HMAS ANZAC in training exercises in preparation for next week

The Vietnam Swans have been conducting a little surveillance of our own on the HMAS ANZAC which will field a team against the Vietnam Swans on 27 August at RMIT University, Saigon.

The ANZAC will come to Vietnam via Guam.

According to an email addressed to “Sirs / Maams / Shipmates” of the ANZAC which was obtained by the Swans, “Vietnam is a port rarely visited by RAN personnel and we should feel privileged to be able to visit.

“One of the highlights of the visit (and possibly of the 6 month deployment), will be a game of AFL against the Vietnam Swans… I hear they are promoting it to their students as a ‘must see’ event so we can possibly expect a big crowd. So, to match the numbers of locals that we believe will attend, it will be great if we could get maximum attendance from TEAM ANZAC to support our players. Transport to and from the ship for up to 150 people has been organised.

The Souvenir t-shirt

“There will be beer (sponsored by Foster’s), Jim Beam and the Party Crew (sponsored by Jim Beam), food (sponsored by Al Frescos), Vietnam Swans jerseys and t-shirts to comemmorate such an important event – all for sale. The Swans are using the occasion to help support their trip to Singapore in September for the AFL Asian Championships so, no doubt, there will be raffle tickets sold as well.

“The big ticket item (and “must have” deployment memorabilia) that they have put together is the t-shirt. At the moment, they are getting 150 of these t-shirts to sell on the day. So you will have to get in quick or you will miss out.”

In Vietnam, people tend to honk their horn because they love footy. Do not expect the sailors to be any different when they reach our shores!

Meanwhile, Swans committee man, Big Joe who is currently on special assignment in the Middle East is signing off his emails, Pray 5 times a day if you love footy.

The whole world is going footy mad.