Hi Guys,

 

Sometimes the universe just smiles at you...

 

Last week got invited out to SASR as my team is leading the redevelopment of the facility and the boys who run the "Unit History Room" wanted me to donate some pro-bono PM support for a new display project. No worries - only too happy to help kick in for a good cause. "Would you like a tour of the history room whilst you are?" he asks.... sure, says I: expecting a room full of photos and trophies.

 

What we got instead was 2 hours of hands-on (actually being allowed to touch and play) in the single best and biggest museum / hangar / mens shed / toyroom you have EVER. FRACKING. SEEN.

 

I mean hell, where to start. Huey's, gunned up Unimog's and Perenties and the old urban assault vehicles. Hundreds of weapons including all the cool modern **** as well as Vietnam souvenirs, silenced Sten guns, fully auto SLR's (aka The Pig). There were ultralight aircraft, bullet ridden (and blood soaked) body armour sets, gold plated toilets from Saddam's house, the shot up motorbike that they shot out from under one of Bin Laden's senior guys near Tora Bora, art work, photo's, medals.

 

Camouflage uniforms from all eras but especially HEAPS of the ERDL / 'Vietnam Leaf" worn by SASR 1967-1975 - think Odd Angry Shot cammo. Rare as rocking horse ****e nowadays and selling on eBay for $200-300 a piece and these guys had dozens and dozens of sets in mint condition.

 

They had the actual 10 set radio that was shot out during an extended contact the Company had in Malaya (cool story, they could TX but not RX as the two units were separate and the RX was shot).

 

Used missles including Javelins and Dragons and 106mm recoilless and etc etc etc

 

Also have a very moving private chapel honouring the dead, including the guys who died on selection course.

 

You can see the hangar (large green building in the middle) and the unit history room (long rectangular white building south of the hangar) in the Google Maps link here. Just west of the history room is the memorial. From the outside there is just no hint of the goodies contained in those buildings

 

Sadly, the facility is all CLASS so no access to the public - you need an invite and a security clearance to get on but if you ever get the chance, well worth it. I re-visited the AWM in Canberra last week and although that was great (and nowadays done really well) this trip was 1 in a million.

 

No photo's of course but memories for a lifetime.

 

and btw - they actually have a fully equipped mens shed as part of the complex, really useful apparently for mental health management of the guys returning...

 

https://maps.google.com.au/?ll=-31.970643,115.765895&spn=0.004743,0.006148&t=h&z=18

Thanks for making us really envious Bammo!

 

Sounds like a good time though.

:)

Never knew where they were (other then WA) but always had the impression it was out the middle of nowhere, not practically in the middle of Perth.

 

Sounds like an awesome experience Bammo! Very jealous!

Awesome.

Thanks for the share Bammo, my father in-law managed to snag a visit there as well.

 

They have their CQB tower there as well (if you pan around and look).. I always thought they had that out at Bindoon, not in Perth.

You still have the Honour of being the person with the most guns in the tray of a Ute I have ever met Bammo.

Whats the place on the back road between Kalamunda and and Hazelmare do you know...?.

You still have the Honour of being the person with the most guns in the tray of a Ute I have ever met Bammo.

 

Mental image:

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/4431214-3x4-340x453.jpg