t own anything here, then death duties cannot be charged. It is usually 5% of what the foreigner owns in the Philippines.

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I hope that this information is taken with interest for your readers.

Chris Tabbernor Poblacion, Dauis, Bohol.

Thankyou for that information Chris. Death in the Philippines for a foreigner usually follows a crooked path of confusion and financial pain. Any advice that can be gained is informative to all foreigners.

Our president, Jim Curtis-Smith is a barrister and solicitor and keeps his knowledge of local matters up to date, so I suggest that he be consulted with your queries. Ed

Victory over Japan Day

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 The Japanese representatives aboard the USS Missouri at the Surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945 Victory over Japan Day (also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, V-J Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred, effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of that event. The term has been applied to both of the days on which the initial announcement of Japan's surrender was made – to the afternoon of August 15, 1945, in Japan, and, because of time zone differences, to August 14, 1945 (when it was announced in the United States and the rest of the Americas and Eastern Pacific Islands) – as well as to September 2, 1945, when the signing of the surrender document occurred, officially ending World War II. August 15 is the official V-J Day for the UK while the official US commemoration is September 2. The name, V-J Day, had been selected by the Allies after they named V-E Day for the victory in Europe.

On September 2, 1945, a formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo Bay, Japan, aboard the battleship USS Missouri. In Japan, the day usually is known as the "memorial day for the end of the war" the official name for the day, however, is "the day for mourning of war dead and praying for peace"). This official name was adopted in 1982 by an ordinance issued by the Japanese government.

August 15 is commemorated as Liberation Day in Korea.

Japan accepts the Potsdam Declaration A little after noon in Japan Standard Time on August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito's announcement of Japan's acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration was broadcast to the Japanese people over the radio. Earlier the same day, the Japanese government had broadcast an announcement over Radio Tokyo that "acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation [would be] coming soon," and had advised the Allies of the surrender by sending a cable to U.S. President Harry S Truman via the Swiss diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. A nation-wide broadcast by President Truman was aired at seven o'clock p.m. (daylight time in Washington, D.C.) on August 14 announcing the

7 communication and that the formal event was scheduled for September 2. In his announcement of Japan's surrender on August 14, President Truman said that "the proclamation of V-J Day must wait upon the formal signing of the surrender terms by Japan".

Since the European Axis Powers had surrendered three months earlier (V-E Day), V-J Day would be the official end of World War II. In Australia and most other allied nations, the name V-P Day was used from the outset. The Canberra Times of August 14, 1945, refers to VP Day celebrations, and a public holiday for VP Day was gazetted by the government in that year according to the Australian War Memorial.

Death march to Sandakan The story below is reproduced from the Launceston Examiner on 11 Aug 2012. Ed MANY of the Tasmanians who ended up in the Sandakan prisoner of war camp were caught in the fall of Singapore in 1942.

Records show nearly 1500 prisoners of B Force were taken from Changi in Singapore to Sandakan.

They arrived on the tramp ship Ubi Maru in Sandakan Harbour on July 18, 1942, to build an airstrip.

The Australian War Memorial website records that the prisoners were initially treated reasonably well.

"Gradually, however, rations were reduced and bashings increased,'' the website said.

As the war progressed, the Allies pushed towards Borneo and the Japanese decided in late 1944 that they would send 2000 Australian and British prisoners west to the island's rugged interior.

Their destination was to be the town of Ranau, 260 kilometres away along jungle tracks _ a murderous task for men weakened by disease and ill treatment.

A further tragedy of Sandakan was that the atrocities occurred when the end of World War II was in sight. ``Many died on the way, their bodies never recovered,'' the war memorial site records. ``Those unable to continue were killed; those too weak to march had been left behind in Sandakan, where all died or were killed. ``Only six Australians out of about 1000 sent to Ranau survived the war. ``The Sandakan death march remains the greatest single atrocity committed against Australians in war.''

August 15 was chosen as Sandakan Day because it was the date of the 1945 Japanese surrender.

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MEDIA RELEASE

6 August 2012

Launch of Operation AWARE 2 Veterans Left out of the “Land of Hope and Dreams” The ALLIANCE OF DEFENCE SERVICE ORGANISATIONS wishes to announce the launch of 'Operation AWARE 2'. It represents the second phase of its public's awareness campaign to explain how unfair and unjust the Government has been to take no action to either fairly index Military Superannuation pensions to reflect the cost of living increases, or to restore Veterans’ Disability Pensions parity.

The launch is timed as a lead up to Vietnam Veterans' Day on the 18th August, a day that will allow Australia as a whole to remember the contributions made by their country men and women in the Vietnam War. The day also marks the anniversary of Australia's most significant campaign in Vietnam - the Battle of Long Tan. Will the Federal Government remember the Ex Service Men and Women who served in that war and perhaps other wars? Will that Government now consider treating them fairly? If the recent speech during his John Button Lecture by the Treasurer, The Hon Wayne Swan MP is anything to go by, indications are that it not only remains reluctant to do so but also is unlikely to restore any fairness to those who have served their country.

In that speech the Treasurer talked expansively about Labor Party values for a better Australia. He claimed to lead the fight for a fairer society for all; among numerous other claims he said he was determined that the whole community should grow together. He clearly did not think that Australia’s military veterans should be included in his “Land of Hope and Dreams”.

How else to interpret the Treasurer’s position when he recently went so far as to suggest that military superannuation schemes for retired veterans were “generous”? And that indexation of their pensions was “fair”. His comments were in response to an announced cost of living pension increase of just 0.1% or 47 cents a week for the average military superannuation retiree on less than $25,000 per year. How does that sit with the “old… sharing in the country’s wealth”?

Operation AWARE 2 aims to highlight that no such ‘fairness’ actually exists. Thus, in this campaign there will be a focus on using Local Action Group Teams in all Federal electorates.

Activities will include local community events, and advertising on TV, radio and print media outlets.

Distribution of campaign materials such as the attached flyer will also be undertaken. Concurrent lobbying activities will continue with Parliamentarians of all political parties.

Please access the ADSO website for further information: www.standto.org

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GENEROUS DONATION OF WW1 DIGGERS’ IMAGES The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of Anzac, Warren Snowdon, has welcomed the generous donation of glass plate images from the Louis and Antoinette Thuillier Collection to the Australian War Memorial.

“I would like to thank Mr Kerry Stokes for this significant and important donation, the more than 800 images provide a snapshot of our First World War diggers, away from the fighting of the Western Front,” Mr Snowdon said.

The image plates were found in the attic of a home in France, almost 100 years after they were taken by French farmer Louis Thuillier and his wife Antoinette. The plates were purchased by Mr Stokes, and today have joined the photographic collection at the Australian War Memorial.

“These are striking images of young soldiers taken during a brief respite in Vignacourt, from the horror and tragedy of the war. “These men would have been slogging through the muddy trenches of the Western Front just days before these shots were taken.

“I had the opportunity to see copies of these images at Vignacourt on Anzac Day this year, through his donation, Mr Stokes is ensuring many more Australians will have this opportunity.

“No doubt there will be great interest in these images, they are an incredible asset as we approach the Centenary of Anzac period, I hope all Australians get the opportunity look back on our brave, young soldiers through these glass plates, and to honour their service and sacrifice,” Mr Snowdon said.

How’s this for an old warhorse Foaled by a race horse named Morning Flame, the favorite of track fans in Seoul, Korea, Reckless wins the adoration of Kim Huk Moon, a young Korean boy whose courage and perseverance had made him her mother’s devoted trainer and rider. Kim learns to love Reckless even more than he had loved Flame, and when war envelopes their country the inseparable pair leave the deserted race track and are exposed to many daring and exciting adventures together. Peace comes eventually, but not before Kim, in order to get the money to buy an artificial leg for his wounded sister, bravely makes the greatest sacrifice of his life when he sells Reckless to American Marines for use as an ammunition carrier at the front.

Bought by a Marine gun crew with their own money, and trained to help them carry shells for the Recoilless Rifle which they have nicknamed “Reckless”, she is dubbed with the same name and made

10 their mascot. Her antics, and her insatiable appetite for such surprising tidbits as poker chips, coca cola, shredded wheat, scrambled eggs, vitamin pills, a hat or two, and her specially made blanket of red silk trimmed with gold, bring welcome amusement and relief amid the strains of combat.

Her first real test under battle conditions comes when she is led beside the thunderous rifle to which she has packed ammunition over rugged hily terrain. There were some who doubted that a horse could withstand the tremendous blast of the Recoilless Rifle and remain calm. Will she hold? Will she bolt?

The gun is fired: Wham-whoosh! The hills bellowed and rocketed with the roar. Behind the weapon spurted a flame of dust. Though weighted down with six shells, Reckless left the ground with all four feet … her eyes went white. ‘Take it easy, Reckless,’ Coleman, a Marine, soothed. Wham-whoosh! Reckless went into the air again, but not quite so far. She snorted and shook her head to stop the ringing in her ears.

Wham-whoosh! She shook as the concussive blast of air struck her, but she did not rear. She stood closer to Coleman, trembling slightly, but the white was gone from her eyes.”

She had held, and from that day Reckless was an indispensable member of the gun crew, making trip after trip, often alone, from the ammunition supply point to the gun, laden with heavy shells under the most devastating enemy fire, never faltering, never failing.

So completely does Reckless capture the hearts of her Marine comrades with her beguiling shenanigans and her fearlessness that they present her with a special citation for bravery, promote her to the rank of sergeant and personally pay her way to the United States where she will enjoy well-earned retirement pastured in the rolling hills of Camp Pendleton, in California. Retirement, however, does not mean that her exploits are at an end, because the fame of Reckless has spread far and wide, and good Marines, unlike some, do not fade away.

Semper fidelis, always faithful, was never a more fitting motto than in the example of this horse.

For those that want a bit more info on Reckless go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIo3ZfA9da0 and watch a small youtube video of her. Ed

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ANOTHER REMINDER ABOUT OUR ADVERTISING POLICY Our advertising policy has never changed since we started this newsletter a few years ago. We have accepted some paid advertising which we are obliged to place in every newsletter, thus getting first priority.

We also place free advertising in our newsletters to some of our sponsors as a payback for a service they have given us for free, for example Phillies and Emotions for allowing us free access to their business premises to sell raffle tickets to finance our charity activities, John T Power for the almost unlimited use of his van for RSL business and Hannah Modular Furniture as they transport our medical supplies to and from medical missions, Richard Giles of Southern Cross Shuttle donates a free bus ticket every week for our raffle, and the Ponderosa Hotel gives us our clubroom for free are all worthy of a free plug in our newsletter.

Other sponsors are also greatly appreciated and we try to fit them in as well. All of the rest somehow contribute to the RSL, may be by giving a discount to RSL members, and they will get a mention when space is available.

To note, the best advert for me to use in the newsletter where space becomes available is something like John Power’s advert where I can use up the bottom of a page. It is short but wide and fits the space nicely.

DISCLAIMER The Angeles City Sub-Branch of the R&SLA, the Committee and the Editor take no responsibilities for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies contained in this newsletter. Nor do they accept any liability for loss or damage suffered directly or indirectly for use of information contained in this newsletter. Nor do they warrant that articles or opinions published in this newsletter are necessarily the opinions held by the Sub-branch, the Committee or the Editor

“The price of liberty is eternal vigilance” Lest we forget

12 RETURNED AND SERVICES LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA A.C.T. BRANCH INCORPORATED

PROXY FORM

I, ....................................................................of ............................................................................ ......................................................................... being a Financial member of the Angeles City Sub-Branch of the RSL of Australia, ACT Branch Incorporated, hereby appoint .................................................................. as my proxy to vote for me and on my behalf at the Angeles City Sub Branch Extraordinary General Meeting of the RSL of Australia, ACT Branch Incorporated to be held on the Eighteenth day of September 2012 and at any adjournment thereof.

This proxy form is to be used *IN FAVOUR/AGAINST 1. Filing Charges and requesting the National Tribunal take such actions as necessary in accordance with the National Constitution of RSL Australia Rule 24.10 or other as determined by the Tribunal………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………..

2. Or the resolution……………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………

Signed this ...................................................... day of ....................... 2012

Signature

Name in BLOCK Letters

* Strike out the unwanted words.

Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy may vote as he/she thinks fit.