--- SG ------ MG ---

 South Vietnamese CGCP

Australian UCG

18 Aug 2011 -the Governor-General invests D/6 with the UCG streamer (to Geoff Kendall) and the Warrant (to Dave Sabben) in front of the 6RAR Colours and parade.

18 Aug 2011 - The Governor-General pins the MG onto Dave Sabben.

Writing Projects - Current (August 2011):
Yes - I'm still writing between other events...
The proposal for a TV drama series is still current - a Producer is attempting to get finance to develop but the GFC#1 and an impending GFC#2 are hindering the efforts.  But at least that's not a "rejected".  :)

Since the 2010 Trek Tour to Viet Nam (there's a pictorial report on it elsewhere in this website) I've advanced a second "faction" novel to 'first draft' stage - some 110k words.  It's currently being checked with legals and subject-matter experts before going to a publisher.  The legal implications have proven to risky so I'm in to a rewrite - indefinite delay as I ensure I don't lose my home to a defamation suit!

Meanwhile, I've started a third book - more a novel than faction, yet still based on a real incident that happened in 2002.  About half done, but taking last place to other writing tasks.

Also putting my hand to a film script on a proposed Long Tan film project.  See below for status of the Martin Walsh/Bruce Beresford project, and I'm aware of at least one and maybe two other proposed Long Tan film projects.

Another Tour to Viet Nam:
In October 2009 and again in 2010, I hosted an AVVRG Fundraising Tour to the area of Australian operations during the Viet Nam War.  The 2010 Tour had an option to do an extension tour into the North to include the DMZ, Khe Sanh, Hue, Da Nang, Hanoi, Dien Bien Phu and Ha Long Bay.
The tours have been so successful that I was asked to reserve my time for another Tour in Oct 2011.  This 2011 Tour is now booked - 25 passengers depart Australia mid-October - see the "VN Long Tan Trek Tours" page in the column to the left. (There's also a pictorial report of the 2010 Trek Tour there.)
Missed out for 2011?  We'll be planning another one for Oct 2012, the world conditions permitting.  Please consider joining us...

Long Tan Awards - Current (August 2011):
The 44-year-old old issue of the downgraded Long Tan awards has (finally) been mostly resolved.  On 14 Aug 2008, the government approved three (officers') medals to replace those downgraded in 1966.  Battle commander Harry Smith is to be awarded the Star Of Gallantry (SG - DSO equivalent) and the two surviving Platoon commanders to get the Medal for Gallantry (MG - MC equivalent).

They also approved the South Vietnamese CGCP citation for wearing by Delta Company, 6RAR.

They referred all other downgraded or struck-out awards for Long Tan in 1966 to the government's new Honours & Awards Tribunal.

On Wed 28 Oct 2009, the Tribunal recommendation was released by the Government - there will be no further restoration of  the individual awards downgraded or struck-out in 1966, but the whole Company (Delta/6RAR) will be awarded the Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG).  This is the top unit citation and has only so far been awarded to SAS and Commando units/subunits.

This decision and recommendation is not without its own controversy and several injustices appear to remain.  Time will tell if further action is initiated.

Aug 2010: In early August, the Governor-General invited the three medal recipients to Yarralumla for investiture at the same time as gathering the D Coy originals for their UCG.  We all agreed on this but 2 weeks later it was announced that Defence had determined that it could not gather the Company to Canberra (the government was in caretaker mode due to the elections having been called).

Harry Smith and I declined to receive our medal investitures without the Company getting their UCGs, so we each reluctantly declined the invitation and requested the medals be posted to us - which they were.  The third officer - 10 Platoon's Geoff Kendall - went to Canberra and was invested with his MG.

April 2011: Harry had his SG presented to him at a ceremony at the Maryborough Military Museum on 9 March 2011.


Presentation of Harry Smith MC's SG at Maryborough Military Museum, 9 March 2011.
Attending were Keith Payne VC OAM and Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG.

18 August 2011: The Governor-General attended a parade at 6RAR barracks, Enoggera, Brisbane on 18 August ("Long Tan Day" or "Vietnam Veterans' Day") where she invested:
      The original D/6 men and NoK with the UCG;
      Me (former 2Lt Dave Sabben) with the MG (as an MC replacement);
      6RAR with the MUC for their performance in Afghanistan in 2010;
  &  seven other 6RAR individual Gallantry and Service awards.

Proposed film of the Battle of Long Tan:
There has been no significant advance on the proposed Long Tan film announced since the status report of 27 June 2009 - We have been told by Producer Martin Walsh of Red Dune Films that the script has not yet reached an acceptable "first draft" status.  Proposed Director, Bruce Beresford, has completed his film - Mao's Last Dancer - and has since moved on to other projects.  Additional scriptwriters have been brought in to assist with the script.  The Commanders have not yet seen a script so cannot comment on scope, accuracy etc.
Martin's timeframes are currently unknown.  There may be updates on his website http://www.reddunefilms.com/Projects.htm?
Update as at August 2011: Given a 2-year+ period without significant update, we are now not holding much hope of the film eventuating.

Another interesting project:
On the home page there is a link to a Powerpoint presentation on Long Tan which can be downloaded free.  It's made to work on the PC version of Powerpoint, 2003 or later, and on a Mac Powerpoint.  It's fairly large at 50 slides and each slide is animated.  No sound, though.

I developed it from the slides I used when I gave talks on Viet Nam and Long Tan.  It's being distributed free.  It should be of interest to school projects, military history buffs, serving military members and just for general interest.

I have had a great deal of good comment about this PPT presentation, including several kind deposits into the bank account shown on the last screen to assist with the costs of development.  One kind soul said "If you want an excellent view of this battle, you can't go past this PPT"

And Battlefields further afield...:
I have long had an interest in the battlefields of WW1 and WW2 in Europe, and have decided to put together a proposed itinerary for a European Battlefields Tour which includes having ANZAC Day at Villers Bretonneux in France.  The sample Tour itinerary is based on a 2012 Tour (but it's only a sample - there IS no 2012 Tour!) and would be an 18-day trip starting in London and ending in Paris. I've put details on this website - please  look at the "Europe Battlefield Tours" page in the column to the left.
Please consider joining my wife, Di, and I on this "trip of a lifetime" - but it would only come about if 20-or-so people showed an interest and would have to be arranged at least 18 months in advance due to accommodation availability.

And finally, some speaking activities:
Occasionally, after I've spoken at a public event, I am asked for transcripts.  I spoke at the Dawn Service at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance on ANZAC Day 2011.  The transcript is now on the web, with a few of the other talks I've given.  Please see the home page to download a PDF version.

Thanks for looking in on my website...