Swannies update including ANZAC Weekend, Vung Tau
Posted by Vietnam Swans on April 10, 2010
The Vietnam Swans Update
The Vietnam Swans National President, Phil Johns, provides an update on what is happening at the Club, including the ANZAC weekend in Vung Tau.
Dear Swannies, Sponsors and Supporters
- ANZAC Weekend Match, Vung Tau, 23 – 25 April
- UNIS Spring Fair, Hanoi – Today!
- Swimming lessons for Vietnamese children
- Hong Kong Dragons Vs Vietnam Swans, 22 May
- Auscham’s e-Journal
ANZAC Weekend, Match, Vung Tau, 23 – 25 April
In Vietnam, the Government allows just two countries to honour their fallen with a memorial. They are France (Dien Bien Phu) and Australia (Long Tan). In exchange, the Vietnamese Government requests that those who visit the memorials do not wear medals, uniforms, raise or display flags, or play music and that any speeches should be short and low key.
Against this backdrop of sensitivities, on Saturday 24 April 2010, the Vietnam Swans will play our inaugural ANZAC Friendship Match at the Greyhound Racing Track in Vung Tau (Vung Tau served as the Australian logistics base during the Vietnam War). It will be an internal Club match between the Hanoi Hawks and Saigon Saints. The Hawthorn Football Club has supplied us with the Match Day ball.
On the Friday, the Vietnam Swans shall conduct a footy clinic for a local orphanage. On the Saturday morning, we shall have a tour of the significant military sites in the region. At 2pm on Saturday, the footy match shall commence. Each player will wear a black arm band on each arm as a mark of respect for all who have fallen.
In the evening, people can either go to the greyhounds or to Tommy’s Bar which will also be raising money for an orphanage.
On Sunday morning, we will attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Long Tan (Australian Memorial) followed by Minh Dam (Vietnamese Memorial) as a mark of respect for all who have fallen.
We will then return to Tommy’s Bar, Vung Tau, to watch the live telecast of the Collingwood Vs Essendon ANZAC Day match. For detailed draft itinerary, see attached.
Permits and Permissions: If you would like to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service it is essential that we provide the Local People’s Committee with your name and passport details. Please forward to either (Hanoi) or (Saigon). Permits are not required if you are only travelling to Vung Tau.
Transport to/from Vung Tau: For the 70 coming from Hanoi, return buses from Saigon Airport to Vung Tau have already been organised. People from Saigon are responsible for organising their own transport (take the hydrofoil! It takes just 90 minutes and is a very relaxed ride compared with the road). Timetable attached. ANZAC Weekend is a long weekend and all hydrofoil services will book out. You are strongly urged to buy your return ticket today.
Transport to ANZAC Day Dawn Service: The Vietnam Swans shall organise transport to the Dawn Service – but only for those people who have already submitted their passport numbers (for us to forward to People’s Committee). See “permits and permissions” above.
Accommodation: If you need accommodation, please advise by start of business Monday 12 April. After that, you will be responsible for your own hotel arrangements.
Updated details: As details are finalised/ updated, we shall directly email those who are confirmed to go to Vung Tau.
The Vietnam Swans appreciate and respect the sensitivities involved. We also know that Vietnam 2010 is an amazing country. Each of us who make up the Vietnam Swans are very appreciative and grateful for the opportunity to live and work in Vietnam. From 23-25 April we will learn, acknowledge and pay our respects – and then play a game of footy as a symbolic celebration of living life in Vietnam in 2010.
UNIS Spring Fair, Hanoi – Today
Today, the Vietnam Swans will run several footy clinics in Hanoi as part of the Australia Stand at the UN International School’s Spring Fair. It’s uncertain whether the footy clinics will be as big a hit as the meat pies…
Swimming Lessons for Vietnamese children
The Vietnam Swans are continuing discussions with a swimming school in Central Vietnam with a view to offering a level of support. The school is currently in the process of attaining its NGO (Non Government Organisation) accreditation. With more child fatalities caused by drowning than road accidents in Vietnam, the Vietnam Swans are keen to support organisations that save lives.
Hong Kong Dragons Vs Vietnam Swans, 22 May
In the next couple of days, the Vietnam Swans are expected to confirm details of a match against the Hong Kong Dragons, in Hong Kong, on 22 May 2010. It will be the Swannies first tour to Hong Kong (Hong Kong has visited Vietnam twice) and will also serve as a farewell tour for Captain Monkey, JD and Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!
Auscham’s e-Journal
The Vietnam Swans have placed an advertisement in the Australian Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly current e-Journal (see attached). The Swannies are always keen to recruit new players and to promote our sponsors: Linfox, Loscam, Jim Beam, Jetstar, Odyssey Resources, Crown Relocations, Commonwealth Bank, International SOS and Corsair Marine.
The e-Journal is packed with useful business information from the experts and you can read a .
And finally…
Honk yer horn if you love the footy.
glenn archer said
the meat pies were definitely a hit.
but the aus-kick sessions arranged by phil, dan kindness and dan lucardie were easily better. you only needed to see every kid with a huge smile on the dial and a free footy to take away!!
an awesome effort phil, fellow swannies and a special thanks to the AFL for their kind support in donating the aus-kick footies.
the only strange part of the day was seen’n all the dads hold’n on to the footies after and show’n off all their skills of yester year..
Phil M said
Thanks for the feedback we all had a a great day. Have sent the link to the AFL Auskick guys that provided us with the gear and also mentioned in my note that we will conduct another Auskick session during the ANZAC Weekend down South. President Fabo has prepared a Recognition Certificate for the Auskick guys as well as the Mighty Hawks for the recent support they have shown to the Swans. Cheers PM