The below message is from the Queensland Chairman of SAMVOA after the 2010 ANZAC Day parade in Brisbane:
G'day Veterans,
What a proud moment to have participated in an event that allows us as South African veterans to remember our fallen across many conflicts, and to play a part in ensuring that even though we are half way around the world, we can come together and ensure that those past as well as those living will not be forgotten.
It was unfortunate that the organisers were not able to coordinate the movement of Don Clark's vehicle with our position in the march, (We will address this at the next Parade meeting) however he received the crowds applause and was shown the respect he deserves. Thank you Don. I would like to say thanks to Geordie Tahau who gave Don his support while the rest of us formed up in the adjacent Street.
I want to thank Graham Leathem for his support from the first moment we decided to ensure the South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia (SAMVOA) banner would be in the Anzac parade 2010, no matter what! Thanks to Gavin Murphy for his support from our first meeting and not having missed a beat in the attempt to grow the organisation. Thanks to Derek Austen for his commitment and support, and the facilitation of three new potential Samvoa veterans and one next of kin who where invited to march behind the Samvoa banner. Welcome and thanks go to Mark Bell, Tony Leroux, Ludwig Englebrecht and Dylan Potgieter as well as Chris Pattison. Thanks too must go to all the family members who supported us in the crowd as well as those that ran most of the march, in order to get photographs from the best vantage points.
Congratulations to us all, we have a moment in history as the first South Africans to march behind a recognised South African Banner - Samvoa - in Queensland. To Ernie Lomax, Chris Odendaal and Ian Deanne who offered their apologies, we look forward to having you join the march next year.
Some photographs that were taken on the day are shown below.
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My hope and intention for the future is that we will grow in number, establish a camaraderie where we can come together to share military interests and experiences.
Over the next few months there will be a few venues of interest that you may wish to attend. I will be sending out the details in following emails.
Gordon Pugh
SAMVOA Queensland