Minister's tour of South East Asia (DPR/S/97)

Extensive coverage of Minister for the Army Mr Phillip Lynch during his visit to Australian units in South Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. Mr Lynch spent five days in South Vietnam accompanied by Mrs Lynch and the Army secretary Mr Bruce White. Shows the arrival at Ton Son Nhut airport Saigon. Views of Saigon including the Presidential Palace and the Headquarters of the Free World Military Assistance Organisation. Visit to Bien Hoa greeted by a guard of honour of the 3rd Regiment of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Visit to the 1st Australian Task Force at Nui Dat. Welcomed by the Task Force Commander Brigadier Pearson and inspection of Nui Dat base and units. Visit to the 4th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment (4 RAR) based 40 miles to the south of Saigon. Inspects enemy weapons captured by 4 RAR. Mr Lynch is shown a Centurion tank and 105mm Howitzers in an actual fire mission against the enemy in the Nui Dinh hills. He talks with Lance Bombardier Duane of Brisbane. Helicopter flight to inspect Fire Support Base (FSB) Jillian the main forward base of the Australian Task Force. Visit to FSB Wattle located in a rubber plantation and manned by a New Zealand 105mm Howitzer battery. Trip in a US Chinook helicopter to Vung Tau the home of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group. Major General Hay who toured South Vietnam with Mr Lynch accompanied the Minister onto the Vung Tau tarmac. The Minister visited the Revolutionary Development Centre. This centre provides skilled aid to rural Vietnamese villages and hamlets helping the people to provide their own security and to develop and widen their way of life. Service at the base chapel at Vung Tau. Mrs Lynch was accompanied at the service by Matron O'Neill. Father Frank Gorman of Moorabin VIC after the service. Recreational facilities at the logistic centre Vung Tau. Scenes of the beach, the Badcoe Club and the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Pool. Mr and Mrs Lynch walk through the wards and chat with patients at the 1st Australian Field Hospital accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Hurley Commanding Officer of the hospital. Cubi Point, Philippines where the Minister inspected the guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane. Next was a six day tour to Malaysia and Singapore. Formal welcome by the New Zealand Commander of the 28th Brigade Brigadier Gurr and the commander of the Australian Army Far East Land Forces Brigadier Morrow. First call was a visit to Terendak garrison main base for the Australian troops. Terendak is home to the 8th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (8 RAR). To Butterworth, Malaysia by RAAF Dakota aircraft. Bofors anti aircraft guns of the 110th Light Anti Aircraft Battery. These guns are a gift to the Malaysians from Australia. Singapore and a trip to the Far East Training Centre. Aerial views of Singapore from a helicopter. Meeting with Senior British and Australian Army Officers. The emphasis was on Australian participation here and of particular interest in this South East Asian Tour. See also F04319 Army Minister visit DPR/TV/1077.