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 Townsville Queensland 18/08/1968. The next of kin of some of those Diggers killed at the Battle of Long Tan sit as they wait to be presented to the Prime Minister, John Gorton to receive the postumous award of "The Presidential Unit Citation", immediately behind stand some of diggers who fought at Long Tan. (left to right) Private Phil Dobson, Pte Graham Davis, 2Lt Geoff Kendall, John Heslewood, Barry Magnusen, John Quincy, Ray Stewart, John Robbins, Ian Campbell. the lady standing to the immediate left of the photograph is Mrs Beverley Buick.photograph, 6 rar/nz, battle of long tan, townsville, the presidential unit citation, john gorton, pte phil dobson, pte graham davis, 2lt geoff kendall, gibbons collection catalogue, next of kin, diggers, killed in action, prime minister of australia j g gorton mp, postumous award, johm heslewood, barry magnusen, john quincey, ray stewart, john robbins, ian campbell, mrs beverley buick, denis gibbons

The 10 photographs were taken at Bones Day, an annual sports competition between the Army Survey Regiment and the RAAF School of Radio, at Laverton on the 13th of November 1985. The two units took turns each year to host the event. The day competition usually comprised basketball, cricket, cross country, golf, sailing, pistol shooting, squash, rifle shooting, softball, tennis, touch football, tug-of-war and volleyball. The “big bone” trophy comprising a large bone from a beast housed inside a wooden framed glass case, was awarded to the winner of the day competition. The “O.H.A.R.A Rock” was awarded to the shooter with the lowest score in rifle shooting. The evening competition often included darts, carpet bowls, hookey, quoits and billiards/snooker. The “little bone” (a mounted chicken bone) was the consolation trophy awarded to the winner of the evening competition. The 3-hour bus trip for the visiting unit on their return was typically very raucous. The history of the Bones Day competition is best described in the booklet titled - Bones of Contention Souvenir Program. 1965. Refer to Item 6267. This item comprises the cover of a program booklet and a set of 10 photographs taken at Bones Day, an annual sports competition between the Army Survey Regiment and the RAAF School of Radio, held at Laverton on the 13th of November 1985. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The colour A4 booklet cover and black and white photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) – A4 size program booklet titled ‘The Bones of Contention’, buff card cover and colour graphics, internal text and cartoon graphics printed in purple. 32 pages dated 1985. .2) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Basketball teams. Back row L to R: unidentified (x2), Bob Croxton, unidentified, Danny Galbraith, unidentified, Steve Burke. Middle row L to R: Rob Jones, unidentified (x2), Sherri (Dally) Burke, unidentified, Evan Allanson, unidentified. Front row L to R: unidentified (x2), Brenton McDonald, unidentified, Max Shaw. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Cricket teams. Back row L to R: unidentified, Bill Griggs, unidentified, Mick Hogan, unidentified, Jim Ash, Dave Wright, Bob Thrower. Middle row L to R: PTE Hudson, unidentified, Brett McAllister, unidentified (x5). Front row L to R: PTE Wigg, unidentified, Brian Partridge, unidentified, Graham Hales, unidentified (x3). .4) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Cross Country teams. Back row L to R: unidentified (x3), Peter Barrett unidentified (x2), Paul Davis, unidentified. Front row L to R: unidentified, Jeff Rudd, unidentified, Greg Rowe, unidentified (x2), Steve Winner, unidentified. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Golf teams. Back row L to R: unidentified (x2), Brian Johnson, unidentified (x2). Front row L to R: Doug Arman, unidentified, Graeme Dowd, unidentified, Peter Imeson, unidentified (x2). .6) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Pistol Shooting teams. Back row L to R: unidentified, Doug Home, unidentified, Tony Clark, Ben Lucas. Front row L to R: unidentified (x2), Daryl Hockings CSM, unidentified, Max Colletti. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Pistol Shooting teams. Back row L to R: unidentified, Greg Sulman, unidentified, Bob Bright, Tom Bloxham, Bob Hopper, unidentified, Bob Garritty. Front row L to R: unidentified (x2), Dan Cirsky, unidentified (x3), Brad Peppler, unidentified. .8) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Softball teams. Back row L to R: Scheryl Delforce, unidentified, Le-Anne (Smallshaw) Shirley, unidentified, Raelene (Munting) Brodie, Carmel (Butler) Fauth, Gill Park. Middle row L to R: unidentified (x2), Viv (Hawkins) Doherty, unidentified, Avril (Bray) Lloyd, unidentified (x6). Front row L to R: Wendy (Leitinger) McCarthy, unidentified, Leah (Hoffman) Peppler, unidentified, Lorraine (Daly) Talbot-Smith, unidentified, Chris Gordon, unidentified. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Tennis teams. Back row L to R: Damien Killeen, unidentified, Ozzie Slade, unidentified, Dennis Learmonth, unidentified. Middle row L to R: Carol Dunstan, unidentified, Ginny (Turner) Rowe, unidentified (x2), Steve Coulson. Front row L to R: unidentified (x4), Col McInness, Peter Ball. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Touch Football teams. Back row L to R: unidentified, Paul Baker, Jeff Willey, Per Andersen, unidentified (x4). Middle row L to R: John ’Junior’ Whaling, Simon ‘Andy’ Capp, Daryl South, Ken Talbot-Smith, unidentified (x4). Front row L to R: Frank Downie, Peter ‘Spoon’ Lefel, Roy Hicks, Greg Oaten, unidentified (x4). .11) - Photo, black & white, 1985. Tug-of-War teams. Back row L to R: unidentified (x2), Steve Burke, unidentified (x3). Middle row L to R: unidentified (x2), JB Zahra, unidentified, Mal Paterson, Geunther Ebenwaldner, unidentified, Peter ‘Spoon’ Lefel. Front row L to R: Kerron South, unidentified, Barry Hogan, unidentified (x2), Brett McAllister. .1 - 'The Bones of Contention' title on booklet cover. Photos .2P to .11P – 'Bones Day 1985' annotated on cover sleeve.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, bones day