ANZAC Day 25th April 2015

Please note that this event starts off with a Commemorative Service and Wreath laying at Natal Mounted Rifles Headquarters @ 18h00 sharp(Central Africa Time).
This will be followed by a dinner .

Attendance at the Commemorative Service and Wreath laying is open though bookings for the dinner are closed.

- Daily News 24 April 2015

ANZAC Memorial plaque

The Australia and New Zealand Association in KwaZulu-Natal was granted permission to fix a memorial plaque honoring the ANZAC's on NMR's Memorial Wall.

Being the 100th Anniversary of ANZAC Day it is fitting to acknowledge that Turkey has done an exceptional job in maintaining all the relevant memorial sites and cemeteries relating to this event.
Due to the large numbers wishing to attend the dawn service at Gallipoli both Australia and New Zealand had to hold a ballot to keep the numbers manageable. Thousands who were not lucky in the ballot chose to go anyway and will be visiting the various sites pertaining to the memorable event.

"18 pounder" refurbished

The gun
1. The 18 pounder gun with six horses  will lead the ANZAC Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Canberra this coming Saturday. Submitted by Rory.

2. This gun had a rapid fire system allowing it to fire 18lb shells at a phenomenal rate.
It was totally refurbished over several years and was towed by 6 horses at this years ANZAC march to the National War Memorial in Canberra this year.

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Recently found:
Six short videos in mp4 format, from a New Zealand perspective, that give a graphic understanding of the Gallipoli campaign's.what, why, when and how.
      
Videos     From this link you have access to a sequence of 6 videos
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Natal Mounted Rifles
 As an aside you can visit an article giving some background to the Natal Mounted Rifles Durban formation and current status by following the link to an article from the South African Military History Association...

For anyone wishing to research further the following link is a good starting point, ..

Current Travel Alert from the Australian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade.(dfat) - 17 april 2015

The following bulletin was copied from an incoming travel advice sent to subscribers of the services provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - see reference for this bulletin below.

"Crime

Muggings, rape, armed robbery and other forms of theft are common. Murders and carjackings involving foreign tourists have also been reported. Travellers have been robbed and assaulted after having their food or drinks spiked.
The South African Police Service does not have “Tourist Police”. Criminals, however, have posed as “Tourist Police” to extort and rob tourists, including by stopping tourists buses to check proof of identity and search luggage.
There has been an increase in the number of robberies at shopping centres in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria. While these have been mostly non-violent, visitors to big malls should remain vigilant at all times.
Crime rates are significantly higher after dark in the centres of major cities and in township areas. The inner suburbs of Johannesburg (Berea and Hillbrow) and the beachfront in Durban are particularly prone to crime and you should avoid travelling to these areas. As crime rates are generally high in the townships, you should only visit township areas with an organised tour run by a reputable company. You should also avoid isolated beaches, lookouts and picnic areas.
Due to the very high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.
When travelling by car, you should keep the doors locked, the windows up and valuables out of sight. Thieves posing as vendors or beggars target cars on highway off ramps, stopped at intersections and at traffic lights. Criminals can place debris on roads to stop vehicles. You should not stop to clear debris off the road.
Valuables such as cameras, mobile phones and jewellery should be kept out of sight, and you should exercise vigilance in public places. Bags and backpacks have been stolen in public places including restaurants and bars.
There is a luggage theft problem at Johannesburg and Cape Town airports. Use an airport plastic wrapping service when available and avoid placing electronics, jewellery, cameras and other valuables into checked luggage.
Theft from hotel rooms and guest homes is common, including within game parks.. Luggage and valuables should never be left unattended and should be placed in safekeeping facilities.
Criminals operate out of the airport in Johannesburg, following some overseas visitors to their accommodation and robbing them. We advise against accepting unsolicited assistance with transport when arriving at the airport in Johannesburg. Assaults and robberies have also taken place on local commuter and metro trains between Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as on commuter trains in Cape Town.
Hikers have been attacked on tracks on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town. We recommend you walk in groups and do not carry valuables.
Commercial fraud scams are common in South Africa. If you receive a scam message, don't be fooled: if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Our information on international scams provides details on common commercial fraud scams. If you are a victim of a scam you should not travel to South Africa to seek restitution given the risk of physical assault from the perpetrators of such crimes. Fraud incidents may be reported to the Commercial Crimes Unit of the South African Police Service in Johannesburg, telephone +27 11 970 5300.
Bogus internet friendship, dating and marriage schemes are operating from some African countries. These scams typically result from connections made through internet dating schemes or chat rooms. Once a virtual friendship develops, the Australian citizen may be asked by their friend or prospective marriage partner to send money to enable travel to Australia. In some cases the relationship is terminated with very little chance that any funds can be recovered. In other cases, foreigners may be lured to Africa to meet their friend or prospective marriage partner and can become victims of crime including kidnapping, assault and robbery.

Feedback on the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal

A link has been added to the links in the left margin.  It leads to a Facebook page and even if you don't have a Facebook ID you can still read all on this site.

Links to other ANZAC Day Ceremonies

The Australian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat) has posted information about ANZAC Day Ceremonies in 3 areas.

Click on places below to read information
Gallipoli and
Western Front and
Thailand, Malaysia,  Papua and New Guinea

2015 March / April Newsletter

Thanks Gina. Latest Newsletter posted.