Annual General Meeting Feedback

Our 2021 Christmas Dinner and Annual General Meeting went well. Everyone who attended the dinner seemed to have a great time and some of us who don't often see each other had a good chance to chat as we drank our wine and ate the lovely meals always available at The Clubhouse.

The AGM was well attended and the main highlights were that Lee Martin and Neville Jaeschke didn't stand for re-election. Elliott Nuttall was elected Vice President and we didn't fill Neville's position as we already had an additional member on the committee which usually stands at 10. Both Lee and Neville contributed greatly to our Management Committee and will be missed. Neville served on the Committee for 20 years, which is outstanding by any measure.

President, Trevor Klose thanked Lee and Neville and everyone for their continuing membership and contribution to our sub-branch, to Tich Tyson of Plympton RSL for helping us with the election of Committee members, and to Anthony Pulliati of Carbon Group Barossa for his pro bono review of our financial statements. He also reminded us of the support we receive from our local Ministers of Parliament and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Trevor extends a Merry Christmas and prosperous and safe 2022 to all our members and their families.

PS: Our last two Happy Hours for the year will be on 3rd and 10th December. We'd love to see you there. 

Christmas Luncheon and Annual General Meeting

Members and partners are cordially invited to join us for our Christmas Luncheon and Annual General Meeting to be held as follows:

When:    28 November 2021

Where:    The Clubhouse, 45 Macdonnell Street, Tanunda

Times:    12 pm for a 1230 pm start for lunch; 3 pm for the AGM

RSVP: By 26 November 2021 by email (see below) or to Dawn Klose, Secretary on 0419 787 422

NOTE: A range of meals is available from The Clubhouse menu at your own cost.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Management Committee.

Remember to Remember

One of the two most important days on the RSL Calendar, Remembrance Day will be commemorated at the Tanunda Memorial Park, Murray Street, Tanunda on Thursday, 11 November 2021.

Attendees are invited to be in-situ by 10:30 am sharp when the service will commence and RSL members are invited for a light lunch at The Hut following the service. 

Please do join us at the Tanunda Memorial Park.

Remembrance Day Appeal

Our volunteers will be outside Foodland Tanunda selling a wide range of memorabilia on Wednesday, 3 and Thursday, 4 November between 9 am and 5 pm.

This is part of our annual activity to raise funds for our veterans' support programs and the ongoing costs of running our sub-branch. Apart from special grants we receive for specific tied activities (see here), our club runs largely on donations from our generous sponsors and the Barossa public.

Numerous people simply drop off a donation and we have at least one collector who spends a large sum on new badges every year. Others buy one or two of our products sourced mainly from the Military Shop with whom we have an affiliation.

If you click on the Military Shop link here in the right column under Links, you'll not only find a rich harvest of militaria you can buy eg, jackets, medals, badges, caps, water bottles and much more, but you'll also ensure our club gets a small commission.

Do visit us on either of the two days and get yourself some of the newer memorabilia. We look forward to seeing you. 

PS: The umbrellas were popular last year as were the purple badges acknowledging the service that animals have provided during all wars.

Our Reconditioned Cannon!

You may or may not have noticed that the Ordnance 25 Pounder Cannon that usually sits along the left side of The Hut has been absent for a while. 

No, it wasn't stolen. It was sent for reconditioning - sand-blasting, repainting, and new tyres.

Now it looks like it's just come off the production lines, but you won't be able to see it for a while yet because the Tanunda Sports Complex is going to undergo some construction and redevelopment activity and we aren't sure where we will position the cannon to obtain the best view for passers-by.

Not only that, wherever we place it, it will need to be on a concrete base and have a cover over the top and perhaps wind-breakers around one or more sides to protect it from the environment. We are currently seeking funds to help with that project.

History

The Ordnance QF 25-pounder, or more simply, 25-pounder was introduced into service just before World War II, during which it served as the major British field gun/howitzer. Combining high rates of fire with a reasonably lethal shell in a highly mobile piece, it was the British Army's primary artillery field piece well into the 1960s, with smaller numbers serving in training units until the 1980s. 

Many Commonwealth of Nations countries used theirs, including Australia, in active or reserve service until about the 1970s. Our Army used a 25 pounder with a shorter barrel than the original British version.

While the Australian Army now uses the M777 155mm lightweight, towed howitzer, as its main artillery firepower, the 25 pounder served us well in the past. 

It's interesting to know that shells for the 25 pounders are still produced by Pakistan Ordnance but most remaining cannon are used for ceremonial purposes.

We'll keep you posted when we bring the cannon out of storage.