CHAIRMAN’S REPORT TO 2018 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

2018 QUIET LION TOUR. Senior Vice Chairman Ian Holding, Secretary Krishna Vanderweide and Tour Leader David Piesse managed the 2018 Tour. Neil MacPherson was the travelling ex POW. Harry Martin travelled privately. Alan MacPherson assisted where required. Ian and David will provide this meeting with reports on the tour. Subsidizing juniors remains an objective.

2019 QUIET LION TOUR. Planning for the 2019 Tour is well under way with the tour team working to ensure another successful tour. Ian Holding will inform this meeting of the details.

MEETINGS. Committee meetings have been held as required and Ian Holding has been kind enough to host the meetings at his residence. WEB SITE. Roland Lockhart continues to carry out the technical side of managing the website. We owe him a debt of gratitude. The web site assists in generating and maintaining interest in the BTRMA and we now have regular queries which we answer or refer to a source of information. NEWSLETTER. Elizabeth Brennan collates the newsletter and Ian Holding continues to do a great job in printing and distribution. The newsletter has played a very important part in maintaining interest in the Association and the Tours.

The newsletter distribution is becoming increasingly wider.

SUCCESSION PLANNING. Our objective to constant rejuvenation and succession planning is proving effective and the long term success of our Association is assured, particularly the popularity of the Quiet Lion Tours. Nominations have been called for membership of the Committee and will be dealt with by this meeting.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. To all committee members, office bearers and former POW’s, thank you for your ongoing dedication and support. A thank you for the ongoing support of:- the management and staff at Hollywood Hospital in providing us with these facilities to conduct our meetings and functions, particularly CEO Peter Mott, Director of Clinical Services Karen Gullick and Debra Taylor, Peel Health Campus CEO Doctor Margaret Sturdy and Mandurah RSL for sponsorship of Service Cadets, the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre (TBRC) founder Rod Beattie, Centre general manager Terry Manttan and Researcher Andrew Snow, Roland Lockhart for managing our Web Site and Flight World for flight booking services on tours.

Our Association remains committed to the objectives which were enunciated at our very first Annual Meeting and have been at the forefront of our every endeavour since. Our concentration on our objectives and our adherence to their scope has stood us in good stead. We have constantly developed and improved the Quiet Lion Tours to the point where they are recognised by all as historically accurate military tours with the addition of a measure of cultural and tourist experience. The extensive knowledge gathered by our tour team and our Thai guides, plus the presence of ex POWs provides a level of authenticity not generally available.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICE BEARERS. The current office bearers have all worked tirelessly for our cause. I continue to review my participation and find it satisfying to look after inquiries generated from the Web Site and carry out the Chairman’s role as required. Again, at Ian Holding’s request, I will continue as Chairman (subject to the agreement of this meeting). Ian remains very busy in his private vocation and in the primary organisation of the Quiet Lion Tour. He is happy to remain as Senior Vice Chairman with Neil MacPherson Vice Chairman, Krishna Vanderweide Secretary/Treasurer, David Piesse Tour Leader/co-tour organiser/Country Liaison, Elizabeth Brennan Newsletter collator, past Chairman Hugh Warden remains a good supporter and provider of wise counsel and it is pleasing to note that Hugh was recently made a member of the Order of Australia (OAM), mainly for his work in the Primary Industry area but also for a number of worthy activities in serving the community (including the BTRMA) and Peter Winstanley as Special Researcher. Allen MacPherson remains on the Committee and is an asset on the Tours. Arthur Anstis has now retired and we are grateful for his help over the years as Treasurer. It is recommended that Arthur be appointed a Life Member of the BTRMA.

The formal election of the Committee will take place later in the meeting. I look forward to remaining as Chairman for a further year should that be in the interests of the organisation. Thanks to all Committee members for their contribution to another successful year. It is pleasing that all current members have indicated their willingness to remain in the team for another year. I wish all members and their family’s good health for the coming year and another successful Quiet Lion Tour in 2018 and thank you all for your continued support.

Eric Wilson.

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The itinerary and booking information for the 2019 Quiet Lion Tour has been posted on the site Please click on the Tour Info tab above for details

Please click on these links for the new articles

2/4 Machine Gun Battalion
Harold David Martin
Cranston Albury McEachern

The committee and supporters of the Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association wish all of you a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

Please find the final newsletter for 2015 here

The year's Quiet Lion Tour of the Burma-Thailand Railway was yet another successful journey with students and the other attendees appreciating the work and sacrifice that the POW's all suffered. Read the student contributions, articles and testimonials.

QUIET LION TOUR 2017

ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE AT HELLFIRE PASS

WREATH LAYING KANCHANABURI CEMETERY

Itinerary - Click here for itinerary Bookings are now being accepted for QUIET LION TOUR 2017 which departs Perth on 17th April 2017 and returns on 28th April 2017. The Quiet Lion Tours have always featured High School students from around Australia who are sponsored by various charitable and service organisations. The focus on students is to celebrate the work done by the Doctors on the railway and to perpetuate the message that “we may forgive but we will never forget” the horrific story of the Burma Thailand Railway. The tour normally includes survivors of the railway construction, but this is subject to the health of the POW’s and is not guaranteed. The Tour is for 12 days (11 nights) and the focus is on the story of the Australia PoWs, their camps and the Australian doctors culminating in the ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Hellfire Pass and the Memorial Service in the Cemetery at Kanchanaburi. Many sites of Prisoner of War camps, the Bridge on the River Kwai, hospitals sites and other areas of interest are visited as part of the tour. Descendants of exPOW, Experts on the Thai Burma Railway travel on the tour and provide commentaries in addition to English speaking Thai Guides. The Quiet Lion Tours commenced in 1985 and travels to Thailand to honour Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop, all other Doctors who tended the sick and all the Prisoners of War who were on the Burma Thailand Railway. The tours are operated by the Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association, a non-profit group dedicated to preserving the memory of those who toiled on the Death Railway as Prisoners of War of the Japanese. Several days are spent in Bangkok for tourist, shopping opportunities and to acclimatise to the local weather conditions.  Accommodation comprises of 4 nights at a top hotel in Bangkok, 1 night at a riverside resort in Kanchanaburi and 6 nights at the Home Phu Toey Resort (on the River Kwai near Hellfire Pass) which includes the Weary Dunlop Peace Park. Arrangements can be made for travel from any State in Australia. Interested people should contact Tour Organiser Ian Holding on M 0418832281 email: iholding@sinosteel.com.au Tour Leader David Piesse on     Tel 9447 7505    email:djpiesse@gmail.com See Booking Conditions here and Application to Travel here Three Tier Bridge Site

The December 2013 newsletter is currently available for download See the newsletters page

GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION AT HELLFIRE PASS AND KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY. The association continues to press the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure the Government recognises the importance of the Burma Thailand Death Railway in Australia’s War History by having senior representatives at the Hellfire Pass Dawn Service and the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery wreath laying ceremony. In 2013 the Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and the President of the Senate John Hogg attended with a team from DVA and four ex POWs from the Eastern states. 2014 QUIET LION TOUR. Itinerary has been modified to cater for changing needs. The necessity to ensure juniors do not miss too much school will prevail. Available places will be limited to maximum of 90 persons including 35 juniors. There will be a complete free day at Home Phu Toey. Apart from essential early starting times there will be a relaxing of these start time. Travel agent Karen Branch (principal of Allied Travel) will fill the role of booking arrangements. Secretary Krishna Vanderweide, Tour Leader David Piesse and Ian Holding will liaise with the Chairman in Tour Organization. The numbers of interested parties is high and a full list is very probable. We are confident there at least two ex POWs will be 2014 on tour New operators of Home Phu Toey, Serenata Group and Khun Supererk, will have completed the improvements of the resort but it is likely the tariffs will be increased. The tour cost will remain the same and the Association will make up any shortfall. WEB SITE. Administration changes have been completed and the new format adopted. Roland Lockhart continues to carry out the technical side of managing the website. The web site plays a large part in generating and maintaining interest in the BTRMA and we now have regular queries which we answer or refer to a source of information. A Committee member will be appointed to liaise with the Web Site Manager. NEWSLETTER. Ian Holding continues to do a great job in looking after the formation, printing and distribution of the newsletter. The newsletter has played a very important part in maintaining interest in the Association and the Quiet Lion Tours. The newsletter distribution is becoming increasingly wider and as a result there has been a pleasing increase in the number of donations made. These donations help in subsidizing juniors. KNUN KANIT HEALTH. Our long time host in Thailand has continued to improve, is now feeling quite well and his prognosis is good. TOUR MARKETING. As a result of the active marketing we have at least three large groups considering their options for the next tour. Kunnunurra High School had 23 students and four teachers on the 2013 Tour. Mingenew/Carnamah/Three Springs had two adults and eight juniors and Esperance had eleven juniors and two carers. The Vance family group of nine and nine Eastern States people participated. WORKING WITH CHILDREN. David Piesse and I have Working with Children accreditation. FIRST AID. David Piesse has a St John’s First Aid Course. There were two nurses travelling on the last tour. There were was no medical problems apart from tummy upsets. COMMITTEE. I look forward to remaining as Chairman for a further year. Thanks to all Committee members for their contribution to another successful year. It is pleasing that all members have agreed to remain as a team for another year. Ken Bladen has now ceased his role as a Committee member but will be regarded as an ex-officio member. Ken and Stephanie have provided great service to the BTRMA and we are grateful for their help and wise counsel. Hugh Warden is reducing his involvement and will not nominate for the Senior Vice President position but continue on the Committee. Hugh has been an active and astute participant from the inception of the BTRMA and we are indebted to him. As part of our succession planning Ian Holding will assume the role of Senior Vice President with a view to assuming the role of Chairman (depending on work commitments). Neil MacPherson OAM has always been available as Vice Chairman. Arthur Anstis has continued as a worthy custodian of our funds as Treasurer, Krishna Vanderweide has moved easily and efficiently into the position of Secretary whilst also acting as membership registrar, David Piesse has been the co-tour organiser, tour leader and country liaison officer, Peter Winstanley OAM continues his role of researcher, Wally Holding OAM has helped with his long experience and Alan MacPherson has helped on tours. Our two ex-officio members – Past Chairman Ken Bladen AO and Chaplain Father Barry May OAM - have been very valuable assets, either in our deliberations or being a valuable backstop. We are fortunate to have such worthy people available. Karen Branch of Allied Travel has offered to take a role to complete the cooperation between the BTRMA and the Travel Agent and will be an ex-officio member of the committee. An addition to the committee will be Georgina Wallace, a member of the Holding family. Georgina has volunteered to act as a liaison with our web site custodian Roland Lockhart. SUCCESSION PLANNING. Our dedication to constant rejuvenation and succession planning is proving effective and the long term success of our Association is assured, particularly the popularity of the Quiet Lion Tours which are the cornerstone of our existence. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. To all committee members, office bearers and former POW’s, thank you for your ongoing dedication and support. I would also like to acknowledge with thanks the ongoing support from the management and staff at Hollywood Hospital in providing us with these facilities to conduct our meetings and functions. Our Association remains committed to the objectives of the BTRMA which were enunciated at our very first Annual Meeting and have been at the forefront of our every endeavour since. Our concentration on our objectives and our reluctance to move outside of their scope has stood us in good stead. We have constantly developed and improved the Quiet Lion Tours to the point where they are recognised by all as historically accurate military tours with the addition of a measure of cultural and tourist experience. The extensive knowledge gathered by our tour team and our Thai guides, plus the presence of exPOWs provides a level of authenticity not generally available. I wish all members and their family’s good health for the coming year and another successful Quiet Lion Tour in 2014 and thank you all for your continued support. My sincere thanks to you all. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT 2013-2014 Eric WILSON APM CHAIRMAN Ian HOLDING SENIOR VICE CHAIRMAN NEWSLETTER EDITOR Neil MacPHERSON OAM VICE CHAIRMAN Kris VANDERVELDE SECRETARY, MEMBERSHIP REGISTRAR Arthur ANSTIS TREASURER David PIESSE CO/ TOUR ORGANISER/LEADER COUNTRY LIAISON OFFICER Hugh WARDEN (PAST CHAIRMAN and SENIOR VICE CHAIRMAN) Alan MacPHERSON TOUR DUTIES Peter WINSTANLY OAM RFD SPECIAL RESEARCH Georgina WALLACE WEB SITE LIAISON EX OFFICIO COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. Rev. Barry MAY OAM ASSOCIATION CHAPLAIN Wally HOLDING (Sen.) OAM. Karen BRANCH TRAVEL AGENT

The 2013 Quiet Lion tour was universally well received. Have a look at the testimonials page for new comments and tour photos in the gallery  

2013 QUIET LION TOUR. As Chairman I wish to thank all those who helped make it a success. The numbers were up this year. Fifty seven adults & 47 juniors formed the party, a total of 104 persons. Neil MacPherson, David Piesse and Arthur Anstis each co-ordinated a bus. Krishna Vanderweide, Alan MacPherson and Joyce Wilson assisted with general matters. The presence of ex-POWs Neil MacPherson, Snow Fairclough and Wally Holding provided a great presence. Having many members of their families was a great asset The tour went very smoothly. This was due to the detailed planning prior to the tour, the combination and co-operation of the BTRMA personnel, the patience and tolerance of the members of the touring party and the efficiency of the Pacific Horizon Travel staff. Sponsors of juniors were again Wagin Lions, Wally Holding Family Trust, Mandurah RSL, Neil MacPherson and the Peel Health Campus. The Esperance Juniors had sponsorship contributions from a number of local service organizations as did Carnamah-Three Springs-Mingenew. A large group (including 19 students) from Kununurra District High School was a welcome addition. Included in the juniors were youngsters sponsored by the Polly Farmer Foundation which was founded to assist the development of indigenous people. A special variation was made to accommodate the nine member family group from Queensland led by David and Chris Vance. Their father had died at Sonkurai and was initially buried there before being interred at Tanbuyziat (Burma). This group together with a number of families and individuals who had relatives in F Force were taken on a special one-day tour to Three Pagodas Pass including visits to the camp sites of Sonkurai, Kami Sonkurai and Shimo Sonkurai. This was a once-off and appreciated by those concerned. There was the traditional Anzac Cup Australian Rules football match at the Kanchanaburi Stadium hosted by the Thailand Tigers. On this occasion the teams were comprised of Australian ex-pats and youngsters from the Quiet Lion Tour contingent. Members of the Quiet Lion Tour party contributed both on-field and off-field. Thai agent Vivatchai and his staff at Pacific Horizon Travel, the staff at Home Phu Toey and Mick Clarke and the staff at Hellfire Pass Museum were great assets. Particular mention must be made of the excellent behavior of our juniors, the great impression created by the cadets, the dignity of our ex PoWs, the work of our Committee members in general and the great camaraderie of our tour party. Anzac Day this year was notable for the attendance at the Hellfire Pass Dawn Service and the Kanchanaburi Wreath Laying Ceremony by Minister of Defence Stephen Smith and Leader of the Senate John Hogg, with three Eastern States exPOWs. 2014 TOUR PLANNING. Bookings are now being accepted for the 2014 Tour. The numbers will be limited to 90 included a maximum of 35 juniors. Land costs and airline charges could be higher in 2014 but we will keep the adult prices at the 2013 level but increase the Junior’s price by $100.00 (The Association will carry the cost of any deficit with help from our members who add donations to the membership subscriptions. The Association will also again bear the cost of gratuities to the Pacific Horizon staff and automatically make all travelers financial members of the Association.