Back to 1965 index or Main Index

Makan No. 168
Dec., 1965

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

ANNUAL REUNION

This was held at the Great Southern Hotel, as we have in the last couple of years. It probably was one of the most successful reunions which we have held. You will recall that for the last couple of years attendance has been small, but this year between 130 and 140 people turned up in strength. There was grand air of festivity about the evening, the food was quite good and the fellowship excellent. The Old Man has given us some great speeches in the past and this year it was again great and Arch Thorburn, preceding him, gave a very nice introduction to this our 25th Anniversary Reunion.

We had some old friends there also whom we were pleased to see - Mick Petrell from the 2/15th, Gordon Cruickshank from the 8th Div. Sigs and others I just cannot remember at this particular moment. Members turned up who hadn't been there for many years. There was Bertie Farr from the H.Q. Coy., 'Gobble Gobble' Dawson, Arthur Purdon, lots of chaps enjoying themselves and regretting that they hadn't been there before.

Ron Chipps gave the principal speech, the Toast of the Regiment.

This toast is one which each person delivers it in his own particular way. A speech of this nature loses nothing from that and Ron's thoughts and sentiments were as good or better as we have ever heard. It was refreshing to hear him and he made a speech which was a credit to the regiment.

Although the food was good and the liquor excellent and plenty of it, I think the time has arrived when we must shift to another area The spectacle of shrewish women forcing people to sit down where they did not want to sit down, threatening to stop the whole proceedings because we wouldn't sit at a particular table was something which we didn't pay for and something to which at this stage of our life most of us are not prepared to take. The manager himself at one stage tried to take the microphone and force everybody to sit down.

Apart from these problems it was a free & easy gathering, no problems at all from any of the guests, and chaps just wanted to talk to one another whilst the meal was coming and so on, and this just wasn't allowed. As far as I'm concerned, and I've been to many dinners like this over the years, as we all have, and one doesn't have to put up with waitresses, proprietors, proprietoresses telling us that if we don't sit down we won't get anything to eat, I hope that next year we dine in a more pleasant area.

Credit must be given to the Committee for the sterling work which they did in organising this reunion, not to anybody in particular, but Harry Collins should be mentioned for the work he did and to Bruce Ford for his fine work on the door. There is a lot of organisation behind this effort and the results fully justify the work they put into it. Our congratulations to all those who helped to make the evening a success.

LAST POST

RAY KUSKEY. You will all be sorry to hear of the death of our friend, Ray Kuskey. Ray was a man who never made a shining star in the battalion, he was not one of those who stood out above all others, but he was a good man, a good soldier and a good friend. He was a quiet man and with some of the little foibles that we all had in the battalion. Perhaps Ray will be remembered forever for the fact that he ground his teeth when he was asleep. He was particularly well known throughout the Bn, for this little trick of his and he used to laugh about it all with us. The sympathy of all goes to his next-of-kin.

DOUG LEATHART. Doug died recently after a short illness at Yaralla Hospital, With the passing of Doug goes the passing of a particular type of man of which there are not many left in Australia at the moment. He was a returned soldier from the first World War. He enlisted in the Second World War and at all times did his duty as every Aust­ralian soldier should have done, Doug was a wonderful soldier.

His ability was perhaps not spectacular because he was an administrator and a hard man at Changi; it was a big thing for a Warrant Officer to take charge of a Division of men and control them as he did in the absence of any higher authority. On his return to Australia Doug did a magnificent job as Deputy Commissioner of Repatriation. At all times he was fair and always had great sympathy & under­standing for the members of our Division. He was prepared to assist wherever he could. There is many an ex-member of the Division now who has Leathardt to thank for his assistance at the Repatriation Dept. We will always remember this fine man and all members of the battalion who are left will join with the Old Man in sending sympathy to Doug's next-of-kin.

Dr. TED FISHER. Members will note with regret the death of Dr. Ted Fisher some months ago. Dr. Fisher worked for little else other than the benefit of the men of the 8th Division. His work naturally was concerned with the health of the men and he was one of those who emphasised the fact that ex-members of the 8th Division suffered from ailments and physical conditions perhaps a little different from men, generally speaking, from other theatres of war, Dr. Fisher was first and foremost an 8th Division man. Members of the battalion will join with the Old Man in extending sympathy to his next-of-kin on their sad bereavement.

BITS 'BOUT THE BOYS
'Bluey' Gray of C Coy now of Tumbarumba, has joined the Association, and is looking forward to  reading about the boys per medium of MAKAN. It is nice to have him with us.

Harry Griffiths of Taree did not come to Sydney this year, but sends his regards to all.

'Jacko' Jackson is still playing golf & still lives at Chatswood. He has not the health he used to have and is a little bit prone to chest trouble at the moment.

'Bluey' Petersen of Fairy Meadow reports he is still O.K.

Ron Foster is still doing well, he works for the Government Insurance Office. He'll do pretty well wherever he is. Ron is on the Hospital Visitation Committee and on one visit some months ago saw Reg Nossiter. Reg joined the Association as a result for which we are all very happy to hear.

'Curley' Simpson of Minnamurra has joined the Association per medium of his wife, I think, Mrs. Simpson wrote the letter - most of our letters are written by wives. Curley lives in Minnamurra right on the banks of that beautiful river. For many years he has been ill, but has come good in the last year & looks forward to good health for the future. Curley, by the way, was at the Reunion and enjoyed every minute of it.

Nice to hear from Ernie Stratford of Mullumbimby. You remember Ernie, he was one of those D Coy. mob, a little bloke. The boys in the 30th stick together very closely on that far north coast. There are a lot of them up there, Joe Johnson, Harry Griffith, Jack Newman, Aub Clavan, Artie Power, Dave Ollie, Bill Sorenson, Harry Teasdale, Russ Mackie and quite a few others.

BACK TO THE REUNION!

'Porky' Moore was there and he retold the tale again for me because I just like listening to it of the Officer's Doovers. Big Duff was there and enjoyed it very much. I know it is an old story but you will recall the Officer’s Doover problem Changi when Big Duff found a tray full of doovers at the top of the kitchen and asked why they were there. Porky Moore, who was in charge at the time, repined that they were the Officer's Doovers and he had intended to distribute them to his mates. Big Duff, you will recall for the thousandth time, sacked the lot of them on the spot, so he should too. That wasn't the problem though. The greatest tragedy was that Bluey Joyce who had been promoted to the kitchen that day after four months incessant wangling to gain the position was also sacked. Even that wasn't such a tragedy although he had not had one mouthful of doover in the kitchen during the day that he was there. The real problem was that Jimmy Angus, Bluey's cobber and about four hangers-on had been licking their chops for weeks waiting for the excellent doovers to be dished out by Bluey Joyce from the kitchen. It really affected about 6 people and they moaned for months over it. Bluey Joyce laughed about it years afterwards. I know its stupid but I can't help enjoying that little story.

We had three special guests there who really enjoyed themselves and whom we really enjoyed meeting. One was Jim Moynihan, son of our late friend Bill Moynihan. It was almost uncanny seeing the boy's face - he looked like Bill did 25 years ago! We told him he would never be as good as his father, nor half as tough, I'm not quite sure we are right; he was real quality and he enjoyed every minute of it.

The other two special guests were Charlie Annan's two sons who came down from Brisbane especially for the Reunion. We hope they will come every year in future. They are nice looking boys. We also told them that would never be as tough as their father or half as good, but we could be wrong again!

Jock MacDougall was at the Reunion and is now a Life Member of the Battalion Association. Jock looks very unchanged over all these years. He works at Clifford Love and Co. and is quite a big shot in his own company.

Arthur Hodge has had bad health for the last year and is now classified as a T.P.I. Pensioner. He is pretty good in spirit, though, attended the 8th Div. reunion in June but had a month in Dubbo Hospital just after that.

Dick Andrew writing from Bethungra in N.S.W. is another of those lads who have got sick and tired of sending 10/- a year and sent £5 to become a Life Member. Dick has no complaints.

A very nice letter from Dick Brown of Dunmore. It is years now since we were able to trace Dick and have written him a couple of letters without any reply, but he came good with a very nice letter and, thank Heavens, we have his address, that is the most important thing, so that he can keep in touch with us and we with him. Dick pointed out that Reg Ellis kept our records even better than the Army. His Christ­ian names are in their right order of R.H., whereas the Army records always showed H.R..

Hospital visitation still goes on and there is a growing number of our members in and out of hospital. The hospital visitation which we started years after we should have done is one of our most successful little ventures. We owe its success mainly to Kevin Ward. All the boys of the Committee seem to enjoy it and all of them do a good job.

LAST POST

Dick Morey of Hurstville, died in August. Dick was from "B" Coy., and did a good job as a L/Cpl. during the war. The sympathy of all members goes to his next-of-kin.

Bill Liddell died at the end of August of this year. Bill was one of the characters of the Battalion. He was Johnny Walker's batman, had the strength of a lion and a heart of gold. Bill was particularly proud of the Battalion, as proud as any man of the Old Man and of his association with his friends. Many stories will be told while people are around - Bill Liddell on the track in Thailand and of his devotion to his job during the war. We were sorry that we were not able to be present at Bill's funeral. He was buried from Manly. He was not married.

Major Frank Ball of 2/15th Field Regt- died some time ago. There passes another link with the 30th Bn. I had a personal association with Major Ball, as it was from a few yards of him at Gemas that we moved forward. Frank Ball had a good reputation with his own unit and that counts for a lot. If a man can get a reputation within his own unit then he has earned something. Our sympathy to his next-of-kin and to his Association for the loss of a good man.

DID YOU KNOW that Blair Taylor is the Editor of the magazine "The Serviceman", the official service magazine of the West Canberra sub-branch of the R.S.L. This is a very high-class magazine, nicely printed on good quality paper, liberally sprinkled with clear photographs and nice little articles. In reading the magazine I notice that the very high class magazine or journal "Stand To" the official journal of the A.C.T. Branch of the R.S.L., is still going strong.   This magazine has a very high reputation and a wide circulation in the R.S.L. and associated circles. A subscription rate is only a nominal 12/-

per annum and all members should be encouraged to read this magazine which covers the real history of the A.I.F. in all wars, Any enquiries should be directed to:

A.W. Basley, Esq.,

Douglas Ormiston McLaggan has written us a letter! He is living at East Lindfield. He has just been to New York, getting there in three days after a cable came telling him to proceed immediately. Doug had a few weeks in America, Montreal and Buffalo and then a few days in Paris. Sounds like a great trip. I don't mind him telling me what a wonderful trip he had and that he worked hard while he was there. But looking at the places that he visited for example, such as the Folies Bergeres, I would say that this is the type of work live been looking for and would appreciate an opportunity to get into this class of industry whatever it is. Douglas is doing well anyway, plays a fair bit of golf, still trying to get on to some sort of handicap, got a few kids and enjoys everything he does.

ANNUAL CENOTAPH CEREMONY

14th January, 1965 – 7.00 p.m.

What about it? Try to make the effort this time to be present at the Cenotaph and participate in a public remembrance of our Fallen Comrades.

It is a good ceremony, most moving. We have the best bugler perhaps in Australia to play LAST POST and REVEILLE and an opportunity to show that we do not forget our friends.

Remember - 14th January - Friday - 7 pm – Cenotaph.

SPECIAL NOTICE - REAL IMPORTANT

We will be holding a Dinner next year - August 27th - a Saturday - at the Sapphire Room, Hotel Australia.

What for and why? Why not rice and fish at the Chows?

This is important. We are going to invite all Next-of-Kin FREE - to enjoy a meal with us.

We want all members to come with wives, mothers, girl friends. It will cost you $2.50 per head. This will allow a margin to pay for the next-of-kin.

GIVE THE ORGANISERS A BREAK AND BOOK IN NOW!

FILL IN THE COLOURED FORM ENCLOSED - $2.50 (just two & a half bux)

THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS

The Reunion was indeed a success, so much so that we have recorded it almost in its entirety on tape. If the Old Man speaks in person at the next 50 reunions, make a resolution now to come along to the 51st and we will play back to you an inspiring Toast to the Regiment by Ron Chipps and the response to it by a very great Australian.

A happy Christmas and a good New Year to you all.

Arch Thorburn.

A MESSAGE FROM THE OLD MAN

1965 is passing and with it the memory of a great Reunion. The Reunion was great not only because of numbers but because of the attendance of the sons of two of our deceased comrades.

What a great thing if we could see your sons with you at the 1966 Re­union.

May you all have a joyous Christmas and may God bless you all.

The Old Man.

Christmas is here; another year gone. They just seem to be rushing away from us now. Many of our mates gone, many to go next year. Let's appreciate what we have and spare a thought for those not so fortunate as ourselves.

All the best, See you, Dig!

Stan Arneil.

Back to 1965 index or Main Index