NSW SCOTTISH REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION
RECENT EVENTS
2012 is the 70th anniversary of the battle at Gemas. Each year it becomes even more sad to record this sombre occasion as less and less of the members of the 2/30th from World War 2
are able to attend the Gemas Day Ceremony. This year there was only 1.
It is a tradition of the ceremony for the names of those who have passed away during the year are read. As the survivors of the original 2/30th
grow less even this list is reducing.
The photo below shows the people who marched in memory of deceased family members of the the 2/30th and it is heart-warming to see that those
who fought so gallantly in Malaya and then suffered so badly in the POW camps afterwards are remembered
30 members of the Asscoaition attended as well as our Pipes and Drums and it is gratifying to see that so many our members are taking up the responsibility
honouring our predecessors in the the 2/30th and their outstanding and history making performance at Gemas in 1942.
The ceremony followed its traditional lines and the following pictures record the proceedings:
Led by our new Pipes and Drums, forty of our members marched from Hyde Park to St Stephens for the Annual 30 Battalions' Church Parade. Unfortunately, as with recent years the
members of the 30th Battalion AIF and 2/30 Battalion AIF were unable to join us due to advancing age. Their members were represented by Mr Ian Huntley
of the 30 Battalion Association.
Fifty of us then adjourned to the Royal Automobile Club for the Association's end of year function.
The Pipes and Drums entertained us and as usual played magnificently.
Then the Raffle, conducted this year by our stand-in MC, Harvey Baden in Frank Woodhams' absence, and ably assisted
by Katrin from the RACA.
Following a week or so of rain, Reserve Forces Day 3 July 2011, turned out to be perfect weather for the annual Reserve Forces Day Parade
and Vice-Regal Review.
The Parade was reviewed by the NSW Governor, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO and the Parade was well supported by the New South Wales
Scottish Association and about 1500 ex- and serving Reservists.
Our thanks to Graham and Margaret Podmore for the photos.
Each year the Reserve Forces Day Coucil selects a theme for the Parade. This year the theme was the family and wives, partners and
spouses of Reservists were presented with a medallion to thank them for their support of Reservists during their service
25 medallions were presented to NSW Scottish members partners before and during the parade. The Premier of New South Wales, the Hon Barry O'Farrell MP,
attended the parade and congratulated the NSW Scottish medallion holders.
Following the parade 95 members of the Association, and their guests, who included executive members of the Reserve Forces Day Council
and the Manly-Warringah Pipe Band who had played during the parade attended the traditional Formal Lunch at the Royal Aurtomobile Club.
A guest speaker at the Lunch was Major Andrew Bailey who is the Officer Commanding Alpha Company (Scottish),2/17 Battalion RNSWR.
Major Bailey brought us up to date with the ongoing success of the Scottish Company.
And then the new NSW Scottish Pipes and Drums who continue to go from strength to strength.
Photo courtesy of Laurelle Boland.
To continue the tribute to the wives, partners and spouses of Reservists, Frank Woodhams presented certificates to the Association's
medallion recipients thanking them specially for their support to members of the Association during their service with the Scottish.
On a brilliant winter's day the Association was well represented at the RNSWR Church Parade held at the historic Garrison Church.
This year the guard was supplied by the 1/19 Battalion augmented by other members of the Regiment including a number of A Company members wearing the kilt.
This Parade is always well supported by our Association and this year was no exception. Our members are readily recognisable by our Red Hackles
and kilts and perhaps this tends to distort any comparisons but other Associations do not appear to provide the same level of support for the currently
serving memnbers of the Reserve that we do.
Following the church service about 40 members of the Association adjourned for what is now our traditional Haggis and Chips function
at the Orient Hotel.
The highlight of the meal was, of course, the haggis, addressed by Eric Maver
Then the recital by the new look Pipes and Drums whose talents seem to improve with each performance. Certainly the appreciation
shown by the audience is ever increasing
Despite the inclement weather 54 Association members marched proudly behind the Manly Warringah Pipe Band
On the completion of the march the Association formed up with the massed pipe bands to take part in the Scottish Act of Remembrance Parade
and marched back to the Cenotaph
A particular disappointment was the Army's refusal to allow the members of Alpha (Scottish) Company to wear the kilt on ANZAC Day march.
However our thanks to the members of Alpha (Scottish) Compnay 2/17th RNSWR who volunteer each year to carry the Australian National Flag and the Association
Standard and Banner. This year they were Privates Tom Perry, Benjamin Coaldrake, Jude Fonseka and Elliott Hislop
The march was followed by our usual Reunion, this time at the Royal Automobile Club where our numbers had swelled to about 80.
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| Kevin Herlihy, our Chaplain, said Grace |
A group of happy reunioners |
and another |
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| and another |
and yet more |
The New Look Pipes and Drums entertained us royally (notice the Pipers' tartan?). Since their original appearance at the
Annual General Meeting and Harbour Cruise, they have acquired their new uniforms and were magnificently turned out.
Following their recital Pipe-Major Gordon Irving inroduced the members of the new Pipes and Drums quoting their lengths of Service
and very impressive this was too:
| Pipers | Drummers |
Gordon Irving (20 years service' starting with 30 Bn) | Bill King (37 years' Service starting with 30 Bn) |
Bill Wright(19 years' service) | Arthur Robinson (20 years' service) |
Eric Maver(17 years' service) | Sandy Brownlie (17 years' service) |
Alan McFarlane(13 years' service) | Ross Lindsay (10 years' service) |
Bruce Meikle (6 years' service) | Mark McIntyre(9 years' service) |
That is a total service of 168 years in 30 and 17 Battalions. In addition most members have considerable experience in civilian
Pipe bands
Then there was the very popular raffle.
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| Maureen Bryden drew the first |
Selection of prizes is a serious business |
Very serious but Frank was glad to help |
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| Followed by the delight at finding Atholl Brose |
It was not only the ladies who won. |
You choose the caption for this one |
On 30 March, 15 members of the Association gathered at Rose Bay RSL in honour of Darvill Malcolm, an enthusastic member and
supporter of the NSW Scottish Regimental Association who is now restricted by physical problems in taking part in Association activities. Darvill
is an office-bearer in the RSL Sub-Branch and Club and we felt that it was fitting that we visit him there to assure him that despite his unavoidable
absence from Association functions he is by no means not forgotten.
In keeping with the evolving tradition of the Association, Darvill was included in the Association's Honours List by being elevated
to the rank of Enthusiatic Member, which allows him to use the post-nominal EM when he is mentioned in the Association annals. Frank Woodhams presented
Darvill with a certificate and medal.
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| Darvill and Marie enjoy the moment |
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| As did Frank Woodhams |
and the rest of us |
At the Reserve Forces Day Council Presentation Night on 3 March, it was announced that once again the NSW Scottish Regimental Association
had been successful in gaining the Best Association Award, this time for the 2011 Reserve Forces Day Parade. This is the top award given by the Council for
Reserve Forces Day
The Association has earned this Award on more occasions that any other Association, having won it in 2006, 2007 and 2008. (We suggest
that in 2009 and 2010 the awards were only given to other Associations to encourage them). Our success is due to the excellence of our Re-enactment Group,
our members who turn up in force and who take the trouble to dress appropriately in Balmorals, Red Hackles and kilts and to our Association Sergeant Major Mark
Rickard who keeps us in line. There is no doubt that our appearance and our drill eclipses all other Associations and our Scottish dress wins the day.
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| Frank Woodhams and Mark Rickard receive the Award from Air Vice Marshal Bruce Short |
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| The Pipes and Drums playing "Now is the Hour" ( A traditonal Scottish tune?) |
Despite a grey sky a day on the harbour was enjoyed by 76 members and friends on 27 Feb March.
In accordance with the theme set in recent years business was transacted first with Frank Woodhams presenting his
report on activities over the past twelve months, the finances of the Association (which are in healthy state with
the assets of the Association growing despite a drop in income) and the activities
planned for the remainder of 2011. 25 members were in attendance.
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| Our Major was demoted to Captain for a short while as he directed the loading of the vessel |
Which was achieved successfully |
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| A study of concentration at the AGM |
Then came the Mess call
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| Does this look like the mess line of old? |
Or this? |
As usual the highlight of the day was the Pipes and Drums
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| The New (Temporary) Look of the Pipes and Drums |
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| The Pipes and Drums really did deserve Stuart Kennedy's attention but he was folding raffle tickets |
Billy King's nautical stripes were right for the occasion |
Frank Woodhams took advantage of the occasion to make some presentations. The first was another first for the
New South Wales Scottish Regimental Association. Bob Mountwitten was appointed the accredited representative of the Asscoaition
in Israel. This is the first and only, so far as we aware, overseas representative of any Reserve Association. Bob is ex-A Coy
but now is resident in Israel, from where he brings us up to date regularly on events there.
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| Bob Mountwitten and Frank |
The theme in 2011 for Reserve Forces Day is the family, or more specifically the wives and partners who have supported Reservists
when they were or are serving. Wives and partners will be presented woih medallions at Reserve Forces Day Parades throughout Australia in July. However
we have three special and very deserving recipients that Frank was permitted to honour in advance of that date:
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| Mrs Dot Morgan wife of Brian Morgan |
Mrs Jan Field widow of Keith Field |
Mrs Moira Playfair, widow of MAJ David Playfair MBE ED |
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| Our three special medallists |
There was one more presentation but this was not on Frank Woodhams' programme for the afternoon. It has become a tradition for
members who have been awarded an Order of Australia honour to have an additional award of OAM - Old Association Member. On this occasion, it was Frank's
turn to be given this award following the very well deserved award he received in the 2011 Australia Day Honours List. Don McNeice presented Frank with
his award. We are trying but have yet to persuade, Frank, Don McNeice and Bill Campbell, our other Old Association awardees, to use the postnominal "OAM and Bar".
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| Frank and Don |
Our functions all provide an opportunity to swell the Assocaition's funds with the proceeds of raffles. On this occasion
17 prizes were donated for raffles. This caused some consternation to the crew of or vessel as they foresaw that we would still be conducting
raffles when they were boarding the next cruise. We had some difficulty in deciodiong to report the results of this year's raffles as the captions
below will demonstrate. But in the cause of fair and proper reporting we have done so
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| Brenda McNeice, wife of Don McNiece who organised the raffle (one of four wins) |
Barbara Meek wife of the webmaster |
Hazel Watson one of our special members |
The 2011 Harbour Cruise and 2010 AGM was a special day for a number of reasons, the first appearance of our New Look Pipes and Drums,
and the special presentations and as is the case with all our functions, those members who could not attend missed a very enjoyable day.
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| The Pipes and Drums farewelled us and provided free entertaunment for the passing tourists |
RECENT EVENTS
