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Makan – No. 61 Official Organ of the 2/30th Bn. A.I.F. Assn Patron: Brig. F.G. Galleghan, D.S.O.,
O.B.E., E.D. Dear Dig, Athol Charlesworth has had no sickness at all since we returned home and has other blessings as well. He has two children, Bruce 4 years and Marilyn 16 months, and has a home of his own to keep them in and, of course, a charming wife to supervise everything. Athol is in the fire Brigade and likes it. He guarantees to give good service, so, if you happen to attempt to burn down your house to obtain the insurance, don't ring Athol. Jack Grossmith, our expert carpet layer, is still in business so apparently people are still buying carpets, even though it is cheaper to cover a floor with £10 notes. Jack lives at Concord West. Curley Hardman lives at Lilli Pilli and in case you have not heard of the place, it is on the George’s River (I think). It suits Curley well, who is one of those lunatics who actually enjoy a day in the drenching rain waiting for bites that never come. To extend his fishing, he is now building his own boat, a 27’ model which will take him out to the deep blue sea where the fish are apparently bigger and better or else the lies are just a little more untruthful. Curley takes his little 4 year old son with him on all his fishing trips and is already teaching him the first tricks of the trade, the most important being, the knack of stretching the arms out a shade wider than any other fisherman who happens to be around. It is usually bad policy to give any praise to holiday resorts because tastes differ so much, however, we have a report on the holiday residential at Huskisson, run by Ernie Parkes. Our informant says that at this unusual resort children are welcome at all times. Huskisson is a fishing resort and enquiries as to tariff etc., can be found by writing to Ernie Parkes, Huskisson. Sam Solway, of Sans Souci is a toiler and has kept his nose to the grindstone since we returned. It has paid dividends though and he is now living in moderate comfort in his own home, which he will completely own in 1989; Sam’s health is not the best but he has compensations in a capable and charming wife and two children, a boy and a girl. Bob Gibbs, the lad who confounded the critics and remained alive even though he was ill enough for a dozen men, is keeping fairly well these days. Bob is married of course and he and his wife have been blessed with a daughter, who is now 2 years old. In January Bob sold his property for £20/5/- per acre, which was about the highest price paid in that district, for an acreage the size of Bob’s property. He has purchased another property 5 miles away and his new address is Turrawan. Geoff Alcock, one of our Lifers, is living at Thornleigh. Geoff is a happy soul and is a keen Association supporter. He enjoyed himself at the last Ball. We saw Bill Skene at Manly recently as he was swimming with his sturdy little son and his really pretty daughter. Bill is one who has not been seen around very much since we returned home and it is a pity in lots of ways as he was a well liked fellow in the unit. He told us that he has become very lazy these days and just potters around the garden. Have we mentioned before that the Imperial War Museum, London, wants a copy of Galleghan’s Greyhounds? They are vary anxious to procure a copy, and if anyone cares-to donate a copy then the front page will read - "Donated by Mr. So-and-So of West Ryde, Sydney." It will be an easy way for somebody to send your name down the years into history as there is a tradition that the Imperial War Museum never destroys any records and we believe that they even have the full battle records of The Battle of the Wazir, which was a very famous skirmish in a previous war. If you want further particulars about the Imperial War Museum, will you write to us? Start Lugton was sighted at Wagga where he is painting houses for a living. In between times, he serves behind the bar of the Australian Hotel there. Stan is still interested in music and is a member of the local band. Our roving reporter just missed meeting Don Garner, who is now living at Morumbah. Don was away in the scrub shooting wild pigs. One of our members phoned us that he has decided to make a habit of dropping down to the city vegetable markets to buy a case of fruit. In these days when there is not much value in the pound, the old maxim of a penny saved is a penny earned, has a lot to commend it. For those who have one or two growing kiddies, the purchase of bulk fruit, through Harry Collins, may help to solve one small portion of the nightmare of food purchase. Harry is a fruit agent at the markets and is on the telephone there. He is in the habit of selling fruit in large lots, but we are sure that he would oblige by selling it in single case lots. WANTED AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY: Yes, we want some additional help to run the Association more efficiently and we ask you to consider our request. We are doing a lot more than we used to and we need some person with a little spare time, not much mind you, to help us out. Briefly, the duties would comprise the convening of meetings and the keeping of the minute books, attention to correspondence which does not deal with finance or with the Makan, attention to queries from country members and the taking over of such welfare and employment problems which we deal with from time to time. The work does not amount to a crushing burden but it has increased this year to a little more than we can handle efficiently. Our policy of share the work has borne fruit this year as may be borne out by the fact that our social functions have been a success, through the efforts of John Parsons, who is responsible for this work. If you think you would like the job, offer your services. It would be necessary for the executive to be on the phone during the day that is at his place of business. Bill Ennis, one of our new committee members, is our new delegate to the Council of the Eighth Division, replacing Major Johnston, who did such a good job there since its inception. Bill shares the task of voicing our official opinions at Council meetings with Ron Chipps. We are very happy to tell, you this month of the latest babies to arrive to our friends. Des Kearney and his wife are bubbling with joy at the arrival of a baby girl, their second, and their joy is increased by the fact that the baby has the features of the mother rather than the fierce looking visage of the black prince. Both mother and baby are well. Steve Allardice and his wife are happy about their new addition to the family, a bonny bouncing boy christened Gregory. However, the prize of the month must go to Arch Thorburn and his Wife on the birth of our first set of twins for some time. Luckily the twins are girls and this is an added pleasure as the Thorburns have one little girl and hoped for more. Arch certainly picks the outstanding dates for the births of his children. The first was born on February 15th, and the twins on Guy Fawkes day. To all these happy parents the Association sends congratulations and best wishes and hopes that the same folk will see such a mention again at some future time. Speaking of Guy Fawkes day, do you remember Guy Fawkes day 1944? It was the day of our first air raid since the Malayan Campaign. We will be too early to give you a summary of this year's reunion so all that is left for us to do in this the last Makan of the year is to wish you a very happy Christmas season. The Wishes come from the Old Man, from Jimmy Cooper and from the Executive and Committee. We send our particular wish to our overseas members Garry Rickwood, Ron Foster and big MacDougall and to those who are in other States and in outback towns. We hope that, as the years go by, we will see these people from far away places at some of the reunions. All the best to you all. Please forward all cheques, money orders or postal notes to Reg Ellis, 13 Albany Street, St. Leonard’s. STAN ARNEIL. Back to 1951 index or Main Index |