o sung wu,
Ah! Redfern Barracks, Not unlike basic at Pukka but perhaps a little more sophisticated. Millers is long gone now and so is mine, Reschs 'P'
I tried out for the horses but they didn't like me, same with the bikes but I managed to get my first brief with the water boys because of my underwater demo training with the yanks per the 173rd. Airborne out of Okinawa on detachment to 1RAR (March 1965) from Div HQ (Intelligence recon)

Spent most of the next 6 years attached to the Yanks as Intel Liaison and CO/harbor/tunnel clearance. Came home Mid August 71 brain dead.

JAYB must have had a rough trot with 1RAR and that hell fight at Coral
Our was was bad enough but can't imagine what these kids in Iraq and Afghanistan are going through.

No, 2-2alpha, B Coy. 5 Pl,4 Section. I was a chook for a while, hence the callsign. Coral was 2nd tour. We had Ho Bo Woods & Silver City.

Back on track, Yes these blokes will have a whole heap of Mental problems after their experience in Syria/Lebanon/Iraq. Especially as there is no Geneva Convention for them to worry about, like we had to. Their War is, & will be very dirty. There seems to be more than one side in their case. Hmmm, I don't see the Greens up in arms about what they do.

Hence my opposition to them coming back to Australia all fired up & Super Religious. Can we keep them out, Yes we can.

CHAPTER III – CESSATION CLAUSES A. General

113. Article 1 C of the 1951 Convention provides that:

“This Convention shall cease to apply to any person falling under the terms of section A if:

(1) He has voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; or

(2) Having lost his nationality, he has voluntarily re-acquired it; or

(3) He has acquired a new nationality, and enjoys the protection of the country of his new nationality; or

(4) He has voluntarily re-established himself in the country which he left or outside which he remained owing to fear of persecution;

Hi again CHRISGAFF1000...

You said you only joined the 'boaties' because they gave you a S & W Mod 60/66 in .38spec, Stainless ? While the rest of us carried the trusty 3" Mod 10 in .38spec. When all the while I thought you Water Police blokes got to wear (issue) shorts !

Seriously, you'd well remember NSWP were the first force to be fully equipped with the Mod 10, .38spec. Of course some of the more specialised units/squads carried all manner of armaments like WP, and SWOS, etc. Still and all, for a State Government to uniformly arm the entire force with the same weapon system, was both a large and quite costly exercise, considering the bits 'n pieces which were usually issued out to members. The old Webley & Scott, .32 SLP, the Harrington & Richardson and the trusty but ancient Iver Johnson revolver, to name just a few. All of which were typical examples. I understand also, most were seized in the commission of a crime, and provided they were deemed serviceable and safe, they were subsequently issued to members ? They were the days of lace-up boots, before the more comfortable elastic side Baxter's were issued ?

I should immediately refrain, from this sentimental journey, and return to the Topic at hand.

Those poor misguided Muslim youngsters, who feel an appreciable need to go fight in some unspecified conflict in far off Syria. And having done so, to once again return to this 'giving' bosom of ours in good old benevolent Australia. Even willing to put-up with this vacuous society and a filthy culture, they all despise and uniformly hate !

Nevertheless, for the greater good, they'll forgive us, albeit temporarily. By hesitantly holding out their grubby hands, for another share of that generous 'bounty' they all know they'll receive. And receive in an abundance, to once again fund their next excursion into another war that hasn't yet started ? All this with the flow of massive tributes and accolades from every hard-working and law-abiding Australian taxpayer ! It really couldn't get any better ?

Nice to see some "Duty First" on here, Cheers, from an "Old Faithful".

Good evening CHRISGAFF1000 & JAYB...

Yep it was all a long time ago - Coral, Coogee, Balmoral. And with the Long Hai's, often lit up like a birthday cake, with the sincerest best wishes of the Yanks B52's nightly sorties. And for what ?

I really wonder why some migrants find it necessary to have dual passports, like many of these blokes going off to Syria ? If they wish to settle here in Oz, make it their home, improve their lot in life, why have two passports ? Surely an Australian Passport is more than sufficient ? Or is it they have some ulterior motive ? Engaged in some undisclosed illegal activity perhaps ? Just asking, that's all ?

I do wonder, whether or not many of these young blokes would really possess the 'right stuff'; a sufficiently good enough character, in order to make a positive contribution to Australia, and to the Australian way of life, in this - 'their' country ? A frightening thought wouldn't you agree ?

And, CHRISGAFF I hope you've extended the hours of operation, for your RSL; Pensions and Welfare Office, for these war weary lads returning from Syria ? You'll need a whole new set of Pension Guides from Vet. Affairs, if you ever hope to keep abreast with these Syrian TPI applications ? Laugh not my friend nothing, I repeat nothing, would surprise me ?

o sung wu,
"Mates4Mates" and Men's Shed are being fast tracked into service but the main problem is VA cash flow for services and the absolute shortage of qualified (experienced) psychiatrists over and above disqualified TAFE trained psychologists.
Fiddling with the brain is a pretty exact science and I've seen some really disastrous results from so called expert involvement.
It is a pretty big leap from bushfire counseling to combat stress.
Actually you were very close to the mark. I knew about the SS 38s and I'de heard about the shorts.
From memory the boots and my shirts were actually made in the prison system somewhere and my first issue was a "scull crusher" Webley complete with leather flap holster and lanyard.
Fired the thing a couple of times under Wynyard then went and bought a used but good .38 S&W Terrier 2" and got the local saddle maker to run up a belt clip holster. Still got it too.
Back then we had to hide our weapons from the public. Didn't want to alarm them.