ANZAC DAY IN BRISBANE AUSTRALIA 25 APRIL 2011

We started our day by renewing acquaintances with our Inala friends and leading their (shortened) parade proudly conveying one veteran each in our two jeeps down to Memorial Park. Dale then lined up ahead of me to carry aging veterans through the streets of Brisbane. My vets and I had a ball! Co-incidentally all three comrades were from the 2nd 9 Division (my father’s) and we were all wearing regimental ties. Theirs’ were blue indicating their roles in the artillery and mine was green showing my father’s tank driving and instructing cavalry role! It was exciting to have this commonality and we were able to share stories regarding troop placements, medals and badges. Sharing the jeep with them was sheer joy as we lapped up the attention of film crews interviewing them and their family, friends and other well wishers paying tribute to them. My veterans weren’t sure about taking the salute from Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley and reckoned that I had to take it for them. (I did not.) We unanimously decided to pull up at the pub for a beer afterwards. Due to the large number of golf buggies at hand, the jeeps were largely not required (very unusual and disappointing to only get one lap).

On our final “thank you” lap, I filled my jeep with Vietnamese students to the delight of the crowd. Their enthusiastic waving of the Australian flag drew a lovely response from our Governor, as she called out showing her enthusiasm for them. Four large vehicles turned up on the day, Michael and Emiel’s Studebaker, Nigel and Lisa’s Blitz, Doug’s GMC, and the more newly acquired ex Swiss Army 1962 Mercedes’Benz Unimog S404 owned by Geoff Jackson. In catching up with Geoff, I learned that he was really trying to make the most of his inaugural Anzac Day trip out in the Unimog. The Unimog, formerly owned by the Swiss Army part of NATO, “saw no action, I guess,” said Geoff. Starting out at the 7.00am Goodna early morning parade, he joined in with Brian Yates who’d brought along his jeep and trailer. Then onto the 9.15am Bundamba parade where he was the only military vehicle present. “They were very pleased to have me“, said Geoff. “ I knew that the club was looking for jeeps in the city, so I thought at least the Unimog will help to swell the numbers a bit.” Geoff made a beeline for Elizabeth Street where he was just in time to join in our “thank you” lap.