Circular No. 101
1st April, 1955

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

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

Bill Middleton has left the gibber country and is living at Lakemba. He is working at the Repat. at Grace Building in Room 508 so you have a friend at court next time you go there. We saw Bill in the Green Building some time ago, but not having seen him for some years and then not expecting to see him in Sydney anyway we were half way down the stairs before we placed his wide grin as belonging to the one and only Bill.

You will be shocked to hear of the death of your former friend and comrade Clarrie Rettke of A. Coy. Clarrie died recently at West Wyalong at the age of thirty six years rather suddenly. He was a soldier settler and was very popular in the district where he was well known. Clarrie suffered a serious breakdown in health some time ago from which he never fully recovered. He left a wife to mourn him and we extend to her the sympathy of all members on the death of such a fine character.

Dick Tompson is still living at Balgowlah and when last sighted was deep in the painting of his house. Dick is a keen Association member and rarely misses a gathering.

You will be pleased to hear that Ron Stoner has made the grade at last and is now happily married. Ron's wife is a charming person, as one would expect; they were married at St. Stephen's, Sydney on 29th March. This should be a turning point in Ron's life and we hope that at least half of his honorary secretary-ships and presidential positions in his great list of charitable undertakings will go by the board for a year or two whilst he makes a home for his lady.

Wilf Evans of Merrylands must have killed a chinaman at some time as his run of bad luck is phenomenal. He broke his leg near the knee cap whilst playing cricket and has been in Parramatta Hospital for seventeen weeks. Wilf works for the Water Board and was just getting on his feet after the expenses he incurred during the ill health of his eldest boy who contracted polio. We hope that his bad luck has run out now and that all the best will come his way.

Last month we received a three day notice that Padre Paddy Walsh was coming to Sydney for a couple of days and in a quick dash around the inner city a dozen members made a very gay evening for Paddy at the Eastern Cafe. The old chow was in great form and this time he created a record for service as everybody got the wrong dishes instead of only about half the people which is his usual average. The Old Gentlemen was in great form and ate two and a half plates of fried rice although that's a strictly confidential piece of information and should not be divulged to outsiders. Paddy enjoyed every minute of the night and was in good form. He doesn't look a day older than in 1941.

Doug McLaggan ex A. Coy. (the premier football players of the Unit) is doing extremely well. He is the Accountant at Bond’s Industries and in his spare time teaches at Sydney Technical College. Whilst doing the Management course there he collected a few prizes. In addition to his feverish activity he is a married man so he hasn't very much spare time. However, Doug follows the Association and in addition to his subs he always throws a donation into the basket.

Ack Ack Martin of Huskisson was in town recently but missed out on meeting his old friend Reg Ellis this time. He usually stops the extra day and meets Reg for lunch. Ack is a mighty man as always and is still working at the Nowra aerodrome.

Ross Madden of Armidale went to Tamworth recently with Bill Humphrey to the local reunion they hold there each two years. It is apparently a very good show and the boys flock to it. This year Bruce Ford, Brian Hayes, Doug Hicks, Neil Huntley, The Mitchell Brothers, Johnno Johnson and others attended. The whole show was run by Wal Eather so it was natural that it should be a good one.

Vince O'Reilly and family called in to see Ross one day recently and he was later followed by Bob Gibb and his family. Bob and the family stopped the night. Vince is fit and apparently unchanged. Vince was an A. Coy. stalwart during the war and Tommy Aspinall was his mate. It was a tonic to talk to those two fellows - between them they were great morale boosters. Since the war Vince has been doing fairly well, from memory he started out as a dairy farmer but we think that he gave the life away some time ago for a regular hours job. Bob Gibbs is in reasonable health but is still well underweight. He is a successful farmer.

Alf Harding relies upon his mother to pay his subs and this is to our advantage as she is never late and gives us a little news. Alf is well and is still working for the State Railways. He is as keen as ever on the horses and is still trying to make that big win which will put him into the big money. Alf’s brother Mervyn, who is well known to many of our chaps, will be around on Anzac Day to renew acquaintances with his many friends.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This year the annual meeting will be held on Friday, 22nd April at 8.00 p.m. at the Chow's. Because the meeting will be there at 8.00 p.m. we anticipate that many will avail themselves of the convenience of eating at the cafe to be early for the meeting. If you decide to eat on the spot you will do so individually and pay for what you eat and drink yourself. There will be no massive family meal as we have had before, to suit Mr. Lee's convenience. However, he promises good cooking and good service and from our experience there is not much better in its own class. Additional Chinese babies are on the premises at the moment and Mr. Lee says that although he doesn't mind them being borrowed for a time they must not be handled more than once by each person. He also said that he will board up the windows and, if Sid Hennessy attends, will hide all the spring onions.

The Annual General Meeting is the best reunion of the year. Roll up and relax in the pleasant atmosphere at the Eastern Cafe, 52 Dixon Street, Haymarket.

ANZAC MARCH

The Unit will be on strength again for the Anzac Day March. You are urged to attend and avail yourself of the privilege of marching with men who once reckoned that the country was worth fighting for. Our portion of the March will be, as usual, conducted in the normal traditions of the Unit which participates in the March as an outward and visible sign that we will remember our dead with respect whilst we live.

The March will be of shorter duration this year but the Assembly point will be the same as usual. If you participate you are requested to complete the March rather than break from the ranks whilst it is in progress. In accordance with the motion passed at our General Meeting of a few years ago, medals will be worn, properly mounted of course. The R.S.L. or Christies, near Town Hall, will mount them for you correctly. If you have not received your medals the Association badge should be worn. The R.S.L. have asked us to inform members that children are NOT allowed on the March.

See you at the Chow's on the 22nd.

STAN ARNEIL 

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