16663 Kevin Stanley (Lofty) WENDT OAM,BEM served 28 years in the Army in various units and ended his career in July 1990 as the WO1 RSM of the Army. He served in both Malaysia and Vietnam with 8RAR and was wounded on 10 July 1970 in Vietnam.

Lofty’s Funeral will be a MIlitary Funeral Service be conducted by 8/9 RAR Padre.

Funeral Notice in the Courier Mail:

WENDT, Kevin Stanley

Known as “Lofty”.

Late of Degilbo. Passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on Monday, 27 January 2020.

Aged 76 years.

Cherished Husband of Wynsome and always remembered by Kay.

Much loved Father and Father-in-law of Troy and Sara, Leisa and Scott, Karen. Adored Pop of Calum and Julia, Tom and Chelsea, Kodey, Jed and Charlotte, Beth, Eli. Loving Brother and Brother-in-law of Shirley (dec’d) and Graham (dec’d), Darryl (dec’d) and Toni, Narelle and Bruce.

Beloved Uncle.

Special Friend to his many many mates.

Loved Always.

Forever in our hearts.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Celebration of Lofty’s Life to be held at the Biggenden Show Hall on Friday, 7th February 2020, commencing at 11 am, followed by Interment at the Degilbo Lawn Cemetery.

“Gone Fishing”

Lofty Wendt continued to serve after retirement from the Army, as a North Burnett Regional councillor. He also managed to be a champion fisherman, having won the Biggenden Fishing Club award three times in its six year inception.

 

And an advance eulogy from George Mansford:

Regimental Sergeant Major Lofty Wendt, OAM, BEM

There will be a large gathering in a country town called Biggenden to farewell one of Australia’s best, a professional soldier by the name of Lofty Wendt. Many mourners will be veterans who served with him and in varying circumstances testing courage and endurance.

Also present will be a guard of today’s young warriors from his old regiment which will farewell him with a final salute of three volleys of rifle fire.  How the memories will fly for those present at the burial service and others grieving from distant places. There will be so many proud and fond visions from the very first screaming order he received as a raw recruit to the last command he gave as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army. Between the beginning and end of a remarkable career will be countless memories of soldiers who recall his leadership, guidance and the Wisdom of Solomon in his reprimands and punishment to erring soldiers.

The number of soldiers he trained is not known, nor was how many rebels he converted from aimless indifference and potential failure to a religion where purpose, pride, drive and battle discipline was the order of each and every day. However, be rest assured it would be a seemingly endless column with heads held high, shoulders squared and all in step, marching through the decades of his soldiering days.

He has left a strong legacy of soldiering for all who wear the proud nation thread which includes devotion to duty, leadership, immense respect and love of country.

In the stillness of the night when ghosts of RSMs prowl, listen carefully and you will hear his faint echoing call reminding all; “Duty First”

George Mansford FEBRUARY 2020

 

         Be Careful, He is Still Watching You 

In a country town not far from here

Our old comrade sleeps mid peaceful surrounds so dear

His bed etched with words, of who he was and when in mortal times

A soldier who was part of us and shared our lives, yours and mine

 

Hear again his voice commanding columns of marching booted feet

Be it on the dreaded field of Mars or along a cheery friendly street

A mentor of countless youth, sparking fire of discipline, purpose and pride

Always his powerful symbol of polished wood and brass by his side

 

When necessary, sternness or wit with a message for all, so very clear

As our master, he guided column after column through doubt and fear

Be it danger, thirst, hunger and a growing question of “Why?”

There was often his comforting smile and cheery voice that lifted spirits high

 

As he sleeps, a new generation wearing national cloth passes by

He stirs in his bed of earth and utters a muffled cry

I swear if the recruits were listening, would be heard a message from afar

“Heads up, march in step, you idle lot, and never forget who you are”

 

George Mansford © February 2020

 

 

Archival Snippets have been added to the website at the Snippets page.

A plan is being developed to restart Snippets – thanks to Ian Callan (who has again put up his hand to collate and edit), Graham Smith (for looking after the Class Contact List), and John Elphinston and John McNamara, plus other Queensland Class members, for the initiative.

Initially, an email account has been created for contributions at 1972snippets@gmail.com. It will be added to the website for easy access. We are looking to improve options, but more on that later.

Previously Snippets was distributed via email: the optimum way of spreading them in this reincarnation is being discussed: options include by email, or by posting on this website.  We might try a variety of means to test what works, so apologies in advance if you get more than one notice.

I would like to stress the purpose of Snippets, repeating what Ian Callan wrote in Snippets in 2015:

Thanks to John Elphinston for this reminder from 1969.

  

As 2019 draws to a close, time to reflect on that year 50 years ago. One snippet – the #1 hit Single that year was Sugar, Sugar by The Archies – you can enjoy it once again on Youtube.

How did it become #1 amongst classics like Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in or Hot Fun in the Summertime or Proud Mary or In the Year 2525 or Spinning Wheel or …..the list goes on on? Who can tell – lots of amazing and inexplicable things happened that year!

Have a great 2020.

A very Merry Christmas – and a happy, prosperous and healthy New Year – to all the members of the Class of 1972, and their families and loved ones. As ‘mates for ever’ we all hold each of you and yours in a special place in our hearts.

And just a reminder of where we were…..

An appropriately ironic title, perhaps?

The next Brisbane lunch will be at The Normanby Hotel, 1 Musgrave Road, Red Hill on Friday 6th March 2020 at 12:30pm. Any visiting Classmates and partners are most welcome to attend.  John Mc will call for numbers closer to the day. Please mark your diaries.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all.

17 Brisbanites ( partners included) will be  having Christmas Drinks and Lunch at The Plough Inn , Southbank in Brisbane Town tomorrow (Thursday 5 December). If you’re in the area and would like too join in, contact John McNamara.

For all those attending, best wishes for the festive season.

Just last week one of our Class mates passed through Canberra on a private mission – missing our occasional lunch get together by a couple of hours. He would have arranged to arrive earlier if he’d known we were meeting.

Could I suggest that the coordinators/arrangers of local gatherings advise the Class generally, so that if anyone is passing through or nearby they could attend as well? I’m not sure how it operates outside Canberra (it is apparently in a bubble) but in our case Steve Jones has been our long suffering organiser, which makes at least one locale simple (and I’m usually on the invitee list).

If you are organising something that is appropriate for any member of the Class, please pass it on – either by using the website email – yes, it is monitored – or directly to me at david.cran1950@gmail.com.

And afterwards – please send some photos!

Advice just to hand that Stew Snell died this morning at 0830 hrs. RIP.

A film in the Mini British Film Festival 2019, which starts tonight, might (emphasis on that word!) be of some interest (I’ve not seen it, so can’t comment). The full program of dates and times is at  https://britishfilmfestival.com.au/films/military-wives

The blurb says that:

The Full Monty director Peter Cattaneo recruits A-listers Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan to lead this inspiring drama about the bravery of the women of war, and the power of the music that saved them.

The life of a military wife can be thankless. Separated from loved ones, their suffering and sacrifice go unnoticed while they live with the dread of a fateful knock on the door. But Kate (Scott Thomas), finds freedom in song and persuades a ragtag group of women on the base to form the Military Wives Choir. Finding their voice together, the misfit choir put two fingers up to stuffy military tradition, anti-war protestors and their own personal differences. As friendships flourish, even the sceptical rebel and rocker Lisa (Horgan), is transformed by the choir’s friendship, humour and courage.

Inspired by a true-life global phenomenon, Military Wivesportrays ordinary women in unbelievably testing circumstances, who find courage in the cathartic power of singing together. The luminous cast belts out pop hits and rock anthems, empowering everyone to overcome their fears together.