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Circular No. 114 Official Organ of 2/30th Bn. A.I.F. Assn Dear Dig, During the last twelve months or so the Committee have been concerned at the increase in the number of members who could possibly be classed as "welfare" cases. In previous years the number was so small that it was not much effort to make an investigation of the cases that came along. The position has now changed and the Committee decided that an extra member on the Committee was required to specialise in this type of work and augment the welfare work which is performed by Sammy Hall. Les Hall was an obvious choice for the job and he agreed at once to take it on. Les is known to every person in the Unit and has the right approach for such work. In his private life his main hobby is welfare work so he has taken us under his wing so to speak and we are very grateful to him. The first job given to Les was to contact Joe Geoghegan who was a patient in Sydney Hospital. "Go out and see Joe and see if we can help in any way," the Committee said and without further ado Les went out to the Hospital. We understood that Joe had a broken knee and was in a bad way. Well where would you expect to find Joe? In bed with a long face? Of course not! There's only one place where our members would expect to find Joe and that's just where Les found him! In the kitchen! Joe was having the time of his life, was a great hit with all the nurses and was able to treat Les to a nice piece of pie. He told Les that Sammy Hall had already been out to enquire of his troubles, if any. We await the next report of Joe, from Les. Probably they will need an eviction order to get him out of the hospital. Do you remember a young Dutch Lieutenant named Jute Lapre who worked on the 'Drome. He was a very good guitar player and did occasional turns around the hospital wards with Des Kearney and Ward Booth? He wrote to Des recently and the letter is quite interesting extracts from it are: "My dear old friend Desmond, Thank you very much for your cordial letter which I received in Holland. In accordance with your request I'll try to give you a complete review from the beginning, that is from the moment when I left you and all the other Australian friends in Singapore. It was then a tough time for me. There was no rest or leave. Coming back on Java, I was sent to the front to fight the all out Indonesian guerilla war. I fought 3½ years in succession Desmond, no leave at all. Guerilla war is cruel. I should have been dead several times but the Lord saved me and I got from our Queen the M.W.O. (same as Australia's Victoria Cross.) I was married very happily with Peggy, got two children; Peter 8 years and Dixy 3 years old. Then we lost the Archipelligo and were kicked out to Holland. I was tired from fighting, but the Army kept me, made me a regular. So I am a captain now, Desmond, regular, but honestly I should have preferred a civilian job. During the fighting in Java I sent you two post cards but I am sure now that you did not receive them. We went to Holland in 1949/1950. In 1951 I was sent out with wife and children to Netherlands. I stayed there 3½ years and had a good time, Desmond. I patrolled from north to south and from east to west making friends with the tribes. From there I sent you a post card again and this time it has reached you. But in March 1955 the marines took over from the army so we went back to Holland and there I received your nice letter and I was completely delighted. Same with Peggy my wife who knows you and the other friends already very well from my stories. I work now at the General Headquarters in the Hague and we live now in a nice four room house in Ryswyk in the vicinity of the Hague. Holland is a nice country but too small for me and too crowded so I hope they will send me out again. This is my story in a nutshell. I do hope I can meet you, your wife and children and the others some day but Desmond how can we manage it? I'm afraid it will be far too expensive. Now our marines are controlling Dutch New Guinea but if the army are coming back to New Guinea be sure that I will be the first to land there again. It is good to feel and know that my dear Australian friends are near. Desmond, will you be so kind to give my warm regards to :- Jimmy Cooper, his wife and 2 sons, Fred Harvey, David Lloyds (Jacky Go-Go) his wife and 2 sons, Ronny Eaton, Ward Booth and his wife, Colonel Galleghan, Bob Pyke, Des Duffy his wife and son. Have you still contact with - Bob Morrison, Lieuts. Parsons, Hobson, Parry, Hendy, Don Garner, Jack Geoghegan, Capts. Thompson, Boss, Lieuts. Lyn Booth, Gordon Brown, Cameron. Always yours,
Jute All members of the Unit will be delighted to read that "Starver" Jones, ex H.Q. Coy, was awarded an M.B.E. in the Birthday Honours of Her Majesty the Queen, "Starver" was awarded the M.B.E. for "service to the community" in his district of Swansea and it comes as no surprise because welfare work is Starver's main hobby in life. Ray Michell has bought a mixed business at Tamworth. Ray and his wife were nine months at the R.S.L. Club at Walgett but tired of the floods in that district. George Michell has gone to Perth, not to Rowe St., where he has also bought a mixed business. George was admitted to the Repatriation Hospital at Perth for a short period but is back at work again. Les Southwell’s young wife writes from Braddon, Canberra, that Les is well. Bruce Ford of Tamworth recently spent a months holiday at Lismore. Whilst there he renewed acquaintance with Bob Neillings. Lew Cohen of Leichhardt, is another of the lads who neglect to give us news of themselves. Sid Kirscheller of Forbes has been washed off his farm every year since 1949 and in the process has lost his money and his health. He has decided to sell up and take a job in the city and is looking for accommodation. His wife is living temporarily at Bankstown and would appreciate help in finding a place for them to live in. Sid is still at Forbes negotiating for the sale of his farm. Reg Ellis wants the address of Jack North formerly of Roseville and Don Garner (Sgt.) formerly of Roseville. If any member knows of the new addresses of these two members will they please ring Reg Ellis? Bluey Peterson has been in ill health, trouble from sinus and chest. Our latest news of him was to that effect also that he was eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new baby in the Peterson home. We hope that the baby has arrived safely by this time. Ned Kelaher (sic - KELEHER) has lost a lot of weight and has suffered a deterioration in his health over the last twelve months. Ned lives next door to Reg Ellis and his Sunday morning ritual at eleven o'clock, is to sneak into Reg's place with a bottle of beer and have a chin wag with Reg until lunchtime. Ned has a little daughter Catherine. On Anzac Day many of our members renewed acquaintance with Harry Bailey and Don Mackie ex 8th Div. Sigs. Harry and Dan were billeted in a (2/30) composite Unit at Changi known as “C” Group under Capt. Boss, until the return of the Unit from Thailand. Archie Dickinson of ex C Coy. has sold his mixed business at Herne Bay and has bought another mixed business at Kingsgrove. Archie and his wife spent two months holiday before buying their new business. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY JULY 13TH AT THE FAR EASTERN CAFE DIXON ST. The Committee are hoping for the usual well attended meeting. The General Meeting is the one time of the year when members are in a position to shape the policy of the Association and in past years the Committee have adopted many suggestions arising from such meetings. In addition of course the atmosphere of the General Meeting, in such a place as the Chows, is most enjoyable. Mr. Lee promises to do his best for us and we hope to see as many as possible at the Meeting. The Meeting is timed to start about eight o'clock but the old Chow refuses to be hurried and we can hardly expect to finish our meal by this time. Come along and help the Committee run the Association the way you would wish it to be run. 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. Cheerio, STAN ARNEIL Back to 1956 index or Main Index |