Dear Gunners (Readers) -
Welcome to Airburst No 53 Agust2021
Covid has silence the guns!
The National Salute was fired on 1 August to commemorate 150 years of Australian Artillery. The salute commenced at the RAA National Memorial, MT Pleasant, Canberra and was taken up by saluting troops in Adelaide, Perth, Northern Territory and Townsville. Sadly Covid denied firings in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The content of the Head of Regiment's letter explaining the suspension of the planned Ubique 150 events is shown below
To the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, former Gunners, and Australia Artillery
Associations.
It is with a degree of sadness and fi-ustration that I write to inform you I have had to make the
difficult decision that all remaining activities planned to commemorate the 150th anniversary
of our Regiment are to be suspended until 2022.
The 150th anniversary of the RAA is a significant milestone and an event of national
significance that deserves appropriate recognition and celebration. COVID has resulted in
any large-scale event being constantly under threat of cancellation or being reduced to levels
that fail to meet the standards of this milestone, and therefore the activities planned for 06
Nov 21 are unlikely to be workable.
I understand that many of those in the Gunner community will receive this news with
sadness, disappointment and frustration. However, given the unpredictable nature of the
COVID there are no guarantees that any event can progress whilst there are so many
uncontrollable variables. It is also important to note that as important the RAA 150th is to the
Gunner Community, there are people around Australia at the moment suffering considerable
loss, hardship and anguish as a result of the ongoing lockdowns and global pandemic; it
would be selfish and irresponsible for us to proceed when so many are in such distress.
I have directed the DHOR to commence the formal suspension of all high-profile RAA 150th
activities (Parade and Drumhead Service, Cocktail Party, Laying up of the Queens Banner,
and the ANZAC Centenary Gun presentation ceremony), however it is expected that
regional, unit and association events will proceed on a case-by-case basis, pending State and
Federal COVID restrictions.
The remaining RAA 150th commemorative activities will be executed once Australia
achieves a population vaccination rate of 70 - 80% and COVID impacts can be mitigated,
this is aligned to Defence and community expectations.
R.A. Vagg
Brigadier
Head of Regiment
After 10 years of supportive service Major General (Retd) Steve Gower has subehalfrrendered the office ogf RAAHC Patron. On behalf of all members of the Company I would like to extend our grateful thanks to Steve for his unstinting efforts on our behalf. I am pleased to report that Lieutenant General Greg Bilton has agreed to become our Patron and has assumed that role as from 7 August 2021. We look forward to Greg's interaction with the RAAHC. Greg's biographical details are shown below.
If you not as yet have a lapel pin for the 150th then see the information below and get in contact with the Honorary Treasurer.
There are eleven copies of the Book of Days left. See below if you have not ordered!
Ian Ahearn
Chair RAAHC
