Dear Dig,

Two country newspapers gave me a couple of tit-bits recently. One from Crookwell gave a featured account of the opening of the local R.S.L. Clubhouse, with the Old Man as the guest of honour. They' have evidently done themselves very proud and have built a very fine hall, complete with all facilities for holding dances and socials.

Jack Brooks of "A" Coy. wrote me of it also. There are a few 30th lads in that district and they made a very happy day of it.

The second newspaper was a copy of the Land. I did not feel at home while reading it because the closest I have ever been to a sheep is to hold a skein of blanket wool for my wife to wind. Heckendorf is not quite so ignorant, however, because he has registered his own Corriedale Stud and went a little further by taking some of the prizes in the local Sheep Show. I gathered from a reading of the paper that to own a Stud and breed good sheep puts one out of the ranks of the usual farmers into the big shot class. It would be similar to a rise from, say, a toddy gatherer to a Sikh nightwatchman.

Lou Brown has been in Yaralla for some time and within a couple of days was drinking his cup of tea when everybody else wasn't eating an extra doover, slipping out on quite bona fide but extra leave passes. Just the same old Honest Lou; he almost took a job out there and would have finished up running the joint and doing a grand job with our lads but he changed his mind. He has gone down to keep his old mate Heckendorf company and should do very well there. You can just see then around the dinner table supporting one another in the most atrocious lies about their past experiences.

Reg Napper is learning bricklaying under the C.R.T.S, and Cpl. Isaac is well into a plumbing course at the Tech. College.

Joe Pearce of "A" Coy, is out of Yaralla at last and is learning accountancy under a full time scheme at the Tech. He has had a rough time since we came home but is now happily married to a very nice girl and takes his ill health philosophically.

Greg Ducker is driving a taxi at Liverpool and is doing well. He has a new baby girl whom he tells me is a great time-waster.

Jackie Fell is the greenkeeper at Wyong Golf Club. He likes the job because it gives him a good income, as a big attraction, he and his wife have accommodation as part of the job. They serve refresh­ments and so on and if any of the lads are passing that way they ask you to drop in and have a chat and a cuppa with them.

Sid Stephens, whose arm was badly hit at on the Island, has been seen lately in Newcastle. He is still having trouble with his arm.

Alan McPherson is making money from a cream run on the Tweed River.

Bill Delaney writes that the crops are wonderful up Narromine way. The local diggers have started to build a new R.S.L. Club in the town.

If any of you lads want any floor coverings laid, Jack Grossmith will do them for you - ring UJ.4641.

Sluggo Jones attended a church service on the North Coast at which a pulpit was dedicated to Earl Newton and to Andy Alcorn (killed at Gemas).

Sluggo is engaged to be married and is chunkling on in a 12 acre banana paddock. He is making enough money to buy a few doovers.

Jack North is working in a pub at West Wyalong.

Many of you will remember "Don Ack" McKinnon, who was lucky enough to be repatriated home after being wounded at Games. He later served in New Guinea and is now to be married.

Tommy Coombes is engaged to be married and frank Rampling is going off the deep end very shortly.

Blair Taylor holds down a good job in the Taxation Department.

Tommy Grant of "C" Coy. is working at the Australian Glass Works.

Our congratulations go to Tommy Nixon of the Pioneers Platoon and to Bob Newman of "C" Coy, for a new baby each.

You have some small cause to remember our unsuccessful claims for a just and rightful 3/- per day subsistence money. The money was claimed for a period when we were serving our country and results prove that we were in some slight danger, enough to kill our three hundred men anyway. Touching upon these few small points, you will be happy to read of the recent award on the Reynella case. The ship ran aground on a reef at Papua, was refloated and towed to Sydney. For the period of 58 days, each man on the ship was granted 2/6 an hour, not per day, danger money, plus special awards ranging from 7/6 to 30/-, an hour. A total payment of £40,000 was made to 78 seamen or approximately £500 each for 58 days danger work. Without detracting from the fact that they were all in great danger (one is apt to have ones tongue in ones cheek at times), the ridiculous comparison between the two cases is enough to make the mildest man a little abusive.

The Association extends its deep sympathy to Reg Ellis and his family in their recent bereavement.

The great Ned Kelleher (sic - KELEHER) has left Yaralla Hospital at last. He is not cured by any manner of means but he is well enough to have been transferred to a convalescent depot. Ned has been in the hospital since we returned home.

Kevin Ward has left Yaralla and intends to get a job. He is finished with all those horrible skin grafts and declared that he is a new man. He is engaged to be married shortly.

Sid Musgrove is in Yaralla and I saw Jim O'Connell out there looking far from well.

Sid Grounds has been on the seriously ill list with double pneumonia and a few complications.

Now another word about the Christmas Dance. We hope to make it a super success and went you to bring all your friends. It will be held in Rose Bay Soldiers' Club on Monday, 22nd December just a few days before Xmas Eve. Ward Booth has postponed his holidays and is to compere the show and will be assisted by Des Kearney. I hope that they will give us a touch of Malaya on the old ukulele and between the two of them they should produce a few surprises. Arrangements are not yet complete and we will inform you by a copy of Makan of all details. It

has been decided at least that it will be an informal night - it's very hot at that time - and that it will be a "wet" one. I believe that the atmosphere out there is very nice. The Club is set in a little park and faces the water. The floor is an excellent one and there is a very good tram and bus service to the city.

Now the Smoko. It will be held at Sargents, 80 Market Street, Sydney, on Friday night, 5th December, at 8 p.m. There will be a light supper provided and we have budgeted for a lot of beer. We hope you will enjoy the show. We have not hired a pianist because last year nobody listened to him and somebody poured a glass of ale down his neck. You can make your own fun and at least there will be ample room. The cost will be 10/- per head and that is as low as we can go. The actual cost will exceed 10/- per head but the Association will pay the extra money. You are welcome to bring along any 8th Division friend because the Committee realises that there are plenty of coves who, by their close association with us on the other side, know just as many of the unit as we do ourselves. Also it is realised that a chap would not want to come along unless he did know some of the lads and could fit into the show. One last word - the Reunion naturally extends to all ex-members of the unit and is not confined to members of the Association. That's the lot Gents. See you at the Reunion.

STAN ARNEIL

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