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Back to 1959 index or Main Index Makan – No. 136 Dear Dig, ANNUAL REUNION Once again we are changing our venue in an attempt to find a satisfactory place for our annual reunion. This year we have booked accommodation at the Royal Blind Society of N.S.W., William Street, Sydney. We hope that the atmosphere of the new location will assist in making for a happy reunion and the committee are hoping for a good roll up of members. Apart from the change of accommodation we are making another radical change this your by changing the day of the reunion to a Saturday instead of the usual Friday night. The change has been made to make it easier for the 'near country' folk to attend and we hope for a contingent from Newcastle or district at least. Full particulars of the reunion will be advised in the next Makan, however, the date has been fixed for Saturday, 14th November. Make a note of the date now. 8TH DIVISION REUNION - GUNNEDAH Recently the Old Man was guest of honour at an 8th Division Reunion at Gunnedah. Gunnedah is an 8th Division town and the civic pride of the locals has come right to the fore in commemorating our Division. For example they have a very fine Avenue in the town, the original idea coming from our late friend Tom Bowden. The Avenue perpetuates the memory of the 8th Division each tree bearing the name of a local resident who gave his life whilst on Service with the Division, Black Jack speaks of the reunion as the finest he has ever attended and we should think that he has attended more reunions then most men of his age, The reunion which was held in a pub was in the nature of a sit down dinner and was attended by both husbands and wives and widows of deceased members, The Mayor of Gunnedah and the President of Liverpool Plains Shire attended as honoured guests. The reunion dinner was a most enjoyable and dignified affair and an ex member of the 2/18th Bn. introduced Black Jack as the guest of honour in a moat sincere and eulogistic manner, The reunion actually covered the whole weekend, one of the principal ceremonies being the opening of a Memorial to the Division, in the form of a swimming pool. Black Jack officially opened the pool which is by the side of the Memorial Avenue. At the presentation ceremony Black Jack was presented with a bouquet of flowers by the small daughter of our late friend Tom Bowden. John Taylor sends greetings to all the boys from Perth where he has established a new address at 5 Corry Road, Claremont. John likes Perth but misses the Eastern Seaboard and the resultant inability to attend such functions as the Anzac Day March and our Reunion. John's particular branch of medicine is mainly concerned with babies and mothers and he writes that there is no shortage of business in Perth, 2/30th chaps on F. Force (writes John) will be glad to learn that Bruce Hunt is as energetic, dynamic, and as indestructible as ever. Bert Nairn, now one of Perth's leading surgeons, is wearing well in all respects except for his hair which has gone rather grey. George Gwynne, keen lawyer (and dedicated fisherman) is also fit and well again after a short spell of ill health brought on by over indulgence in work, a highly dangerous condition. Alan Hudson of Tottenham was recently in Sydney to attend a short course on new model farm machinery. Alan is a Stock and Station agent and is doing well, He breeds racehorses as a hobby and like every other racehorse breeder in Australia he hopes for a Melbourne Cup Winner one day. We think that the only way to satisfy these folk would be to hold ten Melbourne Cups per year. Welcome to Harley Forrester of Don. Coy, as our newest member, and a life member at that. Harley is living at 132 The Avenue, Bankstown. We are looking forward to renewing acquaintance with Harley at the next reunion. Les Southwell of Braddon, A.C.T. is still going well but like many of us, sends his subs along per letter written by his wife. You will recall that Les lost a leg but overcame his disability remarkably well. Sid Stephens of East Maitland has transferred to Life Membership to save himself the trouble of trying to post his annual sub. BATHURST PILGRIMAGE A pilgrimage will be made to Bathurst on November 21st, Saturday, where wreaths will be laid on the Cenotaph at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Herb Pratley, the custodian of the memorial, has maintained the memorial and has added a stock proof fence together with a general beautification of the immediate area. It is hoped that as many as possible will make the trip although we realize that many of you will be unable to go. Enquiries have been made regarding bus transport and we could obtain a coach for a cost of £2.5.0 per head. We would require about thirty travellers if we were to hire the coach and we would need to know of the number desiring such transport by October 10th, Would you kindly ring Stan Arneil, X35453, or Bessie Ellis, WX3198, or Jack Boss, WX2680 if you would like a seat in the bus. All others who intend to travel and those who have spare seats in cars should also notify us in order that we may make full arrangements for the trip. Des Kearney has returned from a business trip to America. The trip was too short for real sightseeing but Des went as far as New York where he spent more than a week. Although Des enjoyed the experience of the trip he went there during a period of intensely cold weather and as you all know Desmond, the tar baby. All members will be glad to hear that Wally Jones (the one and only Starver) has been released from hospital and has returned to his home at Swansea. Wally is a very hard man to knock out and he will soon be back to normal health, we hope. The Association sends the heartiest of good wishes to Dutchy Holland who was recently married. - have no details of the wedding as yet but as Dutchy is one of the last of the unmarried lads to assume wider responsibilities we will suitably remember the occasion on November 14th next. Bill Ennis is a man of varied talent. He headed a committee which placed a swimming pool in the local school; organised the planning, raising of funds and to final opening. This is a type of project which would flatten the average troop but he has now turned to other spheres with unflagging enthusiasm. He is sponsoring the "Guide Dog" Movement which hopes to provide Guide-Dogs-for blinded people. I suggested that a couple of dozen Guide Dogs would be very handy for an Annual Reunion but he didn't show the interest I had hoped. Bill is a family man and is at present building a couple of rooms on to his house. See You at the Reunion. STAN ARNEIL Back to 1959 index or Main Index |