Dear Victorian Scheyvillians, as part of the Commemoration Program of the 50^th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, a Vigil is being arranged throughout Australia at the gravesides of those who lost their lives in that conflict. This is being done through the auspices of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

2Lt Len Taylor was one of the eight OTU graduates killed on Active Service. A Platoon Commander with B Company, 3RAR, Leonard died of wounds in an enemy contact on February 8^th, 1968, in Long Dien, Phuoc Tuy Province. He is buried in Box Hill Cemetery.

His vigil is to take place at 11:am on Thursday 3^rd August at the Box Hill Cemetery. It will take the form of a short service followed by the laying of a wreath. A luncheon will follow at the Box Hill RSL.

Timing: 10:45 Assemble outside the office of Box Hill Cemetery, 395 Middleborough Rd, Box Hill, then head to the graveside for the service.

Dress: Lounge Suit or Reefer Jacket, Tie (OTU if possible).

Medals: Scheyvillians are encouraged to wear their medals.

Please advise Andrew Guest by COB 27 July of your intention to attend the service and whether you will be having lunch at the Box Hill RSL.

Andrew Guest    Andrew.g.guest@gmail.com

Phone  0455 866 300

Frank Miller

Chairman, OTU Association.

..

12 July 2023

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL NOTICE FOR 2023/24

Gentlemen,

It is now time to renew your financial membership for 2023/2024. We had 655 financial members supporting the Association in 2022/2023, which is just below the 658 we had at the end of 2021/2022. It would appear that there is life in the old dogs yet and we are retaining our financial membership. We are finding that, as our members are retiring from work, they are enjoying the activities that the Association provides and are seeking out their classmates.

If you have not been financial, but have enjoyed the fellowship that the Association offers through Chapter activities, ANZAC Day marches/functions, class reunions, The Scheyvillian, OTU merchandise and the Coffee Table Book, please consider supporting the Association in 2023/2024 by becoming a financial member. If you no longer wish to be part of the OTU Association, just return the attached Membership Renewal Form, notated accordingly.

Three options are available when renewing your financial membership:

1 Complete the attached Membership Renewal Form, attach a cheque, and send it to our Treasurer.
2 Use the information on the attached Membership Renewal Form to pay by Direct Debit.
3 Access the website, www.otu.asn.au, and pay by PayPal.
(To do this you will need to log in using your regimental number & surname, then go to the Q Store tab on the top menu. After adding a subscription to your cart, click on “checkout” not “continue shopping”). You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this secure credit card gateway.

If you are paying by direct debit, or PayPal, please also take the time to check your personal profile on the website and update your details.

It would be helpful if the bulk of our membership renewals were completed by
31 July 2023.

nil bastardum carborundum,

Graeme Chester 2/67
OTU Association Membership Officer

For Membership Renewal Form, click here : OTU Membership Renewal Form 23 – 24

Hi All,
Further to my last the website www.vvv.org.au has all the details and suggestions on how to organise the Vigil.

They call for volunteers and suggest;
VIETNAM VETERANS VIGIL VOLUNTEERS
How Can You Help
Fill out the I want to Volunteer Form. (note: any information posted will NOT be shared and you will be kept informed by email and Update Newsletters. All data will be destroyed on 19 Aug 23.)
Choose a Serviceperson to Commemorate
Locate the Grave or Commemorative Plaque from our 523 KIA list or our VIETNAM VETERANS VIGIL MAP.
If possible, do a Reconnaissance to make sure the Grave or Plaque is still there and has not been moved within the Cemetery or elsewhere.
Do some research on the internet to try to find out if there any surviving members of the Family concerned. You may also try a Vietnam Veteran group, Unit Association or the RSL Sub-Branch. A local Historical Society or Community Museum may also be of assistance.
Invite any family or associated family members, or his service mates you can find to join you at the Commemorative Service on the 3 Aug 23 at say 1030 to prepare for the service at 1100.
Consider asking your local Newspaper or Radio station to place an article or interview you on air about what you wish to achieve within your community to recognise a life lost and a family’s grief.
Download and print off a copy of the suggested Service of Remembrance. (make any adjustments you consider necessary to personalise the Service)
Download the Last Post and Reveille sound audio onto your phone or recording device to use within the Ceremony if you think appropriate.
Conduct a private rehearsal.
Let the community know where to Meet you on the 3 Aug 23, say at 1030, so that you can introduce yourselves to each other and ask for volunteers to read out/participate in the Service. (you may wish to share the Readings/Prayers to make the service more ‘inclusive’.)
Conduct the Service of Remembrance on the 3 Aug 23 at 1100 hours.
Take a photo or two and go to Virtual War Memorial Australia
Then

Brian Cooper
bctcooper@gmail.com
0418373874

On 26 Jun 2023, at 7:57 pm, Brian Cooper <bctcooper@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,
Back in March I sent out the detail of the planned Vigil for OTU graduate Veterans who were KIA.
I also recently sent the planned Vigil for Ian Mathers in Holland Park in Brisbane.
Victoria is presently planning a suitable vigil for 2LT Taylor at Box Hill in Melbourne.
It would seem appropriate that you might drive a plan for a vigil at the gravesites in your States.
The list is below. The list could easily have included any of us who served in SVN.
Over to you.
Cheers and with deepest respect.
Brian

Brian Cooper
bctcooper@gmail.com
0418373874

On 29 Mar 2023, at 5:20 pm, Brian Cooper <bctcooper@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,
As mentioned in my earlier email ( below) one of the events planned is for a Vigil to be held at the gravesites and memorials across Australia and overseas on 3 Aug.
Wayne Banks has suggested that we might communicate this to the membership at large.
Ian and Neil do you think you can send something like this to all members, Ian via email and Neil in the next Scheyvillian :

One of the events being planned in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War is a Vigil to be held at gravesites and memorials throughout Australia and overseas on 3 August 2023. This would be a great opportunity for Scheyvillians to pay their respects to our graduates who were Killed in Action and also perhaps to those classmates who have passed since.
Our KIA and their gravesites are;
2LT J. Fraser- Nerang QLD
2LT A.D. Jellie- Pasadena SA
2LT T.E. Langlands- Beresfield NSW
2LT I.G. Mathers- Holland Park QLD
2LT D. Paterson- Pasadena SA
2LT K.P. Rinkin- Taree NSW
2LT G.C.Sharp- Tamworth NSW
2LT L.A.Taylor- Box Hill VIC

In addition, we all know of others who have since passed.

We have several months to prepare. Give some thought to how we might be able to pay due homage to our fallen classmates on 3 Aug.
A Vigil at the gravesites of the above would be the least we could do. Perhaps a commemorative gathering locally afterwards.
More can be found on www.vvv.org.au
A worthwhile endeavour.

Regards
Brian Cooper
National Deputy Chair and Commemoration Liaison

Comments and ideas welcome please

Brian Cooper
bctcooper@gmail.com
0418373874

On 24 Mar 2023, at 2:15 pm, Brian Cooper <bctcooper@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,
Another meeting of this Committee was held in mid Feb with Minutes just received.
There is considerable progress.
Key points are:
Continued encouragement for organisations to apply for Saluting Their Service grants. (We did try for our National reunion with no success).
The launch of the Commemorative Certificate and Medallion for those who served in Vietnam ( and families of deceased) can be expected in March. Application process TBA.
There will be a Commemorative event on 18 Aug with invitations TBC.
An ABC documentary is planned a three part series, covering the Australian experience in Vietnam and also life in Australia at the time being careful not to focus on the negative aspects.
A Vietnam Veterans Vigil is planned for 3 Aug 2023 at gravesites of Vietnam Vets and memorials across Australia and overseas.
A Vietnam logo is now available and can be used, see below.

That about sums it up for now.
Cheers
Brian

Brian Cooper
bctcooper@gmail.com
0418373874

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