Victorian Scheyvillians

The NSAA has rebranded NSAA Day to National Servicemen’s Day and has invited all Nashos to attend the annual event. This now includes NSAA Members, OTU-A Members, Nasho Fair Go Members and Non-aligned Nashos and Nasho Vietnam Veterans. Indications are that there could be over 100 Nashos in attendance.

Date:               Sunday 9 February 2025

Place:              Assemble below the steps halfway along The Shrine main pathway.

Time:              1045 hrs for a briefing. Step Off at 1100 hrs.

Dress:             As for ANZAC Day: coat, tie, full-size medals, hat etc. Note that the NSAA ‘uniform’ is a blue beret, reefer jacket, tie and full-size medals.

March:           The march will take place in two parts: Part 1, march up the steps onto the main forecourt. Part 2 will be a march past the ‘Eternal Flame’ (with an eyes right – eyes front). After a left wheel, the march will halt at the main steps. The parade will be fallen out to form up on the lower steps for a photograph. After the photo, Scheyvillians are requested to meet on the flagpole side of the steps for a further photo.

Service:         After the photograph, a service will be held in The Shrine.

After the service:     The Salvation Army will provide drinks and nibbles. Please bring a small amount of cash for a donation to the Salvos.

About a dozen Scheyvillians, who would not normally attend, have indicated that they will attend on 9 February.

If you haven’t already done so, please advise your attendance to me.

Neil Leckie

Editor, The Scheyvillian

nkaleckie@optusnet.com.au

0400 573 802

OTU Members and Friends

As previously advised, Brett Wild, CEO of the Hunter ANZAC Memorial Limited or HAML (rebranded as TaskForce Veteran) has extended an invitation to all Scheyvillians to attend the opening of the Scheyville Veterans, Families and Community Centre on Saturday 22 February 2025 – details are below. As Brett Wild is currently ‘out of action’ if you can attend, please RSVP to the Scheyville Site Museum Curator, Craig Robinson at craigr@taskforceveteran.org.au with a CC to myself.

Brett wishes to thank those Scheyvillians who have contacted him offering memorabilia from their time at OTU and to those Scheyvillians who have made a financial donation to the TaskForce Veteran charity.

Date:                  Saturday, 22 February 2025.

Place:                 Scheyville National Park HQ, Scheyville Road, Scheyville (the former OTU site)

Time:                 10am for the official opening followed by Morning Tea.

Dress:                Although this is a somewhat informal event, it is suggested that Scheyvillians ‘put on a show’ and wear what you would normally wear for ANZAC Day – coat, tie, large medals and a hat/cap. A nametag would also be handy.

Photo:              After the opening it is hoped that we can gather all the Scheyvillians together for a group photograph.

The OTU Association looks forward to a good roll up.

Neil Leckie, Editor, The Scheyvillian

nkaleckie@optusnet.com.au

0400 573 802

Nashos

For decades the NSAA has run their NSAA Day at The Shrine in Melbourne on the second Sunday of February. With the majority of the NSAA Membership coming from the ‘old’ Nashos, this worked well. However, the majority of the ‘old’ Nashos are now well into the 80s with some into the 90s, so numbers are thinning.

However, there are still many of the 1960s/70s Nashos active, but they are spilt into three distinct groups: the NSAA, the OTU Association and ‘Nasho Fair Go’. In an effort to bring the three groups together, the NSAA has changed the format of the NSAA Day to the all-inclusive National Servicemen’s Day.

Scheyvillians are invited to attend the first National Servicemen’s Day on Sunday 9 February 2025 at The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

The Parade and Service:

Assemble at The Shrine forecourt below the steps at 10.45am for an 11.00am ‘Step Off’.

A short march up the steps onto the forecourt where the parade will halt and await the RAAF Museum aircraft flyover.

Then a short march past the eternal flame with an ‘eyes right/eyes front’.

The march will end in front of The Shrine Steps where the parade will be ‘fallen out’ by ranks to mount the steps for a photograph.

After the photograph, attendees will move to The Shrine through the St Kilda Road entrance for the service which commences at 11.30am.

Following the service there will be a ‘cuppa’ and some nibbles provided by the Salvation Army. Bring some gold coins (or notes) for a donation to the Salvos.

Dress:

The NSAA ‘uniform’ is blue jacket (Reefer or similar) shirt and tie, grey trousers and black shoes. Headwear is a Nasho beret.

OTU-A Members are asked to conform as close as possible with the above. OTU Caps will be acceptable headwear.

Full-size medals.

RSVP:

To assist with catering and service chair numbers, please advise your attendance to Neil Leckie at nkaleckie@optusnet.com.au by 1 February 2025.

Neil Leckie

0400 573 802