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- No. 43 Official Organ of 2/30th. Bn. A.I.F. Assn, Patron: Brig. F.G. Galleghan, D.S.O., O.B.E., E.D. Dear Dig, Anzac Day was an experience in Sydney this year. The sun came out with just the right temperature, the grounds of the Conservatorium were crowded with old diggers laughing and joking with old friends and the gay uniforms of the bands and regimental banners splashed colour everywhere. It was a grand day for us with one of our biggest roll-ups to date. About one hundred and eighty marched, among the new faces we saw the two Cody boys from the South Coast, Johnny Walker, Con Hedwards, Tom Dare and many others. This year most of the lads wore their Assoc. badges and as a body of men the dress was very uniform. It certainly adds a little to the marchers to see this and is in marked contrast to other groups where badges, ribbons, medals and miniatures, with R.S.L. badges thrown in are all heaped into a small group of marchers. The Dark Gentleman headed the march this year, assisted by Col. Ramsay and Major Johnston whilst the banner was carried by Sid Grounds. Sid did himself proud for the occasion and bought a new hat and tie. The conduct on the march was as usual excellent as it should be. We cannot understand the mentality of hundreds of diggers who do not join in the march but prefer to stand on the sidewalks calling like yahoos to their friends as they pass. The calling is usually accompanied by animated pantomime drawing the attention of the crowd to the fact that this said yahoo is known to the marchers. We are pleased to say that this business does not usually occur with our unit and, for a pleasant change, it was absent in a certain other unit also. Next year possibly something will be done to eliminate the pestering of the myriads of street photographers who dance in and out of the marchers thrusting their little cards here and there. The Anzac March is in reality in the nature of a funeral march and street photographers, in the opinion of the Assoc. are definitely out of place on such a day. Despite the large roll-up the Old Man was of course only half satisfied and muttered into his beard about those who could have been present, however, we hope to do even better next year. If any husbands have not yet arrived home from the celebrations after the march will their wives please get in touch with us and we will endeavour to trace them. We believe that some queer strays have been picked up and taken to the King Edward VII Dogs Home. Alf Jones of Mullumbimby has bobbed up again after a long period of silence. He was in Sydney at Xmas time on business but was unable to stay long enough to look up many old acquaintances. Max Pyle of Berrigan considers himself very lucky to enjoy the good health which he does. Max is one of our most consistent supporters. Frank Webb, better known as “Spider”, is to be congratulated on the birth of his daughter Lynette whom we have reason to believe is a lovely little piece of goods. Frank is a very happy soul and he enjoyed to the full the Divisional Re-Union in February. Les Melrose is in good health, he was along for the March and will probably be sighted at the Ball. The following addresses are listed to enable you to keep your register up to date: NEW ADDRESSES: A. Solway, Sans Souci, A.A. Martin, Huskisson, South Coast, D. Sutherland, Bowen, H. Maurice, Revesby. Latest Life Member is Les Wade of A. Coy. Les Wade, once an old cow cocky is now living at Strathfield where he spends most of his spare time growing vegetables for a hobby. Les has not kept good health since we returned home but he is happily married and that makes up for a lot of ill health. Greg Ducker of Liverpool took his family to Nambucca Heads in March for a fortnight of fishing. Personally we do not like fishing because we are never able to keep the beer cold but apparently the whole of the Ducker family now belong to that objectionable class of folk who want nothing more than the opportunity to stand, with great bare feet exposed, fishing from rocks on the sea edge. We have been told that Greg himself is taking a course in arm stretching exercises and we know that the family have booked in at Nambucca for next year. Apart from the fishing the family are normal and Greg, the last time we heard from him, is hoping to obtain his own taxi plate. We hope by this time he has been successful in obtaining it. Frank Sullivan of B. Coy. is doing well although we can obtain little news of him. Hughie Fraser is working at Cockatoo Dock and is keeping in good health. We are happy to be able to extend our congratulations to Hughie on his recent engagement. We are waiting to hear the wedding bells although the date has not yet been decided upon. Shorty McKinnon of A. Coy. is also working at Cockatoo Dock but he is a step ahead of Hughie and is already married. Ray Kuskey of Mascot has been in poor health for a long time now. He is not seen around very much but is a keen Makan man and is very interested in the news of the rest of the lads. Johnny Parsons met Ron Maston in camp at Singleton in March. Johnny is in the St. George Regiment and is a keen soldier. Don Sutherland of Bowen lives in the country where it rains in feet not in points. He took his holidays in March intending to spend a few days chipping the dense grass in his backyard so that it would rot quickly in the hot sun and be easier to clear. The rain started on the first day of his holidays and just kept on until, after a few days, a strong creek was flowing from the front gate, under the house and out in the direction of where the back fence had been before it was washed away. It rained so heavily that Don said his toes became web feeted and he felt like one of the early lake dwellers, the foundation piles of his house started to sprout whilst a crow-bar which was left standing up in the ground just disappeared overnight. Apparently it is a very wet country up there. Wilf Evans of Alpine was nearly washed out in the floods earlier in the year. Ernie Willis who also learned to swim in the April floods is making enough money to keep a thousand wolves from the door. Ron Ollis and Dutchy Holland are two more of our new Life Members. Ron works in Adelaide for a firm with the ghastly name of SALMOND AND SPRAGGON and is rarely seen in this State. Dutchy however is always at our functions and never fails to enjoy them. Ron Johnston, snug and secure in his new home, is keeping in the best of health. Sid Hart of A. Coy. is also firmly established in a new home and to make it complete or rather start the family off his wife presented him with a baby boy. The Assoc. extends its congratulations to the parents with the hope that a bigger family will quickly follow. (I feel it my duty to challenge this “rather rash” statement – Reg Ellis). Les Southwell, also a member of the senior rifle company writes from Canberra that some ex-P.O.W. down there are trying to form a little club of their own. Dal Oldknow is still living in Singleton but we have no news from him. Dick Newman of St. George, Queensland is a Makan enthusiast but always sends along a bare business-like letter with his subs. enclosed. How about some news, Dick? Val Henning has shifted to the Northern Territory, his address is Katherine, N.T. He certainly has plenty of what it takes because he is now peanut farming and the N.T. is a long way from the bright lights. Hard work, he hopes, will bring good results and we hope that the results far exceed his expectations. In fact we hope that Val makes a lot of peanuts out of his new venture. Val was lucky enough to obtain a grant from the Repat. and with it he has bought himself a tractor. Jack McGee who mentioned lots of other chaps in his letter tells us only of himself that he has changed his address to Cathay Rose, Springdale. We are very happy to report a new member this month, Charlie Golledge of Northbridge. Charlie will be remembered by most of Don Coy., in which Coy. he was a Corporal. He was wounded at Gemas and was lucky enough to be repatriated home before the fall of Singapore. Alex Olley of South Lismore is building his own home during the weekends and holidays and finds the job a full time one. He has two young daughters who also take up a lot of his time. Ray Godbolt who barbers for a crust at Raymond Terrace is thinking of selling his business. Any of the lads interested? Ray was talking to Tommy Gardner recently when Tom was on his way to Lismore. Freddie Butt is one of the latest to transfer to Life Membership. Fred is a picture of health at the moment but appearance is not always a good guide. You might recall that Freddie collected a large portion of shell at Sempang Rengam and parted with it only after a long session with the surgeons. When the unit eventually arrived at Changi, Freddie had all the doctors in a dilemma because he was so thin that all his X-Rays had to be taken twice to make an impression on the plate. Les Perry and Vic Hamlin recently made a 3000 mile tour of the North and South Coastland and renewed acquaintance with many of their old mates of the unit. Les is a member of the same bowling club, at Narrandera, which is managed by “Mul” Mulholland. One of our new members is Ack Ack Martin, of the Pioneer Platoon. He was the champion axeman of the Unit but has given the axe away now for the hammer and saw and is working as a carpenter for the Dept. of Works and Housing at Nowra. During our P.O.W. years Ack was a sufferer from Happy Feet and at a later stage his eyesight began to fail. We hope that everything is now coming his way and welcome him to the Association. George Kinsela is a traveller for H.V. McKay, the farm machinery people, and often runs into the lads in his district. He saw George Brown at Harden and enjoyed a drink with Digger Preen and his mates at Cootamundra. We offer our congratulations to Snowy Mason and his wife on their recent marriage. This looks like a splendid union as Mrs. Mason has already started to write the family letters and we received from her a letter with two years subs. enclosed. Now for the Ball, the fourth which we will have held and one upon which we are really depending to make us some money. It will be held at the New Dungowan Restaurant, Martin Place, on Saturday night the 3rd June. Dancing will begin at eight-thirty and will continue until one o’clock and it will be a night of fun and enjoyment for all those who attend. This is the night, only once per year, which we provide for you so that you may take your wife or sweetheart to a thirtieth function. If you bring her along then you will have an alibi, for the rest of the year, for attending the Annual Reunion and any other show we put on for you. The price of the tickets are thirty shillings for a double ticket and you may bring along as many friends as you care to. If you have not yet decided to come along or if you had decided to stay away then change your mind now and order yourself two tickets for the night of the year. We promise you not a dull moment and further to that if you come along you will be materially assisting the Association to carry along on a sound financial footing. Last month you received two tickets for the Ball and you may use them to come along and pay on the night or you may send the cash along to Johnnie Parsons, Penshurst. To reserve a table you can write to him or ring him at BW4401 between nine and five. You may reserve a table for any number from two to two hundred but try to BOOK EARLY. We are happy to report that after a lot of grog-swilling hilarious laughter and the most atrocious and tallest of all the old reminiscences at a pre-wedding reception which Reg Ellis organised for Reg. Friend. Friendy was safely married and by all reports has not been thrown out of the house yet. The Associations sends its congratulations to the newly-weds with best wishes for an enormous family. Garry Rickwood arrived on a few weeks holiday at the end of May. If any of his friends would like his address, it is Manly. Telephone XU3967. He would appreciate a call from any of his old mates. Please forward all cheques, postal notes and money orders to R.E. Ellis, 21 Military Road, Neutral Bay. See you at the Ball with your large party. STAN ARNEIL. P.S. Don’t forget to send in the NUMBERS of your ball tickets with your money. Back to 1950 index or Main Index |