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| ANZAC Day parade. Hobsonville, Auckland |
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The April 25th ANZAC Day parade at Hobsonville, Auckland was attended with Rhodesians from all branches of the Rhodesian Security Forces, from all over New Zealand.
There was about three RLI chaps who attended: Steve Geach, BCR (3 Cdo), Johnno Johnson (Spt Cdo) & Mike Rogers (3 Cdo) who travelled all the way from Sydney, Australia. Mike also served with 32 Battalion (South African Army).
CONGRATULATIONS FROM OUR PATRON
Yes, Ouens all, Aussie Ouens and others. It was a most memorable Anzac Day reunion and
my RLI emotional batteries were fully recharged and busting with pride by Thursday morning.
You all marched magnificently and many of my friends, and my somewhat biased Rhodesian born
children, spontaneously told me that the RLI contingent were the smartest dressed and best
marchers of all the civilian- clothed contingents in the three hour long march.
Susan and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and chatting with all those who attended the re-union,
and we look forward to meeting you again.
I had to lead my 1RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) Vietnam Veterans contingent earlier in the march,
and was too far distant from you and then obstructed by dense crowds and road barriers to be able to
join you after my 1RAR contingent had dispersed. However, I am directed by Susan to march with you
Ouens next year. She says that compared with you, my 1RAR contingent was a shambles!
There is no doubt that you impressed many by marching so well. Also there is no doubt that Anzac Day is the
best time for us 'Aussie Ouens' to get together in whatever City or town we choose to march. There is also
no doubt in my mind that by getting together like we did does much for our own pride and powerful belief
in ourselves and what we served and sacrificed for.
As your patron I congratulate and applaud you for your successful , enjoyable, and memorable efforts to
get together and show Australia a little bit of what Rhodesia still represents and once strongly represented;
and to commemorate our own fallen. Your exemplary efforts will, I hope, encourage our Rhodesian Light
Infantry Association to flourish elsewhere in the world.
The people of Sydney and Australia's Veterans have ensured that Anzac Day is now also our day as we
stand shoulder to shoulder with the Australian Veterans of two world wars in which Rhodesia was also
firmly committed, and a multitude of other campaigns also against communism, as was Rhodesia's Bush War,
in various parts of the world.
Our next big event is the launch in London, on 14th of June, of Chris Cocks & Alex Binda's book about us ~
'The Saints ~ The History of the Rhodesian Light Infantry;
an event at which a few of us Aussie Ouens at the reunion and I will be attending. For those who do not know much
about this yet, I have attached an early blurb-flyer about it.
Good Luck , in all but gambling, is no no more than sound preparation meeting fleeting opportunity, and
thanks to Tony Young and his team, their excellent preparations ensured we had constant good luck and a
great time at our very short Sydney re-union.
Well done, Tony and your team,
The Saints forever, we shall not fade away!
Digger.
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