TRACK DECEMBER 2005

Page 1.

The late Capt Alan Vickers (left centre) hosts the Commander MACV General 
Creighton Abrams (left) during his visit to C sqn at Nui Dat in 1968. Behind General 
Abrahns in bush hat is Task Force Commander - Brigadier Sandy Pearson.......see 
Vale Alan Vickers this issue.

Page 2.

The highlight of our social calendar - the annual Cambia Day Communication Dinner 
was celebrated again this year at the Home of Armour on Saturday 19th November. 
The Hopkins Barracks Officers/Sergearts  Mess is the ideal location for this activity. 
Without the support of the CO/CI Lt Col Fred Dangar and the respective PMCs, Maj 
J.D. King and W01 Bob Hawton, this venue would not be available. Our guest speaker, 
Lt Col Tim Renshaw, US Army Exchange Officer at the School of Amour, presented 
his views of the RAACA, its officers and soldiers. His forthright presentation was 
very well received by all in attendance.

Guest speaker Lt Col Tim Renshaw addressed the dinner whilst a pensive Paul Handel
(left) and Ivan Maher listened intently.

Page 3.

Members names who attended the dinner this year.

Kevin Austin            Brad Clarke          John Burke

Doug Spinney         Tony Crook           Laddie Romanowicz

David Finlaysen      Don Spinks          Bob Burke

Geoff Morris            Greg Hooper        Rob Neate

Paul Handel             Dal Crocker         Graham Wright

Ivan Maher                Roger Bicheno    Graeme Perkins

Bob Day                    Bill van der Schoot    Trevor Watts

Vic Brennan              John Brooker         Chris Fing

Karl Boeck                Tom James          Chris Morris

John Blackwell          Tim Renshaw       M.R. Smith

Ray Wood                 Peter Branagan   Jim DeFrancesco

Bruce Tarran             John Baines         Rocky Gerzina

Peter Keane             John Howard        Bob Dacey

Andew Rule              Gather Camenzuli     Martin Ashley

Richard James        Max Hayes             Wally Ovenden

Rod Jones                Bryan Kesby          Ron Bell

Lindsay Christensen  Gary Mooney       Michael Bell

Gordon Hunt              Fred Coucher        Lou Nankivell

Gary Simmons          Barry Taylor            Roy Smith

Gary NcNabb            Stan Rydel              Brian Webb

Bernie Flynn               Richard Hopkins   Bill Heywood

Don Rogers                Bob Leonard         Kevin Heywood

John Paterson            John Baker            Basil Tiligadis

Paul Manning              J.D. King               Alan Spenceley

Hour Nordeck              Bill Allen                Rod Westgarth

David Mile                    Barrie Wade        Charles Calcraft

Ian Kennett                   Josh Gay              Lionel Bailey

Page 6.

2005 FEDERAL CONGRESS

Saturday 1st October again saw the Federal Congress conducted at the Home of Amour, 
Hopkins Barracks, Puckapunyal. Ably presided over by Federal President Al Terry Stidwell, 
the State presidents presented their annual reports with the general focus being 'steady as 
she goes' Recruiting of new members was a constant theme and was raised by all reps. 
Terry Stidwell indicated that this would be the last year of Western Australian stewardship 
and that the Federal Executive would need to be passed on next year. Indications are that 
it will return to NSW in 2006. Saturday night witnessed the traditional dinner with the added 
occasion of a changeover of Federal Patron. Long serving Mai Gen Sandy Pearson passed 
the baton to Maj Gen Kevin Latchford.

Page 7.

AROUND THE ASSOCIATION

A final remainder for those members, friends and families who intend in support the decided 
kid's Christmas party at the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway, Lower Eltham an Sunday, 18th 
December. As a result of recent changes in public liability insurance, all passengers must wear 
enclosed footwear. Bare feet, thongs, scuffs and sandals are definitely out. Please pass this 
message to those who don't receive this newsletter to avoid disappointment.

 As indicated in previous editions of Track, a number of activities are planned for the 60th 
anniversary of the formation of the Victorian Branch.

The main effort will be directed at the dedication of a memorial plaque at the Shrine of 
Remembrance on Sunday, 12th February 2006. We have picked a location on the western 
(St Kilda rd) side of the Shrine in a row of new trees. The ceremony will commence at 1400 
hrs and be followed by an afternoon tea in the Shrine annex adjacent to the new medal display.
Special invitations will be sent out to our remaining original members. To help with catering, 
a tear off slip is included below for those intending to come to indicate their attendance.
Please make an effort to refund this slip to the Secretary at PO Box 384, Brunswick, Vic, 3056.

The original proposal to construct a new association flag has been shelved as a result of the 
outrageous prices quoted by the manufacture.

A special edition of the association tie has been produced in silk and will be available from 
Tom Murphy for $35:00. Tom also has available some excellent new stock including a revamped
cap with an outstanding, reproduction of our striking badge, stubby holders and very smart 
Chambray shirts in a variety of sizes. You can do your bit to show off your association with 
some of these items.

Page 8.

VALE.

3951 Warrant Officer Class One Arthur Thomas Barnes

31 January 1923 ~ 25 August 2005

 To call Arthur Barnes a character would be doing the word an injustice. 'Claude' as he 
liked to be called, served his country through WW11, the Interim Amy and the ARA.
They were times of great change in the country and in the Defence Force and Claude 
enjoyed most of them! In his time as Orderly Room Sergeant at 1st Armoured Regiment 
it was strongly rumoured that he organised his own promotion to W02. Never averse to 
a beer, Arthur also had a number of nick names, yakkety yak' probably one of the printable
ones. His RSM at the time WO1 Joffre Gilchrist was often heard to remark 'keep Barnes 
away from me or I'll kill him.' In his later years he was appointed as an auditor and in his 
own words 'it was like appointing the outlaw as the sherrif.' He was a regular attendee at 
association functions, which always challenged the organiser of the seating plan. 

He will be missed.

Service:

Citizen Military Forces (Full Time Duty)            29 December 1941 to 10 February 1943

Australian Imperial Force (VX132418)            11 Febrary 1943 to 13 June 1946

Australian Imperial Force (VX504268)            14 June 1947 to 30 June 1947

Interim Army                                                        I July 1947 to 2 October 1947

Australian Regular Army (VP30612 3951)     3 October 1947 to 17 February 1961

Australian Regular Army Emergency Reserve   13 September 1966 to 19 January 1970

 UNITS:

4 Brigade Group              31 December 1941

4 Field Regiment                      22 January 1942

126 Australian Special Hospital            12 July 1943

2/12 Field Regiment                      12 September 1944

66 Infantry Battalion                       25 October 1945

1 Recruit Training Battalion          17 June 1947

3 MD ARA Cadre Unit                   13 March 1948

4/19 Armoured Regiment              8 June 1948

Redesignated 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Norse   31 July 1949

NQ Southern Command                 13 September 1949

14 National Service Training Battalion            22 November 1950

HQ 2 Armoured Brigade                        12 December 1952

Royal Visit For Company                     23 September 1953

HQ 2 Armoured Brigade                        10 December 1953

1 Armoured Regiment                           20 April 1954

8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles            25 July 1955

4/19 Prince Of Wales s Light Horse   12 December 1957

HQ Southern Command                    14 January 1959

Detached to 4/19 prince of Wales's Light Horse   2 August 1960

8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles            24 September 1960

Southern Command personnel Depot   13 September 1966

Overseas Service:

            Moratai                                    1 May 1945 to 31 May 1945

 British North Borneo                          31 May 1945 to 23 February 1946

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Page 9. 

335131 Lt Col Alan Lindsay Vickers

11 December 1939 - 26 September 2005

Alan Vickers was a highly respected Armoured Corps officer who served his 
country well for 20 years. His wide experience was gained by courses at the 
Armoured Centre and the Royal Armoured Corps Training Centre, Bovinglon. 
Operational service with C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment in South Vietnam 
and 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars in the British Army on the Rhine (BAOR) 
during the Cold War, resulted in an extremely well rounded and valuable member.

 A wall attended Requiem Eucharist was celebrated at St Paul s Anglican Church, 
Griffith, ACT on Tuesday 4 October. The degree of respect in which he was held was 
indicated by the mourners who included Governor General MAJ GEN Mike Jeffery, 
GEN Sir Phillip Bennett, LT GEN Laurie O'Donnell, John Grey and John Coates, 
Peter Badman, Colin Toll, Jim Hull, Denzill Bourne, Bernie Sullivan, Bill Burton, 
Bob Harris, John Muir, Bruce Cameron, Lloyd Streeting and Ben Bowd.

 Service:

Royal Military College                        9 February 1957 to 13 December 1960

Australian Regular Amy                   14 December 1960 to I I February 1977

Units:

1st Amounred Regiment                16 January 1961

A Sqn 4/19 PWLH                            15 January  1963

Royal Amoured Corps Training Centre  2 November 1964

Armoured Centre                                 23 May 1966

1 Armoured Regiment                         23 October 1967

C Squadron 1 Armoured Regiment    11 February 1968

Armoured Centre                                11 February 1969

AHQ                                                      23 January 1970

15/19 The King's Royal Hussurs BAOR  22 January 1972

Australian Staff College                    25 January 1974

Office of CGS                                    20 January 1975

DGCO                                                28 April 1975

Promotions:

Lieutenant                                        14 December 1960

Captain                                            14 December 1964

Temporary Major                            19 November 1968

Major                                                14 December 1970

Temporary Lieutenant Colonel      14 December 1974

Lieutenant Colonel                           2 October 1975

Overseas Service;

United Kingdom                            1 Dec 1964 to 20 Apr 1966

South Vietnam                                12 Feb 1968 to 11 Feb 1969 

West Germany                                22 Jan 1972 to 11 Jan 1974

Awards:

Vietnam Medal

Defence Force Service Medal

Vietnamese Campaign Medal

Returned from Active Service Badge

Page 10. 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday 20th February 2006

Coburg RSL Sub Branch

323 Sydney Rd Coburg

1930 hrs

 AGENDA

Apologies

Minutes of previous AGM 

Business Arising 

Correspondence 

Reports

Suspension of Standing Orders 

Election of Office-Bearers 

Supper

 Election of Office-Bearers

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer and Membership Officer

Editor - Track

Committee

Honorary Auditor

Honorary Legal Officer

All nominations to

the Secretary RAACA Vic Branch

PO Box 384

BRUNSWICK VIC 3056

Light supper provided

PRESIDENT'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

May I start by wishing all members and their families the very best for the 
festive season and 2006.

On your behalf I would thank the small, hard working Victorian branch committee 
for their dedication and commitment to keep the branch topical and relevant in 2005. 
whilst on the committee, it would be extremely gratifying to see some new faces come 
forward at our AGM on Monday 20 February.

 It's an important part of the Christmas spirit to think of those who, for whatever reason,
 are less able to enjoy the joys of the Season, or who are less fortunate than ourselves. 
We are all grateful for the contribution made by those members of our Armed Forces 
who are serving overseas or away form them loved ones this Christmas.

If you are traveling during this festive season, I wish you a safe and trouble free passage. 
May you all feel the peace and happiness of the season and may you have a safe, happy
and prosperous new year.  

(This online version of the TRACK newsletter was typed by Dave White, my apologies 
for any typing errors)