Commando News Magazine edition 8 2021

AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSOCIATION VICTORIA
Incorporated in Victoria A0014983Z
ABN 87 282 474 621
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
September 2021
RECENT ACTIVITIES
Due to the ongoing COVID 19 restrictions
within Victoria many of the Association’s
social and commemorative activities were
cancelled during the latter part of 2020 and in 2021 to
date.
FORTHCOMING ACTIVITIES
Annual Dinner
Due to current uncertainty regarding the release
from Lockdown in Melbourne discussion are currently
underway regarding rescheduling the 2021 Annual
Dinner to a date in late November and if unsuccessful
the dinner will be deferred until 2022. The guest
speaker will be Captain Keith Wolahan, a former
member of 2 Company who deployed on four overseas
operations and will be speaking of his service with the
Unit, his overseas deployment, and is views on possible
future options for the development and training of
part-time commando personnel.
https://victoriancollections.net.au/organisations/austra
lian-commando-association-victoria
The grant also provided sufficient funding to enable
the acquisition of an additional two secure storage
cabinet which are currently being manufactured and
will be used to house a selection of ACA Vic historical
items at Fort Gellibrand. It is proposed that the items
on display will reflect the units’ heritage to World War
II special operations and discussions are currently
underway with OC 2 Company regarding the
composition of the display.
Tidal River Commando Memorial commemoration
Subject to Covid restrictions in Victoria, the 2021
commemoration at the Commando Memorial Tidal
River is scheduled to be conducted on Sunday, 21
November commencing at 12.45 pm. Personnel
attending are also invited to participate in the Foster
RSL Annual Dinner which is conducted on the Saturday
evening, and anyone interested in attending this
function to contact the ACA Vic Secretary by 12
November.
Dedication of the Special Operations Memorial at
Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance and Memorial
maintenance
Due to Covid restrictions this activity has been
postponed and current planning is to attempt to
conduct the commemoration on Saturday the 18th
green 2022 followed by the over the same Rip
Memorial Shortlands’ Bluff Queenscliff on Sunday 19th
February 2022.
Historical Collection Grant (with Museums Victoria)
- Update
Due to Covid restrictions there has been a slowing
down of data entry of the historical collection however
items continually are being entered. To view the
updates, go to
Display cabinets
2020 Victorian Veterans’ Council Grant
Due to Covid restrictions we have been unable to
conduct the oral history interviews however the
transcripts of the WW2 special operations oral history
interviews and the digitisation of post WW2 M& Z
Victoria association magazine 'Double Diamonds" is
nearing completion and it is intended that the whole
project be completed by the end of 2021.
Tidal River Open Space Development - Update
There has been little movement on this activity over
the last 12 months with the exception that $600,000
was allocated in the last Victorian State budget to fund
the ‘Commando Walking Track’ and ACA Vic was
recently advised that the $80,000 cultural heritage
study had been completed. With the impending
release from lockdown in Victoria is expected that work
on this project will commence soon. Tentatively ACA
Vic has offered to provide some financial support for
the creation of two or three safety shelters be built
along the track providing that these can be named
after fallen Victorian commandos and the suitable
signage and story boards can be erected.
COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 8 I 2021 9