Bundaberg Veterans Drop In Centre | Community
Bundaberg Veterans Drop In Centre
Phone: +61 7 4152 4599
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25.01.2022 https://images.app.goo.gl/xGEASwag26CkMR1B9
24.01.2022 This was sent out by the Vietnam Vets on Bribie island It is worth re-posting When the shearing sheds are silent, and the stock camp’s fallen quiet, When the gi...dgee coals no longer glow across the outback night And the bush is forced to hang a sign, 'gone broke and won't be back’ While spirits fear to find a way beyond the beaten track; When harvesters stand derelict upon the wind-swept plains, And brave hearts pin their hopes no more on chance of loving rains; When a hundred outback settlements are ghost towns overnight, When we've lost the drive and heart we had to once more see us right; When 'Pioneer' means a stereo and 'Digger' some backhoe And the 'Outback' is behind the house; there's nowhere else to go And 'Anzac' is a biscuit brand and probably foreign owned And education really means brainwashed and neatly cloned; When you have to bake a loaf of bread to make a decent crust And our heritage, once enshrined in gold, is crumbling to dust And old folk pay their camping fees on land for which they fought, While fishing is a great escape - that is, until you're caught; When you see our kids with Yankee caps and resentment in their eyes And soaring crime and hopeless hearts is no longer a surprise, When the name of RM Williams is a yuppie clothing brand And not a product of our heritage that grew off Australian land; When offering a hand makes people think you'll amputate And two dogs’ meeting in the street is what you call a ‘Mate' When 'Political Correctness' has replaced all common sense, When you're forced to see it their way, there's no sitting on the fence. Yes, one day you might find yourself an outcast in this land! Perhaps your heart will tell you then, ' I should have made a stand’ Just go and ask the farmers - that should remove all doubt Then join the swelling ranks who say, 'Don't sell Australia out!’ See more
24.01.2022 RSL raffles today, drawn at midday.RSL raffles today, drawn at midday.
20.01.2022 Today, 104 years ago, on Sunday July 23, 1916 at 00:30 am, the Battle of Pozieres began, it was one of the most difficult battles for the Australian and British... army and was the first major engagement of the Australian army during the Battle of the Somme. At the end of July 1916, the Imperial Australian Force engaged in its first fight in the context of the Battle of the Somme. At this point, British strategy centered on capturing the ridge east of the village of Pozières. From there, it was expected to mount an attack against the German reinforcements, located further north at Thiepval, which had not fallen in the British attack of July 1, 1916, the first day of the battle. By the time the Australians engaged in the Battle of the Somme, the operation had turned into a series of attacks aimed not so much at breaking through German lines but at taking key positions and undermining the morale of the enemy. Between July 23 and August 5, 1916, the Australian First and Second Divisions seized the village and heights of Pozières, a ridge 500 meters east of the village. The initial attack began at 12:30 on Sunday 23 July, the First Division captured the German front line and within an hour had reached the main road through Pozières. At dawn the Germans counterattacked but the Australians held on. The rest of Pozières fell during the night of July 23-24, and further advances took place during the night of July 24-25. The Germans reacted to the capture of Pozières by directing the strongest of their artillery against the Australians. Constant artillery barrages focused on the village and its narrow approaches, creating a nightmare for the troops who had to assemble and attack in the dark. The heavy German bombardment of Pozières, which lasted three days, was a new and destabilizing experience for the Australians. In five days, the first division had suffered 5,285 killed and wounded. On July 27, the 2nd division took over at Pozières. Sir Hubert Gough, general commander of the British operations in this sector, then ordered the second division to take the German lines on the heights of Pozières. The attack began at00:15am on July 29, but the German machine gunners were ready and their fire was deadly. The attack was unsuccessful except on the right wing, and resulted in losses of 3,500 men. Despite these losses, Major General Legge (Second Division) ordered his men to attack again rather than withdraw after their failure. The attack was to begin just before nightfall, when the German lines were still clearly visible, and so that attacking troops could not be detected, deep approach and overhang trenches were dug. These trenches came under relentless German bombardment, and many men collapsed in the face of such intensity. On August 4, 1916, after three minutes of heavy bombardment, the German OG1 line was invaded at 9.15 p.m. and the OG2 line fifteen minutes later. The Australians advanced until they were practically under their own shells, so the Germans had no time to leave their dugouts and mount their machine guns. The heights of Pozières and the German lines along the ridge were finally seized. Finally, Australians could contemplate the wide shallow valley behind the heights of Pozières. They could see the movements of soldiers, rifles and supplies in the German rear lines. The exhausted Australian Second Division was finally able to rest. It had suffered 6,848 casualties, the largest ever suffered by an Australian division on a tour of the front line. At the end of the Battle of Pozieres, the British and Australian army lost 23,000 dead and wounded and the Australians lost more men in six weeks in Pozieres than during the entire Gallipoli campaign. On 29 July 1916 official Australian war correspondent CEW (Charles) Bean recorded in his diary: "Pozières has been a terrible sight all day The men were simply turned in there as into some ghastly giant mincing machine. They have to stay there while shell after huge shell descends with a shriek close beside them each shrieking tearing crash bringing a promise to each man,instantaneous,I will tear you into ghastly wounds,I will rend your flesh and pulp an arm or a leg,fling you half a gaping quivering man (like those that you see smashed around you one by one) to lie there rotting and blackening like all the things you saw by the awful roadside, or in that sickening dusty crater.Pozieres Ridge is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth. Alec Raws of the Victorian 23rd Battalion later described the battle: "One feels on a battlefield such as this that one can never survive, or that if the body lives the brain must go forever. For the horrors one sees and the never-ending shock of the shells is more than can be borne. Hell must be a home to it. The Gallipoli veterans here say that the peninsula was a happy picnic to this push We are lousy, stinking, ragged, unshaven, sleepless My tunic is rotten with other men’s blood and partly splattered with a comrade’s brains Several of my friends are raving mad. I met three officers out in No Man’s Land the other night, all rambling and mad. Poor Devils! The sad part is that one can see no end of this. If we live tonight we have to go through tomorrow night and next week and next month." Sergeant Archie Barwick of the 1st Battalion recorded on 24 July: "All day long the ground rocked and swayed backwards and forwards from the concussion . . . men were driven stark staring mad and more than one of them rushed out of the trench over towards the Germans, any amount of them could be seen crying and sobbing like children their nerves completely gone . . . we were nearly all in a state of silliness and half dazed but still the Australians refused to give ground." Today, here in the Somme, we honor and commemorate with great respect the British and Australians who fought and fell here during the Battle of Pozieres and we are extremely happy and honored to welcome the Australian people for whom we have a very deep respect, a lot of love and a deep admiration and we will always be by your side to honor all the young men who fell here, the Australians and the British have a very big place in our hearts and in our thoughts and I will always be present for all the families who wish it, who cannot come here and who wish to have a photo of the graves of their relatives or of the battlefields, I would do everything I can for each of you with my heart and with energy and know that here, in the Somme, you will always be at home, always welcomed very warmly and very respectfully. Thank you all. At the going down of the sun an d in the morning, we will remember them.
20.01.2022 A new and easy test for Covid - 19 is doing the rounds and it's simple, quick and positive (or negative if you see what I mean). Take a glass and pour a decent dram of your favourite whisky (gin or rum) into it; then see if you can smell it, if you can then you are halfway there: then drink it and if you can taste it then it is reasonable to assume you are currently free of the virus. ... I tested myself 9 times last night and was virus free every time thank goodness. I will have to test myself again today though as I have developed a headache which can also be one of the symptoms.
19.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/groups/375417746978080/?ref=share
19.01.2022 A small group from the centre joined the Nashos bus trip to the Sunshine Coast today. A really nice day was had by everyone. Thank you for the invite.
19.01.2022 For your information the RSL Sub-branch sent this out. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Working Bee @ The VSC, Takalvan Street, Bundaberg. Wed 26.08.2020 0900hrs Contact Dannie 49109596 for details & to register.
19.01.2022 https://www.dva.gov.au/file/5228/download This booklet may come in handy for those that are suffering a bereavement of a Veteran Spouse.
19.01.2022 Love this and love the people I served with To understand a Military Veteran you must know: We left home as teenagers or in our early twenties for an unknown adventure. ... We loved our country enough to defend it and protect it with our own lives. We said goodbye to friends and family and everything we knew. We learned the basics and then we scattered in the wind to the far corners of the Earth. We found new friends and new family. We became brothers and sisters regardless of color, race or creed. We had plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times. We didn’t get enough sleep. We drank too much. We picked up both good and bad habits. We worked hard and played harder. We didn’t earn a great wage. We experienced the happiness of mail call and the sadness of missing important events. We didn’t know when, or even if, we were ever going to see home again. We grew up fast, and yet somehow, we never grew up at all. We fought for our freedom, as well as the freedom of others. Some of us saw actual combat, and some of us didn’t. Some of us saw the world, and some of us didn’t. Some of us dealt with physical warfare, most of us dealt with psychological warfare. We have seen and experienced and dealt with things that we can’t fully describe or explain, as not all of our sacrifices were physical. We participated in time honored ceremonies and rituals with each other, strengthening our bonds and camaraderie. We counted on each other to get our job done and sometimes to survive it at all. We have dealt with victory and tragedy. We have celebrated and mourned. We lost a few along the way. When our adventure was over, some of us went back home, some of us started somewhere new and some of us never came home at all. We have told amazing and hilarious stories of our exploits and adventures. We share an unspoken bond with each other, that most people don’t experience, and few will understand. We speak highly of our own branch of service, and poke fun at the other branches. We know however, that, if needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters and stand together as one, in a heartbeat. Being a Veteran is something that had to be earned, and it can never be taken away. It has no monetary value, but at the same time it is a priceless gift. People see a Veteran and they thank them for their service. When we see each other, we give that little upwards head nod, or a slight smile, knowing that we have shared and experienced things that most people have not. So, from myself to the rest of the veterans out there, I commend and thank you for all that you have done and sacrificed for your country. Try to remember the good times and make peace with the bad times. Share your stories. But most importantly, stand tall and proud, for you have earned the right to be called a Veteran. I’m a VETERAN! I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN! If you are a Veteran, please copy, paste and share.
15.01.2022 Remembering those who never came home and those who came home but have never forgotten.
13.01.2022 https://fb.me/e/1hWbYl70S
13.01.2022 Thank you to Jessie for all the photos from the Long Tan Service yesterday. A good day was had by all
11.01.2022 The centre is open today. 9 am to 1 pm. Come down for raffles (drawn are 11am) a beer or coffee/tea and a chat.The centre is open today. 9 am to 1 pm. Come down for raffles (drawn are 11am) a beer or coffee/tea and a chat.
10.01.2022 Those of you that know our Bluey, who works very hard at the centre as our Vice President & puts so much of his own time to keeping the bar running, will be finally given Australian Citizenship tomorrow 17th September 2020. The ceremony will be a small one due to COVID but straight after he will be brought to the drop-in centre for a group celebration. Bluey travelled to Australia from the UK as a babe in his mother’s arms. He deployed to Vietnam with the Australian Army and has spent all his years as an honourary Australian. Finally after a number of attempts he will finally be an Aussie. Those who wish to be here to celebrate this milestone should be advised that he will be arriving at the centre between 9.30 am & 10. We would like everyone to wear something Aussie. Congratulations Bluey.
08.01.2022 The centre will be open this Tuesday for those members that would like to speak with the VVAA QLD State President Mr Peter Hindle.
08.01.2022 The Remembrance Day service commences at 10.40 am in Anzac Park, Quay Street today. At the conclusion there will be a BBQ. The Services Club will also be offering a discount to veterans. See you all there. Lest we forget.
06.01.2022 All ready for the Vietnam Veterans Service. 11am 44 Pitt Street, Walkervale.
01.01.2022 Today is the beginning of #LegacyWeek 2020. Funds raised during Legacy Week help Legacy Australia continue to assist over 52,000 families Australia-wide, throu...gh the provision of essential services including counselling, special housing and medical, advocacy and social support. While you’d usually see #YourADF volunteers in shopping centres or train stations selling badges and Legacy bears, COVID-19 restrictions mean this isn’t possible in every state and territory. We encourage you to get involved in Legacy Week by purchasing merchandise online at www.legacyshop.com.au, or making a donation at www.legacyweek.com.au. #GoodSoldiering #ArmyInMotion
