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Makan – No. 70
1st September, 1952

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

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

It is with great pleasure that we read an extract of an address which was given to the Legacy Club of Adelaide in June. The address was made by Major Bruce Hunt, who was so well known to you all, and the text of his speech was such that it should remind you of his out-spoken address at Sonkurai when he gave us a few home truths on cholera and the manner of its infection. The extract is as follows:

" Dr. Hunt said that it was impossible to speak on the question generally. Rehabilitation was that state of rehabilitating the ex-serviceman to the state he was in before his enlistment, namely, restoring the body and mind to its pro-war state. Unfortunately the problem has been deemed to be largely a psychological one.

Dr. Hunt said he had returned to Australia on the first ship rehabilitating prisoners. On arrival in Sydney the ship was swarming with generals, some 'medicals' and others with bright red tags. Walking down the deck he (a major) ran into a major general who expressed pleasure at having the troops back in Australia. The general's first words to our speaker were “We are pleased to have you home again and have the best psychiatrists to assist you all.”

This was not the treatment required. All that most of the P.O.W.'s wanted was beer and the love of their family and plenty of both. All prisoners returning to Australia were regarded as a 'bit peculiar’. But this was not the case. Unfortunately, numbers of men had died as they had not the fortitude to stand up to the treatment received.

In 1946, Dr. Hunt returned to Western Australia as a consultant physician. He said the Army had handled very badly the problem of treating the men. There were many medical problems essentially peculiar to the country in which they had fought and lived unknown to the general medical man practising in Australia.

Shortly after returning to W.A., Dr. Hunt returned to the repatriation service and he arranged for every ex prisoner of war to be examined and treated. In the first, twelve months, over 300 passed through his hands.

By this time, a great deal of dissatisfaction had occurred in some of the other States. There was the general impression that the men suffered from disordered minds. The Minister of Repatriation of that time ordered the appointment of a committee to investigate the whole question. The committee comprised mostly medical men who had served in the Pacific War Zone and were selected because of their wider knowledge of the medical aspects of the P.O.W. A pamphlet was produced and circularised throughout all States, the distribution of which had a beneficial effect in the general treatment of P.O.W.'s.

The interpretation of the problems of the P.O.W. is quite a big one, and when they are medically corrected, there is no primary psychological defect. Neurosis is not peculiar to P.O.W.’s. Main causes of neurosis are women and money.

Australians, generally, should not lavish undue sympathy on those man who were held for so long by the Japanese, as it is resented by a very large number of P.O.W.'s. Two aspects of proper treatment for them were, correct medical treatment and a proper pension."

Len "Baldy" Barnes is a very busy man and a very lucky one too. Len lives at Church Point on Scotland Island - a little island on Pittwater where he is the local builder, wharf constructor and runs the local launch service. Len’s luckiest break, however, has been the fact 'that he has been blessed with four beautiful daughters and they keep Len and his wife running from dawn till dusk. Recently, Len, who has been in good health since we came back, had the misfortune to break two ribs so, at the moment, he has confined himself to only doing three man’s work instead of his usual heavy tasks. Len hopes to recondition his launch and take some of the boys for a day's fishing at Pittwater. It would be an attractive prospect because Len is very good company - being the most atrocious liar in our unit. However, he does it with such a blandly innocent air that it is very amusing and we are sure that there will be a waiting list for a day out with Len.

The Association sends its congratulations to Russell Kane on his recent marriage.

Ron Foster recently went to the British Museum in London and spent 5 hours there. He says it is a most interesting place, particularly their war section. They have a 2/30th colour badge there amongst all the others and he tells us that they are short of a copy of our Unit-history - remember we asked if anybody would like to donate a copy to this Museum? Ron went to a Far East Ex-Serviceman's Reunion at the Chelsea Town Hall. There were over 3,000 men there, and on this occasion Ron was the only Australian. There were men there who were captured in Burma, Singapore and Hong Kong. He did not find anybody whom he had actually known in Singapore, but he talked to many men from Changi, and from "F" Force. They all knew the 30th well, and of course, they would never forget "Black Jack." Ron tells us that winter time has set in and he has never been so cold in all his life. He spent Christmas and New Year in Salzburg in Austria and had a most wonderful time there - a Teal White Xmas. On Anniversary Day he attended a big party at Australia House where, believe it or not, there were 2,000 Australians.

Charlie Golledge has moved into his new home at last but finds that there is still so much to do that he goes to work each day for a rest. Charlie's health is much improved.

Cec Farrer now has a housekeeper who is doing a very good job for him. Cec is improving in health as a result of his lack of worry.

Jimmy Dinnen has been six months in Concord now with his old chest. He is very cheerful about it as he realises that worry would make him a lot worse. Jim has put on 2 stone in hospital so he thinks that the food is first class quality. We sincerely hope that his stay in hospital will be as brief as possible.

We regret to report that Lady Davidson Hospital at Turramurra has still three of our friends there, or at least they were there at the end of June. They are  - Norm Allen of "A" Coy, and Bill Gray of "Don" Coy, and Dadda Duprez, to whom we are indebted for this information. According to Dadda in his upside down way of putting it, they are all doing well, although Norm and Bill expect to be there for some time yet. Dadda spent 5½ months at Yaralla prior to going to Turramurra this time. It certainly makes one realise just how lucky one is when we read of these chaps who spend not months but years in hospital.

Wally Jones called into Concord recently and ferreted out all our fellows and donated them with cigarettes on behalf of his Sub-branch.

We are very glad to note that George Gallard is now a life member. We would like to see more following in his footsteps. We notify that Colin Tuckfield of Brisbane has changed his address to Miller Street, Chermside.

Harry Teasdale of Lismore has been having more trouble with his eyes but he hasn't got a monopoly of that trouble. He recently attended an ex-servicemen's reunion at Lismore.

Please make, all cheques, money orders and postal notes payable to, Reg Ellis at "Jemaluang," 21 Barons Crescent, Boronia Park.

Cheerio,

STAN ARNEIL

P.S. It appears certain that the Annual Reunion will be held at the Arncliffe Drill Hall on Friday, 21st November, 1952 - more later.

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