On the eve of Anzac Day, Greg Russell gave a thoughtful, well-researched and interesting presentation, ‘Reflections on Anzac Day’. He spoke about Gallipoli, about which we all know, but he didn’t dwell on it, devoting much time instead to the Western Front battles (Villers Bretonneux, Fromelles, in particular) and the actions in the Middle East (Sinai, Palestine, Syria) with the last great cavalry charge (on Beersheba), by the Australian Light Horse, being a highlight.

 

Outstanding leaders such as General John Monash, commander of the Australian army corps in France, and General Harry Chauvel, Australian Light Horse commander, emerged.

 

The ANZAC contribution to The Great War effort was massive and, as the following statistics show, accompanied by appalling casualties:

The Great War, as with all wars, left a terrible legacy with families, not only with the deaths and maiming of loved ones, but because of the ongoing psychological trauma many soldiers experienced when they returned home.

 

 

Dan helped set up a full Shelterbox Display at the Barossa Air Show put on by the Rotary Club of Barossa Valley last week.  It was actually a terrific, professionally run event and great fun for all...except for the intrepid team of volunteers from the Rotaract Club of Adelaide. 

 

The allocated site appeared to be ideal, as it was right beside the entrance and beside the promised, popular helicopter rides.  By 11:30, though, 5 helicopters had arrived and started conducting 5 minute joy flights for $50 a person.  Each took off and landed every 5 minutes adding up to 24 VERY NOISY movements an hour beside our site.  In total, for all 5 helicopters over 5 hours that amounted to some 600 take-offs or landings which somewhat stifled ANY conversation with visitors.

 

...and worse, pilots on departure, normally backed off by raising the tail, tipping the nose and only then rotating to the left before flying off to the rear.  On one of the first take-offs immediately behind the display, the pilot immediately started to rotate to the left, away from the display while only a few feet off the ground and the resulting powerful downdraft sent the marquee, the table, all the display equipment, chairs and brochures flying in the every direction!

 

6,000 people were on site and it was not possible to relocate, so the team stuck it out with a pretty sorry looking display!  Spirits remained high, however, and it turned into a great. fun, team-building experience overall!

 

Check out the position of the departing helicopter.

This one rotated away but only after reaching

a safer height and distance.

 

It was still very loud, though!

 

All promised to return in 2 years’ time as long as a site nearer the food or the toilets was offered!

 

For a quick demonstration of the flight of a model fighter jet, click here.

After being married for thirty years, a wife asks her husband to describe her.

He looks at her for a while... then says, ‘you're A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K.’

She asks... ‘What does that mean?’

He says, ‘Adorable, Beautiful, Cute, Delightful, Elegant, Foxy, Gorgeous, Hot.’

She smiles happily and says... ‘Oh, that's so lovely... What about I, J, K?’

He says, ‘I'm Just Kidding!’

The swelling in his eye is going down and the doctor is fairly optimistic about saving his private parts.