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Makan No. 53
1st April, 1951

Official Organ of the 2/30th Bn. A.I.F. Assn

Patron: Brig. 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,

The celebration, or rather the remembrance, of the Anniversary of the Fall of Singapore was a little different this year from last year's effort, although the principle was the same. The troops assembled at the Mitchell Library and marched to the Cenotaph where wreaths' were laid in memory of Fallen Comrades. After the ceremony, a Divisional Reunion was held at the Town Hall and although less than the anticipated thousand were present, there was plenty of room to move around, beer in abundance and plenty of good fellows to talk to. Bob Skinner, was there and Dadda Duprez, Phil Higgins, of A Coy., and all the usuals. Lloyd Cahill was enjoying himself and the great Ward Booth looked revoltingly healthy. It was a great pleasure to meet Stuart Peach once again, he was perhaps the biggest man in the hall and is most interesting to listen to.

Stuart has promised to try to get along to our Annual Meeting, even though he is booked for Melbourne, and we are sure that you will all be glad to meet him again and to hear his views on the Korean War. Stuart met, in Korea, Jack Dobbs of A Coy. Jack is doing a good job and we hope that he will return to Australia with a chest full of medals. We must all make enquiries again to see if we can get the Defence Medal for young Dobbs as, with two wars, he may have a stronger case than the rest of the 27th Brigade.

Still on the Reunion, there was a service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, which was attended by many of the unit, and by many of the womenfolk. The guest of honour for the night was Col. Coates from Melbourne. He received a great welcome. Col. Coates was better known to A Force lads than to our Unit. Apparently there was a similar ceremony at Melbourne as the Old Man was booked to lead the march down there. Pressure of work kept him in Sydney, but it .was a nice gesture from our Melbourne friends. One of the best received guests of the evening was Mr. Cosgrove, the digger at the Repat. Dept. who supervises and arranges all appointments for P.O.W. It was a nice gesture to invite him along and those present certainly showed their appreciation.

We had anticipated that by this time we would have received a delivery of badges but the manufacturer has let us down badly. If it is at all possible we will have them posted to you before Anzac Day as this day we request all members to wear their Assoc. badges if possible. The assembly point will be at the usual place just below the Conservat­orium and we are hoping for our biggest attendance to date. The Old Man will lead the unit on the Anzac March.

Lew Cohen, an old stalwart, writes that he is happy in the service and is keeping well. Lew is living at Leichhardt.

Snowy Mason and wife are living at Annandale, in a whole cottage to themselves. They have been living in rooms for a long time and are enjoying the freedom of a cottage of their own.

Ernie Willis sends down his new address as Parkes. Ernie is making the spondo but has toiled well for it. We hope that his good luck keeps with him for some time yet and that he will be in a position to keep the home fires burning with imported coal come what may.

Jackie Brooks has also shifted into his own home, in Goulburn. Jack does not enjoy good health and is frequently in Hospital. Tommy Apps of H.Q. Company, is the local postman to Jack and he also writes that Carl Rope is back again in Goulburn and is working at the local bakery. Carl looks to be fit.

A.A. Martin of Huskisson, South Coast writes with his subs but forgets to tell us something about himself.

We send our congratulations to Les Rogers, late of the Sig. Platoon and now of the R.A.A.F, at Schofields, N,S.W. on his recent marriage. Apart from the good fortune of marriage, he obtained a flat at Coogee. Les has had a tour overseas since we returned to Aussie and he looks in the pink.

Did you know that Bill Middleton and his wife have had the uncommon good luck to own the very best baby in the world? It is a little disappointing for the rest of the world but still there it is. Bill is still interested in music and besides working as piano tuner and repairer he conducts the Taree Concert Band and the Taree Choral Society.

A.G. Buckingham, "Buck" to you, is another of those who write the perfect newsless letters. We have plenty of others, of course, Reg Nossiter and Ike Isaacs being two more whose letters I have just put down.

Harry Griffis of Black Head, via Taree, is still trying to catch those big fish. The weather took the sting out of the season last year but this year the fishermen are hoping for a change of luck.

Eric Arps, not sighted for many moons, has moved into his own home with wife permanently established in Kingsgrove.

Joe Roxburgh is very interested in ex-servicemen's organisations and finds that it keeps him very busy. Joe is in good health.

Wally Scott of, A. Coy is now living at Fairy Meadow, in a home of his own. He has been married for nearly two years, as you probably know, and considers himself very lucky to be free from housing troubles. Wally often sees Alan Chariton, who is living at Austinmer, Shorty Kingston of Wollongong, and the great Frank Hannon.

Please address all cheques, money orders or postal notes to Reg Ellis, 13 Albany Street, St. Leonard’s.

See you Anzac Day.

STAN ARNEIL.

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