Makan – No. 63
1st February, 1952

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

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

We have at last heard from our mutual friend John Taylor. John is now living at Subiaco, Perth, W. Aust. and is financial enough to have his own Christmas cards printed. The cards are quite nice and are embossed with the old Taylor Crest showing a drum of quinine and a bag of mag. sulp. rampant, all over a P.O.W. couchant, the whole crest, of course, above the ancient Taylor Motto of "Charcoal and Duties." Here are a few lines from his letter..."I am running a big practice on my own at present as my partner is in England. Always busy here since the babies roll off the production line thick and fast. Incidentally one that I delivered some months ago was Ken Dale's second child - remember him - B. Coy. (I think that most of B. Coy will remember Ken Dale...Stan). He's living here now, is doing well as a carpenter and is building his own home in his spare time. Perth is a most attractive city and is a vast improvement on Sydney as a place to live in. You remember the impression we formed when passing through on the "Johan Van O"? The place even improves on acquaintance and is the most hospitable and kindly city in Australia. Blast-you-Jack'ism is almost non-existent. My grocer delivered a case of "Swan Lager" on my door-step this morning and then asked whether I was quite sure that that would be sufficient to last me over Xmas!! Since arriving here two years ago, the John Lindsay Taylor's have given birth to a daughter - Penelope - now aged 16 months and without a doubt the finest daughter in the Regiment, and that goes for that character Kearney who by my latest Makan has just produced a female child. I feel sorry for Thelma K. since the baby was probably born with a full set of huge white fangs and drooling for grog...". Much more in that strain but that is sufficient for you to realise that John is very happy in W.A. Thank you John for your interesting gossip.

Since John mentioned Des Kearney, I cannot allow the occasion to pass without mentioning a little incident which happened last month. Walking along George St. one evening minding my own business, my attention was attracted to a honking horn and a great spade like hand waving furiously from a car window. It was Des K, and I sat in the car and swapped a little news with him. Before I left him, Des, being in an expansive mood, handed me samples of the wares in which he travels. There was a tin of Brasso in case I ever wish to join the militia and have to polish buttons, enough bath cleaner to scrub down the North Sydney Pool and other products. The last gift was one of those square cakes of disinfectant which are used to deodorise public lavatories. "Take this", said Des with a flash of white teeth among the thick moustache, "and tell your wife that every time she smells this I hope it will remind her of me."

If you have lost your badge, Reg Ellis will forward you another on application, for the modest sum of 5/-. One of our more enthusiastic members, Alf Harding of A. Coy., has requested four badges in order that he may wear one on each suit or coat. We refused point blank to design a badge for him to wear in his hat but the idea of a second badge, is after all, not a bad one. On the subject of badges we remind all members that it is good Association practice to wear your badge as often as possible and definitely at all ex-service gatherings. This year, for example, we hope that all members will be wearing the badge for the Anzac Day March.

One of our roving reporters, Gogo Lloyd, spoke to Alan Prentice of the 2/29th at Walgett recently. Alan came over to Singapore as a reinforcement to our unit but was sidetracked into the 2/29th. He is well known to most of our chaps who were in the Great World, Singapore, in 1942. Alan is on the land and is doing very well.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

We are happy to tell you that we now have an Assistant Secretary and Welfare Officer, in  one Sammy Hall. We hope that this will mean a big increase in the service of the Association to members and we will tell you more of our plans in the next Annual Report which is due shortly. We would like to thank also Harry Collins and Doug Blanshard who also offered to take on the job, in that order, but as Sammy was the first, we accepted his offer with thanks.

JANUARY 15th

We must apologise for not telling you in our January Makan of the time of the usual wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph. The January Makan was written during the middle of December and consequently the matter slipped our minds. This year the Old Man was unable to come because of a brass hatted conference of V.I.P.'s which he had to attend.

FEBRUARY 15th

The Council of the Eighth Division will hold a mass reunion of P.O.W. (J) on Friday, 15th February at the Sydney Town Hall at 8 p.m. The sale of tickets will be limited to 1,000 and it will be "First Come, First Served". The price will be 12/6 per head and this will entitle you to a buffet tea and a bottle of beer; there will probably be beer available for purchase by the bottle also. Tickets may be purchased by sending cash to "The Secretary," Box 3386, G.P.O., Sydney. The reunion will be preceded by a march and wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph about 7 p.m. This reunion has the-support of this Association and as each unit will have its own tables there should be no trouble in finding plenty of our own unit. It will also give all members an opportunity to meet other friends from the Division.

Ossie Jackson of Binna Burra is well.

Have we mentioned before that George Lister is now happily married and is living on a farm about 20 miles from Casino? His new address is Hogarth Range via Leeville and if any of you folk have about 6" of rain you are not wanting he would be very glad of it. Stan Larkin was the Best Man at George’s wedding, and in August, he shifted on to the farm which George vacated. Stan's new address is Theresa Creek via Casino and at the time of writing this Stan was also praying for rain.

Harry Webber deserves our congratulations on two counts, firstly, he is well enough to be back at work, which is an amazing thing for such a hardened 'chesty’ and, secondly, he has taken to himself a wife and helpmate and will be sure of regular meals from now on. It is good to hear of these chest boys getting a break.

Kerrie Lovell is the second arrival to the Mick Lovell’s. Kerrie is a bonny child and both mother and baby were well.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Latest on the Life Membership list is Jack Grossmith, one of a growing number who feel  that it is an advantage to transfer. Reg Ellis will supply you with the particulars of the cost of transferring. In the meantime, have a little sum up with yourself and see if you can place better value on 5/- than belonging to our little Association of friends. It's good value, but not very good to the Association if you are in arrears, so if you-have neglected to send this year's subs along, then do so today, or better still, send along 10/- to cover you for two years. Please make all cheques, postal notes and money orders payable to Reg. Ellis, St. Leonard's.

CHEERIO

STAN ARNEIL

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