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- No. 45 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, The “3/- per day” subsistence claim is proceeding along the lines outlined by the Govt. and we hope that a final decision will be given shortly. It is impossible to forecast what the result of the tribunal will be, but we all, naturally, hope for a full recognition of our claim. A report in one of the daily newspapers recently implied that an individual claim was required from each P.O.W. but this is not so as all claims for the Eighth Div. were prepared and submitted by the Eighth Div. Council. The Eighth Div. Council has booked the Wentworth Ballroom for Tuesday, 29/9/50, for their Annual Ball. The tickets this year will be limited to 500, including official guests, and, to meet taxation requirements, the cost of each ticket will be ₤1/5/-. Any member of the Eighth Div. who desires that his daughter will make her debut at the Ball should ring BU.1260 for all arrangements. Enquiries for the booking of tables, etc., should also be made at this number. This Ball, as usual, has the support of our own Association and you are asked to patronise it if your possibly can. Major Johnston, at BW. 1621, knows all the dope on the Ball and will also take your party booking. Big McIntosh, ex A Coy., sent along subs for four years but did not include any news of himself. Mac was wounded at Gemas and was repatriated home before the fall of Singapore. We were reading an interesting news item in the S.M.H. recently which stated. “The Minister for Repatriation, Senator W. J. Cooper, said today that a survey had disclosed that prisoners of war had adjusted themselves a little more readily to civilian life that other Serviceman. The Commonwealth Employment Service and the Repatriation Medical Service had made the survey.” A statement like that makes very refreshing news to us, but it was not necessary to make an extensive survey, the information could have been supplied by any of our Div. Association. From our point of view it is about time that people ceased to regard us as some sort of freak and realised that we are just as normal as the rest of the populace. Most of the lads of our Unit have done reasonably well for themselves since we returned.; we have no millionaires as yet but, as a whole, the average chap in our Unit is apparently doing what he wants to do and is doing it rather well. We, of course, have a few disappointments to record, but they have been for the most part caused by those shafts of fate which are impossible to avoid. If we continue to hold a tight little Association, then we may be able to help one another in a practical way if ever a recession comes again to this country. We received an excellent letter from Bruce Holland lately, which contained the names and addresses of three ex-30th. lads whom Bruce thought might be interested in joining the Assoc. if they received a sample copy of the Makan. We are always pleased to receive this type of letter and often receive a new member after sending along some back copies of Makan. NEW ADDRESSES – You are notified firstly of the temporary change of address of the Association. It appears on the top of the Makan and will probably function for about a year. The following changes of address will enable you to keep your register up to date – R. O. (Andy) Knox, Mona Vale; Bruce Upcroft, Glenorchy, Hobart; Len F.G. Hendy, Cammeray; A. E. Wightman, Glen Iris, Victoria. SUBSCRIPTIONS – The number of Life Members continues to grow at a most satisfactory rate but, believe it or not, we still have two or three members who are dragging the chain and have not yet paid the subs for this year. The humble Oxford is lessening in value every day (could almost give a jab for the Party, here), but it is all we required to keep you informed of all the news we can find of our ex comrades. Don’t be embarrassed about your delay in sending in your annual sub., but if you notice Reg. Ellis’ stamp at the bottom of this Makan, then drag yourself along to the Post Office, buy a 5/- postal note and send it to Reg Ellis at the above address. Andy Knox and Luke Cary were both unable to attend the Ball for domestic reasons. Ron Foster is now selling insurance to the wealthy cockies; his district extends from Blayney to Gundagai and from Forbes to Crookwell, and apparently he is doing well. From all accounts, the banks in that district are not big enough to hold all the dough the farmers are making and Ron helps them out (the farmers) by selling them large insurance policies. Dick Fair, 2/20th., a chap who was well known to many of our lads, has the Royal Hotel at Canowindra. I should say that any of our boys would be right for a free glass of ale from Dick. Carl Odgers and his brother have recently bought the Hotel Katoomba. Carl is looking very well from reports we have received. We welcome to the Association a new member in the person of Joe Halsall, ex A. Coy. Joe has a wife and two children and has had a few ups and downs since 1945 but is still a smiler. One more of our now numerous Lifers is Stan Larkin of New Koreebah. Stan has little to crow about and is lucky to have a wife who manages all his correspondence for him. It was through Stan’s wife that we negotiated him into Life Membership. Thanks very much Mrs. Larkin. Sid Kirschler, of Forbes, wrote us in June just as the water was leaving his property for the third time within a few months. It was so bad that it didn’t even leave him with a fence. Sid said that Norm Wilding, also of that district, had 4’ of water in the house at the time he was writing. It must be great to live in the county. Bill Rooks, who is now managing the R.S.L. Club at Murwillumbah, doesn’t bother to scrawl an odd note to us now, instead we receive neatly typed news scripts. We guess that his wife is responsible, but we prefer it that way so long as we receive our news. On Anzac Day, the local R.S.L. held a Dawn Service, at which we were represented, and later during the day there was a march with Bill to the fore with a large Purple and Gold wreath. Bill is following a practise, at Murwillumbah, instituted by Rex Rowe and, so far, we have had an official wreath on the cenotaph there every year since the end of the war. Johnny Kreckler now carries a very bad set of scars on his forehead and his skull after being involved in a car accident some time ago. He assured me that the terrific knock on his head has not made him any brighter but, from the nature of the scars, we should think that he is very lucky to be alive. Johnny is a furniture salesman in a city store. Hank Massey and his wife have recently sold their suburban grocery store and, although their plans are fairly vague at the moment, they will probably leave this great city of ours for the quietness of the country. Hank is a real bushman and has never been really happy in the city. For a long time now Doc. Wilson and his wife Clover have been living on the business premises of the Masseys and now the business has been sold to George Croft, whom you might remember was badly wounded during the latter days of the campaign. One of our latest Life Members is the great Bob Jack. Bob is a very prosperous young fellow and, from outside appearances, he is making a lot more than the Army will pay him during the next war. To all attractive young females we whisper that Robert is unmarried and, as such would be an excellent catch for any lass. Just an echo from our recent Ball. Mack Gibson rang Reg Ellis on the following Monday to say that he had apparently left a very expensive travelling case on the footpath, outside the Dungowan, after the Ball. Later the same morning Curley Hardman rang to say that he had picked up a valuable case which had been left on the footbath and “did we know to whom it belonged?” Needless to say Mack Gibson is a very happy man about his good fortune Please post all cheques, money orders and postal notes to R. E. Ellis, 13 Albany Street, St. Leonard's . Cheerio STAN ARNEIL. Back to 1950 index or Main Index |