19th September saw the installation of the 30kva standby generator to service both the Qld. branch and the Men’s Shed. The installation was the culmination of a long protracted process of grant application ($35,000.00), grant approval and then coordination of the concreter Pete Tassopoulous and the electrician Jake Farnham.
The generator arrived on Friday 19th September at 10am, and was offloaded onto the concrete slab, with Jake, Peter and Kevin looking on and making sure Jake didn’t get his hands crushed under the 1500kg generator as it was lowered down. Once the truck had gone, Jake then completed the electrical connections and went through an exhaustive test sequence to make sure everything worked as it should. This process was finished around 12 noon, and we were given a run through on how to maintain and test run the generator on a regular basis.
When, not if, the next power blackout occurs, the generator will automatically start up and provide power to both branches. Once the mains power comes back on, the generator will automatically shut down, ready for next time.
The new concrete works began some 12 months ago with a grant application and quotes for the work at the garden end of the car park. The purpose for the outlay was to facilitate better and smoother access to the Qld. branch office for our not so mobile veterans.
Once the grant was approved, the contractor, Peter Tassopolous, set the date for the 4th of July. The ground preparation works being completed beforehand, concrete was poured, starting at 06.30 and finishing around noon. In addition, a second slab was prepared by Frank and Mick for a new 3m x 3m storage shed, adjacent to the gravel path. This slab was then laid after the main slab at just the cost of the concrete and steel reinforcing.
Slab preparation works.Drainage channels around sheds.Concrete Pump and delivery truck.Slab preparation and first concrete poured.Last section of the Concrete slab.Waiting on the concrete to dry before finishing with the “helicopter”.Completed Car Park concrete slab.Concrete truck delivering the concrete.Shed slab preparation for concrete.Completed Storage Shed slab.
TSS (The Southport School) was in the process of establishing a memorial hall to commemorate 52 past students that had fallen during WWI. They had obtained 52 Lee Enfield rifles (all decommissioned), along with battle jackets decorated with the appropriate rank and medals peculiar to each of the 52 fallen soldiers. In order to display this memorabilia, TSS approached the Men’s Shed to build four rifle racks to display the 52 rifles, using a good quality hardwood timber. After visiting the proposed memorial Hall site at the school, the project was accepted and so began a long process involving many hours and sweat and tears.
Over the following months, the racks were constructed by our members, namely Warren Street, Frank Bosio, Kevin Roberts and to a lesser extent, Andy Bryson. A couple of weeks before Anzac Day 2025, the four racks were completed and installed on their bases in the Memorial Hall, to the great delight of the Organiser Jason Sten.
As a result of this work, TSS has asked the shed to also build a Ceremonial Sword rack for 20 swords, and possibly also four timber coat racks to hold the 52 battle jackets, so watch this space.
Rifle supporting brackets.Pre-cut timber for racks.Sizing timber for rack support.Routing slots for shelves.Rack pre-assembly.Testing rifle for fit.Assembled rack.Rack base ready for completion.Assessing wall space for rack installation.Will they fit?Unloading racks from truck.Careful lineup.Steady as she goes.On the way to the ramp.Up she goes.Made it to the top.Positioning for the base.Second one in place.Fixing to the wall.Fixing to the floor.All four racks in place.Racks full of rifles and battle coats in the background.Commerative photo to be placed in the space between the racks.All four racks filled and finished.
It is with great sadness we hear about the passing of Marcus Gardner, of Swiftco Trailers Gold Coast. Marcus & Partner Samone Hemy are Major Supporters & Sponsors to our Qld Veteran Support Group’s Fundraising programs which raise funds to assist war Veterans & their Families. Marcus had a great personality, & always ready to assist our VSG as he believed so much in our cause.
A truly wonderful person, Marcus will be surely missed by all Veterans in our Group. May he rest in peace for what he has achieved in life. Andy Bryson, President.
A Remembrance Day Ceremony was held at the Veterans Support Group Nerang premises at 11am on November 11 2024.
The ceremony adhered to the accepted protocols, beginning with the lowering the Australian flag to half-mast at 10.40am. Veterans Support Group personnel from both the Qld. Branch and the Men’s Shed gathered around the flag pole, and Padre Gary Stone began proceedings with prayer. This was followed by the reading of an appropriate poem of battles past, and then The Ode was spoken.
The Last Post was then played, followed by one minutes silence at 11am. Then, as Rouse was played, the flag was raised back to peak height, timed to coincide with the ending of Rouse. That concluded the ceremony.
Veterans Support Group personnel gathered for the Remembrance Ceremony 11/11/2024.Reading of an appropriate poem from battles past.Australian National Flag at half-mast.
NEW, Traditional timber clinker Dinghy 7′ x 4’6″ Professionally built to fundraise for returned War Veterans & their Families. The Buyer is not only getting a beautifully hand crafted Boat Tender, but assisting in this very worthwhile cause. As an additional bonus…we will include a Yamaha 5hp O/B motor, (just serviced ) approx 20 total run hours.( value $900)
$3,850.00
SPONSORSHIP/SUPPORTER DONATION BANKING DETAILS:-
A/C NAME:- VIETNAM VETERANS FEDERATION, BRISBANE/GOLD COAST REGIONA SUB BRANCH Inc.
