Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of 1st Australina Task Force Diggers at Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province head towards the quarry to enjoy the Mar 67 official ABC Dance Band Concert Party featuring Lorrae Desmond, Dinah Lee, Jackie de Paul, Gus Merzi, Bobby Donovan and Jim Gussey and the ABC Dance Bandphotograph, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, abc dance band concert party, lorrae desmond, dinah lee, jackie de paul, gus merzi, bobby donovan, jim gussey, gibbons collection catalogue, 1st australian task force, diggers, mar 67 official abc dance band concert party, denis gibbons, abc dance band

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Diggers in swimming togs lounge around the stage area at the 1st Logistics Support Base, Back Beach, Vung Tau, to enjoy the songs of lead singer Geraldine Fitzgerald of the official Mar-Apr Queensland Easter Concert Partyphotograph, 1st logistics support base, back beach, vung tau, geraldine fitzgerald, queensland easter concert party, gibbons collection catalogue, diggers, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Musicians with the Official Mar-Apr 69 West Australian Concert Party warm up the audience of Diggers at 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Luscombe Bowl prior to the lead and three back-up singers arriving on stage to entertain the diggers.photograph, entertainment, 1st atf base, west australian concert party, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, diggers, official mar-apr 69 west australian concert party, musicians, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of the musicians of the Official Jun 69 Tasmanian Concert Party including Diana Dalton, Richard Hall, Maxwell Kettle, Ross Kettle, William Kettle, Judith Little, William Loughlin, Peter Richman and Janice Voss pose in front of their RAAF Caribou transport.photograph, tasmanian concert party, entertainment, diana dalton, richard hall, maxwell kettle, ross kettle, william kettle, judith little, william loughin, peter richman, janice voss, raaf, caribou, gibbons collection catalogue, official jun 69 tasmanian concert party, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Digby Richards and his show entertain US troops at a Fire Support Base North East of Danang in Northern South Vietnam. While Australian Concert Parties entertained, where practicable, US troops, American USO did not reciprocate.photograhp, entertainment, digby richards, us troops, danang, gibbons collection catalogue, digger, fire support base, australian concert parties, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of - Recording The Show, with the cost of good cameras, in the PX, being so low in price, the Diggers were able to record for future reference their time spent on active service in Vietnam conflict. Here the Diggers are recording a visiting concert partyphotograph, entertainment, gibbons collection catalogue, diggers, concert party, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of - As troop numbers and the Australian role in the conflict increased, the pressure was seen at the Latter Day concert Party's at the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat Luscombe Bowl. The Diggers eventually completely surrounding the stage areaphotograph, entertainment, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, digger, 1st australian task force, diggers, australian troops, denis gibbons, latter day concert party's

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Musicians members of the Mar 67 Official ABC Dance Band Concert Party lare led by Gus Merzi as they give out some good old Dixieland Jazz. Gus and his accordian were popular with the Diggers as he seemed able to make the instrument "talk".photograph, abc dance band concert party, gus merzi, gibbons collection catalogue, entertainers, digger, mar 67 official abc dance band concert party, diggers, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of the lead act with the ABC Dance Band Concert Party, Lorrae Desmond, opens the show with her version of "I Wish You Love".The back of a flat bed trailer used as a stage parked in a quarry at 1 ATF, Nui Dat. photograph, abc dance band concert party, 1 atf, nui dat, entertainers, lorrae desmond, gibbons collection catalogue, digger, 1st australian task force, denis gibbons, flat bed trailer

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Erica De Wit one of the lead singers with the Official Apr-May 70 Sydney Concert Party and an Engineer Digger friend trip the light fantastic to the delight of the audience at 1 Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Luscombe Bowlphotograph, entertainers, sydney concert party, erica de wit, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, official apr-may 70 sydney concert party, engineer digger, 1st australian task force, denis gibbons

This manuscript and letter represent the connection between two significant people from the North East of Victoria and their common interest in literature and development of the Upper Murray. Des Martin was raised on the family property Aherlo in the Huon Creek Valley. He joined the 8th Light Horse Regiment and in May 1940 led his Wodonga Troop into the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, serving in Syria, Java, New Guinea and Borneo. After the war, Des returned to Aherlo and his horses. Amongst other pursuits he became the first President of the Victorian Amateur Riders Association and founded the Murray Valley Hunt Club. Des also played a major role in Australia entering an equestrian team in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 and served as a Steward at that event. As well as “Many a Mile”, Des also wrote “Australia Astride” in 1959, a history of the Albury Racing Club – a Century of Racing and a “Tale of Twin Cities” as well as collaborating with R. M. Williams to develop the “Hoofs and Horns” publication. From 1969 to 1973, Des Martin also wrote a column for the Border Mail newspaper. Des Martin died on 12th April 1995. Thomas Walter Mitchell was born at "Towong Hill" near Corryong, Victoria and was educated at Cranbrook School, Sydney and Cambridge University. A keen skier, Mitchell founded the Australian National Ski Federation, captained the Australian skiing team and won gold medals in competitions against England and New Zealand. He was an Australian champion in the downhill and long-time member of the Ski Club of Australia. In 1937 he published Australia’s first ski handbook "Ski Heil". Mitchell joined the Second Australian Imperial Force in 1940 and was a Captain in the 2/22nd Battalion and Headquarters 8th Division. He was captured and interned in Changi POW camp until 1945. Tom Mitchell served as the Country Party Member for Benambra in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1947 to 1976. He was awarded the C.M.G. “For distinguished services to the Community, particularly in the fields of Politics, Alpine Sports and Safety, and Writing.” He died on 4th February 1984. This volume is significant because it is the manuscript of a book written by a local Wodonga author. The letter written to Tom Mitchell contains anecdotes and details of the writing of the novel, Many a Mile.An original typed manuscript bound in blue coverboard. It is accompanied by a typed letter.des martin, tom mitchell, many a mile