Circular No. 119
December, 1956 / January, 1957

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

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

The Eleventh Annual Reunion which was held at the Ex-Imperial Club on 23rd November was the most successful we have ever held. Padre Paddy Walsh was the guest of honour and for the one hundred and eighty who attended the night will always be remembered as the Paddy Walsh reunion.

Paddy renewed acquaintance with every person there and most of us met friends whom we had not seen since 1945. The atmosphere was exhilarating as friends poured into the hall from 7.30 onwards. Alan Penfold was on the door as usual and Don Garner (LT) placed a name card on every person who entered the hall. These name cards were a great success and saved a lot of embarrassment during the night as friends met one another again for the first time in ten years.

The barman were in their usual places, Ron McBurney, Bluey McIver, Doug Blanshard and Doc Wilson. This team automatically take their places as soon as every reunion comes and from then on we are assured of a liberal supply of refreshments. A very tasty supper was arranged by Joe Geoghegan and we must thank a cobber of his who carted the refreshment to the Club.

The reunion was preceded for over forty members, by a meal at the "Chows" at Dixon Street. Mr. Lee was in his best form and delivered incorrect orders to every diner. However the food was delicious, the beer was cold and the company was grand.

The speeches at the reunion were short. Arch welcomed the official guests, called for the toast of "Fallen Comrades", then introduced the Old Man, who in turn introduced Paddy. The Toast of "Fallen Comrades" was preceded by a reading of the Roll of Honour of 410 deceased. The Roll was read by "Bill" Jones, "Jackie" Boss, "Gobble Gobble" Dawson, and Stan Arneil. It was the first time that the ceremony had been conducted in this form and, as the names of departed friends rolled off the lips of the readers, those present were profoundly moved and maintained a respectful silence. After the reading, the Recessional Hymn was recited by Reg Ellis.

Speaking immediately after the Roll of Honour, "B.J." welcomed the Padre to the gathering and reminded him that this, the biggest reunion we had ever held was a tribute to the respect, which all ranks bore of him. B.J. spoke of the need to maintain the close ranks of our Association as we have done in the last ten years, to assist one another when we could, and to maintain the bonds of comradeship, which had been forged during the war.

When the Padre rose to speak, Reg Ellis led the Troops in "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and their voices almost lifted the roof. Paddy thanked those present for their great welcome to him. Although officially a member of the Chaplain's Corps, (he said) he had always claimed the 2/30th as his own Unit. He asked for a continuation of the solidarity of our Association and that we continue to remain the family group, that we have always been. He recalled with both sadness and pride that he had read the burial service over the bodies of many of those making up the Roll of Honour. Sadness in the death of such wonderful friends and pride in the knowledge that he had been associated with them.

Paddy said that he did not find it easy to come to Sydney, but he hoped to come again within a few years. The Padre spoke well. He was plainly delighted to be present and the troops were delighted to see him and showed it. We hope that he will make the long journey again as soon as possible so that we may once again enjoy his company.

Official guests at the Reunion were Malcolm Sinclair of the 1st 30th Bn A.I.F., Rowley Richards, President of the 2/15th Field Regt. Fred Hogan, Secretary and "Scippy" Maher, Vice President of the 2/15 Field Regt. We were very happy to be able to show these friends of a combatant Unit the hospitality of our Association. Apologies were received from our other official guest, Doug Leathardt, who was indisposed, and was unable to attend.

Reg Ellis worked like a horse during the night and enrolled the following of our friends into the Association: Ben Templeman - Parkes, Vince Dowd - Bundaberg, Ray Marriott - Sydney, Bill Sorenson - Queensland, Phil Bailey - Wallerawang, Arnie Ferry - Sydney, Phil Jameson - Lake Illawarra, "Heck" R.G. Campbell - Sydney, Colin Brewin - Sydney, Sid Stephens - Maitland. We welcomed these boys to our function and we ask them to send us at least one letter per year, so that we may pass on to all their friends reports on how they are faring.

Jack Ellis, Condoblin and Bob Wells of Gresford became Life Members.

Visitors from centres outside Sydney, excluding those we have already mentioned included the following :- Jack Ellis - Condoblin, "Darby"Young - Coff's Harbour, Cyril Pluis - Parkes, Wal Jones - Swansea, Stan Waterson - Bega, "Curley" Heckendorf - Lockhart, Jeff Gillespie - Bega, Dick Hanlon - Queanbeyan, Alan Hudson - Tottenham, Bob Wells - Gresford, Jim Webster - Newcastle, Jack Fell - Coolah, Don Devey - Bowral, George Cambourne - Lithgow, Alan Charlton - Primbee, Bill Daly - Katoomba, "Snowy" Brace - Newcastle.

Visitors from other Units came from 2/19 Bn, 1st Pioneers, 2/26 Bn., 2/3 M.A.C., 2/29 Bn., 2/20 Bn., A.S.C.

Jacko Jackson’s father who was from the original 30th and last but not least our friend Lloyd Cahill. There were many faces at the reunion which had been missed for one or two years. Curley Blomfield, Lou Brown, Sid Grounds and a dozen others. It was good to see them again and we hope to meet  them at every future reunion.

A surprise turn for the night was the appearance of four little Chinese waiters, immaculate in white coats, who staggered in with kualis of fried rice. It was an excellent supper. The piece de resistance however was the serving of two hundred saveloys, red hot, by none other than our old friend "Starver" Jones. "Starver" ordered, paid for, and had delivered the saveloy's as his own contribution to the night. They were enormously popular and the origin of the gift brought the house down. The gesture was greatly appreciated, Wally.

To finalise the report of the reunion and we are sorry it has been so brief, we must mention that Arch Thorburn, our President, B.J. and Paddy Welsh all paid a just tribute to the driving force behind the Gathering of our members from all corners of the State for the reunion. Ron Maston did it, assisted by Bill Jones and the Old Man. However Ron did the bulk of the work. It took three months solid work and entailed the posting of hundreds of letters. Ron really put his back into it and the results were all to his credit.

January 14th, 1957. The Association will commemorate fallen Comrades by placing a wreath on the Cenotaph at 1.30 p.m. on that day. We ask all who can participate to pay their respects to those 410 comrades who did not return to Australia and to those good friends who have fallen out of the ranks since 1945. Next of kin are especially invited to participate in this simple ceremony.

With another year gone by the Old Man has asked us to convey the following message to you:

"In wishing you all the compliments of the season I would like to say how grand it was to see so many at our last reunion and also to remind you all that the 14th January, 1957 is the 15th Anniversary of Gemas. Might I appeal to each one of you to be present at the Cenotaph at 1.30 p.m. on that day to remember our departed comrades in a manner that their next of kin would expect of other 2/30th Battalion”.

Arch Thorburn, our President says:

"May the enthusiasm that was so evident at our November reunion continue in all our Association activities and my you and your loved ones enjoy health and happiness during the Christmas period and throughout the coming year."

Harry Collins and Curley Heckendorf, Vice-Presidents, Reg Ellis, Treasurer, and all the Committee and myself wish to thank members for their co-operation during the year and wish you all, wherever you my be a happy Christmas and a happy year to follow.

Cheerio,

STAN ARNEIL.

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