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Makan No. 31
1st June, 1949.

Official Organ of 2/30th. Bn. A.I.F. Assn,
21 Military Road
, NEUTRAL BAY.

Patron: Maj. Gen. F.G. Galleghan, D.S.O., O.B.E., E.D.
President: J.H. Cooper, Esq.
Hon. Secretary: S.F. Arneil, Esq.
Hon. Treasurer: R.E. Ellis, Esq.,

Dear Dig,

Life memberships are increasing quite rapidly now as a lot of members have decided that it is easier to pay the sum of £5.5.0., plus entrance fee, than to be worried by the nuisance of sending in the Annual Subs. Latest to transfer is Jock Logan who is now a very prosperous young gentleman from the North West.

We welcome yet another new member this month, and a Life Member at that, by name, Cpl. Scotty Harris. He's a tough young fellow, this boy, and has been trying to make a fortune from a poultry form at Awaba, near Newcastle. If hard work in this game makes for success then Scotty will finish up delivering his eggs in a Holden car. Scotty has married since we returned and he has a child two years old.

Jim O'Connell is doing well now at a job in Sydney. He was a miner before the war but the tunnels in Johore cured him of mining for all time.

Sammy and Arthur Finlayson of Newcastle have bought a truck and doing well. We do not know the state of Sam’s health at the moment. He had a very bad time just after we came home.

Bill Evans is doing a sterling job for this country and many of you will be slightly envious. He has a dairy farm about 19 miles from Bowral and has four lovely children. Yes, we said four children. Bill was over at Tottenham at Xmas time and had a long chat with Alan Hudson.

Wal Eather, the kid-whacker of Piallamore, gave us quite a shock a few days ago when he forwarded a year's subs in advance. He is usually one year in arrears. He was passing through Gloucester recently and having read in the Makan that CpI. Tommy Dare of C. Coy has a cafe in that town he dropped in for a few minutes chat and stayed for four hours. If ever I pass through Gloucester I must drop in for a meal and refuse point blank to pay for it. Tommy and I came down, in the same truck load of ulcer cases, from Niiki to Kenburi. You might recall that trip. Thirty-nine men to a small rice truck, with a piece of floor about the size of a military pack, per man. Tommy and I sat, jammed together for nearly five days. He could do nothing else but hold his arms up before him, and both his hands which were covered in ulcers, were exactly two inches from my nose. I don't think that Tommy would charge me for a feed.

Gordon McKnight is still working as a motor mechanic in Tamworth. Arthur Purdon, West Maitland, is now in the poultry game in a big way. He has 3000 laying hens and will shortly increase his flock to 4500. He is also in the day old chick business in a big way.

Jim Montgomery of the Band has been in Yaralla hospital with eye trouble.

Frank Sullivan of B. Coy, writes that Bluey Paget has a very congenial job at Rushcutters Bay tram depot. He brings the trams in and out with a red flag. Most of his slack time is spent talking to the tram conductresses.

Congratulations are in order for Arthur Buckingham, better known as "Buck", whose wife has just presented him with another baby boy.

Reg Nossiter has recently returned from a holiday at Blackheath. He has married since we returned home and has two children. Any person seeking information about Reg can have a personal interview with him at the Crossway Hotel, Enfield, any day from five o'clock until six.

Jackie Chatfield of 'A' Coy, has almost completed course in carpentering under the C.R.T.S. scheme. He is building his own house in hie spare time and has hopes of completing it shortly. He is a real toiler, this boy.

Johnnie Kreckler, Mortars, has dashed through a few business deals during the last three years but has now tossed in the civil life. He has rejoined the army with a commission and is at present training in Victoria.

Kevin Donohoe is a civilian once more. He returned from Japan a few months ago.

All members of the Association will rejoice to hear that we have at last squeezed a dollar out of 'Snowy' Stevens, yes he is financial once more and we will leave him alone for another year. Every time we have asked 'Snowy' for his subs, he has talked us black in the face. This time we wrote him about them.

Ron "Popeye" Kentwell and "Gobble Gobble" Len Dawson are our latest members. Popeye is now a builder of some renown and lives at Castle Hill. Len Dawson has lost his roaring fire and works for the Orient Line, where he is the picture of sober resp­ectability. We are sure that his workmates could never realise that on one of his parades at Tamworth, he roared so loudly that his top plate flew from his mouth and knocked Major John's tin hat from his head, whilst three men dropped their rifles.

Les Parfrey writes from Finley that both he and George are making lots of hay in more senses then one. Crops have been good and prices are excellent.

Stan Lugton is another of those chaps who forget to send in their subs. However, like half the other members he has a very intelligent wife who never fails to send the dollar along enclosed in a nice little letter.

The Anzac Day March was as usual another opportunity for our chaps to bring credit upon their unit. One hundred and sixty lads marched behind Colonel Ramsay and the entire march was made with a complete absence of the stupid clowning, which went on in certain other units.

The Annual March is a great opportunity for old comrades to gather together, firstly to honour their dead friends by participating in the march and secondly to get together over a friendly glass of ale and reminisce for a few hours.

This year the banner, a beaut job of Purple and Gold, was carried by Jackie Boss.

Although most of the boys looked fairly well on Anzac Day, an increasing number of them looked very gaunt and haggard. Jackie Clune and Joe Halsall were two who looked far from well.

After the March, the lads split up to find a glass where they could. We personally consider that if there looks like a beer shortage for Anzac Day, then it would be a practical measure to close the pubs for a few days beforehand.

The beer situation was the same this year as in previous years, a mad stampede for a glass of ale which is given firstly to a few favoured regulars and then the balance, if any, is ungraciously slopped over the other customers.

I noticed however that no barmaids refused any tips from the unwelcome irregulars. Surely, it is about time that old Diggers can enjoy an all-day session on Anzac Day in a friendly, easy atmosphere with meals at the correct time. Most of the pubs finished up like the pigsties of Malaya, except that the pigsties were cleaner.

Before we leave Anzac Day, we know that you will be glad to see the Old Man back again next year. He sent us an Anzac Message which read as follows:

“To All the Lads of 2/30th on Anzac Day, 1949.

Today I send you my best wishes and the hope that you will all have a fitting day. I am watching with interest and pleasure the progress of our Association, and I wish to see very soon a membership of 100%.

To all members of 2/30th, wherever you are, I send my kind regards to you and your families. Perhaps I shall be with you next year, but meantime you can be assured that Anzac Day is being properly celebrated in Berlin.

Good Luck and God bless you.

F.G. GALLEGHAN, Major-General."

Arch Thorburn is to be congratulated by all ranks on his recent wedding. The wedding itself was rather amusing to the onlookers. During the ceremony, the lights of the Church were constantly reflected to all points of the interior from the bald heads of the three Thorburns. It was particularly amusing when Arch, always the gentleman, inclined his head towards the Minister and a beam of light flashing from the bald pate so dazzled the holy man, that he dropped the ring. The three Thorburns immediately dived for the ring and the consequent flashes of light reminded one of a Searchlight display.

The wedding breakfast was equally amusing. From force of habit the guests were arranged as in a courtroom with Arch and his bride in the dock. All guests were issued with a small glossary to enable them to understand the legal jargon which the speakers, all lawyers, were expected to spout. They were well up to expectations and were worth listening to, until one of them, waxing eloquently on a lofty theme, thought that he was back on the Banking Case and quoted seven pages of the act before they could stop him.

Dadda Duprey has left Yaralla Hospital for a little while, but Harry Webber is back there again. Harry is in the Chest Ward, 29, and would like to see some of his old mates.

Our Unit has a great friend out there, Dr. Campbell Thorburn, Arch's brother. He is always very interested in lads from our unit.

Our saddest news for a long time is to tell those who do not already know of the death of Ernie Gayford or 'A' Coy. Ernie died at Yaralla recently from the effects of his beri beri heart, which began on the other side. W e send nor deepest sympathy to his wife who wrote us a short while before he died that she knew there was no hope for Ernie.

If you were a cobber of Ernie's we are sure she would appreciate a card of sympathy.

On the afternoon of the 21st of this month, Jimmy Strang is to be married at St. Phillip's, Church Hill. His bride-to-be is the stepsister of the late Cpl. John Buckham of the Transport Platoon. We have had quite a few 30th weddings since we returned, where the bride has been related to other 30th men.

Jim has been very successful in his studies during the last three years. We wish Jim and his wife-to-be even greater success in their forthcoming marriage.

Now the Ball. This is your big opportunity to do a really good lob for the Association and at the same time have an enjoyable night. The Ball will start at 9 p.m. and continue until 1 a.m. From “Go!" to "Whoa!" it will be a jolly affair with all ranks out for a good time.

The price will be 12/6d a single ticket and you can reserve a table by ringing Mr. Johnny Parson, BW4401, but if you have not reserved come along just the same.

Don't miss this night.

Place:   New Dungowan Restaurant, Martin Place, Sydney.

Time and Date:  9.00 p.m., Saturday, 21st May.

When remitting money please make all cheques and postal notes payable to 2/30th. Bn. A.I.F. Association at Sydney, and forward same to R.E. Ellis, 21 Military Road, Neutral Bay.

Cheerio,

STAN ARNEIL

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