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What
Veterans of 3 RAR Battalion Group of the First Tour Vietnam
1967-68, including Arms and Services and other Service colleagues,
families and associates, will gather in Canberra in the period
Friday 23rd May to Sunday 25th May 2008 for a battalion reunion
to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of our service in Vietnam.
The dates of the reunion commemorate the period in May/June
1968 of the battles of CORAL/BALMORAL, particularly when the
battalion group repulsed attacks against Fire Support Base BALMORAL.
The reunion will be based on company and platoon activities,
with two major battalion events: a Battalion Dinner on Saturday
24 May 2008 and a Memorial Service on Sunday 25 May 2008.
A small Canberra Coordinating Committee is organising the battalion
events.
Each Company/Platoon is organising its activities, accommodation
and arrangements to suit its members, and will also attend the
battalion activities. A Reunion Representative Committee with
a representative from each Company and some platoons has been
nominated.
Program
| Date |
Time |
Event |
| Fri 23 May |
AM/PM |
Arrive in Canberra – hotel accommodation |
| |
PM/Evening
|
Company Meet & Greet; company/platoon
dinners
|
| Sat 24 May |
AM/PM |
Free for company/platoon activities; sightseeing,
etc |
| |
From 6.30 PM
|
Battalion Dinner – National Convention
Centre
|
| Sun 25 May |
11.00 AM |
Battalion Memorial Service – Vietnam
Memorial |
| |
After/PM
|
Visit Australian War memorial – 3RAR
plaque
Free for company/platoon activities
|
Mon 26 May
|
AM
|
Disperse – as desired by companies
|
Who
All veterans of 3RAR First Tour 1967-68 and members of supporting
Arms and Services and other Services are invited, including
161 Fd Bty RNZA, A Sqn 3 Cav Regt, C Sqn 1 Armd Regt, 1 Fd Sqn
RAE, 161 Recon Flt, 104 Sig Sqn, 9 Sqn RAAF, etc. Wives/partners/
children/friends and widows are all included, as is the custom
of each company/platoon.
Registration will be done through Company and Platoon representatives.
A list of the representatives is given at the end of this newsletter.
Battalion Events
Battalion Dinner
The Battalion Dinner will be held on Saturday evening, gathering
at 6.30 PM as a mixed dinner for members, partners and guests
at the National Convention Centre.
Battalion Memorial Service
The Battalion Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM on Sunday
morning, at the Vietnam Memorial in ANZAC Parade in the precinct
of the Australian War Memorial. Appropriate Army, 3RAR, Regimental
Association and other participation is being sought. After the
service, there is an opportunity to visit the 3 RAR Memorial
Plaque and the new Malaysia, Borneo, Vietnam galleries at the
Australian War Memorial.
3 RAR Memorial Plaque
The 3 RAR Association (Brisbane) has been invited to place a
plaque in the Australian War Memorial grounds as a tribute to
all who served in 3 RAR. A notice to this effect featured in
a recent issue of the 3 RAR Association journal. The association
has advised that the date selected for unveiling the plaque
is 20 October 2007 (anniversary of the founding of the battalion).
The plaque will be in place by the time of our reunion for visits.
How
Travel
Reach Canberra by road, air or rail. Road from Sydney is
about 4 hours and from Melbourne about 8 hours by car or bus.
There are direct flights into Canberra from Sydney, Melbourne,
Adelaide and Brisbane – with Canberra Airport about 15
minutes from central Canberra.
Accommodation
Companies will arrange hotel accommodation by means of group
arrangements at selected hotel/motel/caravan parks; or by advising
members of hotel options. You should contact your Company Representative
first for advice on accommodation, registration and payment.
The Canberra Coordinating Committee suggests (thanks to D Company)
that, if you are not affiliated with a company/platoon group,
information and booking can be had by accessing www.visitcanberra.com.au
or contacting Canberra Getaways on 1300 733 228. Staff on this
number will ask for your requirements and then give you current
prices and venue names. If you book through them, you will be
asked for full payment by credit card when the booking is made.
It may be advisable to use their information and deal directly
with the establishment.
Dress
Informal or smart casual is proposed for all activities. For
the Battalion Dinner and Battalion Memorial Service, we suggest
a coat and tie and equivalent for the ladies.
Medals
Medals or miniatures may be worn to the Battalion Dinner. Medals
should be worn for the Battalion Memorial Service.
Registration and Cost
As for company reunions, attendance costs will be kept within
a reasonable limit. Companies will collect registration fees
as per their custom. Cost of the Battalion Dinner will be additional
(to be kept at no more than $60-$70 per head). The Memorial
Service is free. The Committee intends to arrange transport
to and from the dinner and service.
Given the significance of the 40th Anniversary, grants are
being sought from DVA and the ACT Government and, if achieved,
will be used to subsidise the dinner and transport costs. The
Committee will be trying to keep the costs down!
Committee Members
To find out more details and/or register attendance, please
contact your representative below:
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