Puckapunyal veterans gather for heartfelt Red Rooster reunion

Members of Puckapunyal’s 21 Construction Squadron were back in their old stomping ground, The Royal Hotel, on Saturday, October 26.

This year, they had veterans coming not just from Victoria, but also Queensland and Tasmania.

The 21 Construction Squadron was a group of engineers that worked on explosives and built bridges and roads for the army, based in Seymour from the mid-1950s to the end of the 1980s.

The squadron was disbanded and integrated as the 17 Construction Squadron, then moved its base to Queensland.

This brought an important discussion on where to host the next Red Rooster reunion.

Veteran David Moore said they wanted to thank those who came from interstate in some way.

“We’re from Victoria, so it was easy for us to get here,” he said.

“We just want to repay the people interstate, and maybe rotate our function around them.”

Members who have contributed in the Squadron’s annual reunions were also recognised.

“We've had a lot of support from our administration people and the family help us pack all this stuff and sell and sales, so it’s been really good,” Mr Moore said.

“It’s been good feedback, and so we can’t ask for any more.

“The people who came up and presented them with the plaques, they started the Red Roosters Social Club, Bill and Betty and Phil and Audrey, and we’re followed with Joy, Karen ... Joy's lovely husband, Laurie, etc.”

Mr Moore also acknowledged their administration officer, Johnny Short, who couldn’t make it due to being in the hospital.

“Leave the nurses alone,” Mr Moore said with a laugh, when asked about his message to his friend who was unable to make it.

Here are more photos from Puckapunyal’s 21 Construction Squadron gathering.