OPEN DAY
Lavarack Barracks
PHOTOS : PTE Richard Tebb
THE crowd was not quite as big as last year for the second Lavarack Barracks Open Day , but they were keen . One of the organisers MAJ Mick Gallegos said people lining up to participate in the trail runs began arriving at 5am . The three fun runs - 21kms , 10kms and 5kms were all very well supported and raised more than $ 4000 for the Townsville Legacy Club . The Poziere ’ s Challenge , one of the Commander ’ s Trophy events , was picked up by every one of the units in 3Bde , some fielding more than one team . That event raised about $ 22,000 ... and even more is expected to flow into the Everyday Hero accounts of each team in coming weeks . MAJ Gallegos said the entrance money and money raised by units at their stands had yet to be counted . “ All the people I spoke to at the event really appreciated the opportunity to come into the barracks and look around ,” he said . “ I spoke to one couple from Annandale , just across the road , and they said they had always wanted to see what their neighbours got up to at work . “ It was a real eye-opener for them and they obviously enjoyed it .” Most popular was undoubtedly the three “ car crushes ” performed by 2Cav Regt with an Abrams M1A1 tank . The tanks , weighing more than 60tonnes , can travel at speed across the most inhospitable terrain , and a family sedan presented little more than a speed bump for the tanks . The 2Cav Regt display drew the biggest crowds each time it was conducted . The 4Regt RAA gun race was also a hit with the crowd . MAJ Gallegos said the childrens ’ rides were kept busy throughout the day , and the food vendors did a brisk trade .
He said having the three trail runs worked well , giving people of every fitness level an opportunity to participate without it becoming a painful endurance test . Sweepers CHAP Steve Brooks ( who followed the field up the mountain ), and
LCPL Alex Pitkethly 2RAR won the 21km run
CAPT Simon Bowen ( the downhill run ) said all runners had finished before midday and nobody needed assistance or had to withdraw . Winners of the trail runs were : 5kms male Ryder Shaw , 5kms female Madeline Condon , 10kms male Michael Harding , 10kms female Karen
CPL Rohan Lowe 3RAR meets Woolley , the 3CER mascot
Michael Harding ( centre ), and Karen Clarke ( left ) won the mens and womens 10km fun runs and Sam Hatchard fi nished 3rd in the mens
Clarke , 21kms male Alex Pitkethly , 21kms female Rachel de Zoete . Poziere ’ s Challenge results : 1RAR ( 3:04:53 ); 2RAR Team 1 , 3RAR 4Regt RAA , 2RAR Team 2 , 3CSSB Team 1 , 10FSB , HQ 3Bde , 3CSSB Team 2 , 2Cav Regt , 3CSR , 3CER , 2CHC , A Coy 1MP Bn .
SEPTEMBER 2017 | 15