Dear Gunners (Readers) -
WELCOME TO AIRBURST NO 13 - 2014,
The Annual General Meeting was held and I must say the attendance was disappointing however we managed a quorum and got on with the business . Thanks again to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust for making a meeting room available.
The 18 Pounder Project continues to gather pace. In Sydney at North Fort Jim Frecklington and Keven Browning are hard at work completing the restoration/rebuild of the gun and limber. A photo of the gun is shown below:
Meanwhile in Canberra, or more precisely Goulburn, horses and riders are being trained under the watchful eye of Max Pearce. Max is a harness trainer of renown and his expertise is most welcome. Four horses have now been trained an harness and they are shown in the photo below:
It is planned to have eight horses trained for harness by December.
Funding has been given a boost with DVA grants totaling $37,000 approved under the House of Representatives ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Programme. The Prime Minister has granted some $12,000, the Member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann has provided $23,000 for the horse training and the Member for Eden Monaro, Peter Hendy $1000. We still need your donations! Please spread the word!
The Board and volunteers have been busy. The discussion with Army about the Artillery Collection at Bandiana is nearing resolution and a Memorandum of Understanding for the future Army/RAAHC relationship has been negotiated. We have negotiated the release of a 25 Pounder to the Hall Community to enable them to place it at their Remembrance site.
The October 2014 Regimental Committee Meeting was attended by Jason Cooke one of our directors. Jason provided a report on the RAAHC's activities to that meeting. He also attended the opening of the RAA Interim Museum, a small display within the Armour Museum at Puckapunyal.
Work continues on the digitisation of the Library now located in the new library building at North Fort. Australia's Memorial Walk is being improved and repaired with particular emphasis on the replacement of information tablets.
The RAAHC is embarking on a ANZAC Centenary History Seminar Series titled: FIREPOWER - LESSONS FROM THE GREAT WAR. The Company intends to arrange and coordinate series of presentations on the history of Australian artillery during the Great War, from the Anzac landings in April 1915 to the final Hindenburg Line breaches in September 1918. The output of the Seminar Series will be the comprehensive treatment of the role of Artillery in the "war to end all wars". Detailed information is available on the Website
Finally a very Merry Christmas to you and your families and please have a very happy New Year.
Ubique,
Ian Ahearn
Deputy Chair
RAAHC
