Annual Australian Badge clean in July 2025 - Tom Thornton.

 This annual village event always takes place on the first Saturday of July (this year being on the 5th); it is a unique collaboration between local people and UK based Australian Defence Forces personnel who get together each year to keep our treasured World War 1 memorial in good shape. This year was a 'vintage' one, with a good turnout of locals and a strong Aussie contingent including a dozen members of their Ukrainian training team coming down from East Anglia.

The weather had fortunately turned cool and overcast, (with one sharp shower at the end to wash off the dust), so good for hillside gardening, and many hands made light work of the morning's task. This was followed by well-earned drinks (to clear the dust from our throats) in the Social Club (thanks to Sarah for opening early) and then the highlight of the day: a handsome cold buffet lunch kindly provided, as ever, by Dominique Beagley and her loyal band of helpers which was enjoyed and appreciated by all. After which, the younger Aussies took to the skittle alley. (Will it become a thing in their RSL clubs in years to come?). And then we all dispersed after a job well done. You can see the refresh results as you travel towards Wylye. So, until next year.......