Plans well underway for next year’s third annual Nashos’ Reunion in Moree
PREPARATIONS are well and truly underway for the 2019 National Servicemen, ADF Forces and Families Annual Event – the Nashos’ Reunion – to be held in conjunction with Moree RSL Sub-Branch and Moree and District Services Club on March 8-9-10 next year.
Reunion co-ordinator John Tramby said a full and enjoyable weekend is being planned.
“The reunion was held at Moree in 2018 for the second time and we believe it was another huge success, with many participants booking their accommodation for next year when they departed,” Mr Tramby said.
The reunion had been held in Bingara for 23 years before relocating to Moree in 2017.
In 2018 iconic 1960s entertainer Little Pattie took everyone back to a decade of innocence – and to a war that divided nations across the globe.
Mr Tramby said at the reunion earlier this year that national service had a history in Australia stretching more than 100 years.
“National service has a very long, rich and strong history and national training was introduced in 1910,” Mr Tramby said.
Reunion co-ordinator John Tramby with Moree Sub-Branch president Reg Jamieson at the inaugural Nashos’ reunion (Image Copyright Bill Poulos).
“Australia was the first English-speaking nation in the world to bring in national training – it wasn’t national service – and we were the only nation that didn’t bring in compulsory service during the first world-war.”
The 2018 reunion (last March) also featured an emotional Saturday morning parade down Balo Street, with more than 60 uniformed men and women marching and many more travelling in vehicles supplied by the Moree Motor Enthusiast Club.
The event drew more than 200 visitors from across Australia and next year’s event is expected to be even bigger as news of the past two Moree-held reunions gains traction through the ranks.
“A full and enjoyable weekend is being planned,” Mr Tramby said.
It is also hoped to extend the weekend to take in a bus tour to Lightning Ridge on Monday, March 11.
Moree RSL sub-branch president Reg Jamieson (left) with NSW National Servicemen’s Association and Affiliates assistant secretary Alan Drinkwater at last year’s reunion. Mr Drinkwater presented Mr Jamieson with a hand-crafted carving that features a 1952 penny to commemorate the year Mr Jamieson did national service (Image: Bill Poulos).
“It will either be a day trip or overnight, with more information in our next newsletter,” Mr Tramby said.
Mr Tramby said that Moree is well serviced by a daily return rail service from Sydney to Moree.
“There is also a daily air service with Qantaslink from Sydney and Fly Corporate conducts a return air service from Brisbane to Moree, Monday to Friday.
“A bus service from Brisbane to Moree on Crisp Coaches and NSW Travelink supplies a bus service from Grafton to Moree on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and Moree to Grafton on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” he said
Words and Images: Bill Poulos