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AUSTRALIAN
ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER
No 3
Published on 1st December 2006
Greetings from the President
We all know just
how fast time flies and with recent birthday celebrations for our
association the fact is graphically reinforced. It has been an
interesting and exciting year getting the website off the ground and
developing it into what it has become to date. The main force
behind this development and presentation is our webmaster Graham
Hampton, ergo all kudos and thanks are due to him and his fine
efforts. Throughout the past year Jack Tattis’ wise counsel and
support has also been invaluable in the production and direction of
our website and I therefore also tender him my sincere thanks.
The rapid expansion and coverage of the site has astounded us all
and it just goes to show what can be done with the skill,
determination and imagination of dedicated team members. Although
our site is a massive 800 plus pages I believe that it will continue
to grow and maintain its informative and entertaining structure.
Should any member have any suggestions or contributions then please
feel free to send them along to the committee for evaluation and
inclusion via the webmaster. Remember, this site wasn’t set up as
any individual’s voice but that of all Gunners! Enjoy your site
and become involved.
The situation with our ‘Birthday’ is that all committee positions
are to become vacant, with the exception of the webmaster. This
means that shortly I will stand down as your inaugural President, as
will other committee members to await election results. I
encourage all and any member to nominate/apply for any position that
they feel they can contribute to in the coming year. Feel free to
nominate yourselves as we won’t be have an AGM in a big hall to
facilitate this changeover. Don’t be reticent in stepping forward
as we believe that this interaction by members will only strengthen
the unity and professionalism already initiated.
Christmas is just around the corner – again, and I wish to take this
last opportunity in 2006 to wish all Gunners and their families a
Safe and Merry Christmas. May you all enjoy the festive season
with your loved ones, friends and brethren. Let us all have a
great holiday period and remember the true meaning of Christmas. A
special Christmas wish and prayer also goes out to our Diggers who
are in harm’s way for our Nation’s benefit. Bless them all.
Bless you all.
Kim McGrath
From Mr Vices Desk (AKA Vice President)
As the year draws to a close we
look back and reflect on the year that was.
Sadly, the Memorial Roll shows
too many of our Gunner mates have gone to the Great Gun Park in the
Sky, but on a more cheerful note we shall all be celebrating the
Yuletide with our families and loved ones. On that note the
Committee of the Australian Artillery Association wish you, your
family, your friends and loved ones a most Blessed and Holy
Christmas for 2006 and many more to come.
When Graham Hampton, took on the
task of the webmaster, we did not anticipate the growth and support
that he would receive which is truly outstanding. It is
by no small feat due to the enormous support by way of submission of
material, constructive comments and diverse membership that has
enabled this, your site to grow to the extent that it has, as well
as receiving recognition by notable bodies and organisations.
The membership which stands at over 100 is diverse, in that members
come from all the States, various units, and different branches of
the Corps and are either ex serving or current members of “The Royal
Regiment of Australian Artillery”.
It is quite clear that the Esprit
De Corps which sets Gunners apart from other Corps and Units is
alive and strong in this modern day and the Gunner Traditions and
Ceremonies of our forefathers are being carried on and are indeed in
safe hands. Royal Australian Artillery Associations as
well as specific Unit Associations exist in each state which are a
conduit to keeping alive the heritage and history of those units
that are no longer on the Order of Battle.
Whilst we have seen a decline in
the number of units in the Order of Battle the expertise and good
standing of Gunners is still acknowledged. Gunners have always been
versatile, adaptable and innovative which is displayed even now by
the re-rolling of Gunners as Infantry. Truly living up
to the motto and battle honour UBIQUE.
The Royal Regiment of Australian
Artillery as always is adapting to current changes and trends within
the ADF to meet future challenges.
As I will not be standing for
re-election, I leave you with these thoughts, stand straight,
stomach in, chest out, look your own height in front, and remember
you’re a Gunner.
Welcome
Well what a year!
The 19th September 2006 saw the Australian Artillery Association celebrate
its first full year on the world wide web and our success continues to grow
from strength to strength. We now have over 800 pages of
history; information; photographs; gunners memories and much much more (and
those 800+ pages are our own pages and not ones that we link to belonging to
other sites).
We should all be very proud of our combined efforts. In addition
to this our site also host the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club - Sydney
Chapter, entire web site which may be accessed from our Home Page or direct via
http://vvmcsc.australianartilleryassociation.com
. The Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club - Sydney Chapter has a
significant number of Artillerymen which is why we are please to assist them
in this manner.
Our
membership continues to grow as word spreads and we, as at the 16th November
2006 have a total of 103 members. By far and large the majority
of these are either serving or ex serving Australian Artillerymen or their
wives/partners. We are also pleased to have one Associated
Member who supports our cause, who is Major General (serving) William H.
Wade ll, the Adjutant General of the Californian National Guard.
Major General Wade ll whilst principally an infantryman is also the
recipient of the "Order of St Barbara" from the American Field Artillery
Association. We welcome
Major General Wade ll and hope he enjoys
the Australian Artillery Association as much as we do.
This year has seen not only the
introduction of the online information facility for enquiries relating to
Artillery Customs and Traditions responded to by the very person who is the
author of the book "Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery Customs and
Traditions", Mr Chris Jobson. This facility is proving popular
amongst both serving personnel and the general public. I would
like to take this opportunity to thank Chris for his efforts in responding
to all the enquiries. Over time we will amass an extensive
databank of questions and responses from Chris for all to view and hopefully
achieve the answer to the question they may ask prior to actually asking it.
Additionally, the Gunners Memories
facility is also proving popular with those memories, some of
which are legendary that we have been witness to during our respective
careers, or simply wish to record for prosperity. Again over
time and with your continued support by way of putting pen to paper and
forwarding in your stories we will amass a broader view of life in Artillery
throughout time. Something for our children and grandchildren to
reflect upon.
We have also been accepted by the
Australian National Library Electronic Division for regular capture of our
site to be retained on record forevermore. This achievement is
significant on a number of levels. Not only is the entire
content of our site to be retained throughout history but it is also to be
captured on a regular basis thereby ensuring the Australian National
Libraries Electronic copy is always up to date. Students and the
general public of all ages and all walks of life may access the Australian
National Library Electronic Division to conduct research and we are proud to
be a part of that history.
Our statistics continue to improve with
the month of November seeing us exceed by far 2000 visitors for the month.
It should be pointed out that this is the number of visitors to the site be
they new or return visitors. We here at the Australian Artillery
Association do not wind our counters forward nor do we set our counter to
indicate the number of hit on a page calling them visitors to the site.
Photo Galleries
Our Photo
Galleries continue to grow with the addition of a number of A Field Battery
photo albums and a number of photo albums on life in Somalia.
Your continued submissions of photographs is greatly appreciated and only
continues to strengthen the site and it's desirability for both members and
visitors to return and reflect upon the past.
Committee Elections
The
Australian Artillery Association Committee elections were to have been held
in early September however as things have been busy they have been held over
to early 2006 (most likely January). With the exception of
Webmaster all positions are to be made available for election.
Those wishing to nominate for a position should visit the Message Board
regularly for information relating to the upcoming elections and the
procedures. I would like to take this opportunity for thanking
the inaugural Australian Artillery Association Committee for all their hard
work in developing the site, conducting regular quality control audits, and
providing valued support and constructive criticisms on the site as a whole
its direction and content and most importantly it's stability unlike other
sites that are on again off again with mobile membership rolls and constant
site name changes.
Guest Book Comments
To date all comments
received via the Guest Book have been of a positive nature which is
encouraging and a clear indication we are heading in the right direction.
Members are encouraged to leave Seasons Greetings via the Guest Book if they
so wish.
Q Store
We now have available both Polo Shirts Car Stickers for
purchase. All members should receive an Australian Artillery
Association Christmas Card by the 3rd week in December forwarded to you at
the address provided on your Membership Application Form. So if
this has changed it would be appreciated if you could update your
information direct to me via
webmaster@australianartilleryassociation.com
otherwise you may miss out. In addition to those items available
for purchase we are now investigating having an embroidered jacket pocket
made up along with key chain attachments, lapel pin and a car badge for
those so inclined.
Message Board Facility
Most
of you would by now have noticed we have a dedicated Message Board Facility
available to both Members and visitors to view. Members may
register to use the Message Board Facility enabling them to post, amend and
delete their own messages. To register simply visit the Message
Board via the Home Page and register.
Weekly Artillery
Photo
The Weekly Artillery Photo accessed via the thumbnail on the Home Page is
proving to be a very popular idea. These pictures and their entire
description are provided by the State Library of Queensland, on loan, until
the entire series of their collection of Artillery photographs have been
shown. These photographs along with their descriptions take us
all around the world and way back in time long before Federation and to the
current day of life in Artillery. We thank the State Library of
Queensland for their kind permission to utilise these photographs and their
respective descriptions.
Cancellation of the
2006 Reunion
Unfortunately with
the volume of work involved far exceeding my expectations it was necessary
to cancel the Australian Artillery Association Inaugural Reunion in 2006,
which was to be held in Townsville. I know many of you were
cashed up, so to say, and ready to go and I do sincerely apologise to you
for the cancellation. However with a little luck and the
intended introduction of a 3 member Inaugural Reunion sub committee (at the
next Committee elections) we hope to hold the Reunion in Townsville in mid
2007. More information on this matter will follow via the site
once we establish the sub committee. Anyone interested in being
part of the Sub Committee for the Inaugural Reunion should contact me direct
webmaster@australianartilleryassociaiton.com please.
Closing
In little over 12
months we have managed to well and truly exceed almost every goal we have
set ourselves here at the Australian Artillery Association.
There are many more goals yet to be achieved over the next 12 months.
Throughout the next 12 months you will see the site grow in volume, quality
and presentation and set the standard for other to follow. It is
only with your help, input and participation that we can achieve these
goals, so please be an active participant.
On behalf of the Australian
Artillery Association Committee I would like welcome those that have joined
the Association throughout 2006 and wish you all a Happy and Merry Christmas
and New Year with good health, and thank all those who have participated in
the site in any way.
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