Left to Right: Hanoi President, Dan Hopkins,; Saigon President, Nick Shiells and National President, Phil Johns, each addresses the Swannies’ Celebration Soiree in Melbourne on 28 December.

The Vietnam Swans held our 2nd annual Celebration Soiree in the evening of 28 December 2012 at the Great Northern Hotel in Carlton, Melbourne.

Again, it was a great success with more than 40 attendees. Several brought their children/babies along as well.

Presidents of National, Saigon and Hanoi persuasion all addressed the audience, reviewing the year that was for the Club as well as previewing what looks like will be a very exciting 2013.

Inductee to the Swannies’ Hall of Fame, Mick Francis was invited to say a few words as was Phil Jordan. Phil has just opened Golf Life Tours, a company that will take golfers to Vietnam from Australia. The first tours will be timed to coincide with the 2013 ANZAC Friendship Match and the hope is that money will be raised for Swim Vietnam.

The big news of the night was the announcement that Official Vietnam Football League Historian during the Vietnam War, Stan Middleton, who was there at the Great Northern, will visit Vietnam next year at the time of the ANZAC Friendship Match. Stan has accepted an invitation to deliver the Middleton Address which is held during the McMillan Dinner held immediately after the ANZAC Friendship Match.

Stan said a few words which were warmly received and we all look forward to next Saturday 27 April.

The night was a great success with representatives from each of the Swannies’ nine years being present. 2013, teh Club’s 10th Anniversary, looks set to be a big one!

Lucky Door Prizes:

We were very lucky to have two fantastic prizes to give away at the Celebration Soiree: one from the Novotel Nha Trang and the other from VIP Cabs. The prizes and winners were:

• $100 VIP Cabs voucher, won by Stan Middleton
• Two nights’ accommodation at Novotel Nha Trang, won by Mark “Willy” Williams