FIFTY-four years ago, the all corps Possum Unit, 161 Independent Recce Flight, first served in South Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Last week, Ballarat saw the Possums reunite, with 118 association members from across Australia attending a \u2018meet and greet\u2019 evening at the Mercure, before a formal dinner and memorial service across the next two days.<\/p>\n
Organised by a working group headed by Victorian Branch President and Ballarat local, Tom Jobling, the reunion benefited from a council Community Impact Grant, and some guests hadn\u2019t seen each other for over 50 years.<\/p>\n
In Vietnam, Phillip Consalvo and two friends, Tony Gill and Bob van Aken sourced guitars, drums and air base amplifiers from the infantry battalion.<\/p>\n
With a microphone taken from a tape recorder and attached to a broomstick, they created their band, Wang\u2019s Bang.<\/p>\n
Playing around the units of Nui Dat in 1969, music was a joyful outlet for them in a context where their lives depended on one other.<\/p>\n
Mr Consalvo travelled all the way from Lismore in New South Wales to the bi-annual Possum reunion last week. It\u2019s important to him to relive these \u201chappy times\u201d with those he has an unbreakable bond with.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really good to catch up with people that you went through some hard times with, but that\u2019s not what we reminisce about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe reminisce about the times when we had to work hard and fix the aircraft in the middle of the night because they had to be ready by the next morning… Then we\u2019d get our release.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe songs we sang were of that era and the guys really appreciated it, because although they had their Akai tape recorders, reel to reel, they just loved the atmosphere in our boozer, having a few beers and listening to the old songs.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a privilege for Tom Jobling, having the opportunity to organise the weekend of memories and friendship.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re grateful that people have taken the trouble at their age to travel so far. Some of the guys I\u2019ve seen here tonight, I have not seen since 1969,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat\u2019s Cr Samantha McIntosh said it\u2019s important the local community continues to host gatherings like the Possum 54 Reunion.<\/p>\n
\u201cMilitary reunions are a great opportunity to reforge bonds and rekindle past friendships. For so many, life after service is where the real battle lies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be a challenge to become separated from those who have shared your experiences and understand the trauma and situations you\u2019ve faced.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvents such as this can have a healing and even therapeutic affect for so many veterans, and that\u2019s why the City of Ballarat is absolutely proud to support the event.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FIFTY-four years ago, the all corps Possum Unit, 161 Independent Recce Flight, first served in South Vietnam. Last week, Ballarat saw the Possums reunite, with 118 association members from across Australia attending a \u2018meet and greet\u2019 evening at the Mercure, before a formal dinner and memorial service across the next two days. Organised by a […]<\/p>\n