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Back to 1963 index or Main Index Makan – No. 156 Dear Dig, It was a pity that we did not have a "Makan" out in time to tell you of the 8th Division Reunion on 16th February at Lismore. All of our members received an invitation to attend and the invitation included free board and lodging with Harry Teasdale, Russ Mackie or Ossie Jackson. The boys wrote that they could put up three or four sober chaps or twenty to thirty drunks! No doubt there were quite a few of our chaps there and we hope to receive an account of it soon - for the next "Makan" Derek Smith and his wife, of Bargo, are still up to their necks in running social activities for teenagers, and by all accounts they are making a jolly good fist of it. Bargo was a town with few attractions to keep the younger generation around the home fires until the Smith’s started in on their plan to provide sporting activities. They now have a Sports Club and the local kids have never had it so good. They play tennis, basketball, cricket and soccer and visit all the local districts even to Sydney and Goulburn. The Smiths also are running a gymnasium for which they would-appreciate any contacts to enable the to purchase sporting gear at a reasonable cost. Clarrie Lattimer of Kyogle sends along best wishes for 1963 to all members. Joe Roxburgh was first again this year with his annual subscriptions. By the way, have you sent in your subs yet? Ten Shillings (10/-) is the annual cost and we require all of this and more, to keep going. It's easy to forget to pay one's subs, particularly as they are so small that one may have the impression that 10/- is neither here nor there. However, in point of fact, our expenditure exceeds our income, so slip 10/- into an envelope and send it today to Bessie Ellis. "Jacko" Jackson of Chatswood, received a "Get Well" card from the local publican when he was laid up with badly infected tinea of the feet recently. We have had a letter from Mrs. Stuart, wife of Lloyd. Lloyd's subs were previously sent in by his mother, but now his wife has taken over the Job - as most wives do. Terry O'Rourke of Narrandera, writes that the local lads, Keith Mulholland, Tom Stevens, Les Perry and Bill McKenzie are as well as can be expected. Terry recently spent a night with Vic Hamlin at Boree Creek. Vic plays cards, grows wheat and drinks beer, so you will realise he is still a bachelor. "Bob" Skinner has been in Yaralla Hospital with a heart attack, but is back home again, Recently "Bob" heard from Billy Senior who is running a butchery business at Brewarrina. Reg Nossiter of Epping, sends his regards to all members. Dick Andrew of "Ferndale", Bethungra, writes that Bill Boyton, in "B" Coy., recently returned to Wagga for a holiday from Canada, where he is now living. After the war Bill ran a taxi for some time in Wagga then later a dairy farm on the South Coast. After a time he gave that up and went to Canada to live permanently. During his holiday there, Bill married a girl from Tamworth. LAST POST "Ben" Templeman. Members will be saddened to hear of the death of Ben following a motor car accident at Tottenham on 26th January. Ben was returning to Nyngan from Lake Cargelligo when the accident occurred and he was taken by ambulance to Dubbo where he died. Ben was a linesman for the P.M.G. Department and was respected by all who knew him. You will recall that Ben was a rotund type with a slight turn in one eye; a rather shy fellow who did not attend our functions until the mammoth reunion we had when Paddy Walsh came down from Queensland. Ben enjoyed that reunion so much that he always tried to attend our later reunions, including Anzac Day. Without a doubt, Ben was a good fellow and his death will be a loss to those with whom he lived and worked. Ben was unmarried. Alf Harding. Alf died a few weeks ago. He had been ill for a very long time and members of the Committee have visited him from time to time. Alf was an “A" Coy personality and was liked by all. His favourite topic was racehorses and he astounded us and made us laugh for years with his, seemingly, inexhaustible fund of anecdotes on the history of racing in Australia. We used to joke that, although the jockey's names and characteristics were no trouble for Alf to remember, he always found difficulty in remembering the Christian names of the jockeys' fathers!! Alf was a good lad and with his passing the list of "Fallen Comrades" grows. His funeral was attended by "Black Jack" himself, Des Kearney, Joe Geoghegan and Kevin Ward. Joe Clark. Joe who was a member of the Unit at Bathurst but did not go overseas with us, died recently. He followed our progress during his life, was a proud member of the Association and attended all our functions. Joe was a good member of our 2/30th family. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The A.G.M. was held at Mrs. Lee's restaurant in Dixon Street on 5th April. The meeting was most enjoyable as usual for the 35 members who attended. A dinner preceded the actual meeting and the usual mix up in the orderings of the meals occurred. However, nothing detracted from the fun and we think that the Chinese at Lees' enjoy our Annual Dinner as much as we do. The meeting was excellent and some refreshing new ideas were put forward. Ron Foster, who was elected to the Committee, spoke on the subject of a printed cover for "Makan." The matter was fully discussed and later turned over to the incoming committee. The Old Man spoke rather bitterly about the lack of attendance at the 14th January ceremony at the Cenotaph and this matter will also be investigated. The subject of the Annual Ball was brought up and Jacky Boas made a very good point that within a few years the daughters of many members will be making their debut and our own Unit Ball would be a most suitable function for such occasions. Noel Johnston, who was at the meeting (as he is at every Battalion function) was congratulated on the recognition of his worth by his department, which is sending him abroad to examine aspects of administration which may be of advantage to N.S.W. You will have noticed from the Annual Report that I resigned from the position of Secretary to the Association after a period of 17 years. The resignation was forced upon me by the growing responsibilities I seemed to have accumulated with my family and my job and I felt that it was unfair of me to retain such an important position in the Association unless I could devote more time to the duties. Arch and the Committee were very kind to me at the General Meeting and I would like to record here my thanks to them for their consideration to me over a period of many years. The General Meeting appointed me as Editor of "Makan" and "Makan" will continue to be produced. NEW SECRETARY Bruce Ford was elected Secretary to the Association by the Annual General Meeting upon a strong recommendation of the Committee. Bruce has been a member of the Committee during the last year and has been doing some of the secretarial duties for some time. He is keen to tackle the job and I personally think that he will make a tremendous difference to the Association. His outlook is fresh and he has a lot of spare time he can devote to the job. Bessie Ellis & Cecily Boss. Once again, as always, members at the A.G.M. expressed their deep appreciation of the efforts of these two ladies. The Association would be hard put to replace them; they both regard the Association and its problems as part of their own lives. ANZAC DAY We hope for an attendance as large as in previous years and expect as successful a march as usual. Medals, Unit ties and Association badges should be worn. The Rawson Hotel will be the venue after the March as usual, and Mrs Harry Collins will be donating more of those delicious sandwiches so that members may eat in comfort without leaving the reunion. The Banner will be carried by Bruce Ford and the Old Man will lead the March as usual. Our unit assembly for the march will be in Macquarie St., at the right hand side of Martin Place. See you on Anzac Day! STAN ARNEIL Back to 1963 index or Main Index |