The Vietnam Swans ANZAC Friendship Match has been given a re-run in the current Spring issue of the Vietnam Veterans’ TPI Chin Up magazine.

The magazine has reprinted the Welcome Address from the Vietnam Swans National President, Phil Johns, under the heading, ANZAC Day and football (as well as a letter praising the service of , a travel company part owned by the Vietnam Swans’, Travis Fennell).

The 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match is expected to be considerably bigger than this year’s match. The Hong Kong Dragons have already accepted an invitation from the Swans to play in next year’s match. Additionally, Dick “Johnno” Johnston shall also attend. Dick is particularly special as he was one of the guys who played football in Vung Tau during the War. Further,  he played for 2AOD (2nd Advanced Ordnance Depot) which was the team that won the two 1968 premierships that were up for grabs. b-i-g.

To see the reprinted Welcome Address in TPI Chin Up magazine, click on  and .

To see the presentation that was prepared by the Vietnam Swans following the 2010 ANZAC Friendship Weekend, click onto .

To see other articles that have been written about the Vietnam Swans, click on the Press tab.

Courtesy of Adam Martin from , we have just uploaded 160 photos from last Saturday’s match between the Vietnam Swans and Cambodian Cobras in Saigon.

To see the photos, click onto the .

Many thanks to Adam Martin from for his excellent photography.

was due to play a match against the Vietnam Swans on 19 September. However, yesterday, Daniel Hogarth, ex Swannie and current player of Tarrawingee, sent the following email to advise that the Vietnam trip has been delayed due to Victoria’s current flood crisis.

Daer Swannies

I have some good and bad news.

Bad news – Wangaratta and surrounding areas have been affected by floods. This has meant many people have been forced out of homes and lost property, stock etc. For this has meant our Preliminary Final was postponed a week which has meant our Grand Final was then forced back another week to the 18th of September (the day we were meant to be flying out to Vietnam).

Now we are not guaranteed a Grand Final spot (Eds note: but they have been spanking other clubs in the league all season) but we do not wish to miss the Grand Final or our trip to Vietnam to meet the Mighty Swans.

Good News- What we have done is moved the trip back a whole week (just confirmed 2 min ago). So, we are still coming to Vietnam but we now arrive Sat 25th September (AFL Grand Final day- bad day to be flying and not watching).

We would still love to play a game against each other to promote the Swans and footy in Asia.

Sorry to do this to the Swannies, but it something that has been out of our control with the floods. I realise the Swannies have organised and booked venues, players etc and we are very appreciative of all the work that has gone into this so far.

Hope we are able to work something out and have a kick.

Ed’s note: The Swannies will be doing everything we can to make a fixture happen. But the day after the Grand Final, as the most convenient option, is also the harshest! Possibly the following week (when RMIT’s field is closed for annual maintenance)??

National Prez, Phil Johns, provides an update.

Dear Swannies, Sponsors and Supporters

• Victory against Cambodia
• Black Armbands for Matt Natalooto’s mother
• Rick Trewavas in “quality remission”
• Coming Up
• Swannies and Footy in Asia

Victory against Cambodia

On Saturday, the Vietnam Swans in Saigon played the Cambodian Cobras. Conditions were idyllic when Ms Mai Phuong Thuy – also known as Miss Vietnam 2006 – came out to the ground to toss the coin! After that, it was a tough, tight and bruising contest played in very wet conditions that the Swans eventually won, 7.9. 51 to 4.9. 33.

Matt Townsend was voted by the Swannies as our best player and accordingly, picked up the Rick Trewavas Medal.

The Cambodian Cobras are a resurrected footy team that debuted just five weeks ago when the Swannies travelled to Phnom Penh. This is an exciting development for Asian Footy and the Swannies more specifically. Having another country playing footy on our doorstep means one thing: more footy.

A couple of days prior to Saturday’s match, Rick Trewavas wrote to the Swannies:

My son has requested that my grandchild presents the Rick Trewavas Medal at the Swans-Cobras Derby in 2032.

In the year 2032, Rick’s grandchild will have just turned 21 (the grandchild is due in February 2011). That’s a long way, away. So will the Swans-Cobras Derby still be happening in 21 years time? Why wouldn’t it? This year the Asian Champs will be 11 years old. Footy in Asia is on the march.

Today, photos of Saturday’s match taken by Adam Martin from will be put on the .

Black Armbands for Matt Natalotto’s mother

At Saturday’s match, the Vietnam Swans wore black armbands as a tribute to Matt Natalotto’s mother. Matt is a Swans player who has also been one of the driving forces behind Auskick in Saigon. On Sunday, Matt wrote the following note to the Swannies’ community.

Thanks very much for the fantastic mark of respect for my mum yesterday… Mum died, aged 60, on Friday evening from mesotheloioma. It’s a lung disease caused by asbestos fibres which she probably inhaled doing home renovations in the 80′s.

She was a footy fan and would have been very pleased with the gesture of the arm bands… I was very happy when I read the Swannies email this morning (regarding the armbands). I felt proud to be part of the Club… The rest of my family, gathered here in Perth, all thought it was great too.

I’m also glad to hear you had a win yesterday (against Cambodia). Well done. Almost as happy as I am that the Dockers beat the Hawks!

Thanks guys…

Kind regards – Matt, Ros and family…

The Swannies continue to think of Matt, Ros and their family. And Go the Dockers in this year’s finals!

Rick Trewavas in “quality remission”

As you are aware, Rick Trewavas played a key role in helping to establish the then Hanoi Swans (now Vietnam Swans). Rick’s contribution is recognised by the Swannies with the Rick Trewavas Medal which is presented to the best Swannie in the Vietnam-Cambodian match. Rick, who was diagnosed with an “aggressive lung cancer” wrote to the Swannies yesterday with some fantastic news.

The double (of Swannies’ MC, Matt Towwnsend also winning the Rick Trewavas Medal) has me in raptures. And ‘Good’, is what it is about.

I have news.

The Medical Oncologist has declared me to be in quality remission. We have beaten all the stats for the moment. He reckons we have been very lucky. I know better.

I will continue to have the breathing difficulties, pain and limited physical capacity (as reminders of the journey) but next appointment is in December for bloods, CT and PET scan. That’s much better than every 6 – 8 weeks. Here’s hoping this is for a good while. The port will remain (it has a 10 year life) and will be flushed every 8 weeks.

I wouldn’t have made it but for family and friend support, and the Swannies’ gracious gesture is a precious contribution to my life.

Thank you all.

In the words of Jeff Fenech, “I love youse all, and Miss Vietnam 2006″.

Now, the Bloods for the (2010 AFL) Flag.

Rick, that is absolutely magnificent news! And (also…) Go the Bloods in this year’s finals!

Coming Up

The next 6 weeks will be mega.

• Sunday 19 September, Saigon – Vietnam Swans Vs Tarrawingee. Former Hanoi Swan, Daniel Hogarth who made our first overseas tour (Malaysia) back in 2004 returns to Vietnam with his Tarrawingee footy club for their end of season trip. Glenn Nolan from Tommy’s Bar in Vung Tau and key organiser for the ANZAC Friendship Match also comes from Tarra. b-i-g.
• Saturday 25 September, Hanoi & Saigon – The 2010 AFL Grand Final Parties. Tickets now on sale.
• Saturday 16 October, Shanghai, China – The 11th Annual Asian Championships.

Swannies and footy in Asia

It’s much more than a game.

Honk, honk!

Miss was Miss Vietnam back on 26 August 2006.

That’s a fact.

Meanwhile, a rumour is currently circulating that she will appear at RMIT University tomorrow afternoon just prior to the big clash between the Vietnam Swans and the Cambodian Cobras.

This isn’t a fact; just a rumour. The rumour is that she will toss the coin prior to the match.

By tomorrow evening, we will be able to confirm whether it was just a rumour – or a fact!