Possums reunite with help of council grant

THE Victorian Branch of the 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight Association has received a Community Impact Grant from the City of Ballarat to assist in covering costs for their P54 Reunion.

Four members of the tight-knit, all corps ‘Possum Unit’ are Ballarat locals, including Victorian President, Tom Jobling.

With a “working group,” he has organised October’s reunion to be held in Victoria for the first time, recognising 54 years since the unit’s first deployment.

With 106 members of the association travelling to the city from across Australia and New Zealand, the grant will go towards the venue hire of Mercure Ballarat, production costs of informational placemats and Possum 54 Reunion bumper stickers.

Each attendee is saving around $40.

Mr Jobling was one of the unit’s maintenance engineers, and said it was an honour to be asked to host the gathering, let alone receive this financial backing.

“The reunion would have been a lot more expensive to the individuals, considering they all cover their travel and accommodation expenses. We’ve always self-funded the activities, whereas this time, we’ve got direct support from our local government,” he said.

“The help that I got from the people in council in the process of submitting the grant, it just made it very easy. It was fantastic.”

The 161 (Indep) Recce Flight Unit was one of the longest serving units in Vietnam, seeing 896 men work throughout Bien Hoa, Nui Dat and Vung Tau from 1965 to 1972.

It was especially raised for service in South Vietnam and is the only unit still operational. Now as 161 Recce Squadron, they’re flying ‘Tiger’ armed helicopters out of Darwin.

As one of the most highly decorated units of the Vietnam war, awards received by members of 161 (Indep) Recce Flight include an MBE, a Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, tens of Distinguished Flying Crosses, Mentions in Despatches, and United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendations amongst others.