COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

Our Unit was represented at the gathering of ex-servicemen at Hyde Perk recently when Her Majesty visited the War Memorial. The arrangements were reminiscent of some of the worst examples of scientific bungling which we experienced during our Army days, but in this case, the organisations concerned, the Royal Tour Staff, the R.S.L., and the Police Dept, all managed to pass the buck so smoothly that it was impossible to pin the blame anywhere. This gathering of ex-servicemen was unique inasmuch as the barricades were lined three deep with women who had had no connection with the Services but who took the opportunity to see Her Majesty. In addition to the women, there was a large number of civilians who had not been able to join the Services in the last war due to pressing engagements and obligations which lasted from 1939 to 1946. We eventually saw the Queen from a distance but, in general, the whole show was a shambles.

Lew Cohen is living at Leichhardt, and, like Bill Gough of Cabramatta, he sends in his subs but forgets to add any news to his letters.

Hoot Gibson has returned to Sydney from the Lismore - Grafton area and is living at Auburn. Hoot keeps well enough and he brings news that Harley Forrester and Hilton McLaren are both doing very well in their chosen professions on the North Coast. He also brings news that Hilton is the proud father of a black haired little daughter who happens to be boss in the McLaren home at the moment.

Arthur Isaac is doing well in his trade as a plumber and has more work that ha can cope with. We had the pleasure of Arthur's company for several hours some weeks ago, after the ex-servicemen's rally, and we wondered what story Arthur told when he arrived back on the job. Arthur attends all reunions and, in future, will be at the General Meetings also. Like many others, he is beginning to realise that the General Meeting is the most comfortable reunion of the year.

Lloyd Stuart of North Bankstown, is still playing very good golf. You might recall that Lloyd was one of the Unit Team, which devastated teams from the rest of the Brigade at Bathurst.

Ray Godbolt of Raymond Terrace, has left the hairdressing business in which he has been working since the end of the war and is now managing a fruit barrow in Newcastle. He is doing exceptionally well and will shift to Newcastle as soon as he finds a new place to live.

Ron Chipps has been sighted in Brisbane, where he is meeting those of our chaps who are there. We hope to receive a letter from Ron when he settles down telling us of his new life in that city.

Tommy Gardner has had a short stay in Greenslopes Hospital but is home again now.

Harry Riches was talking to Alf Jones and family recently. Alf's daughter is the living image of him and can twist Alf around her little finger. The Jones’ are doing well enough to own a nice home and a car.

We tender the thanks of the Association to Mr. Clayton, Senior, for printing a new batch of receipt books for us. This is only one of the services, which Mr. Clayton has rendered to us over the years and we are very grateful to him.

Don Sutherland of Bowen, North Queensland, is working hard on the railway line and is kept busy by the frequent washaways that they have in his district. They don't measure the rain in points up there but in inches.

We acknowledge a donation from Doug McLaggan in addition to his annual subs. Doug is an accountant of some note these days and has come up in the world.

Darby Young of Kempsey is still with the Forestry Commission at Kempsey and likes his job very much. Darby came good with a donation recently after Reg had placed "YOU OWE FIVE BOB" stickers on thirty-six Makans. Reg wore him down in the finish.

Reg Ellis is quite concerned that he has lost the address of Dutchy Holland after Dutchy gave it to him some time ago. If any members know of the address of Dutchy would he please ring Reg?

Harry Griffis of Taree and Bruce Ford of Tamworth have the interests of the Association at heart as they have enrolled three new members between them recently. Harry enrolled Mick Stone of Taree, and Harold Hogan of Taree. Mick Stone was in C. Coy., at Bathurst, but was discharged medically unfit before we sailed. Harold Hogan is well known as an ex member of H.Q. Coy., he works on the railway at Taree. Bruce enrolled Brian Hayes, whose address is Gunnedah. He is managing a mixed farming property.

We received a very charming letter from the mother of Alf Harding of A. Coy. You will never forget Alf if you knew him during the war. He is not very big but he is absolute dynamite on subjects he has studied and on occasions he used to recite jockeys and horses as far back as the original horse by which time his audience would be neighing instead of talking and munching lalang grass at the side of the road. Well Alf, so Mrs. Harding tells us, has been a grandfather for some time now as his daughter presented her husband with a baby boy about 14 months ago. Alf has scarcely changed over the years, although his old jaws seize up now after a couple of hours hard talking. His brother, Merv., whom lots of you know as a Sig. in the Div. Sigs., is still a bachelor and is living at Woonona, his home town.

John Gaden has not changed very much. We received a very polite little note recently saying that, as he had not received a Makan for over twelve months, perhaps we had "inadvertently" mislaid his address. Dear old John had actually changed his address twice during the twelve months and had "inadvertently" forgotten to notify us. Don’t ever change John.

Whilst on the subject of John, we recall an incident pertaining to John's pre-war existence at Brisbane. He was living at a boarding house presided ever by the original harridan of all boarding house harridans. The lady in question had a pet aversion to fermented or spirituous liquors and this was very embarrassing to John, who liked a glass of ale for medicinal purposes. John solved the problem by taking home a dozen of beer every Friday night in a cheap suitcase, such as were obtainable, in those days, for a few shillings at any chain store. The system worked well but fell down eventually as the room became filled with suitcases of empties and there was not enough space for John.

Bert Parsons, ex Records Sergeant, is an inmate of the Scottish Hospital out Paddington way. He is doing well after a major operation and sends his regards to his many friends in the Unit. Bert hasn't enjoyed the best of health for some time and we hope that he won't look back from now on. He must have been crook because he has been off the grog for some time and nobody liked their few beers more than Bertie. He lives at Queanbeyan and is on the payroll of some unnecessary Government Department in Canberra. In addition, Bert still follows his very profitable hobby. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to you Bert.

Cheerio,

STAN ARNEIL.

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

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