Week 1 of 2001

"The Gathering of the Grey Ghosts and a Mungrel"

12-3-2001......Weston 11am the Pom has the privalage of entertaining 4 of our members at his humble abode in beautiful downtown Weston, coffee, tea and plain stale biscuits were the provisions for a feast that provided us with the stamina to maintain discussions encompassing our glorious and devious past, true it pays to have the memory cells to go with this but the boys i feel really enjoyed this opportunity of spinning the odd story or two and rekindling past and momentous occassions featuring our brothers were you ears burning as i'm sure many names were mentioned and many great laughs were had, topping off a really great day, but a word or two of inviting that mungrel Beckwith did i spell you name right old mate BECKWITH to make sure, do not i repeat DO NOT let him near your computer, as i'm sure that he will make you as popular as i was after his leaving, The next hours were filled with all sorts of quires as regards my state of health (mentally) as Becky the MUNGREL had put a simple phase out to everyone in my email list "Now is the winter of discontent", believe me the Pom wouldn't have the brains to tap in something as knowledgeable as that, i dropped outta school in 3rd year of h/school can't you tell by all the spelling mistakes, and it wasn't just your mailing list he got to but a few others as well PS the xxxxxxx lot and i've been answering emails ever since.

"Thanks Becky you shall not be Forgotten"

The other well behaved and less troublesome guests were Steve Hicks from downtown Nelsons Bay/ Alan Brazil from the Terrace /Sluggo alias Ian Wheat from around the other side of my block/ Peter Beckwith( the MUNGREL) Macquarie Hills who is going to get his just deserts via an email.
Well fellas thanks for your company and i look forward to seeing a few more of you's drop by, PS i have now obtained fresh biscuits i'm sure that they will be stale by the the time you's arrive.
regards the POM.

Carlo's In

7-3-2001....Well Gday old mate great to hear from you again Carlo yes thats right fellas Carl Christoffersen is with us again.
Carl's Address is on our email page go on give him a belt for old time sake.

9Sqn Reunion News 2001

A Report by Ace Correspondant
Alan Brazil "Braz"
Well, what a wonderful weekend recently in Tamworth for the 9Sqn reunion.There were people from all over the country as well as a couple from the USA, Dave and Bev from Ohio. Dave was with the USAF Security Police attached to Vung Tau from April-July 68. It was great to catch up with him, as I worked with him, on the flightline, in the bunkers, before I went flying with 9Sqn.
Alan Lamb and Fred Ferry drove over from WA together, Tony (Army) Young made it from NT Dave Moles from Tassie, Rex Budd, from Mareeba , and many others from the far and near corners of the country. Many had not seen one another, since leaving Vietnam, so in some cases it took a little time to work out who was who, as there were some who donned disguises, like grey wigs, false padding, even removing hair so as not to be easily recognised.
Before I go any further, it should be well noted that the whole weekend was so well organised and of course that was due to outstanding efforts by those who put it together. Mal Antaw , Pete Amos, John Parsons, Brian Dirou are names that immediately spring to mind and I have no doubt there were others who's hard work made the reunion the great success it was. I just want to know when the next one is so I can start preparing for it. Tamworth RSL was a great venue , and the staff, and people connected with the club certainly went out of there way to make sure we were well catered for.
Friday evening started well with a general gathering at the club which stretched on till the wee hours in some cases of course I was very well behaved and made sure I was back in my room nice and early so I could be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the rest of the weekend.The following morning Brian Dirou gave us a bit of a talk on various things, one of them the possibility of getting a 9Sqn Association off the ground, the general consensus of opinion seemed to be over whelmingly in support of the idea .Saturday afternoon was time to get done up in all the finery for the march through town and the service.The march was ably supported by the town band and the local Air Training Corps who also formed the catafalque party, as well as a contingent in the march.
Once back at the RSL it was down to some serious socialising followed by dinner, dancing and more serious socialising, up stairs. This went on again until the wee small hours with people gradually moving back to where ever they were spending the night as they ran out of steam. It seems strange but as time goes on, I don't seem to be able to bat on as well as I used to, must be something to do with what they put in the water these days.
Sunday morning breakfast was organised at the RSL, bacon, eggs, sausages, fruit juice, toast and plenty of caffeine were the order of the day. After that came the difficult bit of saying farewell to some of the greatest friends I will ever have . The 3 hour drive home was made short by the reliving over and over of a hourly enjoyable weekend, and as I said earlier, I cant wait until the next one.

Young Steves Report on Tamworth 9 Sqn Reunion

28-2-2001
Just letting you know the reunion was a huge success..plenty of old faces...bull edwards. pat allen..jim gable ..etc I didn't get the chance to take photos but I wish I did, there will be some photos in the Sqn site when they get it running...I actually had the privilege of laying a wreath for the Sqn gunners..quite an honour I thought. might catch you soon old mate...Steve Hicks

Apologies for not Knowing

22-2-2001
There has been an error made as regards our Honour Roll and i have removed "Mother McNair" as i believe that he was an Armourer/Crewman not an ADGie sorry for not knowing better.
May he Rest in Peace

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Well G-Day Braz
16-2-2001
Welcome to the world of Computer nightmares oops sorry i mean the world of the ADGie welcome in old mate.
regards and good luck the POM

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Gday John Linabury
7-2-2001
Well old mate they told us you were dead,
but thank god they were wrong nice to talk with you again and i look forward to seeing you real soon.
Amd John is on our Email page as well.
the POM

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Gday Nobby
31-1-2001 Well Nobby Nobrega welcome to the gang and your on our email page again Welcome.

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The Hawk's in
16-1-2001 Welcome in Hawk its great to have you here with the rest of us old mate.
And your on our Email list as well.

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12th January 2001
Sluggo Gets Rabies "Ouch"
# So this is Sluggo's Story SORRY FELLAS BUT THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN LOST

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Gday to Tony Cavuoto
7th January 2001 ; Well Gday Mate .Gee's it been a bloody long time since i last spoke to you but welcome aboard mate last time i seen you was at Phan-Rang 70-71 gee how time flies look forward to having a yap or two with you in the very near future .
regards the POM.

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Don Smithers
22-12-2000 Welcome in old mate please enjoy the site as i'm sure that now your email box will be bulging at the seams great to have you in our gunpit.
Picy from Ron Munro
18-12-2000 Recieved a great photo of the boys today from Ron Munro, shows the boys that had a bit of a game agains't the S.A.S in WA in 1976 so check it out in our Vietnam and ADGies Memories Section.

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Gday Mooka
14-12-2000 Well Ian welcome to the gang i've now got you on site.
regards the" POM"

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Welcome in Ron Munro
11-12-2000 Your an ADGie so your in mate welcome to the clan may the friendship and comadrie prove prosperous for you .
regards the POM

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Mr Rob Brown
7 th December 2000 Gday to Rob Brown of 29 course i kinda hope that you will join in on our site look forward to having you in our Gun Pit old mate.
I have asked Rob if it is ok to post his email address on our email address list so a few of his old mates can have a chin wag with him .
I'll add it when he gives the ok.
"OK guys Robs on our email page"

regards the POM

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Friday the 1-12-2000 Visited Col Davies at the Waratah-Mayfield R S LSub Branch Military Museum .
Well a really nice set-up that the club has Col gave me the guided tour which proved very interesting and i strongly suggest that if you have a little time and the desire to partake in a bit of the old chin wagging then this is the place to go i'm sure that Col and his co-tour directors will only be to happy first to meet you and secondly show you the joint .
Hats off to the Members and people who helped piece this Collection together,Bravo Gang
Col's Phone number at the Museum is 0249-682088 he is the El-Presidenty
Regards the "POM"
Come-on over and say Gday Gang

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Hello Fred
First entry in the Starlog for 29th nov 2000 rang Fred Holtmann last night and had quite a yarn so i suppose i'd better say Fred will be on line in about or over the next fortnight welcome in old mate .

Many thanks to Mic Sheehan for bringing this member back in from gods knows where sorry i mean South Australia .

Regards the" Pom"

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Watch out Fellas the Pyromaniac is in
20-2-2001
"The Pom",

It has just occurred to me, and my apologies, but after reading your amendments and my E Mail of yesterday re Ian Reinke, I realized a mistake on my behalf.

That is, Ian was from Roma, and I think he actually would have enlisted in Brisbane or Toowoomba, if there was a Recruitment Centre in Toowoomba. In stating that he enlisted in Townsville, I was actually getting mixed up with Pete Vidler who enlisted in Townsville.

But Ian - along with his ever-increasing number of tattoos, and how he loved them - was quickly taken under the wing and looked after by "Pullo" Clive Pullen, alias "Fort Knox", who was "big brother" to all of us many juniors on 5 Course, and very protective towards his brood.

The "Fort Knox" label of course was quickly appended to him, because he was a walking bank, always able to help out financially those many numbers of us who could not handle our finances because of the expensive habits we had, but was always standing adjacent to the Pay Officer each fortnight, along with a notation of each debtors individual debts owed.

The classic was though, for many debtors, after Clive collected all debts, the same blokes were inevitably milling around to start borrowing again, they had generally just handed all or most of their pay over to him. Many laughs were had by all, and they were times I'm sure none of us will ever forget as long as we live.

Many of us had a constant "cash flow problem".

If a book detailing the life and times of those on 5 Course was ever written, it would be a best seller, because fiction sells well, and readers would surely be adamant that the contents could only be fictional, and not possibly be factual.

The gang always talked "Pullo" into going into the night clubs with them, because he was a non-drinker and very fit, so was ideal protection for the lads if they got into trouble, including with the bouncers. He always pulled them out of the tight spots, and on one particular occasion, the bouncers regretted very much getting involved after Clive had finished with them.

I'd better go mate, or I'll be writing the book tonight!!!

Cheers, catch you later,

"Sorro".

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Sorry about the Spelling Sorro .
regards the POM.

To "The Pom",

You are doing an excellent job running a well-presented and very informative Web Site for ADG's. Keep up the good work. You deserve a high commendation.

Thanks also for including my initial response E Mail in the Queensland section.

Have picked up two typographical errors in the "Rememberance Page", listing. Trust you don't mind me bringing them to your notice.

"REMEMBERANCE" should read "REMEMBRANCE".

My old mate Ian Reinke "Rink" who was on No. 5 Course with me, and who was tragically killed in a vehicle accident in Brisbane after returning from Vietnam, has his name mis-spelt in the list. It should be "REINKE", not "RINKE".

Quite ironically, his Service Number was A116918, and mine was A116928. He enlisted in Townsville, I enlisted in Brisbane. He was part of the "Dunc" Dowling, "Fort Knox" Pullen, Townsville gang on 5 Course.

I have very fond memories of all of the guys who were on 5 Course, they are memories of great and happy times that I will never forget.

I have some great photos of "Rink" and myself, and many of the others, taken in Vietnam, I'll send some for publication in the very near future - after I have censored them!!!!!!

Cheers for now matey,

"Sorro".

PS. Ian Reinke, Pete Vidler, Ray Starkie, and the rest of them who have gone before us - RIP's, and never to be forgotten.

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13-2-2001
Welcome in Trev i kinda hope that you will find what your looking for.
And your in our mail list .
the POM.
To Robert,

Not a problem. Thanks for contacting us. You may add us to the Mailing List and E Mail List.

I originally joined the Association in '96, still carry the badge on my set of keys, but negligently dropped out unintentionally after moving from the Atherton Tablelands to Mount Isa in May '97.

But, you are now aware of my story through Alan, and I appreciate the very quick responses from both of you to the letter I recently forwarded to him in WA.

Looking forward to receipt of all the latest news re the Association, and info that will bring me up to speed with the locations and details of ADG's, especially those from around my era. Also to re-joining the clan.

Keep in touch, you now know where to find me, and visa versa.

Cheers to you and yours,

Trevor Sorenson.

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The Boys from 1/89
20-12-2000 The Good old SGT submitted a photo of 1/89 basic adg course for inclusion on our site helping to keep us up to date and the gaps filled in .
Thanks Sgt Roe just let the boys know that their up here with the rest.

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Gday Mooka
Good to see a first entry from the land of Cane Toads , welcome Ian McKAY to our gang please say Gday to the boys on our behalf will you and if possible tell them about our site.
regards the" POM"
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From the Seahag
12-2-2001
Dear Trev' and Karen

Thanks for your note of February 4th, lovely to hear from you both and of your interest in the (ADGie), Association. Jim Gable, our long suffering Association national Secretary can be contacted at:

5 Jeffrey Street
CAPALABA QLD 4157, by telephone at home on (07) 3 245 2743 or on the net at gablefam@uq.net.au

I will be forwarding the latest copies of our Association Newsletter the Blue Beret to your Mount Isa postal address in which you'll find application forms for membership.

Tex Bryson our fearless leader can be contacted at:

25 Willow Road (West),
REDBANK PLAINS QLD 4301, by phone at home on (07) 3 814 0804 or on the net at texbry@gil.com.au

Be careful in contacting the Texas, through all those fancy addresses, numbers and internet things, you do not automatically assume that he can read and write ...

We also have an ADGie internet site run by Bob Cornwall (alias the Pom), at www.geocites.com/adghome_home_page.html which is well worth a visit, while Bob himself can be can be contacted on the net at ozflea@bigpond.com.au and who, hopefully on receipt of this E-mail will include you in his address group and daily utterances.

Mr Jimmy Soanes has not been mien host of the Piss Shack in the valley for some years now, neither is there any mention of John Devenish or Ivan Sanderson in my copy of the Association nominal roll.

In ringing Jim Gable to give him my weekly earbashing, I discovered that shortly after he (Jimbo), had assumed the role of secretary he'd forwarded some correspondence to you and it had been returned to sender, that neither can remember an article on or by you in our quarterly newsletter and agree you should do one ...

Tis all for this, please keep Ivan Sanderson posted, we will be in touch and remain,

Yours Sincerely
Alan & Jackie Giltrap

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12-12-2000 first entry from good old WA, Had a young "Dutchey" Van Heek call and, who came off 21 Course and is now back in doing a stint.
Great to hear from you mate no doubt the spirit is still alive and kicking in WA .
PH 08 9304 6294 email joyron@rts.com.au
Regards the" POM"