This is an annual event at Old Bar and brings large numbers of veterans to the area which allows us to showcase some of the areas attractions.

The main ceremony will be conducted at Old Bar Public School. A dinner will be at Club Old Bar where the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra will be live streamed and projected onto the wall of the dining room.

A visit to Cattai Wetlands is also planned for the Saturday morning. For more information and registration form, contact John Macartney on jrmaca@bigpond.com or (02) 6557 4165 or 0427 787 296.

Members of the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV) and 723 Squadron along with other members of the ex-service community and their guests are holding a reunion and service to commemorate Vietnam Veterans’ Day at Old Bar.

As you may be aware the Governor General recently approved the Unit Citation of Gallantry to the RANHFV and it is intended that the Commander of the Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Chris Smallhorn, will present the citation to the attending RANHFV members.

Besides our members coming from across Australia, there will be a representative from the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association coming from America to record oral histories of our time in Vietnam.

Staff and students from Old Bar Public School will be organising the service which will be held at the school commencing at 2.45pm this Saturday.

On completion of the service, we will adjourn to Club Old Bar where the live streaming of the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial for Petty Officer Phillips will be projected. PO Phillips served on the First Contingent of the RANHFV and was killed in action on August 21,1968.

Have great fun and help raise funds for a worthwhile charity at the same time. Linda and Mike Norris of Old Bar are on the management committee of the charity Humanitarian Projects International (HPI) and have organised a local fundraiser.

On Saturday, September 15, a bush dance will be held at Old Bar Public School from 7pm to 11pm. This is a family event and children are most welcome.

This charity raises funds for overseas projects with the main focus on support for poor communities in repairing or building facilities, in particular educational and community facilities, for vulnerable children and families.

Projects in East Timor, the Philippines and Uganda are current at the moment and projects in South Africa have been completed.

Currently they are fundraising for the Nyarutooma Primary School, Kashekuro in south west Uganda.

Teams from HPI have already renovated nine classrooms at the school, a clinic and a community centre for adult education in Kashekuro over the past two years.

The last phase of this project is to provide a dormitory for the children who board at the school due to their isolation. Currently these children sleep on the floors at their teachers’ quarters near the school.

One hundred per cent of funds raised will be applied to the project in paying for building materials, equipment and wages for local Ugandan builders.

Linda and Mike are seeking donations in the form of prizes and gift vouchers for the event from our local businesses and members of the local community. Donations will be acknowledged at the event, on their website, Facebook page and in their August and September newsletter.  Also, HPI can issue tax-deductible receipts for the value of any donations.

Tickets are available from Linda or Mike on 0408 077 089 or at LJ Hooker, Old Bar. Admission includes tea, coffee and supper. BYO alcohol if desired. Soft drinks and juice will be available for purchase on the night.

There will be bush dancing, a mega raffle, games, buy-a-brick, Tombola and prizes.