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

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

The recent reunion of the First and Second Thirtieth Battalions was quite a success. There were about a dozen of our Unit there and, but for the short notice we were able to give you, there would have been a great attendance. The reunion was held at Newcastle on a Saturday afternoon and Bill Jones, B. Coy., represented the Unit in an official capacity. The members of the first Thirtieth enjoyed the company of our lads, who picked up their torch 20 years after the older lads had laid it down, and we look forward to a pleasant association with these diggers in the years to come.

Friends of Frank Jones of 19 Gerard Street, Victoria Park, Western Australia will be glad to hear that he is doing fairly well in this country and is enjoying reasonable health. Frank does not meet any Thirtieth, of course, and the Makan is his one link with his old associations. Harry Griffis of Taree is working for the P.M.G. in that district. Harry is a good unit man and is always on the 1ookout for new members.

Taree was also in the news in a big way recently when Bill Middleton conducted the local orchestra in the Final of the Top Town contest. If you didn't see Bill's photo in the paper, then you didn't buy it that day because he was plastered right across one page. Without knowing of the administration of this orchestra, we feel fairly safe in saying that Bill would have been one of the driving forces behind it, as Bill has never spared himself when work is ready to be done.

PEACE and GOODWILL

We have received two-line letters only from Cecil Palmer of  Moonan Flat, via Scone and from Tommy Kennedy of Adamstown. Both are good Thirtieth men and are apparently coasting along in top or we would have heard something to the contrary.

Sid Kirschler's wife has more sense of responsibility than Sid and we are indebted to her for two year's subs. In her letter she was anxious of the grasshoppers which were just beginning to become a menace at the time. Knowing of the havoc that they eventually did cause, we can only hope that they treated Sid's crop with some respect, Sid being an ex-serviceman and all.

Bruce Holland has changed his address, temporarily, to Marrickville. Bruce is one who always makes a point of attending the reunion.

Hank Massey is flogging himself to death with work at St. George, Queensland.

Keith Mulholland is manager-steward of the Narrandera Bowling Club. He is a married man and has one luscious little red haired daughter to keep him busy when he comes home for a rest.

Athol Charlesworth of Lakemba is also married but he has a son and a daughter also. Athol works for the N.S.W. Fire Brigade.

Les and George Parfrey won a block about 20 miles from Finley in now irrigated country and are doing very well. George was always a confirmed bachelor but he dropped a bombshell a few months ago and quietly married. All we can say is that George should have woken up to himself years ago instead of waiting all this time.

URGENT REQUEST

You may not have heard of it, but last year there was a dreadful motor accident at Byron Bay which left four very young children without parents. The children were nieces and nephews of Alf Jones of Mullumbimby and he did a mighty job in taking over the responsibility of the kiddies and is bringing them up with his own family. Alf's wife must have a terrific heart to take an such a job but we are not here to tell you all this. We want your help and it is this. Three of the children are at present at Dalmar Methodist Home, Carlingford, and will shortly be ready to go home for the Christmas holidays. The eldest child, a boy, will be coming to the city on the 17th December and will leave the train at Hornsby to take a train to Eastwood. He is only a boy and does not know a soul in the city and it would be too much to expect him to collect his sisters and brother and return 650 miles with them to Mullumbimby the same night. We would like some big hearted gent to give the boy a bed for the night so that he will be rested before his return journey. Preferably somebody in that district if possible as he does not know his way in the city at all. If you can arrange to meet the lad and put him up for the night will you please ring Sam Hall at XY4046 for particulars.

Don Garner used to have a little pub at Morundah and, according to our information, the population of Morundah is mostly goats and dogs with the goats far out in front. Don apparently made money in large lumps and, as the local rules do not permit animals to drink in hotels, the only explanation is that he must have used his personality on the visitors and the cockies. He is now at Casino, so we are told, as Mine Host at a nice little pub. He is gradually working up to the stage of managing a really big hotel and some day perhaps he will be sitting behind the counter of one of our bigger city hotels.

Tommy Stevens, C. Coy., is working at the Narrandera Hospital and hasn't changed very much in the last few years.

Vic Hamlin, also C. Coy. is still on the land at Boree Creek and has a lovely home built in the township. Vic is as yet unmarried but will probably take a wife one of these days. Big Jock Mackenzie, the raw boned Scot, is a very busy man on the land at Euroley. Jock works like ten men and his efforts are successful, so last year, he won first prize in the crop growing section.

Abie Hutchens, ex 19th, whom many of you will remember, won the prize for the best bred lambs in the Riverina.

Les Perry is working as assistant green-keeper and steward at Narrandera Bowling Club and is very happy in his job. We are also very happy to hear from Les as he wrote us news covering at least half of this Makan. Let us have another letter in a few months, Les

That's all for this year folks. We give you the best wishes for a happy Christmas from the Old Gentleman himself and, of course, your Executive and Committee endorse his sentiments. We have had some very hard Christmas Days in the past, but we always seemed to make them a little better than they normally would have been. If things are not quite as good this year as you would like them to be, then it might not be such a bad idea to cast your mind back to some of the days we have had before. Keep smiling for the best Christmas yet, may all your wishes come true.

Cheerio,

STAN ARNEIL

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