Official Organ of the 2/30th Bn. A.I.F. Assn

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

We bumped Sid Hennessy in town recently as he was gossiping with Tommy Nixon. They both look like prosperous bankers and both appear to be fit with a capital F.

Les Southwell, Ex A. Coy., is still living in Canberra - almost our only representative in the district. He recently spent a holiday at Bateman's Bay and returned home not actually "broke" but at least financially bent. He hoped to attend our Reunion this year.

We are always pleased to hear from our friend Des Gee, Ex A. Coy., but this time we were more than usually pleased with his newsy letter. The reason is that he has had the sense to see the light and expects to be married within the next twelve months. This will be the best move that Des will ever make and he will take all our best wishes with him when the great day arrives. He is living in Melbourne, where he has been since the war, and is fairly, fit and runs to an A40 so he is, apparently quite prosperous.

Luke Carey, who has had housing problems for years, is now settled permanently at Villawood, and as far as Luke is concerned his problems have vanished. Luke must be a very busy man as we recently received two years subs from him. One postal note was dated July 1952. It had been in his pocket since then, he apparently did not have time to send it earlier.

During the last few months some of the ex-members of our Unit have obtained grants from the P.O.W. Trust Fund. The grants have apparently ranged from £50 to £150 according to the circumstances of the applicant. The granting of this money is not made by reason of the fact that the applicant is destitute or penniless as was originally thought. Most of those who have obtained these grants are in normal circumstances, some of them are paying off their homes while others may own a car. One of the reasons for the granting of this money is the production of proof that your war experiences have prevented you from attaining your rightful place in the world. For example, if you are T.B. pensioner, it is logical to assume that you have been left behind in the race for a good job and that you have lost many chances of promotion by being confined to hospital. Again the man who was previously engaged in precision work with his hands may by reason of the loss or injury to them be forced to engage in other work which is far less remunerative than his former employment. Then again the old trouble of nerves has definitely debarred many from following up their callings to the same extent as they would have done had they not been prisoners of war. Now we urge you to complete the form at once and forward it to Box 63A G.P.O., Melbourne. Remember that all information which you enter on the form is completely confidential and will never be disclosed by the Trustees. There is no necessity to mention of course that all information must be absolutely true. If you have mislaid your form, as many of you probably have, write today to Box 63A. G.P.O. Melbourne, and ask for a form, explaining that you have lost your original application.

You will be interested to know that Dave Tate is now at Garradunga via Innisfail, North Queensland, where he is growing sugar cane. He is very happy in his new venture, although it will be a few years before he gets his full acreage planted. However, if a man is doing what he likes to do, it makes the burden a little easier and Dave is very happy. His little son, John, who is nearly two years old, is the apple of his father’s eye and is as brown as a berry.

We hear that Eric Spring, who likes the cooler climate has bought a farm in Tasmania, if any of the lads hear from Eric, we would like some further information for this MAKAN.

Bill Jones, of Newcastle, spent a week in camp at Singleton round about Anzac Day.

George Stephenson is our latest life member. If we carry on at the rate we are going, we will have all life members.

Mick Bailey, of the Bailey Boys, lives at Glebe Point. We have not seen him for some time but expect that he will try to make the next Reunion.

If any of you more influential types ever hear of a two bedroom flat vacant, fairly handy to the city, it would be a helping hand to give it to Clarrie Burgess of Parramatta. Clarrie has had more trouble since we left home then the average fellow will ever have and we would like to see him get a decent break.

Harry Teasdale writes from Corndale, via Lismore, that he recently attended an 8th Div. Reunion at Lismore, at which the following of our lads attended - Fred Winters, Norm Lee, Alf Carrol, Artie Power, Gerry Myers, Tom Gardner, J.P. Newman, Harley Forrester, George Gallard. At the Reunion, Harley Forrester, who now owns a sawmill, started to have a crack at Tommy Gardner about the quality of Tommy’s  rice cooking. He went into details as to his opinion of Tommy's cooking and did not find out until later that he had been talking to Tommy's twin brother. They are as alike as two peas.

The Association extends its congratulations to Noel Johnston on his recent promotion to Lt. Col. Johnny is a grand Army man and devotes a considerable amount of his spare time to this hobby.

The Ball, or the Annual Party as we now like to call it, was a tremendous success for those who attended it. There were over 100 dancers and they all enjoyed every minute of the night, but the pity of it was that there are not more to share the fun. We only have one Ball each year and the organiser, Johnny Parsons, goes to a lot of trouble to make it everything you desire. It must be rather disappointing for him to note that many of those who could come along just do not make the effort.

The Ball will be held next year at the same place on the first Saturday night in June and we urge you to paste that date on your calendar and make it a 'must'. There was a profit made on the night of over £30, which will go towards the General Fund, and we have to thank the following members who, although unable to attend; made donations towards it. They were Mrs. Bell, Mr. Clayton, Bob Dickson, Alan Penfold, Darrell Proctor and Gordon McKnight. Dave Clarke also donated a large box of chocolates, which he and Snowy Stevens raffled quite successfully for us. Ward Booth was there with a lovely young thing of about 20, who, in her starry eyed innocence, asked of Sammy Hall "Was Ward your batman Mr. Hall?" Sammy replied that Ward had not qualified for such a senior rank during his Army career and this seemed to satisfy her curiosity. This little conversation was overheard and was joyously passed around the hall to everyone but Ward himself. The Guest of Honour, of course, was the Old Gent himself and he and Mrs. Galleghan came early and stopped until the death. We forgot to mention that this year the tickets were printed, as usual, by Ward Booth. All in all it was a good party and an enjoyable one, but in future years we must do better. If Hank Massey and his wife can come from Queensland to be present, then the locals can stir themselves to travel a few miles.

Please forward all cheques, money orders and postal notes to Reg Ellis, Boronia Park.

Please note that Reg Ellis' postal address has been altered from Hunter's Hill to BORONIA PARK.

CHEERIO,

STAN ARNEIL.

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