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Back to 1949 index or Main Index Makan – No. 35 Official Organ of 2/30th. Bn. A.I.F. Assn, Patron: Maj. Gen. F.G. Galleghan, D.S.O., O.B.E., E.D. Dear Dig, From the Riverina - Tom Stevens is getting around without his crutches and giving the lobsters and Melbourne beer a bit of a nudge? Terry O'Rourke is like an 18 gallon barrel; Don Garner is as skinny as ever and spends most of his time in Leeton where he sells Life and Accident Insurance to the natives of the district - this is the district with the record for longevity and good health, all the local undertakers are as poor as unemployed Tamils - accidents never happen down there, probably due to the fact that the wheel has not yet penetrated to the area and again because the locals always move so slowly. Don is naturally very popular with his employers - they have not yet, and don't look like ever having a claim brought against them. Still in the bush - Vic Hamlin is still keen on his farm at Boree Creek and is keeping well. Karl Sinclair is a boss at a saw mill at Armidale. Lindsay (Steam) Boys is still at Elizabeth Bay and his two daughters, Joan and Rita, how have sons. "Steam" is now a French-polisher and is doing well. His address, if you want to have the sideboard spruced up, is No. 6 Roslyn Avenue, Elizabeth Bay. Athol Charlesworth is working at the Matraville Fire Station and has a budding footballer in his two years old, dark-eyed son. Athol was lucky to find his sweetheart waiting for him on his return from Singapore. She was formerly a nursing sister at Narrandera. Arch Thorburn has been on the job again with his smooth tongue and his lantern jaw. This time he persuaded one magistrate to grant possession of a house to the owner, the owner being your very old friend, the one and only, Joe (Babbler) Geoghegan. Joe thinks he's Xmas now that he is living in his very own house. Ted (Grazier) Watt was in town recently representing some group of farmers from his district. He has improved his 757 acres of rabbit warrens by erecting a homestead on it. The building is 12 x 12, of excellent workmanship (he built it himself) and is roofed with the best brand of flattened out kerosene tins. Ted has no complaints. Saw Jackey Salisbury recently, he is holding down a very good job but is not keeping the best of health. He is having trouble with sciatica and rheumatics in his legs and back. Had a jug with Luke Carey a few weeks ago. He is a very happy soul, with a nice little family of two children. Jackie Boss' wife, formerly Cecilia Ellis, presented him with a daughter, Susan, in August. We send our very heartiest to these two on their wonderful luck. This is one child which should be a real sticker for the 30th Bn. 'Tis said that Grandpapa Reg Ellis was so excited about it all that he couldn't play bowls properly at the Club match the following day. Carl Odgers (I always think that his name should start with "H") is still at the Log Cabin Hotel at Penrith. It's a grand spot up there and the service is first class. Don't forget the Reunion next month. It should be a night to remember for a long time. It will be held at the usual place, Sargent's, Market Street, at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, 13th November. It is hoped that this year the push will come along at the right time and come up to the hall as soon as they arrive. In past years it has been about 9.15 p.m. before all the lads have been pushed off the front footpath and marched upstairs. It is a dreadful waste of drinking time for those who like to drink in leisurely fashion. We promise a good night as usual so make your plans now. Bert Galbraith (Bn. Tailor) is still tailoring. He works at a tailor's shop on Wynyard station. His eyesight is still good enough to allow him to see close work, but he cannot see clearly for more than a few yards. Bert has a little son, Anthony. Saw Len Payne recently. He is not in the best of health but is still as funny as ever. He works at the Sun Newspaper office and manages to get his fair share of fun out of life. Bill Jones (B. Coy) toils a little for the A.B.C. and has been recently shifted from Grafton to Newcastle. Bill is a very good colt and is receiving congratulations on the arrival of his third son recently. His wife is now up and about, but there were such complications with the arrival of this latest boy that, after reading the doctor's bills, Bill himself almost had a baby. The baby was a heavy-weight and cost almost £1 per ounce f.o.b. to arrive. Jackie Fell, writing from Tarago, remarks upon the nice weather they have had in that district. "So far (writes Jack) it has been very mild, we have only had two falls of snow, the last one covering the ground to the depth of twelve inches." It all depends on one's point of view. We had hoped this year to have the Old Man barking and roaring at the Annual Reunion but it will be next year at least before he returns. He is still in Berlin as Head of the Australian Military Mission and would appreciate letters from any of the boys. The old nick name must be known in Europe too. We received from Berlin the wrapper of a packet of chewing gum, "Black Jack" brand. Our comment is that, if the gum is as tough as its namesake, there will be plenty of aching jaws for the purchasers. The Association sends its very best and heartiest congratulations to that sterling fellow Ken Crispin on his recent marriage. A representative bunch of the lads gave Ken a little pre-wedding stag dinner to wish him success in his new life. We delayed the MAKAN this month to get some news of the Narrandera Reunion. Here is an extract from Hoot Gibson's (C. Coy.) letter. He must have had a good time. Here is the letter: “I landed back from Narrandera on Monday morning and I really think it is worth a mention in the Makan the grand turn our boys put on down there. They were disappointed that more of the Sydney lads did not turn up but still quite a few of the Battalion were there. They had come from all over the district and a few even came up from Melbourne. They certainly had a great committee down there and they deserve a pat on the back. The best of accommodation, barrels of grog and a ton of Makan." “The march past on Saturday and the ceremony on Sunday morning was a credit to the boys and it would have made the 'OLD MAN'S' eyes glisten. Although they had all had their share of grog aboard they marched as well as they had ever marched. Col. Anderson opened the show. Col. Ramsay led the first platoon on to the Showground and officiated on the Sunday morning. Don Garner took us out to the Leeton R.S.L. £37,000 worth and would put the Hotel Australia in the shade. There must be a lot of money down there. Everyone has a car. Keith Mulholland looks extra well and Terry O'Rourke is as fat as mud. Others I contacted there were Tommy Stevens, Albert Griffiths, Ernie Grey, Clarry Woods and lanky Jack Ellis. There were numerous others but the grog got the better of me and my sight was not too good. Saturday night was the big night with 20 18 gallons on and a super dinner. The Committee's wives and friends managed the dinner and, after, acted as partners in the following dance. I've never danced as well in all my life, except for putting Don Garner's sister on her back twice in the one dance. Don Wall (ex 2/20th) was the chief organiser and he also deserves a pat on the back. It was well worth the fare down and I would advise all members to look forward to a bigger and better one next year in some part of that district." Our congratulations this month are extended to Alf Lamacraft and his wife, Marj. There's a new addition to the Lamacraft household and his name is Richard Albert. It is with deep regret that I record the death of our old friend Norm (Old Bol) Hicks, who passed away at his Melbourne home in June last. Bol was the S/Sgt. of the Dental Corps attached to our Battalion at Birdwood and Batu Pahat Camps in Malaya. I am sure his mother would appreciate a word of sympathy from those who knew him. Her address is Mrs. C. Hicks, Flat 2, "Deansgate", 9 Southey Street, Elwood, Victoria. The members of the Sgts. Mess, among others, will always retain a kindly thought for old Bol. Please forward all cheques and Postal Notes to R.E. Ellis, No. 21 Military Road, Neutral Bay. STAN ARNEIL Back to 1949 index or Main Index |