RARA-SA-News-Week-Ending-Friday-9th October-2026

For those who wish to renew their subs, see 2026 Membership Renewal Mil Bank July 26

Please be advised that from 1 July 26, the RARA SA  now only banks with the Australian Military Bank.  EFT details are on the new membership renewal forms.  Important, please ensure you include your name in the reference.

Cheques and money orders are no longer acceptable as the Military Bank will not process them, nor will many other banks and the big banks too will stop accepting them.  Be prepared.

Please use an EFT through your online bank account, and as long as the BSB and account number are correct, it does not matter if the RARA SA name is an identical match.

If you have any queries about your membership, please send us an email at the address below.  Please note RARA email address, especially for financial and membership matters is      rar01@internode.on.net

SA DC Forum Minutes 24 September 2026 – DRAFT

New

DFWA Media Release WRA 2026-29

also,

DFRDB_UPDATE_06-2026_1

DFRDB_UPDATE_10-2025_2

DFRDB_UPDATE_08-2025

Veteran Family Commissioner Newsletter – June ’26

ESORT Budget Communique – 13 May 2026

ESORT Communique – 23 March 2026 – FINAL

DVA Deputy Commissioner SA Message APRIL 2026

If you have not visited this site yet, it is very interesting and has some current members of the RARA SA on it, including the President, Mike von Berg MC OAM and Robert “Dogs”Kearney.

https://vwma.org.au/

Click on the link for the August 2023 edition of The INFANTRYMAN

https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/d4744afb3630991b11a6904c5cb4a560bbbeb665FBP28313339.pdf.html

For April 2023

https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/17ef59c2ff279366dd632e24cc749c7e9c1f1604202304.pdf.html#page/1

Infantryman December 2022

For  August 2022 Infantryman August 2022 – Copy

April 2022  Infantryman 8 April 2022

and, for December 2021

https://flipbookpdf.net/web/site/372aa22cf26e4539e706972f04490333e07abcad202112.pdf.html

On Friday 5 April the RARA was presented with a Essendon guernsey by Kevin Sheedy

L to R: Honourable Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Hon. Senator Don Farrell /RARA-SA Vice President (and RARA-SA (Burnside) RSL President) Rod Graham at rear / Burnside Mayor Anne Monceaux /Local member for the State seat of Bragg, Jack Batty MP / AFL Legend and former Nasho (21 Construction Squadron RAE 1969/1971) Kevin Sheedy AO / Local Member for the Federal seat of Sturt, James Stevens

L to R:  Local Member for the Federal seat of Sturt, James Stevens / Honourable Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Hon. Senator Don Farrell / Squadron Leader Ash Wright 453 Squadron RAAF / AFL Legend and Former Nasho (21 Construction Squadron RAE 1969/1971) Kevin Sheedy AO / WO2 Scott Cawsey LWC – rear / Local member for the State seat of Bragg,  Jack Batty MP / WO2 Jack Marshall AUR / 10/27 RSAR RSM WO1 Scott Hannan

Kevin Sheedy at Rose Park

I have posted a number of videos on Youtube of film that I took on 6RAR’s second tour in 1969-70. Each video is about 5 minutes long.  There is no commentary, just appropriate sounds of aircraft/guns/armour and background music. I originally did these for the National Vietnam Veterans Museum so they could be used on a free standing TV operated by the viewer alongside the museum item on display (eg, film of guns firing next to a 105mm howitzer).

One special film is when I went on a flight with Jade 8 (between operations) and witnessed an airstrike by Canberra bombers from the air. Years later after contacting Chris in Texas, he said he had taped the cockpit conversations between the Forward Air Controller (himself) and a flight of Canberra bombers on a similar airstrike. I have included that to add to the authenticity. I believe the film of the bombs dropping from the Canberra is unique in that can only be done from the perspective of a Forward Air Controller.

Vietnam War Aussie Armour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FATinuPC4Aw

Vietnam War Aussie Artillery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7mDAMNvPYY

Vietnam War Aussie Airstrike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au0W75-aTOs

Vietnam War Aussie Infantry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9tpxCqskFE

Vietnam War Aussie Hueys    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtoTbN3BHhI

Vietnam War Aussie Navy      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdS926B_xVU

Vietnam War Aussie R&C Vung Tau https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdAe0lZhSnM

An interesting read    National-Servicemen-in-Combat

Courtesy Dave Wilkins OAM and 5RAR Website

Courtesy of the 5RAR website, here is some historical information which may help revive a number of fading memories

http://www.5rar.asn.au/history/information-book-for-nashos.pdf

Click on the image for improved viewing, 1967 I think.

Join Army

Please view the latest news on the RCB campaign here RCB Update

There is an extensive history to this campaign under the Advocacy tab (above).

Please take the time to read this article which is primarily about Michael McKernan’s book, “When This Thing Happened”. The title defers to Michael Stawyskyj’s constant reference to the moment in Vietnam in 1969 – “When this thing happened”.  Michael Stawyskyj is the father of Joe Stawyskyj. a 5RAR digger serously wounded in 1969.

Here is the link http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2015/nov/25/tell-me-more-michael-mckernan-youve-got-a-few-books-left-in-you-yet