Nashos

For decades the NSAA has run their NSAA Day at The Shrine in Melbourne on the second Sunday of February. With the majority of the NSAA Membership coming from the ‘old’ Nashos, this worked well. However, the majority of the ‘old’ Nashos are now well into the 80s with some into the 90s, so numbers are thinning.

However, there are still many of the 1960s/70s Nashos active, but they are spilt into three distinct groups: the NSAA, the OTU Association and ‘Nasho Fair Go’. In an effort to bring the three groups together, the NSAA has changed the format of the NSAA Day to the all-inclusive National Servicemen’s Day.

Scheyvillians are invited to attend the first National Servicemen’s Day on Sunday 9 February 2025 at The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

The Parade and Service:

Assemble at The Shrine forecourt below the steps at 10.45am for an 11.00am ‘Step Off’.

A short march up the steps onto the forecourt where the parade will halt and await the RAAF Museum aircraft flyover.

Then a short march past the eternal flame with an ‘eyes right/eyes front’.

The march will end in front of The Shrine Steps where the parade will be ‘fallen out’ by ranks to mount the steps for a photograph.

After the photograph, attendees will move to The Shrine through the St Kilda Road entrance for the service which commences at 11.30am.

Following the service there will be a ‘cuppa’ and some nibbles provided by the Salvation Army. Bring some gold coins (or notes) for a donation to the Salvos.

Dress:

The NSAA ‘uniform’ is blue jacket (Reefer or similar) shirt and tie, grey trousers and black shoes. Headwear is a Nasho beret.

OTU-A Members are asked to conform as close as possible with the above. OTU Caps will be acceptable headwear.

Full-size medals.

RSVP:

To assist with catering and service chair numbers, please advise your attendance to Neil Leckie at nkaleckie@optusnet.com.au by 1 February 2025.

Neil Leckie

0400 573 802

Lord and Lady Somers Camps

Dear Victorian Scheyvillians and State Chapter Chairs, I am writing to clarify the Victorian Chapter’s position regarding the Lord and Lady Somers Camps.

Our chapter has enjoyed a long and rewarding association with the Lord Somers and Powerhouse group since the mid-1980’s. This took the form of sponsoring numbers of young men and, more recently, young ladies, to the respective Lord and Lady Somers Camps held at Somers on Victoria’s Westernport Bay. There, the “Groupers” were put through an intensive programme of activities that brought out leadership among the “groupers” as well as giving an insight into their true physical capabilities.

Somers Camps were chosen as they were seen as having many of OTU’s positive attributes.

The running of both camps has come into criticism of late due to a perceived reduction in intensity and an adoption of newer social “norms”. These “norms” are not necessarily in keeping with the views of many Scheyvillians.

Three of the Victorian chapter met with LS&PH senior management last April to obtain, first-hand, a feeling as to where

the organisation was heading on these matters. It was explained that there was to be far more emphasis on “rights” of the individual “Groupers”. In essence, this amounted to a dilution of some of the aspects of the programmes we held in such favour. The full degree to which they were doing so was a little unclear.

Accordingly, it has been decided that the camps of January 2025 will be the last to receive our funding – albeit to a reduced level (in view of our near forty years’ positive relationship with the organisation an immediate cessation was considered inappropriate).

It is also recognised that, on the National wind down, monies especially earmarked for Youth Development will be made available to all States and the ACT. The intent is that none of these will go to LS&PH due to the concerns raised. The same applies to any residual Victorian funds.

The above approach has been endorsed by the Victorian executive. I trust this clarifies the situation.

Yours sincerely,

Frank Miller

Chairman

Victorian Chapter

Scheyvillians

The Hutner ANZAC Memorial Limited or HAML (rebranded for the Scheyville Project as TaskForce Veteran) is pushing forward with the restoration of parts of the Scheyville Site.

If you want to know more about TaskForce Veteran and its history, open the following hyperlink. It is worth looking at all the ‘drop downs’.

Neil Leckie, Editor, The Scheyvillian

https://taskforceveteran.org.au/projects/scheyville/