8 RAR ASSOC INC President’s Report – 8^th July 2025

Special Thanks

It has been relatively quiet since our last meeting, though I am sure that Len Thompson and Wombat Gallagher wouldn’t think so. While I appreciate all of your efforts on behalf of our Association, Len and Wombat have gone beyond the norm.

Len has been totally consumed with getting our books of account and the membership roll accurate and up to date, as only Len can; not to mention his ongoing battles with the bank and ABN Business Register/ATO in complying with their requirements.

Wombat meanwhile has been busy keeping us all up to date with correspondence and recording/preparing for our meetings, which is an ongoing task throughout the year.

I am personally indebted to them both for all that they do, and being able to rely on them, as I can, makes my job so much easier.

Thanks too to Jim Stopford for all his work with the re-vamping of our website. Jim, like all of us, was not born into the technological age but, through his determination he has learned as he goes and is making vast improvements with the site. This too is an ongoing task and the website, along with Terry Scanlan’s 8 RAR Facebook page, and Kev Sully’s 8 Ball Magazine are important communication tools to our members.

Anzac Day

In Brisbane we had some 40 attend the Anzac Day commemorations and from all reports Anzac Day was well attended by Association members around the country, which is pleasing to see. As Kym McDougall has observed on a number of occasions, this is a direct reflection of the camaraderie we seek to enjoy as part of the Association and is the very reason for our being.

In Direct Support Award

Anzac Day also provided us with the opportunity to catch up on presenting the ‘In Direct Support Award’ trophy. In NSW, Mick Carter presented the 2023 award to Tom Lyons for his work as assistant secretary for the Association in very difficult times. In Qld, it was my pleasure to present the 2024 award to Kym McDougall for his dedicated, and continuing support to the Association over many years. Both are very worthy recipients of the award and our congratulations go out to them.

The main trophy for the ‘In Direct Support Award’ remains housed in the 8/9 RAR Historical Collection and the recipients receive a miniature replica. For many years, Eroll Weatherall manufactured these replica awards. With Eroll’s passing we were in a bit of a bind but, with Des Evans’ help, the infantry machine rolled into action and a 1 RAR mate of his, David Armstrong, has manufactured nine trophies to last us for the next few years. David did not want any recompense or recognition, but we are providing a meal voucher for him and his wife by way of thanks.

Funerals and Legacy

I attended the funerals for Don Semple and Peter Creedy. Kym McDougall has designed a memorial certificate for presentation to a veteran’s widow/partner, along with the memorial sash. Contact Kym direct if you would like to use this certificate.

There is no longer any formal process for notifying Legacy of a veteran’s passing; it can often be weeks or months, sometimes never, before Legacy is informed, which can see a veteran’s widow/partner deprived of vital support at a crucial time, and they can be severely disadvantaged financially without the proper advice. We need to be aware of this, and to refer widows/partners to the local Legacy group. Such referral of course needs to be with the widow/partner’s approval.

8 RAR Memorial Plaque

The plaque referred to in our last meeting is now on its way to Brisbane and will be on-forwarded to Dennis Moss for installation as part of the 8 RAR display in the National Vietnam Veterans’ Museum.

Presentation of 8 RAR Colours

The presentation of the new 8 RAR King’s and Regimental Colours by the Governor-General, the Hon Sam Mostyn AC, is scheduled for 20^th September this year, in Brisbane’s King George Square, commencing at 0930h. The parade will be followed by a reception in Brisbane City Hall, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Cr Adrian Schrinner.

There is an open invitation for 8 RAR members and their families to attend this historic event and the civic reception. There are currently some 60 members from Qld registered to attend, but the event is open to all 8 RAR members. RSVPs to Kym McDougall are required by 15^th August.

2027 Reunion – Tweed Heads

The Qld Branch has begun preparation for the 2027 Reunion on the Gold Coast. A committee has been formed, and a preliminary booking has been made at Twin Towns RSL Club for 25^th to 28^th February.

Planning is obviously in its early stages, but the proposed outline itinerary is as follows:

• 25^th February: Registration and Meet & Greet
• 26^th February: AGM and Company Functions
• 27^th February: visit to either:
  • Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, visiting 8/9 RAR weapons display and Historical Collection, and the RAR National Memorial Walk; or
  • Land Warfare Centre, Canungra, visiting the Vietnam Memorial and the old JTC.
• 28^th February: Long Hai Day Commemoration and Luncheon.

LT Peter Lauder MC Trophy

The Qld Branch has discussed sponsoring an annual trophy for the champion platoon commander in 8/9 RAR, and that the trophy be named the ‘LT Peter Lauder MC Trophy, in recognition of not only Peter’s role as a platoon commander in Vietnam, but also for his, and now his family’s ongoing support for the Association.

For many years Peter made a substantial donation each year to the Association to assist in its running, and in Queensland he would always put money over the bar for Anzac Day and the Branch’s Christmas function. These traditions have been carried on by his family since Peter’s passing.

I have spoken with the CO 8/9 RAR re this proposal and he would be delighted to have the trophy in the unit. The trophy could be either one of these:

These trophies figurines cost $229 and a base would need to be made for them – estimated total cost NMT $400.

8/9 RAR

Despite this being the Battalions ‘re-group’ year, it is nonetheless very busy for them. The whole Battalion is currently on a two-month deployment, honing their battle skills in an extended live-firing exercise in Shoalwater Bay. This will culminate with their participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre, the Army’s annual major exercise, this year involving some five allied armies. On 1^st October the Battalion will take over again as the Army’s Brigade Ready Group. 

In June I attended the Battalion’s ‘fight-night’. In my day this was a boxing tournament, but in today’s Army it has morphed into a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) ‘cage fight’, which the Battalion named ‘Ram-Page in the Cage’! It was a great night to be a part of and really showed the Battalion’s spirit. The soldiers were dressed in their No 1 parade dress and the officers and senior NCOs in Mess Dress; company was pitted against company with much spirited barracking. At one stage however, an excess of alcohol and spirited company rivalry resulted in a brief melee developing, however, a seven-foot tall RSM wading in amongst them quickly restored order!

Battalion Birthday

The Qld Branch will be holding their 59^th anniversary Battalion birthday lunch at the Grand Central Hotel, Ann St, the city.