Vietnam Swans

Dave O’Shea after last month’s ANZAC Friendship Match.

Dave O’Shea gives us the match preview for tomorrow’s scratchy in Saigon.

The Saigon Reds will take on the Saigon Whites tomorrow at Saigon’s finest sporting ground, RMIT.  Amazingly, this will be the third ground we have played at in three matches. The Reds have been dominant in the first two matches and lead the best of 5 series 2-0. This is a must win match for the whites.

Where: RMIT University, Quan 7
When: Saturday 11/5/2013 2:00pm
What to bring: New red or white playing top

Previous Match
The Reds had a comprehensive victory in the previous match which was played at the all new Estella ground in District 2. After the match Irish Brian was quoted through a translator as saying:

“Our performance today was not good enough. We have let down our fans, families and ourselves. We need to lift for the next game.”

Where it will be won

The Reds’ back line has been unstoppable in the previous matches. Nathan Milner, Billy and Dave Robb have been particularly impressive in working together and cutting off every ball that comes into their zone. The Whites will need to find a way to kick goals past the Reds’ wall.

The Whites’ midfield was disappointing last match. They won little ball and the little ball they won, they wasted. If they want to have any chance in this match, they simply need a better performance from their midfield. Perhaps the inclusion of Damo Ballantine will create some run and opportunity for them.

Lukey Miller has gone down with a hand injury. This has allowed him to spend more time fixing up his weak Supercoach side. This may be good for his fantasy team but it is not good for the Whites. However, in saying that, they may have the perfect replacement in RMIT student, Marty. They also have the option of playingSean Milner or Damo Judd in the ruck.

According to Saigon’s most trusted rumour file, the Horn is Dead!

The forward battle is once again one of significance. Shagger and GUS tried hard in the last match but just didn’t take enough marks and in turn didn’t kick enough goals. They need more support from the Horn who hasn’t turned up all year. There have been rumours floating around Saigon that the Horn is dead. These rumours will be answered on Saturday.

It’s an exciting time of the year for the Swans. As well as the scratchy this week, we also have the Manila Cup in a fortnight where we will send our strongest team since the Indochina Cup last year. It will be the last tour for a number of star Swannies such as Dukesy, Brian, Revo, J-Mac, Michael, Dave Robb, Dave O, Marty and Nick M. Let’s get behind this tournament and send these Swannie legends out as winners…

Special guest appearance tomorrow: Steven “Spielberg” Drummond will be at training tomorrow armed with his tripod, video camera and question sheet. He has a few Swannies lined up for interviews that will then be used in his documentary of the 2013 ANZAC Weekend.

The 2013 Manila Cup Poster

This year the Vietnam Swans will make our inaugural appearance at the Manila Cup which will be held in the Philippines on 25 May 2013.

The Swannies have a strong team touring and hopefully, this will give us our first win of the season.

The Club shall pay the $1,500 registration fee.

On the Friday night, 24 May, the Philippine Eagles have organised an unbelievable star studded sportsmen’s night.

The list includes AFL heavy weights Ron Barrassi, Doug Wade, Jim Jess, Murray Weideman, Dale Weightman, Simon Beasley, David Shaw, Peter McKenna, John Birt, Stephen Carey and Barry Davis.

To download a copy of the 2013 prospectus, click onto Manila Cup Prospectus.

Sam Stevens, pictured here with Matt Natalotto at last year’s Legends/ Match in Vung Tau, has just completed a gruelling 65km marathon over a mountain in the Philippines, pictured to the right.

The day after the ANZAC Friendship Match, another Swannie who now lives in the Philippines, Sam Stevens embarked on some madness: the Cebu Fun Run which is a gruelling coast-to-coast 65km ultra marathon over a mega mountain (seen in the picture to the side).

Sam wrote into the Swannies to nonchalantly report:

“It sounds like another awesome ANZAC Weekend in Vung Tau. Very sorry Meg and I weren’t there to take part. The first three ANZAC Friendship Matches just got better and better and it sounds like this year was no different.

“As Meg noted on Facebook, I had my own little ANZAC event on that weekend and ran from one side of Cebu island to the other over the mountains (65km). Felt like I’d played about 10 consecutive games of footy by the time I got to the end… I managed to finish in 11th place in a time of 8hrs 27 mins. Monday and Tuesday weren’t much fun; legs and feet were a bit sore and I could hardly walk

“Anyway, all the best to the Swannies for this year and hopefully we can catch up for a beer and a kick of the footy at some stage soon.”

Meanwhile, you will recall that former Saigon President, Scott Stacey, was going to take part in the sixth Wild Endurance Walk which was held last weekend, 4 – 5 May 2013 (click here for the story on this website). Wild Endurance is a 100km, 36 hour, team trek challenge in the World Heritage wilderness of the Blue Mountains.

Scott has just reported that, “(It took) 28 hours and 28 minutes for (wife) Za and I to do the 100kms. Za was slowed with sore knees. but grit and stubbornness saw us through.”

Scott and Za’s goal was to raise $400 for the Wilderness Society – and they more than doubled that with $970. If you would like to sponsor Scott and Za, you still can, just by clicking here.

Go you Swannies – wherever you are in the world!

Australia’s most prestigous iconic wines in Saigon tonight. Click to enlarge.

If you have the inclination to dine at Saigon’s Park Hyatt and to taste Australia’s most prestigious iconic wines, then tonight, 9 May, is your chance.

The night will be hosted by the Warehouse and Yalumba storyteller, Tim Herrmann.

It starts at 7pm with a 7 course dinner and wine pairings for 3,130,000BND++.

For more information, please click on the attached poster to enlarge.

Vietnam Swans pleased to promote this event

The Vietnam Swans are very pleased to help promote this event.

General Manager of the Park Hyatt, Michael Golden and his wife Melissa did a magnificent job establishing and running Saigon Auskick last year. This year, due to time constraints, Michael was unable to continue running it – so he passed the baton to Swannies, Mark Stennett and Kevin Hornblower who have been able to continue its success. (Incidentally, Auskick is run every Saturday from 10-11am at the ACG campus in D2. All welcome. Click here for further details.)

Meanwhile, the Warehouse very generously donated wine to the Vietnam Swans’ recent ANZAC Friendship Match.

And, if that’s not enough, why wouldn’t the custodians of Australia’s Signature Sport in Vietnam, the Vietnam Swans, want to support a night that involves Australia’s most prestigious iconic wines??

We’ll drink to that!

Even the groundskeeper at the Lord Mayor’s Oval was reading the footy record for the ANZAC Friendship Match yesterday. Photo, Steve Drummond.

Even the groundskeeper of the Lord Mayor’s Oval (Vung Tau Dog Track) has been reading the 2013 ANZAC Footy Record.

The Record has been so popular that, like the McMillan Dinner, it has been a sell out. No more left.

Booooooo!

However, today, we took delivery of another 300 freshly printed copies.

Yayyyyyyyyy!

So, if you need a copy to spread the word of the Swannies and the ANZAC Friendship Match, please let your nearest Swannie know.

Need a Record sooner? Download a soft copy by clicking here.

“Foo-ty Re-cord!”

The ride on mower is placed in storage until next year – and the grass returns to the Lord Mayor’s Oval.

Just ten days have passed since the 4th Annual ANZAC Friendship Match at the Lord Mayor’s Oval.

Ron Vernon and Glenn Nolan did an amazing job to get the ground up to a decent standard and for that, all players and spectators are extremely appreciative.

Alas, the ride on mower, purchased with funds raised by Richo Richardson, has now been placed in storage until next year.

The grass is getting longer at the Lord Mayor’s Oval. And Ron and Ailsa Vernon will return to Australia tomorrow.

Absolutely fantastic to have such support from the Vernons. Safe trip back to Oz and we’ll see you again very soon.

Ha Duc Minh Thao and VoVan Vinh with Max, 5, Mia, 4, and Caylan, 4. Photo, Leader Newspaper.

Two of Swim Vietnam’s swimming instructors have travelled to Melbourne, reports the Moonee Valley Leader Newspaper.

See below for the full story.

Swim Vietnam instructors Vo Van Vinh and Ha Duc Minh Thao were at Paul Sadler Swimland for an exchange program to learn water safety skills and techniques.

Not- for- profit organisation Swim Vietnam built the country’s first swim and survive centre in Hoi An in September last year and aims to teach 3500 students a year.

Paul Sadler Swimland has teamed up with the organisation to share teaching methods between the two countries.

Micky J Johnston has been at it again. This time he has put together a 9 minute video interviewing people at the Lord Mayor’s Oval prior to the 2013 Legends and All Stars Match.

Tune in to relive some of the building sense of excitement and anticipation of a big day ahead.

Good luck in trying to understand our two Irish lads, JR and Brian, at the end of the video… If you can, the Swannies might just present you with a few boiled potatoes (budget is too tight to offer free Guinness).

Swans National President, Phil Johns, welcomes the crowd to the 2013 ANZAC Friendship Match. Photo, Stan Middleton.

National President of the Vietnam Swans, Phil Johns, reviews the 2013 ANZAC Friendship Weekend that has been praised from all quarters.

Dear Swannies, Sponsors and Supporters

One week on from the 4th Annual ANZAC Friendship Match, I can barely believe that there have been just four. It’s history, heritage and tradition belie its age.

In the past week, the stories have been filtering in about lots of little things that lots of people were doing on the day and across the weekend to ensure it was such an outstanding success. It’s made me reflect upon Hawthorn Coach, John Kennedy Snr’s famous “Do Something” speech in the 1975 Grand Final. Ironically, it’s not the “Do something” words that resonate. Rather it’s when he says:

“At least you can come off (the ground) and say, ‘I did this’, or ‘I shepherded’ or ‘I played on. At least I did something.’ “

I think everyone came off the ANZAC Friendship Weekend being able to say, ‘I did this’ or ‘I introduced those people to each other’ or ‘I thanked the umpire. At least I did something’.

The one per centers off the ground were amazing. Everyone now understands what the weekend is trying to achieve and they do their utmost to try and make it happen. (Click here for a list of specific thank yous in ‘Long supply line feeds ANZAC Friendship Weekend’.)

L to R: Stan Middleton (1968 player and historian for the VFL), Ron Vernon (1967 VFL premiership player) and Dick ‘Johno’ Johnston (dual 1968 VFL premiership player) at the pre match formalities. Match balls donated by the AFL and Sherrin.

In attendance at the Lord Mayor’s Oval, we had Vietnam Football League (VFL) Footballers Stan Middleton, Dick ‘Johno’ Johnston and Ron Vernon in the line up for the pre match formalities. Each of these men have done much over the past four years to help build our ANZAC Friendship Match. In the grandstand, we were lucky enough to have two additional VFL premiership players: Ron Harding and Ken Mountford.

Also in the grandstand, we were lucky enough to have many other veterans, Vietnamese, relatives etc to enjoy a game of Australian Football on the Lord Mayor’s Oval in Vung Tau, 2013 – the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam.

The McMillan Dinner that evening was a major highlight of the weekend. It was held at the 5 star Imperial Hotel which stands on the site of the former Peter Badcoe Club. The Peter Badcoe Club, named after Major Peter Badcoe who was post humously awarded the Victoria Cross, was an R&R club for Australian diggers during the War.

The McMillan Dinner was sold out with 220 guests. Guests included the chairs of the Vung Tau Tourism Council, Ba Ria Vung Tau People’s Committee and the Vung Tau Greyhound Racing Track. Preliminary feedback from them has been positive and we are very keen to work closely with these organisations for next year’s event which will be held on 26 April 2014 – the 99th anniversary of the landings on the beaches of Gallipoli in 1915.

Speeches were delivered by the Presidents of the Jakarta Bintangs and Vietnam Swans; Dave Kainey, who presented the Kainey Cup to the Jakarta Bintangs; Dave McMillan, son of the late Kevin McMillan; and the big one, the Middleton Address which was delivered by Stan Middleton himself.

The McMillan Dinner, featuring the Middleton Address, was held at the 5 star Imperial Hotel which stands on the site of the former Peter Badcoe Club. The Dinner was sold out with 220 people attending.

Going forward, it is expected that the prestige and status of the Middleton Address will continue to grow. It will be a privilege for a speaker to be invited to deliver the Middleton Address. It will be an honour for the audience to listen to the nominated speaker deliver the Middleton Address.

Each year, there will be a growing sense of anticipation as to who will deliver the next Address.

Meanwhile, this year’s ANZAC Friendship Match footy record received individual contributions from 28 people. The contributions provide not just additional detail about the ANZAC Friendship Match but the history of footy during the war, how this match is used to support the Vung Tau Orphanage and Swim Vietnam. There were also articles that covered the other ANZAC games being played around South East Asia and included a summary of Australia’s history in those places.

These ANZAC matches provide an opportunity for some of us to learn about our history and, for others, to learn about what happens today in each of these countries.

Next year, we will return to the Lord Mayor’s Oval (Vung Tau Greyhound Racing Track) on 26 April 2014. That night, we shall return to the Imperial Hotel for the McMillan Dinner and Middleton Address.

Meanwhile, the Ulysees Club has indicated that it would like to organise a postie bike trip from Hanoi to Vung Tau arriving in time for the ANZAC Weekend. It will be a charity ride with funds raised to be donated to Swim Vietnam and the Vung Tau Orphanage. And Phil Jordan’s Golf Life Tours is also wanting to organise a tour that will incorporate the ANZAC Weekend. They are proposing to raise funds to donate to Swim Vietnam.

The ANZAC Friendship Weekend in Vung Tau is very much becoming a catalyst for action. Each year, the significance of the Weekend and its positive impact reaches even higher levels. And the higher levels simply inspire us to climb even higher.

Would you like to place a bid for amazing items of memorabilia – click here for photo? We have some left over items of memorabilia from the ANZAC Friendship Weekend. If we can sell these items now, we can donate the money to Swim Vietnam and the Vung Tau Orphanage and that money can be put to good use immediately.

The items:

• GWS jumper signed by GWS (current bid: $200)
• Brisbane Lions “away” jumper signed by Coach, Michael Voss and Captain, Jonathon Brown
• Yellow Sherrin footy signed by the West Coast Eagles
• Penrith Panthers jumper signed by team (current bid: $200)
• A “Lest We Forget” RSL token
• Two nights’ accommodation at the Novotel Nha Trang, including breakfast
• Timber jewellery boxes made by 1968 dual VFL Premiership player, Dick “Johno” Johnston
• Timber wine box made by 1968 dual VFL premiership player, Dick “Johno” Johnston

The Swannies will only sell these items for charity if appropriate bids are received. Please email me if you would like to place a bid.

Again, to all who helped out at the ANZAC Friendship Weekend, both on and off the field, thank you from all the Vietnam Swans.

At least we did something.

Go you Swannies!!

• For photos of McMillan Dinner and Middleton Address, click here.
• Shortly, a full account of all money raised for charity on the ANZAC Friendship Weekend will be published on this website by our Treasurer.

Micky J Johnston boarded the Vung Tau ferry last Saturday morning with a number of players from the Jakarta Bintangs and Vietnam Swans. Everyone was headed to the Lord Mayor’s Oval in Vung Tau for the 2013 ANZAC Friendship Match and Legends Match.

Micky J conducts pre match interviews with participants who, not surprisingly, offer some very insightful comments.

Glenn Noland and Ron Vernon at the Vung Tau Orphanage yesterday with the children.

Yesterday, Glenn Nolan and Ron Vernon went to the “P” Centre for the Social Protection of Children (Vung Tau Orphanage) to present five sets of cupboards for the children of “N” Centre.

This weekend, thirty five children from N Centre moved to P Centre and the cupboards were required for them to store their belongings.

The N Centre is now being redeveloped to accommodate all the children in two years’ time.

The cupboards were bought with proceeds from the charity box at Tommy’s Bar that totalled nearly VND 7 million ($350).

Thank you to all who generously contributed.

The Jakarta Bintangs have put together a two minute video on the Kainey Cup’s journey through Vung Tau and Saigon. Along the way, it stops at some amazing places and sees some fascinating faces.

Alas, the Kainey Cup then boards a flight bound for Jakarta. Cruelly, it is a Vietnam Airlines flight.

The video finishes with the Kainey Cup in front of Indonesia’s 130m high National Monument in Jakarta.

The Vietnam Swans again congratulate the Jakarta Bintangs on their great win last weekend. And for the record, the Swannies have already booked a seat on Garuda Airlines flying from Jakarta to Hanoi. Seat 1A has been reserved for the Kainey Cup. Just the date is to be confirmed.

The Kainey Cup is named after Dave “Flyer” Kainey who is an official legend at both the Bintangs and the Swans. The 4th Kainey Cup was played for as part of last weekend’s ANZAC Friendship Match.