Diggers attend Tet banquet DPR/TV/568

People of the South Vietnam village of Nam Binh recently invited a group of Australian soldiers to share in their Vietnamese New Year celebrations. The occasion was a banquet arranged especially for the Australians who had given the village people valuable assistance through the year. 1st Australian Logistic Support Group Civil Affairs Officer, Major Ken Peterson, of Canberra, and the Civil Affairs interpreter, Sergeant Mick Henry, of Canberra, were among the first guests to arrive. Major Peterson was the first greeted by the senior scout of Nam Binh Scout Troop. They were soon joined by Private Ted Fish, of Bondi, NSW. Private Fish, who is a qualified Scoutmaster, spends much of his spare time training the boys of the troop. Inside the local Church hall a banquet table was laden with Vietnamese food - all of it especially significant during the New Year Period, called Tet. The Australians were officially welcomed by the village Priest, who spoke to them through an interpreter. He thanked the soldiers for their help in providing classrooms, clothing, food and medical aid to the villagers. And to show their appreciation of the assistance, a group of young girls from Nam Binh's school sang in Vietnamese and English. This segment was obviously enjoyed by Army Chaplain E.J. Harley, of Canberra, ACT, and Captain William Weir, of Cabramatta, NSW, the 1 ALSG Educational Officer. The young singers had taken their first communion earlier in the day, and wore white traditional Vietnamese costumes, as well as veils. Another group of girls took their their places behind the guests and fanned them as they ate. They were later rewarded for their attention when Major Peterson and Chaplain handed out sweets, soap, toothpaste and schoolbooks to them and all the other children in the village. After the distribution of these gifts it was time for the Diggers to leave and with them they took the heartfelt gratitude of the people of Nam Binh.