501st
TROOP REPORT: Bushfire Appeal - Poolrite Equipment
Friday, February 13th, 2009 | 501st, Work | 7 Comments
Date: Friday, 13th February, 2009
Venue: Poolrite Equipment, Queensland.
Time: 0900 - 1500
Mission: Collect Donations for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, Seek Out Rebels and enforce Imperial Order.
Detail:
The element of surprise was essential for this troop. I snuck into the building via the side entrance, while some Empire sympathisers created a diversion with Krispy Kreme Donuts. It took serious focus to avoid the box of fresh iced donuts…
Once I was suitably attired, I ventured forth to make my presence known to the locals. Many of the employees were shocked and excited to see me - most of whom cheerfully filled my collection tin with generous donations. Those that weren’t so generous were threatened or arrested.
At one point, it seemed the locals needed a little help. I aided their Warehousing and Sales departments, before fielding some IT Support calls. Their ‘Complaints Department’ has never been so efficient - or so quiet…
A few local businesses, upon hearing that I was in the neighbourhood, persuaded me to visit them by offering substantial donations to the cause. I was humbled and, for the first time in my life, left totally speachless.
I didn’t anticipate the overwhelming support and joy that I was met with. I still cant quite believe just how generous the public has been. Some of the folk today have been personally affected by the Bushfires - many of the staff have relatives and family members in the Bushfire area. They shared their stories with me, as they stuffed large amounts of money into my donation tin.
Today, I am proud to be an Australian Trooper. I am proud of the way this community have rallied around those less fortunate. I am proud, humbled, and awed to state that $24,596.80 was put in my tin for the victims of the Victoria Bushfires.
Even as I type out this brief mission report, donations are still being stuffed into my tin.
Trooper Attendance: TK 6232 “Moxxxie”
Injuries:Very few, for a change. Some minor armour bites to the left arm. May be worth shortening the left shoulder bell strap.
Malfunctions: My right hand guard fell off - twice. Will need to reinforce the velcro with some elastic strapping.
Public Incidents: A few vehicles showed their support by flashing their lights and honking their audible notification systems.
Mission Status:
An overwhelming success.
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 | 501st, Good Days, Work | 1 Comment
I’ve just posted a challenge to my work colleagues.
From: Jacqui
Sent: Wednesday, 11 February 2009 12:06 PM
To: Head Office - All Staff
Subject: Stormtrooper?Hi there guys,
Some of you may know of my terribly geeky passtime – I am a member of an international costuming group, called the “501st Legion”, and I willingly dress up as a Storm-trooper in order to raise money for charities. The Brisbane squad, the Redbacks, have been involved with several charities including the Variety Club, Starlight Foundation, Red Cross, Breast Cancer Foundation, MS Foundation, Ronald McDonald House. There are 29 of us here in Brisbane, and we’re all willing to sacrifice our weekends (and sometimes our dignity) for a good cause.
In addition to raising money for charities, we also visit our local hospitals – handing out gifts and smiles to sick kids. It’s rewarding, but often heartbreaking.
In any case, over the next few weeks, the 501st Legion in Australia will be doing a lot of work with the Red Cross, in order to raise money for the Victorian Bushfires.
I’m putting a challenge to all of you at Head Office.
If you can raise “AMOUNT” , then I’ll come to work on Friday dressed as a Stormtrooper.
Deal?
The generosity of my friends astounds me, and at moments like this I’m proud to be an Australian. Despite the hardships, the core of our society is mateship and to help somebody in need. The outpouring of generosity and support for the victims of the Victorian Bushfire is unprecedented - but for me, not entirely surprising. We’re Australian. This is who we are.
It’s now 1.06pm, merely an hour after posting that, and I’ve doubled my challenge amount. I’m going to work on Friday dressed as a stormtrooper.
I’ll post photos, and the final amount raised after the dust settles on Friday.
Troop Report - GAME ON
Friday, January 30th, 2009 | 501st, Troop Reports | No Comments
Date: Friday, 30th December 2009
Venue: ‘Game On!’ Video Game Exhibition at the QLD State Library.
Time: 1800 - 2130
Mission: Maintain Order, Seek Out Rebels and General Intimidation
Detail:
Once again the Redback Squad was called into action to maintain order at the Queensland State Library Video Game Exhibition. From 6.30pm onwards our duty was to patrol the crowded gaming areas ensuring that any uprisings were quickly quashed. Once it became clear that the venue was firmly under the control of Vader’s Fist, the local population quickly accepted their fate and settled into a night of retro-gaming and photo-ops with the troopers.
TD-1535 also operated a collection tin for the Starlight Foundation and succeeded in securing $153.30 in donations – so a hearty WELL DONE For that effort!
At the end of the evening an urgent incoming transmission was received concerning a possible secret Rebel Base right here in Brisbane. A hazardous mission was planned, and any TK who undertook it would probably not survive. Nevertheless, this was a risk Lord Vader was willing to take. So it came to pass that TK Oz_Scout and I valiantly ventured to Kodak Beach at Southbank with an aim to entering the lake to search for a Gungan hidedout.
TK Oz_Scout and I ran reconnaissance along South Back as requested. We encountered quite a number of drunken revellers, although most turned out to be Empire Patriots. I didn’t have my customary pink pauldron on, so there were a few girls who gave me big cuddles thinking I was their Knight in Shining (white) Armour.
Upon finding the Rebel base at Kodak Beach, we recruited some locals to clear the path for our kamakaze style ambush. They cleared the way, and we took it upon ourselves to dive in - quite literally. I detonated on impact, and have sustained a rather large egg shaped bruise on my ol’ noggin. Oz_scout fared slightly better, although we both lost various pieces from our uniform. Those pieces were recovered after some graceless ‘duck diving’.
We then had the long hike back to base wearing wet boots and soaking undergarments. At this stage, I took my boots off and hiked home in socks.
Sadly, we have very limited intelligence (hmmmmm…..!?) as the camera had some slight technical difficulties during the ambush. We do, however, have some rather cool footage of two troopers emerging from Kodak Beach looking like the worlds scariest Lifeguards.
It is my recommendation that another attempt on the rebel base is made - this time with more wranglers and better technological support.
Trooper Attendance: SL Kev Vader, TD TD-1535, TS Sandman, DZ Ms_Kuki + KT Mitchell (Kid Trooper), TK Moxxxie, TI/IG -RENTS-, TK bigmac, TK Reaper, TK Scorp, TK Oz_Scout
Novus Ordo Attendance: TB Zerebin, Sheralyn
Wranglers: Adam L, Ricard C, Lachlan H, Joseph W.
Injuries:Many and varied. Egg shaped bruise on my head. Scratch on my left shoulder. Armour bites on my left knee. Blisters from waterlogged boots.
Malfunctions: Exploded on impact. Hand pieces fell off… forearm pieces fell off… Ammo clips fell off…
Public Incidents: It’s not every day that two idiot stormtroopers jump into Southbank Beach.
Mission Status:
A Successful Mission, with great fundraising for Starlight!
Troop Report: Bunnings, Mt Gravatt
Saturday, January 24th, 2009 | 501st, Troop Reports | No Comments
Venue: Mt Gravatt Bunnings
Time: 1000 hours - 1400 hours
Mission: The Mission was to safeguard the Australia Day celebrations of a local hardware store.
Details: Dredd made contact with the Events Coordinator of Bunnings, who requested our attendance in order to maintain peace and safeguard the days events. We were given an airconditioned changing room, along with a generous supply of provisions to keep us going throughout the day. This included salad sandwiches, chicken kebabs, fairy-floss, and snow cones. Certainly one of the most comfortable changing areas we’ve encountered. Pity about the rest of the troop! The weather was horrendous! It was a balmy 34 degrees outside in the shade, which roughly translated to ambient temperatures around 37 degrees inside the building!!!
We were also joined by Bob the Builder, 4BQ Radio station and some crazy snake person who put a snake inside his mouth to demonstrate how friendly it was. I’m sorry, but I’m not putting anything inside my mouth - no matter how friendly it may appear to be!
In addition to that, Bunnings were offering popcorn and face-painting for the children (old and young, alike).
At one point, we were accused of being Daleks from Dr Who. At that stage, our fearless PR Wizard, Scotty, jumped inside their transmission booth and corrected the error.
Trooper Attendance: Moxxxie, Oz_Scout, Dredd, Gremlin, Neo, Explosion_Ed, Scottsman, BigMac
Wranglers: Calamity, Trinity, Daniel
Special Guests: Visits from Wolf and AdamL.
Injuries: Narrowly avoided dehydration. Minor scuffs on boots. Back of right knee has sustained minor bruising.
Malfunctions: My right thigh piece had a bit of a moment - when both the snap and the velcro lost the will to live. This was probably caused by the stupid level of humidity. Additional snaps and velcro may need to be applied to avoid this in future.
Mission Status: Success
Quotable Quotes:
Lets just stay in aisle 21. There’s a bloody big fan there.
TROOP: Mater Childrens’ Hospital
Monday, January 19th, 2009 | 501st, Troop Reports | No Comments
Photos pending.
Venue: Mater Childrens’ Hospital
Time: 1000 hours - 1200 hours
Mission: The mission was to safeguard the Starlight Express Room for the local constabulary, while they presented the Mater Hospital with a charity cheque.
Details: Oz_Scout made contact with the local Constabulary, who organised the location and the time of the cheque presentation ceremony. Once we arrived and kitted up, Captain Starlight suggested we visit the wards to meet all the current residents. We spent the next hour or so walking around the rooms and meeting various people, introducing ourselves and taking photos. At one point, I stuffed up my TKID - The Squad Leader cant punish me because he buggered his up also.
Trooper Attendance: Moxxxie, Oz_Scout
Wranglers: TK-TEX
Injuries: One slight pinch of my left knee. Nothing to speak of.
Malfunctions: The velcro attaching my ab and butt plates came unstuck, so I had a very attractive black dangley thing hanging off the back of my butt. Thankfully, my fellow trooper identified the malfunction before the public became aware of it.
Public Incidents: The local carpark was a total nightmare.
Mission Status: Success
Quotable Quotes:
“… Have you happened to see any Wookies lately?”
“Yep”
“Really? Where abouts?”
“At my house.”
“At your house? What was he doing there?”
“Well… he’s my Dad.”
o.O
What are you supposed to say to that?? Kids, eh! They’ll say the darnedest things.
TROOP REPORT: Beyond Blue Christmas Lights Display
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 | 501st | 2 Comments
My first troop of 2009 was a bit of a shambles.
Yes, that’s me in the sexy pink pauldron.
Venue: Beyond Blue Christmas Lights display, Wynnum
Time: 1930 hours - 2100 hours
Mission: The mission was to keep up appearances - to maintain a friendly and cooperative relationship with the public.
Details: Calamity took multiple photos of the troops, both with and without helmets. While claiming her “Mojo” was gone, it appears that these photos are of a high quality despite her modest claims.
Trooper Attendance: Moxxxie, Oz_Scout, Muppet, Goose, Bigmac, Gremlin
Wranglers: Maverick, JK
Injuries: The back of my right knee sustained some bruising because I was dumb enough to attempt a kneeling position. For future troops, I will try and stop “showing off”.
Malfunctions:I forgot my damn armour. JK then had to double-back and drive me home so I could pick it up again. Less said about that the better.
Additionally, the velcro used to attach the straps to the inside of my ab section fell off when armouring up. I managed to keep trooping by tucking the strap underneath my ammo belt. This wasn’t ideal, as whenever I moved I needed to hold onto everything. “Crippled Trooper” springs to mind. To fix this, I’ll need to pick off all the velcro applied with hot glue and use ABS Cement instead.
Public Incidents: JK hit hyperdrive along Wynnum Rd, while trying to get me to the troop on time.
Mission Status: Success
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