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The delegates’ meeting on 25 September gave Colin Bell permission to continue negotiations withMetroplex on the future of the Precinct. The original plan has been dropped under which Metroplex wouldhave shifted the heritage buildings to a new site, moved additional ones in, provided an income earningbuilding, met the removal and development costs, maintained the new complex and paid the NSAA $150,000in compensation for what the Association has spent to date on the existing Precinct. This is due, according toMetroplex, to Brisbane City Council tree preservation orders making it impractical. Colin presented anarchitects’s concept (previous page) for the existing Precinct which includes additional buildings, landscapingand a Museum at an estimated total cost of $3million. Metroplex would be asked to fund it. However, this alsowould mean about one quarter of the Precinct, including the Parade ground, being resumed for road works bythe developer.The Media Officer, Allen Callaghan, expressed concern about the new proposals, including lack of a BusinessPlan, the question of who would maintain the Precinct and the fact that all previous written undertakings andguarantees by Metroplex were void. He moved an amendment that the proposal must include that Metroplexfirst hand the existing precinct to the Brisbane City Council as public land for National Service purposes anddeposit all necessary funds in advance with the NSAA. Deeding the Precinct to the BCC would avoid theNSAA having to pay annual rates, currently costing about $15,000. His amendment was supported by only theNational President, Earle Jennings, and one other. No approval will be given to any proposal until it has beenconsidered by the SMC and voted on by members.TROPHIESAt the Delegates/General Meeting on 25th September at Wacol the following Memorial Trophy/MembershipAwards were presented –ROWLAND WILLIAMS MEMORIAL SHELL – this award is for the dedicated service, achievement andmost outstanding contribution to the Association for the year and was awarded to Captain John Tatters (StateChaplain) 2010. The Perpetual Shell was the last shell fired in the Vietnam War by an Australian Ship HMASBrisbane which is now a divers’ wreck off Caloundra. The trophy is in memory of one of the Association’sfoundation members. The Shell remains on display at the Wacol Heritage Museum and the recipient keeps asuitably inscribed plaque.JOHN SEYMOUR MEMORIAL SHIELD – is awarded to the Branch that has achieved the highestretention of members over the past year. The award for 2010 was won by Redlands.John Seymour (Vietnam Veteran) was a former membership officer and tireless worker for the Associationwhen it was growing in 1997/99.DENNIS CONNON AWARD – is awarded to the Branch that has achieved the largest percent of membershipincreased for the past year. The award for 2010 was won by Stanthorpe.Dennis Connon who died in 2004 was a NSAA founder and its first Treasurer in 1987.THE BARRY VICARY MEMORIAL SHIELD – recognises the Branch that achieved the highest numericalincrease in membership over the past year. The award for 2010 was won by Toowoomba. The award is inmemory of Barry Vicary (died in 1991) who founded the NSAA in Toowoomba in 1987 and was its firstPresident.THE PETER RYAN AWARD – is for outstanding work by a Branch during 2010. The award for 2010 waswon by Bayside.OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP <strong>OF</strong>FICERS: Introducing the State Management Committee’s newly appointedMembership Officers, Judy & Jim Woodford. Both have wide experience inNational Service and Veterans matters, administration and computing. Beforeretiring from the workforce, Judy worked for the Department of Veterans’ Affairsand Education Qld. Jim is a <strong>Nasho</strong> who was with B SQN 2 CAV Regiment LADat Enoggera 1969-1971. He worked in the spare parts industry and QueenslandTransport. They both enjoy travel, caravanning and lawn bowls. They alreadyhave reviewed our computer system and one of their recommendations is that all SMC officers provide abackup computer disc of files, photographs and websites to safeguard against home computer crashes.STATE SECRETARY: We are still looking for a member to nominate for State Secretary at the next AGMbeing held in March 2011.I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of your State Management Committee, to wish all members/supporters a Merry Christmas and a good year in 2011.Bill Morriss Queensland President November 2010PAGE 6
THREE NASHO MYSTERIES SOLVEDPhotos of another two National Servicemen have been found for the biographies in the National ServiceMemorial Dedication book and on our National website.They are 2794496 Lt.Ian Mathers, of Brisbane, (at left) who died onactive service in Vietnam in 1971 and 3791207 Private John Tinkham,of Victoria who died in Vietnam in 1969. A photo of a third NationalServicemen, 3787083 Private Reginald Bridgland, of Western Australia,who died in Borneo in 1966, also may become available.As well, a mystery of why a Tasmanian National Servicemen killed inthe battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966 had a Queensland servicenumber has been solved.Lt.Mathers was called up in 1970 and graduated from the OfficerTraining Unit at Scheyville. He was assigned to the Artillery and wentto Vietnam with 12 Field Regiment. He was the forward observer withA Battery when he was killed in the battle of Long Khanh on 7 July1971, only a few months before Australia’s forces began withdrawingfrom Vietnam. His sister, who lives on the Sunshine Coast, contactedthe NSAA after watching the dedication of the National ServiceMemorial in Canberra on Channel 7.The family of Private John Tinkham, of Victoria also contacted theAssociation after seeing the telecast. He was a clerk when called up onApril 19, 1967. Posted to 4RAR, he was shot dead by VC troops on October 20, 1969 during OperationCapital. This two-phase reconnaissance action kept the battalion in the field for 48 days with only a three daybreak. The family has provided the photograph (left) for the Biographies.1730993 Private Albert McCormack and 1730994 Private DennisMcCormack, of Adelaide, had consecutive numbers, both weremembers of D Coy, 6RAR and both were killed in the battle in whichD Coy fought off at least 2,500 North Vietnamese regulars and VietCong guerrillas with the help of sustained pinpoint artillery andarmoured personnel carriers. The fighting took place in a rubberplantation in a downpour.Private Albert McCormack moved to Brisbane in 1964. He was calledup in 1965 and assigned to 6RAR based at Enoggera. This explains theQueensland number. He worked for QBE Insurance which last yearnamed a conference room in its Brisbane headquarters after him andre-hung in it a plaque erected in his honour in 1967. Members of hisLaunceston family attended the ceremony. There still is no explanationwhy Dennis McCormack also had a Queensland number unless he toowas working in this State.3787083 Private Reginald Bridgland, of East Bentleigh, Melbourne,was killed in Borneo with 22 Construction Squadron on 31 July 1966.The Victorian Branch has obtained a copy of a platoon photo whichalthough not of high quality is the only one known of PrivateBridgland. There has been no such luck with the other Borneo NationalServiceman, 3713692 Private Geoffrey Mills, also of 22 Construction Squadron, who died on 9 August 1966.Enquiries by the Western Australian Branch have been unsuccessful.There still is no trace of any family of two other National Servicemen – 5717657 Private Barnard M Pengilly,also of Western Australia and 2794278 Private William J Attwood, from Uralla in New South Wales.PAGE 7
Page 1 and 2: NASHONEWSNATIONAL SERVICEMEN’S AS
Page 3 and 4: NATIONAL SERVICE HONOUREDOn a solem
Page 5 and 6: GET YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR POCKETS
Page 7: PRESIDENT’S REPORTNATIONAL SERVIC
Page 11 and 12: THE COURIER MAIL CUPRowan Stuhmcke
Page 13 and 14: BRISBANE SOUTH (Meeting: Last Sunda
Page 15 and 16: INNISFAIL (Meeting: 4th Tuesday eac
Page 17 and 18: TABLELANDS (Meeting: 2nd Sunday eac
Page 19 and 20: NASHO NOTICEBOARDGot a reunion plan

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