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The latest Events and News
For all the latest news, Click this LINK for the latest March 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.
UPCOMING
2026
Subject to change and venues to be confirmed
Committee meetings 1st Sunday of each month, February to December
WESTERN AUSTRALIA EVENTS
2026
JULY
4/07, RWAR Association Church Service St Georges Cathedral
25/07, Army Museum Visit Fremantle
AUGUST
7/08, Brigadier Arnold Potts Oration ANZAC House 6.30pm
SEPTEMBER
20/09, Kokoda Memorial Service Kings Park 11am
OCTOBER
4/10, Association AGM Karrakatta 10.30am
24/10, Cameron Supper
25/10, Memorial Service & Country Lunch Bunbury 11am
NOVEMBER
22/11 Association Christmas Wind Up TBC
QUEENSLAND EVENTS
2026
JULY
A joint association luncheon will be held in July at the Kedron-Wavell RSL. Date to be confirmed (watch this space)
AUGUST
The Battle of Kokoda Memorial service will be held again this year on 8 August at the Broadbeach Cascades Gardens. Stephen Harrold will be submitting applications again for approval for additional memorial pavers for Broadbeach Cascade Gardens.
Your contact for the events is:
Stephen Harrold
Mobile: 0417 515 786, Email: steve.harrold@bigpond.com
VICTORIA EVENTS
2026
22 April
ANZAC SERVICE FOR SCHOOLS, DANDENONG RANGES NP KOKODA MEMORIALS (Wednesday 22nd April 2026)
The 27th Annual ANZAC service for schools was held at the Kokoda Memorials near the start of the Kokoda Memorial Walkway (1000 Steps) in the Dandenong Ranges National Park at Upper Ferntree Gully on 22nd April. Attendees included 415 students from four secondary schools and nine primary schools, 46 principals and teachers. Also present were 26 invited guests including MPs, Vicpol, CFA Captains, the local Mayor and councillors, Legacy president, Vietnam Veterans Association president, army cadet catafalque party, a bugler, piper and sound engineer.
This service has become very popular with many school principals. It is co-ordinated and run by 2/16th, 2/14th & 39th Battalion Association members with the aim of educating predominantly year 6 students on the Kokoda campaign.
Several student speakers were included again this year. Selected students were nominated by their schools and then asked to research topics provided by the organising committee and present their research as part of their Australian history studies. This opportunity gave them experience in researching and public speaking. Several schools then took their students up the Kokoda Memorial Walkway following this event.
The event is heavily supported by Parks Victoria who provided eight rangers to assist with parking, diverting the public, set up of Battalion banners, VIP seating, cleaning of the monuments and serving of a light lunch to the special guests at the conclusion.
The service went off without a hitch and feedback received so far from attendees has been very positive. The MC was Trevor Ingram, 2/16th Battalion Association.
The photos (click this link) include some of the students in front of the Kokoda Memorial Wall with “Mates” statue and the catafalque party during the service.
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
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.
