http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/ List of the latest topics from our public forum. http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1243/site-update/
I fully realise all the problems etc, I do sincerely as do all the members, wish that you are in good health and on the mend.

Being ex MN , be...]]>
I fully realise all the problems etc, I do sincerely as do all the members, wish that you are in good health and on the mend.

Being ex MN , before being Air Farce/Blue Orchid etc.

Some of the site facilities are on a slow burn, an update at some time , would be vaery much appreciated.

Take care the both of You:)). A priority in my book.]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1243/site-update/ Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:05:45 +0000 Sandgroper http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1242/wo1-wally-thompson/ Just received a message that WO1 Wally Thompson OAM the first RSM-A passed away on ThursdayThank you for your most outstanding career sir. May you now...
Doc]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1242/wo1-wally-thompson/ Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:23:54 +0000 Wayne Foulds http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1241/tornado-ejection/
Well worth a read and a brave and gallant man]]>
Well worth a read and a brave and gallant man]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1241/tornado-ejection/ Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:24:50 +0000 Sandgroper http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1240/pilots-being-headhunted/ April 5, 2012: The UAE (United Arab Emirates) Air Force is trying to recruit an Australian Air Force fighter pilot to be a flight instructor. The oil-... April 5, 2012: The UAE (United Arab Emirates) Air Force is trying to recruit an Australian Air Force fighter pilot to be a flight instructor. The oil-rich Arab Gulf States are constantly recruiting Western military pilots and maintenance specialists to keep their hundreds of Western warplanes, and their locally recruited pilots operational and ready for combat. For some reason Australians have become popular for this work, and the UAE is looking for one good pilot willing to spend a few years working in the Gulf (for about $200,000 a year plus benefits.) The Australian Air Force is not worried about losing one pilot, but if the Arabs came after a large number, the situation could turn testy. http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1240/pilots-being-headhunted/ Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:59:56 +0000 Dingo http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1239/anzac-day-in-the-us/


LTC Michael Ahern, Australian ...]]>


LTC Michael Ahern, Australian Army Liaison Officer to the Maneuver Center for Excellence has set this event up because the 173d Memorial is the only place in the US containing the names of those from the Vietnam War who made the supreme sacrifice.



“The 173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial is a magnificent memorial, and the only one in the US to have names of fallen Australian and New Zealand soldiers included alongside their US Mates. In this way, the Memorial not only captures the spirit of ANZAC, but also the close relationship between the ANZACs and the US; shedding blood together in combat now for nearly a century. The story of the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and 161 Field Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery deploying to South Vietnam as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in 1965-66 is an amazing one and historic for the three Countries in so many ways. The story is so fitting for an ANZAC Day Service at Fort Benning that I would like to incorporate that 1965-66 deployment to Vietnam by the 173rd as the theme for our ANZAC Day Dawn Service.”



Thanks to LTCOL Ahern for his initiative and his selection of the Brigade’s Memorial as the site for this event. The ceremony is open to the general public and Sky Soldiers of all generations are invited to attend. Dress is Jacket and tie.



For queries, and to RSVP if you plan on attending please contact SGM Scott Oben at 762-822-9695 or at scott.oben.fm@mail.mil



Pappy Patchin

B 3/319th 65-68

Taken in part from 4/503 Newsletter

(4/503 replaced 1RAR)]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1239/anzac-day-in-the-us/ Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:40:12 +0000 Dingo http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1238/clouds/ When they go away your day brightens .]]> When they go away your day brightens .]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1238/clouds/ Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:27:36 +0000 Dingo http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1237/new-soldiers-uniform/
An intersting idea for the uniform

Links still not working, I just pasted it on here.]]>
An intersting idea for the uniform

Links still not working, I just pasted it on here.]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1237/new-soldiers-uniform/ Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:51:51 +0000 Sandgroper http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1236/links/ Tried uploading a link the correct way (throught 'Attach a link' and it wouldn't work for me.
Ended up just posting it.
]]> Tried uploading a link the correct way (throught 'Attach a link' and it wouldn't work for me.
Ended up just posting it.
]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1236/links/ Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:23:21 +0000 Rob http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1235/armed-federal-police-to-protect-diggers/ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/armed-federal-police-to-protect-diggers/story-e6freuy9-1226315227089 http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/armed-federal-police-to-protect-diggers/story-e6freuy9-1226315227089 http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1235/armed-federal-police-to-protect-diggers/ Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:19:45 +0000 Rob http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1234/lancaster-prepares-for-a-mission/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2119392/A-modern-day-mission-Lancaster-bomber-crew-prepares-action-70-years-remarkable-set-airfield-pictures.h...
Stunning photo's]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1234/lancaster-prepares-for-a-mission/ Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:21:11 +0000 Sandgroper http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1233/letter-to-co/ information."


Sir,


In your icy, indeed hostile, telephone call of yeste...]]> information."


Sir,


In your icy, indeed hostile, telephone call of yesterday, you requested
a report about the alleged proceedings involving my soldiers. As the
reports from the local authorities and the head of the Australian
legation were undoubtedly a complete fabrication, I welcome the
opportunity to put the truth of the matter forward.


Your kind offer to "buy a round of drinks" for the troops at the end
of the deployment was taken and the CSM ensured that appropriate
quantities of libation and food were purchased against your credit card
, with festivities being held in my hotel suite. An enjoyable evening
ensued but insufficient supplies had been obtained, so several members
of the company left for further purchases at a local bar.


In a truly magnanimous gesture, ten bar girls from that establishment
helped carry the beer back to the hotel. To demonstrate our
appreciation of their assistance, we served them some cool drink. They
then offered to show us some local culture, and, in order not to
offend, we allowed them to dance.


The banging on the walls of my room had, by now, quite honestly, become
invasive, and it was disturbing the dancers, so we arranged an amusing
little deterrent. LT Brown's impersonation of a Police Officer was
quite clever as he goose-stepped to each room and harangued the
occupants with a very witty diatribe about disturbing hotel guests. I
personally heard nothing of his alleged threats to life or limb in as
claimed by the sister of the local Police Chief whose room was,
unluckily, next door.


I suspect that this woman was the sneak who called security and hotel
management but I absolutely refute that the shout "Stand To, enemy
approaching!" was made. The simple coincidence of security arriving
just as we stood the double bed on its side across the door to make the
dance floor bigger is obvious. The major damage to the room occurred
when a group of gatecrashers, whom we could not know were hotel
security, forced their way in just as most of us happened to be leaning
against the bed watching the dancing.


The subsequent events in the foyer of the hotel are an equally vicious
distortion of the facts. I was explaining the importance of the post
activity celebrations to the General Manager of the hotel, and stating
that other guests were obviously fabricating their stories of the noise
and drinking, when CPL Smith and several others from HQ Coy (in keeping
with their pursuit of physical fitness) organised the race up the drapes
which hang along the foyer wall. It says little for the workmanship that
the fittings were torn from the wall before most of the company was
even halfway up.


At this stage SGT Williams, our Orderley Room SGT attempted to rescue
the situation with her depth of knowledge of local culture. Her
rendition of the Fertility Dancing Maiden in the foyer's 'Pool of
Remembrance' was nothing short of breathtaking. Normally this dance is
performed wearing just a sarong skirt but SGT Williams' extra step to "
Au Natural" was a bold step forward. Unfortunately, during one
intricate step, SGT Williams slipped and fell beneath the fountain, but
we were lucky that SSGT Johnson had the great presence of mind to strip
to avoid getting his uniform wet, leapt in to help.


The tiles of the pool were very slippery and it took nearly ten minutes
of threshing about before he could actually complete his rescue. Such
concern was there for these two exemplary member's safety, that the
many of company jumped in to assist, and I deny that this massed rescue
attempt could be construed as a 'Water Polo' game!


Order had nearly been restored when the fire started. I prefer CPL
White's version of events that the drapes had caught fire from being
against a light fitting, and that he dropped his cigarette lighter
whilst trying to escape the flames. Had hotel management fulfilled
their responsibilities and used fire retardant material instead of
velvet, the fire would not have spread to the rest of the hotel.


The responsible attitude shown by my soldiers in assisting the bar
staff to carry out drinks from the cocktail party is to be commended,
not condemned, and the attempt by many male members to extinguish
pockets of fire using natural means has been totally misrepresented in
some quarters.


I made an official protest about these matters when the head of the
Australian Legation visited us at the Police Station the next morning.
However, not only did Ambassador Downey not attempt to refute the
preposterous allegations made against me and my soldiers crew, but also
failed to secure our release immediately.


I trust that now I have outlined the correct version of events, we may
allow ourselves a discreet smile as to the lack of social
sophistication of some of these developing nations and put all this
behind us. In my opinion my soldiers behaved in accordance with the
finest Australian Army traditions.]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1233/letter-to-co/ Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:42:36 +0000 Dingo http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1232/aitch-sacked/ It is also believed that our own Aitch was a member of this council and since the disbandment it is now thought that Aitch will become an Independant member for the Coral Coast Region.]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1232/aitch-sacked/ Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:18:40 +0000 Dingo http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1231/bula-from-fiji/
All the plumbing works are being completed next week followed by the carpentry work will be completed about a week after that and then only the replacement of windows to be completed in May and then time to sit back and enjoy the beautiful sunsets from my front verandah overlooking the waves breaking over the reef a couple hundred metres off my front door steps.

Been a few hurdles thrown up in front of me at the start but they have now been overcome and we move on to enjoy life as it should be enjoyed. Big wedding of my eldest son is coming up in July here in Fiji and we will be turning on a typical Fijian style celebration to mark the occasion which I am sure the overseas guests and probably most of the Fijian guests will find hard to forget.

I was the honoured guest of a company called Pacific Green which produces furniture from palmwood (coconut trees) and we had them build out dining room table for a setting of 16 (massive....the largest they have ever produced) and then build our entire lounge suite and some additonal furniture and they then invited me over to their company headquarters opposite our property to plant a coconut palm tree (first ever planted by a customer) and they are going to strike a plaque to erect near the tree commemorate the event. The PM of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama also planted a palm tree there a couple of weeks ago at the official opening of their new factory and he has the previlege of having his tree and plaque situated next to ours....how lucky is Frank LOL.

I'll be returning to Oz on the 29th March to Perth until 9th April for the youngest lads 21st birthday and hope to catch up with some of the Perth Diggerz family during my short stay before I head back to paradise.

Will have to arrange a Diggerz Reunion at our place, namely Ravuka Lodge in Fiji soon.....plenty of room at no charge for guests for the Diggerz Reunion......any interest???

Vinaka

HH]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1231/bula-from-fiji/ Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:56:01 +0000 HH http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1230/a-wee-piece-of-history/
No links will integrate on this site at the moment, bought a registered copy in 86, up...]]>
No links will integrate on this site at the moment, bought a registered copy in 86, upon Tourex from NATO.

After leaving the Air force club,suitably refreshed saw this and bought it, however i went in originally to buy a ship of the line.

It was a hell of a swell]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1230/a-wee-piece-of-history/ Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:08:01 +0000 Sandgroper http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1229/conversion/ Catholic priest, a Baptist preacher and a rabbi all served as Chaplains to the students of Northern Michigan University at Marquette in the Upper Peni...
They would get together 2 or 3 times a week for coffee and to talk shop.

One day, a student commented that preaching to people isn't really all that hard; a real challenge would be to preach to a bear.

One thing led to another, and they decided to do an experiment. They would all go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it to their religion.

Seven days later, they all came together to discuss their experiences.

Father Flannery, who had his arm in a sling, was on crutches, and had various bandages on his body and limbs, went first.

'Well,' he said, 'I went into the woods to find me a bear. And when I found him, I began to read to him from the Catechism.
Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to
slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and, Holy Mary Mother of God, he became as gentle as a lamb. The Bishop is coming out next week to give him his first communion and confirmation.'

Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, had
one arm and both legs in casts, and had an IV drip.In his best fire-and-brimstone oratory, he exclaimed, 'Brothers,
you know that we Baptists don't sprinkle! I went out and found me a bear. I began to read to my bear from God's Holy Word!
But that bear wanted nothing to do with me.
So I grabbed him and we began to wrestle. We wrestled down one hill, up another and down another until we came to a creek.
So I quickly dunked him and baptised his hairy soul. Just like you said, he became as gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus . . . Halleluja!

The priest and the reverend both looked down at the rabbi,
who was lying in a hospital bed. He was in a body cast and
traction with IVs and monitors running in and out of him. He was in terrible shape.

The rabbi looked up and said: "Upon reflection, circumcision may not have been the best way to start."]]> http://www.australiandiggers.com/forum/thread/1229/conversion/ Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:26:26 +0000 Sandgroper