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The latest Events and News
For all the latest news, Click this LINK for the latest September 2026 PIGEON POST
NEWS
APRIL 2026
Our 2/16th Battalion AIF Association sadly mourns the passing of William Grayden at age 105.
William Grayden was a veteran of the 2/16th Battalion and fought with them in the Palestine Syrian Campaign and then on the Kokoda Track where he was wounded and initially believed killed. He later fought at Gona and finished the War with the Borneo Campaign, still with the 2/16th Battalion.
As the son of a Gallipoli veteran, Bill enlisted before he was old enough and quickly rose to Commissioned rank, ending the War as a Captain.
After the War he entered State Politics as a local Member and then moved to Federal Parliament, before later returning to WA, again in State Parliament.
He served a total of 43 years in Parliament, becoming the longest serving West Australian Parliamentarian.
Bill married Betsy in 1949 and they raised a family of ten children, which has now grown with 36 grandchildren and at least 50 great grandchildren.
The 2/16 th Battalion AIF Association has been proud to have Bill as our President for many years, and his influence and contribution will be missed.
It has been an honour to have known a man who contributed so much to the life of WA and Australia in his lifetime.
ABC News article LINK
UPCOMING EVENTS
2026
Subject to change and venues to be confirmed
Committee meetings 1st Sunday of each month, February to December
WESTERN AUSTRALIA EVENTS
2026
OCTOBER
25 October
ANNUAL COUNTRY COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE & LUNCH, BUNBURY WAR MEMORIAL
SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER 11AM SERVICE
Please join us in Bunbury for the Annual Memorial Service and lunch. Bunbury is where so many of the 2/16th Battalion men, from all walks of life in the South West, joined up.
This year we will again be joined by 515 Australian Cadet Unit Bunbury who will establish an honour guard for the service. The service will include wreath laying to the sounds of pipes by Cadet Matthew Lindberg and will provide an opportunity for anyone who wishes to lay floral tributes in remembrance.
Following the service, we hope you will join us for lunch at The Rose Hotel.
The Rose Hotel was a favourite of our veterans when the Bunbury event was an entire weekend of commemoration and catching up. The menu for The Rose Hotel can be found at https://www.rosehotel.com.au Food and drinks are at own cost - they also have a special ‘kids menu’.
RSVP TO MARGARET SMITH by 16th October
Ph: 0419 914 534 Email: margaretasmith14@hotmail.com
NOVEMBER
11 November
SPECIAL OFFER IN REMEMBRANCE OF
THE HON W.L. GRAYDEN-BILL
WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
A Perth, WA based theatre group, LIFE ON HOLD PRODUCTIONS has generously offered to perform a PREVIEW prior to the opening night of their latest production. “CANDLES IN THE RAIN” a play about LIFE after WAR, unseen….’
Managing Director, Life On Hold Productions, Sarah J. Christiner said she ‘was stoked when the idea came to her, and remembers Bill being involved with the RSL SUB BRANCH and she knows members of his family through the theatre.’
Bookings can be made via https://www.trybooking.com/DPWRW or contact Mary 0409 085 987 mary.goldthorpe@yahoo.com
14 November
2026 16 RWAR BATTALION SPRING BALL - CAMERON SUPPER
6PM-11.59PM
16RWAR IRWIN BARRACKS
Join the 16th Battalion for their annual mixed all ranks, family and friends dinner celebrating their rich history and traditions. Members of the 2/16th Battalion Association are welcome and encouraged to attend this formal event.
Booking details https://trybooking.com/DQARM and more information available from Mary Goldthorpe 0409 085 987
Read the official document by clicking this LINK
22 November
ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS WIND UP
SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2026
You are invited to join with other members and friends as another year of camaraderie and remembrance of the 2/16th Association comes to a close.
We are grateful for your attendance at our Services and events held in 2026 and we do look forward to sharing our last event for 2026 with YOU.
O’MEARA VC MESS IRWIN BARRACKS KARRAKATTA
Members, family and friends will be warmly welcomed and that includes YOU, your family, friends and, it is never too early to introduce your grandchildren to their history.
The 16RWAR History Room will be open to explore.
Drinks will be available from the Bar. Please bring a plate to share. There will also be a sausage sizzle to enjoy.
Further information available by contacting Mary Goldthorpe or any other member of your committee.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST PRODUCE PHOTO ID TO GAIN ENTRY TO IRWIN BARRACKS
CONTACT SECRETARY PETER NORRISH TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST THAT MUST BE SUBMITTED AS IRWIN BARRACKS IS AN OPERATING MILITARY BASE.
0417 985 400 peterchucknorrish@gmail.com
2026
20 August
SAVE THE DATE
BRIG Arnold Potts Oration
QUEENSLAND EVENTS
2026
OCTOBER
TBC
Your contact for events is:
Stephen Harrold
Mobile: 0417 515 786, Email: steve.harrold@bigpond.com
VICTORIA EVENTS
2026
28 November
The 2/16th Battalion Association normally holds a reunion lunch in regional Victoria in November each year. In recent years, the Royal Hotel in Bacchus Marsh has been supporting these functions.
2/16th Battalion Assoc Victoria last year trailed a joint Association event with less emphasis on formalities. This format was well received and so it will be repeated again this year in memory of our veterans. Our colleagues from 2/14th and 39th Battalion Associations are supporting this event.
This luncheon will be a combined Battalion Association pre-Xmas function. Family and friends are most welcome.
The details are as follows: (add it to your calendar)
BATTALION ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON
Date/Time: Saturday 28 November 2026 at 12.00 Noon for 12.15 pm start.
Venue: Function Room, Royal Hotel; 200 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria 3340.
Cost: as per hotel pricelist (see https://eatdrinkroyal.com/eat/) payable upon placing your order.
Parking: free parking available: access from Main Street opposite the Royal Hotel (behind the Bacchus Marsh RSL).
Please feel free to invite family members and friends along to this social gathering (2/14th & 39th committee included).
It would be great to catch up over a drink and a meal before Xmas.
RSVP to Trevor Ingram by 27 October 2026 (even if not able to attend) so that we can confirm numbers with the hotel.
trevor.ingram@bigpond.com
Vic/ACT/Tas Representative
Mobile: 04 1933 334
Email: trevor.ingram@bigpond.com
ORATION HISTORY
2024
2 August, Oration delivered by: Nova Peris OAM OLY MAICD
Former Senator Nova Peris OAM was Australia’s first Aboriginal woman elected to Federal Parliament and the first Aboriginal and Northern Territorian to win an Olympic Gold Medal. A dual Olympian and the first Olympic torchbearer for the Sydney 2000 Games. Nova is the Great Granddaughter to 2/16th Battalion member the late Sgt John Marcus Charles Knox WX10552 (aka Jack Knox)
2025
Friday 25 July, Actor/Director Myles Pollard was our speaker for this year's Oration.
The 2025 Oration was presented by actor Myles Pollard, descendant of one of our veterans, and was held on Friday 25th July at ANZAC House in Perth. Click this Link for the video presentation CLICK HERE
2026
07/08, Brigadier Arnold Potts Oration ANZAC House,
Mr Richard James, author of Australia’s War with France: The Campaign in Syria and Lebanon, 1941 CLICK HERE
NEWS
A lot of our latest news is captured in photos and in the Pigeon Post
Head here for PHOTOS and here for PIGEON POST
VICTORIAN REUNION, BACCHUS MARSH (Sunday 29th October 2023)
As a rural reunion had not been held in Victoria since 2019 due to Covid, a luncheon was organised at the Royal Hotel in Bacchus Marsh which was the same venue used in 2019.
There were 20 attendees in total including eight from 2/14th and two from 39th Battalion Associations who have a close relationship with the 2/16th in Victoria.
This was the first rural Victorian reunion without any veterans or widows able to attend.
Families of deceased 2/16th Btn. veterans, Lindsay Idle, Jack Balharrie, Bob Bailey, Ken Murdoch and Des Kelly attended.
Mary Goldthorpe travelled overnight from Perth to attend this reunion then returned to Perth that evening. What a great commitment!
Des Kelly’s family (Gail, Ian & David Haidon) made the long road trip from the Canberra district.
The ongoing support from the descendents of our veterans is fundamental to the future of the Battalion Association.
The Royal Hotel had recently been renovated and was under new management. We were provided with a dedicated function room for our reunion.
The meals were high quality albeit a bit slow in arriving.
Following lunch, Mary gave a summary of the Bunbury dinner and the PNG Patrol Boat sailor’s service with the 2/16th at Kings Park.
All those present had an enjoyable day.
Report prepared by Trevor Ingram
2/16th Battalion AIF Association
2/16th Battalion Assoc. Vice President Mary Goldthorpe and Secretary Peter Norrish met with representatives of the PNGDF Navy at a recent memorial service in Kings Park. The Assoc. will be holding a joint memorial service on Saturday 21 October at 11 am, to celebrate the ongoing defence partnership between Australia and PNG.
The photo From right to left shows:
Lieutenant Nathan Tai Tombe
Able Seaman Gehala Dai
Mary Goldthorpe
Peter Norrish
Sub Lieutenant Ishmael Ogera
Mr Michael Gau
Mr David Solok
The PNGDF Navy are here to collect The Guardian Patrol Boat HMPNGS 403 Gilbert Toropo
ANZAC day 2022, Perth Western Australia
Check out all the photos by clicking this LINK
Kokoda 75 Anniversary
Seven direct descendants of Kokoda Campaign visited Beachheads and Kokoda to Commemorate the 75th anniversary of the campaign.
From left to right
John Murdoch, son of J K (Ken) Murdoch WX 3254
Ian Smith, son of J E (Jack) Smith WX 7283
Ken Walker, son of W (Bill) Walker WX 5620
Brenda Beacham, daughter of A l Piercy WX 2850
Richard Ingram, son of L Idle VX 28893
Peter Norrish, son of D K (Keith) Norrish WX 5859
Mary Goldthorpe, daughter of J K (Ken) Murdoch WX 3254
Leaving Australia for Port Moresby on Aug 1 the group met up with other members and visitors from USA and Brisbane, then travelled to Popendetta before heading out over the next few days to Gona, Sanananda and Buna. Back to Popandetta a visit was made to Kokoda,(laid wreath) Owers Corner and Bomana War Cemetery where we laid our second wreath.
