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Makan No. 229 OFFICIAL JOURNAL 2/30 Bn. A. I. F. ASSOCIATION Subscription Rate: $1.50 per Year Registered for Posting as Periodical: Category A
2/30 BN. ANNUAL REUNION DINNER The Dinner will be held this year: ON SATURDAY, 30TH OCTOBER at 6:30 p.m. for 7:30 p.m. meal (Smorgasbord) in THE ELIZABETH ROOM at NORTH SYDNEY ANZAC MEMORIAL CLUB, ANZAC AVENUE, CAMMERAY ADMISSION: $7.00 per head (buy your own grog) This is the same location as for the last two years, because of the same reason, that we are unable to find a suitable city place willing to cater for us on a Saturday night. No date closer to 22nd November has been available. The facilities and catering have proved satisfactory in the past, the Club is quite easy to reach, by car or public transport, ample parking for cars is available. For those proceeding by car, Gregory's (40th Ed) Map No. 59 - J13 gives the location. For those travelling by bus from the city or North Sydney, the Northbridge Bus will let you off in Miller Street, at the corner of Ernest Street, and the Club is just off Ernest Street, on the left hand side, walking towards Manly. Entrance may be made from front of Club in Anzac Ave, or from back from Miller St; car park thence above bowling greens. Conditions regarding catering etc. Render it essential that Bob Jack has reliable figures as to attendance at least 10 days prior to the event. All those who intend to be there are asked to let Bob know at P.O. Box 18, BROOKVALE, 2100, together with remittance by 20TH OCTOBER - the earlier, of course, the better. B.J. MEMORIAL SHIELD and BATTALION BOWLS AFTERNOON – 17/10/1976 As was advised in Makan No. 224 Sep/Oct 1975, the date for this year's competition with our friends at Bankstown R.S.L. Bowling Club had been set for 17th October 1976. Owing to lifting and regrassing of green the competition is unable to be carried on at Bankstown R.S.L. Club's own grounds but they have arranged for it to be played at Canterbury Tennis (formerly "Canterbury-Bankstown Master Builders") Bowling Club Moxon Rd., Punchbowl (Gregory Map 31 B15, UBD Map 91 G 2) with a start at 9.30 a.m. for morning play with a return to their own Club for luncheon and refreshments to complete the day. We only had three teams of triples last year. All bowlers in the Battalion are asked to make an effort to join in this annual competition, and to send word to Kevin Ward of your intention to be present, by phone 642-3932 or mail. An invitation is extended to wives of competitors and non-bowling members and their wives to come and add their enthusiasm in support of our team. The luncheon invitation also is for these folk. TAMWORTH GOLF CLUB CENTENARY YEAR - DIGGERS' DAY – 10/10/1976. Wal Eather says that he has been on the Golf Club Committee as Vice President and Chairman of House, and that he does wish that some 2/30th golfers from Sydney or from other country areas could attend at Tamworth for the weekend and form a 2/30 Bn. team for the team event. We were the Battalion formed in Tamworth. Diggers' Day is open to all Ex-Servicemen, who are cordially invited to attend on the 10th October next. At the time of writing Wal says that the programmes are in the hands of the printer, and that he will be sending Arch Thorburn a copy shortly. Gary Evans, when told of the day at Phil Schofield's Family Gathering, was eager to be a starter. He has been Captain at Strathfield Golf Club for some time. If you are interested please contact Arch or Gary. CONDITIONS OF PLAY are: DATE: October 10, 1976. EVENTS: COST: $6 for day (includes lunch, high tea and a modicum of the beverage that cheers). 8TH DIVISION REUNION at 8TH DIV. NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL – 23/10/76. Unfortunately insufficient numbers indicated interest so reunion is cancelled for above date. 15th August each year a commemoration has always been held at 8 Div. National War Memorial by Bathurst R.S.L. Request now is for 1977 8 Div. Reunion there. DATE: Sunday 14/8/77. NORTHERN RIVERS BRANCH – EX-Ps.O.W. ANNUAL REUNION VENUE FOR REUNION:
GRAFTON All Ps.O.W. and wives are welcome. If you have not done so already, but intend to be there, drop a line to Harry Rhodes (B Coy) 99 Cambridge Street, South Grafton, 2461. Ex-Ps.O.W. REUNION - TAMWORTH VENUE FOR REUNION:
TAMWORTH R.S.L. Club, Kable Ave, Ph. 664661 GUEST SPEAKER: Tom Uren MHR (2/1 Heavy Bty) CHARGE: $10.00 double. ACCOMMODATION BOOKING: Phil Bailey (HQ Coy 2/30), c/- RSL Club, P.O. Box 210, Tamworth, 2340. All Ps.O.W. and their wives are invited. Even if you do not require accommodation, let Phil Bailey know, if you are intending to attend. PHIL SCHOFIELD The weekend of 14/15th August, 1976 has come and gone, but the memories of it will be with many for a long time. The Saturday evening at the North Sydney R.S.L. Club was one of those family gatherings, which delight Phil's heart. Bob Jack tells that about 60 of our folk were in attendance. The fact that it was not a formal dinner, but smorgasbord style, suited the atmosphere of the occasion. It was noticeable as the night wore on, that the size of various groups, clustered around the little tables, ebbed and flowed, as folk moved from one group to another, to reminisce and catch up on the gossip. If only those chairs, that went with them, could talk. What a night! A few telephoned, written or telegrammed apologies were received. Messages were: “Thank you for a job well done, Phil." “I will be there in spirit for he has done a great job as Editor of "Makan” for the Battalion generally." “It's a wonderful idea, (to have the do) and we know that you will have a real happy gathering. We will be with you in spirit (not spirits) and join in congratulations to Phil on a mighty job well done." "I know and trust that you have a "beaut" evening.” The long distance runners, who came down for the weekend were Stuart Robertson and his wife from Tooraweenah, while the other country lad was Neil Huntley from Port Macquarie. The Executive had decided there would be no speeches, just the Toast to Phil, to be given by Arch Thorburn as President. Arch coupled "The Boy", Les Hall, and also Violet in the Toast, which was most capably presented and was acclaimed by all present. Our Patron was not able to be present but Noel Johnston conveyed to the gathering and to Phil his message of thanks for a job well done. Later on in the proceedings certain irrepressibles could not restrain themselves from letting the gathering and Phil know how high he stood in their appreciation of him; to the delight of all with their reminiscences. It is not possible in mere words to give expression to the feeling in the speeches, but I present them as taped: ARCH THORBURN in proposing the Toast, spoke of the one occasion on which he knew Phil had broken one of the cardinal rules of the Army, in that: "At Gemas 'C' Company had left, in rather a hurry, with the Japs on our heels, and when we got out we found that we had left our truck behind and Phil, as I say, broke the cardinal rule: he volunteered for duty, to get that truck out and he and Tom Pearce, bless his memory, went back to get the truck out from amongst the Japs and they got it out; drove it along the road, but the Japs sent along an anti-tank shell, which killed Tom Pearce instantly; Phil eased him out of the driving position and continued to drive the truck along. Another shell came along. Phil was wearing the issue water bottle and it hit the water bottle. I saw the water bottle afterwards and there was a profound dent in it. No doubt, if it had not been for that water bottle, Phil would not be here today. I sometimes think that that is one of the reasons that Phil has such a profound respect for water as a beverage, never to be taken on its own but always in the company of 'Bond 7'. "During our P.O.W. days Phil had - I'm sorry to have to mention it in front of Vi - but Phil had a mistress, who ruled him with a rod of iron, the mistress was "Lady Nicotine". If Phil could not get cigarettes, it was impossible to live with him. I speak with some feeling about that and there must have been many occasions when people who felt the lash of his tongue were a little sorry that Phil had been wearing his water bottle when that Jap shell hit home. "I suppose that the way in which most of you ladies, in particular, will remember Phil, will be in the days after our P.O.W. life and you may have beard of him in the letters home from the chaps. "You know now that he is a great supporter of the ladies of the Battalion and they are great supporters of him, and he admits that he would not have been able to produce Makan, which he has done with such extreme ability, were it not for news that he got from the wives of the people in most of the homes, and were it not for the assistance that he had got from "The Boy", Les Hall. Les, I'm assured was doing a tremendous job. "Phil's physical disabilities prevent him continuing on the job and we have some consolation in the knowledge, that we have, what we believe, will be a worthy successor in the person of Alex Dandie and he has a panel, I think he calls it, assisting him, his wife and several of our other Battalion members. "We have had a number of our chaps tonight would have liked to be here and for one reason and another were unable to come. I have, for instance, a message from Ron Stoner, in which Ron expresses his profound regret at not being able to get here as he, of course, is from the West; then there is a letter from Harry Rhodes and his good lady, and a little something from Joe Johnston and the boys from the Northern Rivers, there is quite a nice word from "Ward" Booth, all who were not able to get here tonight. "Phil has been doing a tremendous job for us at his home now and, he would not be able to do that, were it not for the assistance he gets from the ladies, perhaps most particularly from No. 1 lady in his life. We are all devoted to Vi, as is Phil, and the Northern Rivers people had the nice thought to send down something. They knew that Phil would be lionised tonight and, behind every successful man, there is a good woman and in fact, Shirley Jack might present - at this stage - to Vi, some flowers that Joe Johnston and his cobbers have arranged to be sent. (Bless you Sybil for the thought, AD) "I am a man acting under instruction and not any committee of directors of a company would have been more explicit in saying that there will be no speeches tonight, however I thought it would be cheerless of me not to say one or two words about Phil and to express, also, the appreciation of us menfolk, that there were so many of our ladies, who were able to be present tonight, to add lustre to our gathering. "Now Phil, with profound respect and deep affection, may I offer you the toast of the evening, 'Phil the Dill'." PHIL SCHOFIELD, in his reply, was characteristically to the point: “Ladies and Gentlemen. I'm terribly embarrassed. It would be churlish to pretend that I did not enjoy Arch's kind remarks and, the fact that the 'old girl' and I are guests of honour - We didn't have to pay! I have no intention of making a speech, but all I can say is that, whatever I have done, I have enjoyed doing, and I am so glad that Arch made mention of 'The Boy' for without him I could not have done the last three years. It was pitiful to see the pair of us, he with bad hearing and I with my bad eyes, and I used to sack him about three times every "Makan", but he could see, and that was important. "But I really am honest. It's the first time in my life that I have ever been so honest, mainly, probably, because I have refused to attend a function of this nature. But I really do appreciate it. God Bless." NOEL JOHNSTON then spoke on behalf of "GENTLEMAN GEORGE"': "I gather you all know that our Commanding Officer and Patron, "Gentleman George" Ramsay, has been in Concord Hospital for a little over a month, but he got home successfully on Tuesday last, feeling very much better for his sojourn in Concord and on Wednesday he rang me and asked me especially to give to you this message this evening, especially to give a personal message to Phil Schofield. He wanted me to say that, on behalf of the Battalion, he considered himself to be speaking for every member of the 2/30th, wherever they may be, and to say to Phil Schofield a cordial and warm thank you for his tremendous efforts in producing Makan over such a long period and in such an arduous task" and to add to these thanks of the Battalion, his own personal thanks and the personal thanks of his wife, Chubby also, for the way in which it has been produced, because they have thoroughly enjoyed the Makan, each issue that it has been produced by Phil." CHURCH PARADE - ST.
STEPHENS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MACQUARIE ST., SYDNEY The Battalion party, on this occasion, numbered a little over 40 mark, and took up the first five pews on the right-hand side of the Church. Included in our party were, Harry Head's daughter, Maureen and her family, and Tom Jones Ex Malay Volunteers and then with 2/10 Baluchis in the fighting in Malaya. Lady Galleghan's party of V.A.D.'s. were on the left. The printed form of "Orders of Service" showed that the service was regarded as "Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration for the Red Cross and the 2/30th Battalion A.I.F." In the Address to the Young People the Revd. Graham Hardy made use of a map of Malaya to show the young folk the A.I.F.'s first battle stations and coupled with it, naming of the Battle Honours on the Battalion's Colours, pointing to them as they hung above our heads and to the Queen's Colours on the other side. The main sermon was on "Defenders of the Faith". PHIL SCHOFIELD I have been able to obtain a copy of one of Alan Pryde's letters to one of our Regional Country Representatives, and, as I feel that it expresses the feelings of all the Executive, of which Alan is part, I quote it as one of the tributes due to Phil. "Probably one of Phil's greatest achievements in his concern for furthering our Battalion's togetherness, was his awareness that personnel in country areas, both as Servicemen and in post-war family affiliations, were the key notes of our integration. Phil never ceased to declaim that the members, who lived away from the Sydney Metropolis were of tremendous consequence to our Association. How right he was! Our country members, and most importantly, their wives, mothers and other relatives have been the core of our Unit's togetherness. "It was Phil's idea that the Association endeavour to organise regional representatives to bring country members into more direct communication with us city blokes, and, as a paramount theme he asked them to get the wives and mothers involved. He did it so successfully with the co-operation of the regional representatives, that we have had the flow of the news about our men and their family circumstances, as has been so interesting to us in past years. "All of us who have been aware of the tremendous job that Phil has done for the Association sincerely hope that the physical circumstances, which have made it imperative he relinquish the job he has done so well, can be successfully contained. "As you may have gathered from the foregoing, the Association relies very much on news from "'the out of town" people. You have been most helpful in this regard. Please keep it up." There are thirty three Regional Representatives, who were chosen by Phil, and whom he kept in touch with Executive doings here at its two-monthly meetings, and who in turn kept in touch with him. They were of great value in making use of a form of Funeral Service which Phil drew up and which was adopted by the Executive in October 1973, so that, if it chances, that one of our Battalion were to die, and we all know not when that may be, some tribute might be made to him by nearby Battalion mates, under the guidance of the appropriate Regional Representatives. Prompt notice to Kevin Ward of anyone becoming seriously ill and/or going into hospital puts us on alert. Our Regional Representatives, however, are more important still, in keeping up the flow of news of other blokes in the Battalion, particularly of Reunions, since we like to hear how the other fellow is getting on, news of those who are members of the Bn. Association and also those who may not be members, all are still members of the Battalion and that is why we stick together. GEMAS DAY COMMEMORATION, on the Sunday nearest to the 14th January each year, is another one of those "family gatherings" which have been fostered by Phil. It is Personal to the Battalion and our successors, the 17th Battalion, The Royal New South Wales Regiment. The site of the Memorial and the co-operative spirit of the members of the 17th, in providing use of their Drill Hall and its amenities, have done much to aid our commemoration of our memories of these we left behind, far more even than the previous occasions at the Martin Place Cenotaph, so that our wives, children and even grandchildren may join together with us in those moments of re-dedication and then in the "cuppa" or other beverage, the sandwich or cake, and the meeting together again of old mates. We have a lot for which we thank you, Phil. MEDIBANK Research is being made and advices on how it may affect ex Ps.O.W. will come out early October. SICK PARADE Kevin Ward reports on those in hospital, as at 9th Aug. as follows: In R.G.H. and other
Hospitals: Discharged from Hospital
since last Makan: Due to enter Hospital: ANZAC DAY One tends to forget that Anzac Day is remembered everywhere there is an Australian throughout the world on 25th April. B.J. was one, who did not let us forget while we were with him, and those, who could, in the various camps, to which we were scattered, took the chance to make some little act of remembrance on that day. Lady Galleghan took time off, on her trip to the United States and Alaska, to send greetings to Phil from Anchorage, Alaska, and to tell him that she had a wonderful experience in San Francisco, attending the Anzac Day Ceremony there. It was held at 3 pm. on the Sunday afternoon in the Army Barracks Area overlooking the Bay of San Francisco. She described the barracks as having been built by Spaniards in the early days of their settlement on the Pacific shores of Forth America. The Australian Ambassador Mr. McCredie, New Zealand and American representatives took part and Colonel de Young gave the address. She sent her regards to all 2/30 Bn. and families. F.R.B. ("SNOWY") STEVENS (ROCKDALE) Snowy was another of the Battalion to remember Anzac Day. He says he was in London at that time on a world trip, so he attended a very good service in Westminster Abbey. LEGACY We know Legacy is an Australian organisation, formed to care for the families of all deceased Aust. Ex-Servicemen, but Noel Johnston has highlighted a significant fact, which is to the credit of those of the Battalion involved and that is that, while there are several of the Battalion serving in Legacy, it had five of its personnel as Chairmen on some of the Sydney Committees, for the year 1975/6, namely: Steve Allardice - Legacy
House, Moss Vale Others whom he named on Committees were: Bill Ennis on Central
Committee as Treasurer At one time Phil Schofield was very heavily involved with their good work in Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne. And, of course, "B.J." was proud to be a member and active in its Committees. B.J. Bruce Ford reports that, as Secretary of the 2/30 Bn. Association, he attended an evening function of the Australia - Malaysia - Singapore Association on 30/7/76. together with Lady Galleghan, Ron Eaton, Ron Ellis, Graham McLeod and Les Wharton. Activities of the evening were: Film showing various aspects of life in and around Kuala Lumpur and the Northern Region of the East coast of Malaya. A talk by Mr. R.H. Morris OBE, retired from position as Governor of Sarawak, tracing the history of the area from a time well before the Christian era. Viewing of a display of a large selection of weaving, carving, silverware, weapons, pottery made by the people of Sarawak. Many exhibits were more than a century old, others of recent date; all were of a wonderful quality and very interesting. B.J. was one of the founders of the Association and a senior Vice-President until his death. The Association has established, now, the "Sir Frederick Galleghan Memorial Awards"' with the co-operation of the Malaysian Airline System, Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Travelodge Australia Ltd. to honour "B.J." The awards provide free return economy travel and free accommodation for a selected Malaysian and a Singaporean to do a 28 days visit to Sydney to confer with Australian colleagues in their vocational field. Nominations are now being sought from Malaysian and Singaporean organisations in the fields of arts, professions, industry and commerce for the first of such nominees, with the hope that they will be able to come to Sydney in October or November next. They are seeking applicants of no less than 21 years of age; permanent residents of the country in which they are employed. Help with funds is sought in Aust. CAN YOU HELP? Ron Eaton's wife, Betty, was one of the Australian "Girls in Blue" in the Hospital Section on the Aircraft Carrier "H.M.S. FORMIDABLE", while it was carrying out duties in the recovery of Ps.O.W. after the 15th August '45. During the voyage from Manila to Sydney, Betty had a young lad under her care; he could not have been more than 16 years old, when he must have enlisted, she felt, but he had had both legs amputated. He had been sent as a P.O.W. to coalmines in Japan. He had had the spirit to try to get those working with him to set a very low "darg" for the amount of daily work at the coal face and the Japs had punished him for it, part of the "treatment" had been to put him on a ''rack" of bamboo and to stretch the sinews and muscles of his body. The resultant effect on his legs was that they had to be amputated below the knee. His mates had carried him on board the "Formidable" and, when Betty saw him, she immediately had the ship's Wainwright have a look at him to see whether he could provide a wheelchair for him, as there were none on board. Within the half-hour the Wainwright brought his invention along, and said, "Miss Girling (as she then was) the chair is ready”. One of the ordinary ship's stacker chairs, mounted on wheels, with a pair of arms coming back behind the chair, joined together with a crossbar, so that the lad's mates could take him out with everyone else to enjoy their company, was the answer. Betty had taken photos of the lad, but, when the "Formidable" arrived in Sydney, she had left her camera on her bunk, and found later that someone had taken the camera, so that she lost the photo. She heard that a photo of her with the lad in his "wheelchair" had appeared in a newspaper, but she was unable to get it at the time. She knows that he came from the Northern Rivers, feels it was Grafton and would like to know how he might have progressed since his discharge. If anyone can help, her address is in Phil's Address List and she would be grateful for news. LAST POST NX37654 Pte. Harry
("Curly") SCOTT NX72830 Pte. Harry
R. CONVERY NX37607 Pte. Jack G.
CRAM WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM NEWS, VIEWS and WHOS WHOS ERNIE WILLIS – PARKES (NSW) Elsie, though she herself has been ill, is still one of those unpaid secretary wives, and sent in Ernie's subs giving us the news that Ernie is looking forward to July 1976, as he will be 60 then and will retire from work and she too will keep him company. She comments: "these old worn-out beings can't keep going forever. Our sons are all off our hands and we can take it easy now". Elsie also says that Clarrie Lattimer, having been Transport Corporal, could not visit his son in Parkes, without calling on Ernie, who had not seen him since early P.O.W. days, because Clarrie was one of the fifty of the unit on "J" Force, which went to Japan. ERIC VOLLHEIM - B COY and Mrs. Kitty VOLLHEIM - MT. ST. THOMAS, 2500 Margaret Phillips (Northcote Vic), daughter of Len Ryan of the band, writes, that during the school holidays last year her family had a visit from one of the daughters of the Vollheim family in Wollongong, family of Eric Vollheim, who died in Borneo. She says, that Mrs. Vollheim has been "Aunty Kit" to her ever since they used to go down to Wollongong from Sydney on weekend visits before the Battalion went to Malaya. There are 4 married daughters, Moira, Peg, Cynthia, Paddy, and Aunty Kit is now a great grandmother. RON MOORE ("PORKY") - BURWOOD (NSW) Sending in his subs early in the year, Porky briefly mentioned that he was going into hospital on 30 March, but did not give any other details. TERRY O'ROURKE - NARRANDERA (NSW) Terry says that there is little happening these days and then found that he could tell us of his family, in that, No 2 son, Jim, had got married at Christmas time to a brown eyed blonde nurse, originally from Leeton, but then nursing at the Grosvenor House Retarded Children's Hospital at Summer Hill, which is handy for the newly married's as Jim is with the P.M.G. at Erskineville. For their honeymoon Jim and Nellie did a camping tour of the North Coast, finishing up joining Terry and the rest of the family at North Haven, where Terry had a flat for a month. Son, John, is also with the P.M.G. and stationed at Darlinghurst, but hopes to wander across to Malaysia soon. Daughter, Margaret has resigned from the Education Dept. and is now research officer for the Women's Trade Union Commission, which operates on a grant from the Federal Government. Her office is in the Crystal Palace Arcade, George Street, Sydney. Kathie is in 6th form and going well. He says that next year Muriel and he will be alone - peaceful - but maybe too peaceful. He says that he is still Secretary of the R.S.L. Sub-Branch and has been so now for 13 years, whilst Muriel is a Life Member and President of the R.S.L. Women's Auxiliary. (He says life is peaceful-- but it seems that he must have enough to occupy his leisure time). ANDY NOBLE - LONGUEVILLE (NSW) News from Andy is that his eldest daughter, Elizabeth has now had her second child; on this occasion it was a daughter so now she has one of each. She had quite a torrid time and was in hospital for some 5 weeks prior to the birth, which also meant that Andy and his wife had to look after the boy, who was 22 months old at the time. Andy says, "I can assure you that Bett and I would not recommend it to people of our age". As Andy's son, Stephen, also became the father of a boy on 3rd December last, Andy reckoned then that he could put himself forward in the Grandly Stakes three times. Bett and Andy were to leave for a 3 week holiday in New Zealand in the early part of March, and were looking forward to it. Andy was sandwiching in an Accountancy Conference at the last part of the holiday, whilst over there. Andy could not be with us on the Anzac Lay March, as he had to take the opportunity to go to see his (newly born) fourth grandchild at Tooraweenah, near Coonabarabran. (The Editor's Roving Reporter commented: "Surely nothing else would induce anyone to do more than pass through that little village." The Editor himself, being but a "city slicker" will leave it to others in the know to counter this disparaging remark.) BEN PEARCE - SAWTELL (NSW) Ben excused his delay sending in subs to a slip of the memory, he is not what he used to be (and we can all say that again AD). He said that he had not been too well for some time and he spent Anzac Day at home in Sawtell, but Brian Hayes from Parkes and Jim Morgan, who now lives in Sawtell, helped him to enjoy himself. Ben now claims an entry in the Grandpa Stakes with the arrival of their first grandchild on 18th March amidst great excitement in the households. JACK COLLINS - SOUTH GRAFTON (NSW) Jack said that he had toyed with the idea of bringing in his subs in person on Anzac Day, but found that he could not make it. LEN CLAVAN – TINTENBAR (NSW) Another one of those overworked wife secretaries, Wyn gave us some news as well as Len's subs. She wrote that "Len, unfortunately, had been transferred to work at Tweed Heads area. He thought that it would be only for a few weeks; but he had had to suffer it from mid October to the time of writing, and comes home weekends, hoping to get back home again; his health is not the best, as "batching" is not the best treatment for an ulcer and osteoarthritis in the back and knee troubling him a good deal - most of the boys would suffer from these complaints no doubt. To make matters a little more difficult he was scheduled to enter St. Vincent's Hospital, Lismore, on 2nd May for an operation on his hand. Wyn continued, “Len has been trying to repair and replace the fences and damage done to our property during the devastating flood in our valley at the end of February. It was quite frightening with 30 inches of rain in 26 hours. It did not get into our house but it was very close." FRANK SULLIVAN - MILLERS POINT, SYDNEY Thanks Olga. Here's another wife secretary, writing from South British United Insurance, Young; at the time, to say, that Frank had had a transfer there for 3 months and that they were really enjoying the change from the big smoke. Their youngest son, Robert, is teaching at Canberra at the Marist Brothers, and has been there for 2 years, but that they might be having the chance of joining him, as the Insurance Company has a job in Canberra lined up for Frank after Young. Another contender in the Grandpa Stakes; their eldest son, John's wife, now adds a grand-daughter, Rachel, to the grandson, Jason. John is a supervisor at Johnson and Johnson. Olga reports Frank as having ear trouble at the time of writing. It is, he thinks, a resurgence of an old trouble, "tropical ear", which he suffered in Singapore. He had been attending the Young Hospital every day for a month. He did approach Repat. about it, but they will do noting about it." FRANK PURVIS - SYLVANIA HEIGHTS (NSW) Olga Sullivan also supplied us with news of the Purvis household; their son, Douglas, is to be married in October, which will leave only one at home. Their eldest daughter, Leslie lives at Port Macquarie, and they were to visit her at Easter. Frank's quota in the Grandpa Stakes consists of two grand daughters. DICK TOMPSON - HOWRAH (TASMANIA) Dick reports that he and Anne were to go for a cruise on 2nd June, which will give them 4 days in Singapore (ashore while the ship is in dry-dock), so they will be there from 18th to 22nd June. They will be travelling on the "Fairstar" which will be visiting 9 other ports in New Guinea and Indonesia, being away 34 days altogether. He was asking Noel Johnston on the procedures in getting approval through the High Commissioner's Office for a visit to Changi Goal and the Chapel there. Dick said that he was also contemplating getting a car and making a trip up to Batu Pahat. They had had a Pacific cruise in 1975, that had whetted their appetite for another trip. Dick says that he is pleased that he retired early and came back to Hobart, as they are enjoying it. Both their boys are married, Andrew, the younger is shortly to become a father, which, of course, will make for an entry in the Grandpa Stakes. He is a Civil Engineer and is with a firm of Consulting Engineers at Burnie. Their other son, Phillip, is an Electrical Engineer with the P.M.G. in Hobart, but he finds P.M.G. ways a bit frustrating and would prefer to use his talents in private industry. Dick claims to have some very successful fruit trees and a good vegetable garden, so much so, that they bottle a lot of their fruit and, in addition, have a deep freeze half full of their produce. As was natural with the site of their suburb, the collapse of the Tasman Bridge upset their lifestyle for awhile, but now, with the "temporary” (I'm told, "not under 6 years before completion of repairs". AD) Bailey Bridge, they can drive to Hobart in about 35 minutes, a vast improvement on the round trip of 104 miles, which was necessary at first. (Dick, I was in Hobart at end of January, and had your address to make a call, but, as I was on a bus tour and tied to its schedule, it was that very remoteness of your suburb that made me give the idea away. AD) ARTHUR G. BUCKINGHAM - KRAMBACH (NSW) Claire has written to tell us that they have recently changed their address from Arncliffe to 46 King's Creek Road, Krambach, 2429, as she says that they would hate the Makan to go astray. She states that Arthur will be retiring permanently in mid August and, at the time of writing, they were holidaying at Krambach in their new home, trying to do a dozen and one things around the place. All the family are married now except for the youngest girl, who is staying in Sydney to finish her school year and will be joining them early in December. ROBERT H.K. MORRISON - ST. IVES, SYDNEY Bob Morrison reports that his cousin, Mrs. Hilma Rider-Jones passed away suddenly on 20/6/76. after a coronary attack. Hilma was the sister of Ray Musgrave, "C” Coy, who died in Thailand. Our sympathy is extended to her husband, John, and her mother, Mrs. Lonie Musgrave, who has been a member of the "Purple and Gold" Club since its inception in the early 1940's. J. RON STONER - ATTADALE (WA) Ron's last letter to Phil Schofield thanking him for his "Makan", makes the comment, appropriate to a former editor of our news-sheet, that it is a tangible tie to that unseen chain of nostalgia that links us wherever we are. He also commended Phil on his Address List, because with it, he was able to make contact with Dudley Bushby and Garry Rickwood, when Dot and Ron went to Europe in 1975 to a Real Estate Convention. Dudley phoned from Nice. At the time his health was below par and he could not make it to Paris to see them while they were there. Ron phoned Garry from their London hotel and he insisted that they stay in his comfortable home for the best part of a week. Ron praised Garry's wife, Marjorie, as being a gem and said that they fared well and talked a lot. Southend was nearby and Dot and Ron flew from there to Ostend, from where they dawdled their way across Europe for three weeks to Rome, joining their return aircraft to Perth in that city. Ron is able to claim a record many of us would envy, he says that for the first time since returning home he is able to qualify for Kevin Ward's Sick Parade Column with his first visit to a Repat. Hospital. He says that it was nothing serious (We are glad to hear that. AD.) just something which he designated as simple surgery. Ron is a convert in his State loyalties. He reckons "this is now for me the super State, where there is growth and confidence in the future and an easy going attitude towards things. I reckon it's the best State in which to bring up kids and the best to retire in." He says that he would welcome any 2/30 Bn. visitors to Perth, and stresses that he means that, that he does not want you to ring him up on the last day of your visit there, but to make better use of Phil's Address List to let him know when you are coming and, on arrival and booking in to where you are to be accommodated, to ring him up then, so that he can really welcome you by making your stay more enjoyable. The Stoner family is said to be well, that is apart from the need of his visit to Hollywood R.G.H. Daughter, Flora who is in her final year at University doing an Honours degree in Science, became engaged to another Honours degree student and, since it will be her last year at home, Ron and his wife have postponed till 1977 another long trip overseas, during which they hope to visit Sydney en route. Real estate activities have kept Ron busy, with working hours up to 60 a week, and, as he was 70 on the 4th June he was trying to ease up a bit, but felt that he had become so personally involved with so many people, who had become used to looking to him for advice, that he was finding it hard to achieve. BRUCE CAMPBELL - PORT MACQUARIE (NSW) Neil Huntley advised that early November 1975 Bruce had the misfortune to lose one of his four sons, Dennis, who was only 19 yrs. and was killed, instantly, in a head-on collision with a car, whilst riding his motor bike. Neil said that poor old Bruce was having more than his share, with a brother accidentally killed last year, a sister dying recently at time of writing, and now this. Neil attended the service and funeral. The service at St. Thomas, Port Macquarie was crowded, a great tribute to the very high regard those in Port Macquarie have for Bruce, his wife and family. Hec. Campbell (A Coy), a cousin of Bruce's came up from Sydney for the service. GEORGE B. LISTER - MULLUNGUM via CASINO (NSW) George, a brother of Alice Larkin, whose husband, Stan, was a member of "B” Coy. Alice says, he has not been well, had got very thin and had to take time off from work, as one of the Tick Quarantine Inspectors on a gate between Casino and Grafton, where he has to do 12 hour shifts. George is to try for an increase in pension, because of the illnesses. George and his wife, Nessie, with their only daughter, Marie, participated in the Ps.O.W. Reunion at Lismore in February last. ALICE LARKIN - EVANS HEAD .(NSW) Alice's report of the Ps.O.W. Dinner at Lismore on 15th February last was that she enjoyed it very much and was accompanied by her eldest son, Jeff. She said that it was good to see so many men together, reliving past experiences and by the laughter at times she reckoned that some good yarns and tall stories were told. She says that Jeff has this year and next to finish at the University, and that Mark is now 14 years old and is a keen fisherman. Alice was privileged to see "Slim" de Gray at one of the floor shows at the local R.S.L. Club last year and enjoyed his act very much. G.E. JOHNSTON ("JOE") – KNOCKROW (NSW) Sybil wrote in July to remind the new editor of the 14th August Reunion at Ballina R.S.L. Club, and by quick arrangements with the printer he was able to sneak the news in on one of the supplements with the last issue of "Makan", but not to get it into "Makan" itself, but the date was to be 14th August, with wreath-laying at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. She also reported that they were all well up there at the time of writing, although they would like a few months of fine weather, after their torrential rain, which had made the countryside up north very green and lush. MAX McCLELLAND - GRANVILLE (NSW) I called around to see Max at his home at Granville. He used to work for the Main Roads Board on big jobs around the city with a hundred or more men under him, but found the strain of driving to work through city traffic no good, he now has an easier job, still with the Main Roads Board, but only about ten minutes walk from his home. Max still suffers from ulcers and shingles, he is huge in size, and I should think that this comes from good home grown vegetables that he cultivates. Max is a strong supporter of the Granville R.S.L. Club, meeting quite a few Ps.O.W. there from other Battalions of the 8th Divn. Max's wife, Heather, is the widow of P.A. Trapnell, who was with Max in the Pioneer Platoon. Unfortunately for Heather her daughter, a sufferer from asthma, has found the climate around Albury away from the coast suited to her, so that Max and Heather have quite a distance to travel to see her and her two daughters, NORM KING - GOLSPIE (NSW) Norm has expressed criticism of the Executive for not arranging one definite Reunion Rendezvous after the Anzac Day March. He reckoned that it was out of keeping with the standard of the Battalion, especially when country members could be expected to make it because the day did fall on the Sunday, and it was of no matter whether the numbers were likely to be large or small. He commented that if the city members were to visit a country reunion, these members would receive a more positive welcome. The suggestion that members of clubs get small parties together was not laying out the "welcome mat", whether it be a Sunday or not, and even though that might have been adopted in the past. (This was reported to August meeting of executive, Norm AD) WAL EATHER - TAMWORTH (NSW) Wal confesses to having been on the Committee of the Tamworth Golf Club for the last two years, as Vice President and Chairman of House, and that this, with a few other commitments, keeps him quite busy. He reports that Ray Michell, Doug Hicks and their respective wives are still surviving, and that he had met Ted Rickards and his wife at the R.S.L. Club on the first Friday of August, they being over from Mungindi, staying with Ray and Tuppy Michell for a few days. RAY DONALD - GLEN INNES (NSW) Ray would not have told us, but Jean has let the cat out of the bag. ("Thanks Jean"). She starts her letter with the query, "What is it like living with a T.V. Star?" then she says that she is happy to say "alright". It has not made any difference. It seems that Ray was on B.B.C. on New Year's Eve in a coloured film, taken with Diane Fisher of the A.B.C. showing how to find sapphires. However the English viewing public could not understand his Aussie drawl. He has also appeared in a photo on the new coloured brochure about Glen Innes, and as well, in the Aust. and N.Z. Encyclopaedia. Not content with that, but this time having their 12 year old daughter, Raelene, with him, he also appeared in another T.V. commercial about the local scene. Raelene was born on 1st March, which happens to be Ray's own birth date; and as Jean says, "how's that?". Ray and Jean's three married children all live in the Liverpool, Sydney, area. Jean reports that Ray is not too bad, at present, and hopes that the other members of the Battalion are not too badly off at the present time. Another interesting piece of news about Ray comes from Bruce Ford. It appears that when Bruce was in Glen Innes in his job with the Bank of N.S.W., both Bruce and Ray were members of the 1st Aust. Light Horse, New England Regiment, however Bruce did not admit to how old they both were at the time. JOHNNY PARSONS - MACQUARIE FIELDS but now ROSSMORE (NSW) Johnny has moved back to Rossmore where he used to live. He is a lover of the outdoor. In his job, he is a representative of the A.M.P. selling life assurance, and his new house is on 5 acres of the property he formerly owned at Rossmore. He has again named his new place "Rossmore Stud". He has one stallion there now and has thoughts that, when he comes to retire in the next few years, he may take up the breeding of horses again. (We wish you well, Johnny, and knowing you, we may safely say, that if it at all possible, it will not be just an idle dream: AD) We have also learnt that wedding bells will be ringing early in September for Johnny and Joyce's son, Lyn, who is to be married to a lovely lass from Coogee. Lyn's other love is his aviation career. We wish both Lyn and his future wife all the very best that life may have in store for them. ALAN ALBERT THORNCRAFT
(CARRIER PLATOON, HQ COY) Speaking of wedding bells, we have heard that Joy Thorncraft is to be remarried next month. We wish her the same happiness as for Lyn Parsons, but, of course, there will be a maturer aspect in her future life. Joy has been very active in V.I.E.W. circles, being the State President for N.S.W. in this women's association. The initials, I am told, stand for "Voice Interest Education Women", and, from what I read of them in the local newspapers the aspect of life dealt with by speakers at their meetings are many and varied. STEVE KIRTON - BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA Sending over Makan subs, Steve reports that he has been down with pneumonia, and, at the time of writing was still weak with it, that Marg. was in bed sick, and it seems that she has got the same wog. He says that they very seldom get sick, so he guesses that they have nothing to complain about. Max, their eldest son, is married to a young English Canadian, Linda, and they have two daughters. He is by occupation a brick-laying contractor. The other son is named Robert, and their daughter Judith. Steve comments on the economics of the world, that it really does seem crazy. He says "by all accounts Australia is very hard hit by inflation, especially when wages are so low. American wages are generally higher than here, but their cost of living is much lower. England seems worse off; wages really low and cost of living really high. I don't know how they do manage. Prices here, in Vancouver, bread is from 20c to 40¢ depending on size; milk is $1.16 per ½ gallon bottle. Although our costs are about the same as yours, our incomes are higher and our taxes lower. However for the outdoor worker, a lot of rain and cold weather means they make little when those conditions apply. There are a lot of people out of work over here, but they are mostly very young or too old. Besides unemployment insurance here pays $112 per week". Steve announces that he expects to make for Sydney about 1st January next year, and stay over here for about 2 months. ARTHUR H.M. PURDON - TUNCURRY (NSW) Arthur says that his wife had made the suggestion to him that he sell out the old home, buy a caravan and retire to Tuncurry to be near the two boys. Arthur suffers from cervical spondylitis with disc lesions, which give him a rough time on occasions, although he can still enjoy a few drinks within reason, and he manages to put in the time alright, going out with the boys when feeling up to it. He comments, "Funny, one cannot get away from the Japs. We were about 26 miles off Cape Hawke and found that the Japs had a big line (about 70 miles of it) through our traps. These lines are drifters. We called up another boat 10 miles up the coast, and he said that the ''so and so's" had gone through his gear and that he had lost $7,000 worth of gear. We went through the line and about another mile out we came across another line so we called the chap at the north of us; he said that he had been speaking to a chap south of us, who had lost some gear, so the boys were fighting mad. We decided to get some bubbles and other gear for souvenirs. We picked up a few, but sighted the Jap coming from the south. He, being bigger than us, and legally entitled to fish in the area, we thought discretion is the greatest part of valour. We beat it towards the shore and within the 12 mile limit. The fishing game is not all that it is cracked up to be. The Nips have a wonderful system; take everything that swims, where we, the Australian fishermen, throw back all fish that are of illegal size and protected." Arthur sends his kindest regards to all the boys and asks to be excused if he has not written to any. He classes himself as the laziest and worst letter writer this side of the black stump. He says that he may not have written but he often thinks of the boys. F.R.B. STEVENS ("SNOWY") - ROCKDALE, SYDNEY Snow took time out at the function for Phil Schofield to give us some details of a world trip, which he and his wife enjoyed recently. Snowy's trip took him 5 months, and, he feels was worth every cent he paid out on it. He has over 400 photos, which he took, and which will provide him with many memories. He and his wife left on the "Arcadia" over to the United States, Las Vegas, Panama Canal to London. They toured all over Scotland, South of England and came back via South Africa, after going to Europe. One day in the Strand London, Snow was aiming to visit a certain building, but was stopped by a bobby who very politely asked Snow to go across to the other side of the road in going further. That was alright by Snow - the bobby had been very polite. He heard a second chap asked to do the same as Snow but the other man wanted to argue, he only wanted to go to a certain building just nearby. The bobby then told him that there was an unexploded bomb in the very building the chap wanted to enter. Snow said that the other man beat Snow across to the other side of the road. Talking of trouble like that, reminded Snow that they had been to Udini in northern Italy, stopping there for lunch. The town was quite a nice place, with well built Council flats and a very good auto-road. Three weeks after Snow and his wife were there the town was flattened by an earthquake. (Now don't think Snow was responsible for these disasters. We know he would have been on the football field in days past, a cause of disaster to the opposing team. AD) MRS. EDITH BERMAN - WEST RYDE Izzy's wife, living only two streets away from me, I paid her a visit, and found a strong supporter of the Bn. in Edith, who was one of the originals, she tells me, in the "Purple and Gold" Club taking her daughter, Shirley, who was only 3 years of age when the Bn. sailed for Malaya, to the Christmas parties, that the Club used to run for the boys and girls we left behind. Shirley, of course, is now married, lives at Bondi, and has two children, Denise aged 14 years and Suzanne aged 9 years, and two bonny girls they look too in their photographs. Edith would love to see more of the blokes, who used to help Izzy, but he was a reinforcement to us to "D" Coy at Simpang Rengam, apparently, and the chaps, he was with up to then would have been the Queensland men, intended for the 2/26 Bn. and sent to the Bn. at that time. (This is only guesswork on my part, on the date when he was marched in to the Bn and Edith would like to know more of his activities from those who were with him. AD) E.H. ("WARD") BOOTH - DARLINGHURST, SYDNEY Ward was the correspondent, who provided the news, from which we reported in the last "Makan" on the details of the 2 British officers, Philip Toosey and F.J. (Andy) Dillon; Ward's information came in turn from Charles (Wilkie) Wilkinson, who is still alive and kicking in Woking, Surrey, U.K. and who, Ward thinks, will be remembered by those who were in Changi after the return from the “Railway", as Captain in the 9th Northumberland Fusiliers and Q.M. of the Officers' Area in Changi after the return, and a participant in some of the plays at the Coconut Grove Theatre. (Query: As one, who was not at Changi after May 1943, were there two theatres, or is this "Coconut Grove" the same as "The Playhouse" page 28 "Makan" No. 216, Jul/Aug 1974, or again, was one in the original Changi and the other in the Changi centred on the goal building after the return from the "Railway"? Can anyone put me right please? AD). JACK FOLKARD - WEST WYALONG (NSW) Jack is able to say that things have been good to him. When he was living in Sydney, he could be found at East Hills, then he came up to the township of Tallimba, 21 miles southwest of West Wyalong, to which he later moved. Even though he has to confess to a few grey hairs, Jack has plenty of work in his trade in the building game, while Monica, his wife, is busy with a fabric shop in the town, and also is the writer for the "Social Column" of the West Wyalong paper, the "Advocate". J. S. ("DARKIE") DESPOGES - COOTAMUNDRA (NSW) Jack Folkard was also able to give brief particulars of Darkie Despoges' job, in that, he did not know what else Darkie did, but Darkie does a transport run from Cootamundra to West Wyalong each week day (connects with an overnight Sydney to Cootamundra run). Darkie would be Jack's nearest 2/30 Bn. colleague (and he could not wish to have anyone better than one from the same Pioneer Platoon. AD) GRAHAM S. McLEOD (formerly RUSSELL VALE but now RANDWICK) (NSW) Graham was described by one of our blokes, who was suffering from a failing, common to a lot of us, of not being able to put a name tag to a face, as "that effervescent bloke from the South Coast, you know, “Want to trade in your car, mate? Give you a bloody good price for it!" But no longer. Graham has given the car trade away and come back to the metropolis, as the List of Address changes shows. He intends to recuperate for a while and then, hopes to engage in another avenue of work, for which he has had hankerings for some time, and we hope to hear of his successes in that field as he progresses. RON EATON - GORDON, SYDNEY Ron's wife, Betty, tells that Ron still takes an interest in cricket, but not so much on the field. He is still a Patron of the Mosman Cricket Club. As Chairman and Managing Director of Overseas Containers Australia Pty. Ltd. Ron is leading a very busy life bringing to fruition arrangements involving the container shipping services of Australia with Europe, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. He is Chairman also of Australia Japan Containers Ltd. An integrated service, involving Australia, New Zealand and Europe and 14 container ships, will begin operating next July as an extension of the existing Aust. to Europe container service. Another integrated service between Australia, Singapore and Malaysia will be started towards the end of next year. Three ships being built now by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan will be a combination roll-on roll-off and lift-on lift-off type of containership for this service. NUGENT GEIKIE - HUNTERS HILL, SYDNEY Betty Eaton has been able to fill us in on why we have not had a report from "Geik" on his and Olga's trip to Indonesia and Malaysia over the Christmas period. It seems that, they were able to visit their daughter, Rosemary, in Jakarta, she is the wife of the Herald News correspondent in Indonesia, Hamish MacDonald, and had a wonderful time with them and, later on, over to Singapore and Malaysia. Ten days after they came home Olga fell sick. At first it was thought, that it might be malaria, but blood tests did not confirm that, but another trouble, which caused Olga to be hospitalised from then, until after Easter. She is back home, but has to take care. (Best of wishes from all of us, Olga.) "BILL" CLAYTON - HUNTERS HILL, SYDNEY Bill is another to have been on the sick list, but, while he is better, he needs to regard his trouble as a warning light. Back to 1976 index or Main Index |