4th Field Regiment 'Old Boys' Association Newsletter

in Lismore (NSW) I joined this Branch and became the 2 nd President and held that appointment for 7 years before standing down. After a 2 year break I was elected on to the Executive where I still operate. My wife, Marg is a member as well and we both were granted Life Membership for “services rendered”. All members are volunteers. Our Branch is called Lord’s Taverners northern NSW Inc. Perhaps our greatest success has been to volunteer meals twice per week at Our House, an establishment similar to Ronald Mc Donald House. Patients who need daily trips to a hospital for treatment can book into Our House for accommodation. We thought over 10 years ago that we could offer an evening meal say once a week or month to assist. Once up and running smoothly we invited other businesses or clubs to join in. We now provide meals twice per week and each team has a turn 2 or 3 times per year. From the start Marg has been managing the Thursday night roster and continues to do so. Fund raising used to be in the form of dinners with a guest speaker. ‘twas ok until the 2022 floods washed away the venue, Trinity Catholic College. Examples of guest speakers were The Hon John Howard, Kurt Fernley, Sir Peter Cosgrove, Laine Beachley, Peter Fitzsimons and Adam Gilchrist. We also have established a group of Sponsors/Partners who donate tax free funds to assist our work. An annual golf day is another source of funds Another Charity in town is called Our Kids. Its charter is to provide funding for neo natal equipment for youngsters in the early days of their lives where required. A couple of their events are the Darrell Chapman Fun Run (4, 10 and 21 Km) and the Samson Challenge. A number of us volunteer to assist in these events. We also volunteer for the Lismore Lantern Parade as marshals. We have our own web site where youngsters who need funding for training or competition can apply for grants. Following a rigid audit of these requests funding can be supplied. Sometimes we work with the North Coast Academy of Sport who provide the technical support. Another source of funding are Bunnings barbeques which we do a couple of times per year. There is no central organisation in or around Lismore for people with low vision, so we reached out to them and organised a couple o hours with professional coaches in their chosen sport. We have done this twice with success and another city has requested that we take the event down there. This has not happened yet but it will. Once a year we conduct a Schools T20 cricket competition. This is now an annual event playing for 3 shields – the Adam Gilchrist, the Matthew Phelps and the Lyn Larson shields. The kids enjoy the day and their eyes light up if they are winners. There’s always next year. We have worked hard to have our name recognised and are now being asked if we can take on a task to assist youngsters less fortunate than us. If we can we will. If you are not a volunteer for a Charity, find one that you like and become a member. Believe me you’ll enjoy it and meet new people. Well, Old Boys, that’s about it for now. Our thanks again to Graham Hampton and the Australian Artillery Association for putting our newsletters up on their website. Really appreciate your feedback in any form. Best wishes to one and all. Pete.