NSCnews Online August_2017 | Page 10

Qld RSL Lavarack Barracks Open Day T HE countdown to the second annual Qld RSL Lavarack Barracks Open Day, endurance runs and Pozieres Challenge on September 2 has well and truly begun. The event is an opportunity for Army-NQ to open the gates to thank the community for the support shown to members year-round. It is also the 3rd Brigade’s main fundraising eff ort for the Townsville Legacy Club and OIC LTCOL Dave Stanley hopes the $60,000 raised last year will be bettered at this year’s event. Units have the opportunity to operate canteens at their stands on CSIRO Flats during the Open Day. Hot coff ee and softdrinks will be complemented by sausage sizzles, chocolates and chips at stands conducted by 3CSR, 4Regt RAA and 3CSSB. Last year’s Pozieres Challenge winning team from 1RAR are standing (from left) PTE Daniel Hunt, LCPL Billy Featherby, CAPT Jayden Renzella, PTE Adam Seamin, PTE Matt Reid, LCPL Dan Horrigan andPTE Kelvin Hagley and at front kneeling PTE Branden Dubery 10 | AUGUST 2017 All of them will also be off ering an Army standard - “banjos”. For the uninitiated, “banjos” are, basically, bacon and egg burgers, or rolls. (The legend behind the nickname comes from the action most people employ immediately after biting into one to remove the breadcrumbs from their clothing). The MPs will also have cupcakes and slushies on sale and 3CSR will have a piecart. There were an estimated 14,000 people through the gates at the inaugural event last year, and organisers believe that number will grow substantially at this year’s event. Parking will again be available for visitors in the Townsville Hospital carpark in Douglas so guests can walk through the western pedestrian access to CSIRO Flats. Volunteers from the National Australia Bank will ask for gold coin donations from patrons as they enter. They will be at the main entrance at CSIRO Flats, as well as the usual Lavarack Barracks entry points at Melton Black Drive and Mark Reid Drive. Visitors will have plenty to see and do with a packed program of events planned. Heats and ultimately, the fi nal of the inter-unit tug’o’war competition will be conducted throughout the day. The popular car-crushing display mounted by the tankies from 2Cav Regt driving an M1A1 Abrams tank over a vehicle will be conducted three times during the day (with a fresh car each time). There will be two demonstrations of an infantry section attack presented by 3RAR during the day, and 4Regt RAA Batteries will conduct a gun race.