Members,

You may recall from my last update that I raised the issue of your support for our annual activities to commemorate the Regimental Battle Honours of Kapyong, Coral/Balmoral, Long Tan and Maryang San. I am pleased to say there was once again a small improvement in numbers attending these commemorative activities, but it still can improve more.

Upcoming Activities and Commemorative Services

• Kapyong Day Commemorative Service 2025. We will commemorate the Regimental Battle Honour for Kapyong on Thursday 24 April 2025 at 11:30 hrs at the National Korean War Memorial on ANZAC Parade.  It will be followed by a lunch at the Mercure Hotel at 12:30 pm. The Korean Community, RMC & ADC have been contacted with details of the commemoration.
• Anzac Day March and Reunion. The RARA – ACT will march as an Association on Anzac Day and conduct a reunion at the Mercure Canberra on 25 April 2025 from 11:00 hrs. The Association requires two volunteers to carry the Association Banner during the march, volunteers can respond to this email or contact the Secretary. More information will follow in due course from the Secretary, Glenn Crosland. 
• Coral/Balmoral. We will commemorate the Regimental Battle Honour for Coral/Balmoral on Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 11:30 hrs at the National Vietnam War Memorial on ANZAC Parade. It will be followed by a lunch at the Mercure Hotel at 12:30 pm.
•  Long Tan.The Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day/Long Tan Day will be commemorated on Monday 18 August 2025 at the National Vietnam War Memorial on ANZAC Pde.  The commemoration will be organised by the Vietnam Veterans ACT & District Committee, chaired by Ian Thompson of the Veterans Support Centre, Belconnen. We will provide more information nearer the date.
• Maryang San. We will commemorate the Regimental Battle honour forMaryang San on Thursday 6 October 2025 at 1130 hrs at the Korean War Memorial on ANZAC Parade. It will be followed by a lunch at the Mercure Hotel at 12:30 pm.
• Infantry Corps Dinner (with the RAR Foundation). The Infantry Corps Dinner with the RAR Foundation is planned for Thursday 20 November 2025 at 1830 for 1900 hrs at the CIT Restaurant, Reid. The dinner will also include the Hassett Trophy presentation for the best junior leader in the Regiment and School of Infantry. I will provide more information as we get nearer the events.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting was delayed from mid-year to 10 December 2024 as the audit was not available until mid-November. The AGM was conducted via Zoom to ensure maximum participation from the membership. The minutes and my report are attached to this email.

 Membership 

At the time of this update our financial membership is sitting at 42. This is better than last year but is still not enough to sustain our yearly commemorations, with wreaths, and our funding for the food at the Anzac Day reunion. As I indicated in my last update the minimum number of yearly-subscriptions we need for the Association to remain viable is around 60. The committee has set the annual membership at $30, and we agreed that members could only pay three years ($90) in advance. The Association has online banking with Defence Bank.  Therefore, you can pay your membership subscription online using the following details.

Defence Bank

RAR Association ACT

BSB: 833-205

Account: 20697760

Please ensure that your Initials & Surname are in the reason for payment area. For example, J. Blow –Subs.

Duty First Magazine

The Spring edition 2025 can be accessed at dutyfirst.com.au.  If you require a hard-copy please let the Secretary Glenn Crosland know.