COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

During the first two weeks in September, your old friend John Taylor will be in Sydney and we have arranged for you to renew acquaintance with him if you are within striking distance of this wicked city. We have arranged a quiet night for you on September 10th at the Eastern Cafe in Dixon Street, City. It is the same cafe where we entertained Padre Walsh during his recent visit and we consider that the facilities are as good as we could possibly find anywhere in Sydney. The 'well dressed Chinaman' who manages the place is now a firm friend of ours and has promised an excellent makan for the reasonable price of 13/6 per head. We will guarantee the quality of the food, which will be served in buffet style, and as the night will be a Friday, both meat and non-meat dishes will be available. Rice water will be available at 3/- per bottle for those who take strong drink. The function will commence sharp at 6 p.m., although you may arrive from half past five onwards. If you cannot arrive until later, then we urge you to still come along but we will be finishing the evening about half past nine so we do not want any members to miss the fun by being too late. We hope for a big crowd and have taken over the whole of the ground floor of the cafe. We would like you to ring Reg Ellis at WX3198 or Doug Blanshard at XX2068 if you can so that we may have some idea of the numbers who may be present. The Eastern Cafe is in Dixon Street, just off Goulburn St., Sydney. It is a very easy place to find. Come along and meet John Taylor once again and enjoy the company of your old cobbers. It will be a good night.

Once again we have the sad task of reporting the death of one of your former comrades, this death being that of Bill Roberts, late of H.Q. Coy. If you do not already know of this death, then we can tell you that Bill was drowned in very tragic circumstances at Church Point, Sydney, during August. He was the proprietor of a water taxi run which carried both goods and passengers around the district of Church Point and Scotland Island and was engaged in a run when he lost his life. He was in his launch with his little son 17 months old and the little fellow who was as lively as a cricket fell overboard. Bill dived overboard to rescue his son and was unable to return to the launch. Both Bill and his son were drowned.

On Sunday, 22nd August, representatives of the Unit participated in a small ceremony, which was reported by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. About 20 of the Association were present at North Sydney Oval and presented to the 30th Bn. Militia the Marshall Shield, which the Unit won in competition with other units of the 27th Inf. Bde. at Bathurst prior to embarkation and, in addition, a Japanese Sword. There are countless numbers of Japanese swords in Australia but, to our knowledge, there is only one sword in Australia which came to Australia after capture in Malaya. This is the sword, which was brought in by a patrol of 'C' Coy. The 30th Militia turned out for a Battalion Parade to receive the mementos and after the ceremony, members were entertained in the Officer's Mess of the Militia Bn.

Recently we had the pleasure of meeting Billy Brown, ex Sergeant of Don Coy. Billy is hale and hearty, perhaps too hearty when one has to work, and Bill is anxious to enjoy a holiday, but it was an enjoyable experience meeting him again after all these years. Bill lives at Griffith and is a real family man for all days of the year, except Anzac Day, when he has 24 hours leave. Bill is a tower of strength to the Local R.S.L.

All ex-members of the Unit will be sorry to hear that Colonel Ramsey is not quite as fit as he would like to be. The Colonel has been on extended sick leave from his job and, when we last saw him, he was partially blind in one eye. He is treating his ailments rather philosophically, but for all that, he is far from well. Colonel Ramsay holds down the very big job of Public Relations Officer for the vast Snowy River project and we hope that his health will rapidly improve so that he can return to his calling.

Ron Johnson of 'C' Coy. is well and apparently rather prosperous these days. Ron lives at Seaforth.

Ron Foster is back in Australia and gives us his permanent address as C/- Bank of N.S.W., 368 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria. This is the first time that we have ever heard of anybody living in a bank but we cannot think of a more suitable address for Ron. The only catch is that the Bank Manager may not yet know that Ron is living on the premises, probably in the money vaults. Just before he left England, Ron and a friend enjoyed a rush trip through Europe and then he returned on the Himalaya to Melbourne but decided to take a short holiday in New Zealand before settling down. At this moment Ron is managing a Mercery Store for a chain store organisation in the rainy State. His letters are always interesting.

For those of you who have not yet applied for a grant from the Special Fund of £250,000, which was set up some years ago for ex-P.O.W., there is still plenty of cash in the fund if you can justify your claim. Grants have been made in respect of 2,059 or 48% of the claims made, the total of the grants being £161,322 or an average of £78 per case. If you have not made a claim and have lost your form, then write for a new claim form to the Trustees, Box 63A G.P.O., Melbourne. The main reason for your claim should be that you have suffered financial hardship because of your disabilities.

The Annual Reunion will be held this year at Arncliffe Drill Hall on Friday night, 26th November. Doug Blanshard will be in charge of the refreshments and they will be cold enough to chill the dentures from your gums. Make it a bumper reunion and try to bring along a Unit friend.

See you at the Eastern Cafe in Dixon Street on the 10th of this month.

Chin chin,

STAN ARNEIL.

Please forward cheques, money orders and postal notes to Reg Ellis at Boronia Park. All money orders and postal notes to be made payable at the G.P.O., Sydney.

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