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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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