Scheyvillians
A few years ago, former Army Warrant Officer Brett Wild was the Chairman of Hunter ANZAC Memorial Limited (HAML). He was passionate about helping veterans and their families in the Hunter Region of NSW and was the force behind the Celebration of the Greta Army Camp held in 2019. Brett cast his view wider and saw the Scheyville Site as one that played a very important part in the Australian Army during the Vietnam era. He was disgusted in what he saw had happened to the site and was determined to see that site be at least partly restored to its former glory.
Prior to the 2022 election, Brett had the Scheyville Site placed on the list of Veterans and Family Hubs offered by the LNP government. However, Labor won the election and the hubs were scrapped. Later eight hubs were funded, but due to Brett’s persistence, funding was also found for the Scheyville Site. Under the auspices of Taskforce Veteran, Brett and his team have transformed the Cadets Mess, the Gymnasium and the two Nissen Huts, that were used by the Officers Mess, into useable buildings. Other improvements have been made to the site.
Tenants in the Cadets Mess are a military vehicles association and a Veterans Workshop. The gymnasium is having a museum developed in it, while one of the Nissen Huts is a military library and the other is a museum for the Immigration Centre days of the Scheyville Site.
In January, Brett Wild suffered a massive stroke. He survived for some five months, finally passing away on 7 June 2026. Several Scheyvillians attended Brett’s funeral at the Singleton Civic Centre on 26 June. The service was supported by Singleton Army Base personnel.
An opportunity to visit Scheyville, maybe the last opportunity for many of us, will be on Saturday 15 August 2026 when Task Force Veteran holds a mixed lunch at Scheyville.
The lunch is to be held in the lead-up to the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan where David Sabben and Gordon Sharp were platoon commanders. As we know Gordon was killed in that battle.
Scheyvillians are encouraged to attend the lunch to remember Gordon Sharp, and the other seven Scheyvillians who died in Vietnam, to visit the restored site and to thank Brett Wild for his foresight and his drive in seeing this project to its conclusion. The official invitation follows.
Invitation to Scheyville’s 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan
OTU Scheyville graduated 1,881 2nd Lieutenants into the Australian Regular Army, the Regular Army Supplement (National Service), the RAAF and the Citizen Military Forces. 365 of those graduates served in Viet Nam. Sadly, eight of them died in Viet Nam, including a first graduating class member Gordon Sharp at the Battle of Long Tan. One of Gordon’s classmates, David Sabben, survived the battle.
On Saturday 15 August 2026, Taskforce Veteran is holding a lunch at Scheyville to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, and the part that Scheyville played in that battle, and indeed in the Viet Nam war.
The attached invitation gives details of the lunch and the entertainment, being John Schumann of “I was only 19” fame, organised by the late Brett Wild in his then role of Chairman of Taskforce Veteran.
Those whose birth date was drawn in the first two ballots have now turned 80 years of age, with the rest not far behind. Scheyvillians are encouraged to attend this lunch as it may be the last time many of us are fit enough to travel to Scheyville to see what has been achieved in the restoration of the site so far.
The dress code is neat casual with full-size medals. For officers and gentlemen, it is recommended that we wear a Jacket with a collared shirt and preferably an OTU Association (or other military association) tie.
For booking, a QR Code is on the invitation. Alternatively, included below is a link that may also be used.
https://www.otu.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/Invite-60th-Anniversary-Luncheon.pdf
https://www.trybooking.com/1601241
Neil Leckie,
Editor, The Scheyvillian. M: 0400 573 802