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Makan No. 221 OFFICIAL JOURNAL 2/30 Bn. A. I. F. ASSOCIATION Subscription Rate: $1.50 per Year Registered for Posting as Periodical: Category A
NOTICE OF MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Members of 2/30 Bn. A.I.F. Association will be held In the Meeting Room, Second Floor, Combined Services R.S.L. Club, 5 Barrack Street, SYDNEY on Thursday, 17th April, 1975, at 8 O'clock p.m. AGENDA 1. Apologies Dated at Sydney this 27th
day of March, 1975. Bruce Ford Similar arrangements to previous years will be maintained. Those desiring to do so may dine at the Club at 6.30 p.m., prior to attending the meeting; while those who wish to may gather in the Barrack Bar from 5.30 p.m. onwards. Those attending who are non-members of the Club are requested to give their name and association to the doorman and they will be signed in by one of our members who is also a member of the Club. A Supplement is enclosed with this MAKAN which contains the Annual Report and Financial Statements, and is in handy form for you to bring to the Meeting with you. Attendances have been very poor over recent years and the Executive would like to see a really good roll-up this year. ANZAC DAY : SYDNEY Although nothing official had issued at the time of going to Press, it is assumed that arrangements will be similar to previous years, and our Assembly Point will be in Macquarie Street in the vicinity of the Registrar General's Office. As usual, we will gather from 9.30 a.m. onwards, and since the Day falls on a Friday, it is possible that some of our Country Members may be visiting Sydney for the long weekend, when we will look forward to seeing them. Noel Johnston will lead the Battalion and Jack Maclay will carry the Banner. Last year our attendance was well below normal, and during the March we were sandwiched in between two Pipe Bands who were so far away that we could only hear the drums, and they were on differing times and beats. So we must have presented a harrowing sight to the onlookers with our performance of a mixture of Scottish Reel, Fox Trot and Tango through the Streets of Sydney. Lets hope for a much larger attendance this year, and the close proximity of a decent Band during the March. Our Get-together after the March will be held, as usual, at the Upstairs Lounge of the Forbes Tavern, corner of King and York Streets, where we will gather from 12 noon onwards. The amenities and service provided for us are particularly pleasing, and we are indeed fortunate to have a permanent booking (at least during the tenure of the present Licensee) at this delightfully central location. ANZAC DAY : BATHURST We have been advised that Jack Black and Doc Wilson will be making the trip this year, and they would like to have a few more, especially from nearby Country areas, join them and our resident Curator of our Cairn, Bruce Pratt, particularly for the afternoon Service at our Cairn. To attend at all or any of the events at Bathurst on Anzac Day is a most rewarding experience, and one which is recommended to all who can possibly make the trip. Would any members who are able to join our contingent on that Day, please give Bruce Ford a ring (Bus. 233-2749. Home 50-8936) by 15th April; letting him have particulars of any accommodation bookings required. THE BRIGADIER SIR FREDERICK GALLEGHAN SHIELD As a matter of interest to members, particularly those who made donations to the "Black Jack" Galleghan Memorial Committee to assist with an endowment to provide funds for provision of the annual individual prize, it is advised that the Shield was presented to Canberra Grammar School on 10th March last. Corporal Gray, a member of the School's Cadet Corps, had received the award of the most outstanding Cadet at the 2 Brigade Under-Officers' Course held last November, and his School accordingly holds the Shield for the ensuing twelve months, until the award is made at the next course. Corporal Gray received his individual prize consisting of an Oxford English Dictionary, with a particularly fine bookplate and a brief biography of B.J. on the fly leaves, together with a miniature shield recording the significance of his win, mounted as a desk trophy. Lady Galleghan was present at the ceremony, and Ian Pryce, at the invitation of the Committee, made the presentation to Corporal Gray and delivered an oration on B.J. and the significance of the event. SICK PARADE Kevin Ward reports the State as at 31st January: In R.G.H., Concord: In Q. V. Nursing Homes,
Picton: In Other Institutions: Discharged from R.G.H.
since last MAKAN: WINGING AROUND WITH THE WIGHTMANS When Ege and Dorothy Wightman (HQ Coy) called on the Editor towards the end of June last, on their way to America and other places, Dorothy agreed to let MAKAN have a report on their wanderings in due course after their return. The report has now come to hand, with an entirely satisfactory explanation for the delay. We quote: Well at long last I am putting pen to paper to drop you a few lines. My intentions were of the best, but there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. For the last seven months we have been working for the Lions Convention here in Bega, and as Ege was the organizing chairman you would know just how much work was involved. However that was last weekend, and I'm glad to say was a wonderful success, with over 400 Lions and Lions ladies participating. Bega was bursting at the seams. Our trip overseas seems really in the past now, but it has left us many happy memories. Our first stay-over was at Honolulu, where we spent four happy days on Waikiki Beach. Everyone there seems to move at such a slow pace that the whole atmosphere was very restful. We hired a mini bus and went for a tour of the island. A lot of the local people are Mormons and the Mormon temple was something well worth seeing. There they also train all their students. Near the temple is the Cultural centre (owned and run by the Mormons) to finance their training schools. This is made up of tiny villages showing the cultures of Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Hawaii and Tonga. Our next stop was San Francisco, where the Lion's Convention was being held. We enjoyed it very much, and the American people really looked after us. We were there for the 4th July celebrations and were guests of the downtown China Town Lions Club. The opening of the convention and the presentation of the Flags of the Nations was very impressive. Guest speakers Ronald Reagan and Danny Kay were well worth hearing. There was so much to see there - Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf - that the time passed very quickly and we were soon airborne for Los Angeles. There we went through the film studios and of course the unforgettable Disneyland. This is indescribable, as there, one seems to be ageless, and to live in a world of fantasy. We only had one day there but could easily have spent three. And then of course we had to have a look at Hollywood Park Race Course. We missed seeing bookmakers, as this is all Totalizer Betting. Our time in America passed all too quickly and soon we were on our way to Tokyo. Once again we were well looked after by Lions Clubs. We travelled in the Bullet train to Osaka (300 miles in 2½ hours) and as we wanted to do some shopping there, we were supplied with a guide. It was a Sunday and we travelled by tube railway to the shopping Complex. The shops started from the underground railway level. It was estimated there would be a million people in the shopping area. Our next stay was Taipei, and there the people impressed us as being a very happy race. We spent a day in the mountains, where the indigenous people entertained us with their singing and dancing. The scenery was very beautiful. The people there were all self supporting. Our trip was fast coming to an end when we arrived in Hong Kong. There we really loved it. Along with another couple we hired a taxi, and went touring for the day. We visited a walled city and had a very good guide in our taxi driver. He explained to us that in Hong Kong you had to have a family of six before being eligible for a Government House. (From the outside these look like huge blocks of flats). This entitled you to one room approx. 12’ x 10’ with one toilet block to each floor. But as I said earlier, these people all looked happy. At 4 p.m. on the eve of our departure from Hong Kong we were up at the border of Red China, and could see the guards quite clearly. We arrived in Sydney at 7 a.m. next morning, very tired but with a wealth of happy memories. However, we think there is no place like Australia. (Thanks, Dorothy. How about taking the Editor along when next you go winging around - fares and expenses paid, of course - to act as your Press Agent, and to record the events - Ed.) LAST POST JOSEPH ALFRED ROXBURGH (BHQ). He died at the R.G.H. Concord on 12th March last, from cancer and other complications at the age of 66 years. Always interested in Military affairs Joe had joined up with the old North Sydney Regiment C.M.F. long before the last War and was in fact a Sergeant in the 30th Scottish up to the time of his enlistment with the A.I.F. and transfer to 2/30 Bn. as an original member. He subsequently became the Provost Corporal, a position which he held with dignity and popularity with the Bn. personnel. During the early days as a P.O.W., Joe's duties at Changi kept him off the several Work Parties which were sent away by the Japanese, and subsequently ill health kept him off further Work Parties until towards the closing stages of hostilities, when he went on a Tunnelling Party on Singapore Island which was stationed at Adam Park. On his return from the War, Joe continued his employment with the Transport Department, firstly with trams and subsequently with buses. But the privations suffered as a prisoner of war showed an early adverse effect upon his health and these, coupled with the then seriously declining health of his late wife, Edna, caused him to give up active work with the Department, to become a charge hand; from which position he retired almost twelve months ago. His declining health caused his admission to the Repatriation Hospital last October, and while he was there his wife suffered a further fatal heart attack, Joe was able to be transported to her funeral, and on his return to hospital, he was informed that various tests had confirmed that he was suffering from an inoperable terminal complaint, for which there was no treatment. As nothing further could be done, he was discharged from hospital. To most of us, the tragic death of a loved one, coupled with, virtually, a death sentence on oneself, would prove an intolerable burden to bear. But Joe bore it with a stoicism and, at least outwardly, a cheerfulness which most of us would like to be able to emulate. But that was the Joe we knew so well - always cheerful and able to look on the brighter side when things were at their worst; and able to share his enthusiasm with others. He was in fact never known to complain about conditions or to depart from his cheerful philosophy. A keen member of the Association, Joe was a regular participant in all our functions until his wife's invalid condition and his own deteriorating health precluded his attendance. He will be surely missed by his many mates in the Battalion. At his Cremation at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium on 10th March we were represented by Eric Arps, Alex Dandie, Les Hall, Noel Johnston, Hank Massey, Alan Pryde, Bruce Upcroft and Phil Schofield. To his sons, Ken, Jim and Ian, and their families, and to Joe's other surviving relatives we extend our deepest sympathy. We were saddened to learn of the accidental death, on 9th March last, of Michael Rowan Heckendorf, eldest son of Erwin (Heck) and the late Joan Heckendorf. Michael, aged 22, was apparently returning home in the very early hours of the morning when his car left the Albury Road and hit a tree 32 kilometres South of Lockhart. He was the only person in the vehicle, and death apparently occurred instantly. To Heck and Rose, and to Michael's brothers and sister we extend our deepest sympathy. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM NEWS, VIEWS AND WHOS WHOS Several things have combined to make this issue of MAKAN both late in production and rather scant in size, for which the Editor offers his apologies. The first item which upset the normal pattern was the necessity to produce the Annual Report and Financial Statements. Then came the rains, with the Editor's (Phil SCHOFIELD) rain gauge measuring 365 points in a little over an hour on the Monday morning, followed by 425 points in a little under the hour on the Tuesday morning. Drains and things just couldn't cope with that volume, so the garage and downstairs bedroom etc were flooded on both occasions, necessitating two lots of back-breaking cleaning up. To make matters worse, the water found a new way of getting into the garage, and that has involved the construction of a certain amount of cement/concrete work to prevent a recurrence - somewhat time-consuming and back breaking. Perhaps the most time-consuming event, however, has been the Editor's involvement in the reorganisation of the Meals-on-Wheels Service, which is run in conjunction with the local Hospital, involves the services of 230 voluntary helpers and the delivery of over 100 meals each day to needy customers in the Manly area. And now comes the bit about the poor issue. Apart from the fact that the Editor just hasn't had the time to prepare any special articles of interest, Postal charges increased considerably as from 1/3/75. Where before, under our Registration, up to 64 pages could be posted at a reasonably low base rate, the base rate has been increased by 20% and the weight per article has been cut by more than half. Any excess beyond 50g per article now attracts an increase, of 80% on what was charged before 1/3/75. And a 28 page issue just comes within the 50g weight. All of which means that Readers may not expect anything greater than a 28 page issue in future; and since the Annual Report runs to a reduced 8 pages, the current issue has to be confined to 20 pages. February issue of "Reveille" carried a photo under the caption "Operation Exchange" which showed a very healthy looking Joe Johnston (D Coy) and the information that as President of the Far North Coast District Council, he was presenting the "John Rodwell Prize" to Paul Flowers, of Byron Bay, who was the overall winner of the Operation Exchange project; while Mr. Alan Leadbeatten, President of the Far North Coast Youth Delegation looked on. Joe has been vitally interested in the Operation Exchange project for many years. The scheme involves City R.S.L. members billeting and entertaining a group of boys and girls from the Far North Coast each year, and F.N.C. members do the same for City children, in exchange. Joe considers the operation very worth while - with which we agree entirely. Incidentally, a reliable source has informed us that Joe and Sybil recently celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary. My! How time flies! Bruce Campbell (HQ Coy) bunged in sufficient from Port Macquarie to keep him out of trouble for a few years, and rounded his cheque off with a decent sort of a donation. Bruce recently had a visit from Heck Campbell (A Coy), on his way through to Ballina, and he reckons Heck was looking well. Bruce also gave notice that the North Coast P.O.W. Reunion Dinner will be held this year at Port Macquarie, on a Saturday nearest to 14th August. He suggested that a visit by some of our City members on that occasion would be a good idea. (As soon as you have precise details, Bruce, please 'let me have them and I will publicise the Dinner in next MAKAN - Ed.) Tom Bicknell (C Coy) sent in a donation from Killara, with a very brief note indicating that it was to help with the postage on MAKAN; while Andy Hyslop (BHQ) sent in a donation from Umina Beach, to help with rising costs. Although Andy had some nice things to say about MAKAN, neither added any news or advised how they were keeping - both are apparently well. A note on the bottom of the acknowledgement to Andy: "How about an editorial on 'The Spirit of Anzac' for publication in next issue" brought a prompt response from Andy; and his opening paragraph bespoke a really excellent article. The balance of the article was equally excellent but, unfortunately, he used the life story of your Editor to drive home his message.; and modesty and ordinary decency preclude its publication. (Personal Note: I know that I have gone into print in MAKAN, saying: "If you have something nice to say about someone, say it while he is alive - don't wait to turn it into a eulogy at his funeral"; and that is just what Andy did. I am most appreciative of your kindness, Andy, and can assure you that my ego received a tremendous boost. Had you used the life of someone else to illustrate your message (and I could have given you several far more worthy names) I would have been delighted to print the article; but on this occasion I have used the Editor's undeniable right to print or reject as he thinks fit. Thanks again.- Ed.) Then Ray Duncombe (HQ Coy) sent in a sizeable donation from Balmain for, as he put it, the "Keep MAKAN Going" Fund. Ray didn't add any news, and the same applied to Dennis Garland (B Coy) who sent in a couple of years Subs from Collaroy, and rounded off a sizeable cheque with a donation. The giving spirit seems to have affected quite a few of our Readers. Jim Rutherford (2/29 Bn. and one of our close associates) sent in a donation from Warrawee "to cover the cost of postage on MAKAN"', while Tom O'Scott (an interested Subscriber from Brisbane) rounded off his Sub with a donation and had some nice things to say about the publication. Tom freely admits that he would bet on anything, and added: "I back any horses, trotters, dogs or toads, as long as they have the purple and gold colours". Then we were really embarrassed to receive "naughty but nice" donations from several of the widows and mothers of our deceased mates, all of whom know the rules, but apparently prefer to disregard them and join the "Club". All had some nice things to say about MAKAN, and the list was headed by Joy Thorncraft from Balgowlah (widow of Alan - HQ Coy) closely followed by Helen Bell from Tamworth (mother of Wally - A Coy) and Mrs. L. Arnett from Coraki (mother of Fred - HQ Coy). Margaret Hickson from Wollstonecraft (widow of Brian - D Coy) added some news to her covering letter: Son Brian, lives at Parkes with his wife, Judith, and their three sons, Guy, Rod and Robert. Guy passed his Higher School Certificate in 1973, and the other two are still at School. Daughter, Elizabeth, is married and is a journalist on "Woman's Day", where she rates a by-line. Margaret recently met Bill Douglas (B Coy) at the Grace Building, and son Brian has made recent contact with Bruce Pratt (D Coy) at Bathurst and Allan Hudson (D Coy) at Parkes. Eva Standing from Lismore (widow of Ted - HQ Coy) also added some news to her covering letter and advised that her grand children are all growing up so fast that she finds it hard to keep pace with them. Two of them are married, and two more are marrying later this year. So far she only has one great-grandson, but all these marriages are sure to produce further entries for her in the "Great-Grandma Stakes". Despite her protestations that she is fast getting to "old-peoples-home age", Eva is keeping reasonably well, and is still able to enjoy life. Finally, we received from Adelaide, from Mrs. Barbara Lawson (sister of the late Bill, whom we knew as Bill Gray in D Coy) a donation which she advised as being largely her mother's, but to which she had personally added something further. It would be silly to pretend that we are not flattered by these generous gestures and, despite our protestations of their naughty but nice qualities, we really do appreciate them Keith Chapman (A Coy) was another who rounded off his remittance from Regents Park with a donation. He did mention that he was keeping well, that he was still working at the Daily "Mirror", that he enjoyed a visit to Grafton for the Jacaranda Festival last year and that he still receives a Christmas Card from Mike Mathews, who is now in Sabah, Malaya, but would be better known as the School Teacher at Batu Pahat. What he didn't mention was that he had re-married. But we met Cathy at the Gemas Day Commemoration, so all is well. (Our congratulations to you both - Ed.) Chas Brouff (BHQ) added a donation to his remittance from Eden, and had to write a letter as he reckoned his elder daughter had tucked away the Circular re Subs so securely that it could not be found. Chas advised that he was keeping well, and he hoped to. become an entrant in the Grandpa Stakes very soon as a result of the efforts of daughter, Bev, and husband. If he can manage to tear himself away from the local R.S.L., for whom he has done the bugling since the War, Chas hoped to be in Sydney for Anzac Day. Sid Hart (A Coy) from Newcastle, Harry Griffis (D Coy) from Taree, Snow Hampton (B Coy) from Ballina, Stuart Robertson (A Coy) from Tooraweenah and Doc Wilson (A Coy) from West Ryde all rounded off their remittances with donations, but did not include any news; though Doc had a rude suggestion to make about his donation. It would have been nice to have received some news from them but in view of their generosity they are forgiven on this occasion. Jack Maclay (B Coy) looked a bit puffed up at last Executive Meeting, and it didn't take any persuasion to get him to tell the reason why. Eldest son, Rob, and his wife Ann had produced the Maclay qualifying entry in the Grandpa Stakes with the birth of Robert Scott Maclay at the end of January last. Vince O'Reilly (A Coy) rounded off his remittance from Southport, Q. with a donation, and advised that, on the advice of his Doctor, he has decided to retire, and is now living in Southport. He advised that he and Gwen had had a very happy Christmas, with daughter Janelle home from London on a holiday for 6 weeks, and their other daughter, Helen, plus husband, Mike, and two granddaughters, down from Mt. Isa for 8 weeks. Bill Robinson (BHQ) sent in his Subs from Mt. Gravatt, Q., where he was then staying with friends, and was having a look around with the intention of possibly buying a home and settling in that area. Bill has not been the best over recent times, but when he wrote in December last he was feeling well. Ron Maston (C Coy) had some nice things to say about MAKAN when he sent his Subs in from Hunters Hill, and he added that last October he and Gretta paid a visit to Terrigal, when they caught up with Fred and Paddy Butt (C Coy). At that time, the Butts were flat out trying to do the Canute act, as the sea had eroded their front yard - right up to the front of the house. They also called on the Hyslop's (BHQ) at Umina Beach and spent a pleasant afternoon with them. Ron reported that section of our Central Coast contingent as being fit and well. Nancy Hart had to send in Jim's (BHQ) Subs from Essendon, Vic., and though she normally does this, there were genuine reasons why it would prove a little difficult for Jim to do so when Nancy wrote in last December. It would appear that Jim has been a bit of a sick chick during 1974. He has suffered from a bad heart for some time, and when he had a very bad turn where his heart stopped beating and the supply of oxygen to his brain was cut, it was a case of calling in an ambulance to administer oxygen for about an hour or so until everything returned to normal. Naturally, his heart was thought to have been the trouble, but a whole series of tests (including a bone marrow biopsy) showed that he has some form of pernicious anaemia, and just hasn't got enough red cells. This apparently causes his blood pressure to take a dramatic drop every now and then, his heart stops beating, and its on again. As at last December, Jim was on massive doses of vitamin B12 injections each week, as well as taking several multi-vitamin tablets each day; and the treatment was having a beneficial effect. Not being satisfied with scaring the wits out of Nancy in this fashion, he then proceeded to slam a car door on his right hand smashing it to a somewhat pulpy condition and necessitating the amputation of one finger at the first joint. Our commiserations to you, Jim (and to you Nancy) and the hope that you are now on the up and up. No more car doors and things like that, please - you've got enough without any extras being thrown in. Some time ago we made mention of the way that A Coy Gang stick together, when recording that the daughter of our late mate Harry Brown (A Coy) had married the step-son of Bull Cody (A Coy). We now have it, on very good authority, that Bull and Harry's widow have married; and we reckon that is just about the ultimate in solidarity. Our congratulations to you both and the hope that you have many happy years together. Our Narrandera Correspondent, Terry O'Rourke (C Coy) sent in his Subs and put pen to paper, from which we translate - we hope correctly: Herewith cheque and cutting from local Paper - Dave Dunlevy is an ex-2/15 Field Regt. man. The cutting read: The thirty-third anniversary of the Fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942, was commemorated by ex-members of the 8th Division and their wives at a simple, but very impressive service held at the Memorial Gardens (Narrandera) on Saturday night. Visitors from Lockhart, Curley and Rose Heckendorf and Dave and Gwen Dunlevy, were welcomed by Narrandera P.O.W. Association President, Keith Mulholland, and Curley and Dave accepted the invitation to lay wreaths in memory of their fellow comrades. Also present at the service were Ruth Mulholland, Bill McKenzie Les and Margaret Perry, Harry and Jan Kent, Charlie Mills, Vic and Moyra Hamlin and Terry and Muriel O'Rourke. Terry then continued on: After the ceremony, we adjourned to Les Perry's home and indulged in hot food and cold cans. Les hasn't been too good since then! His old mate, Athol Charlesworth, called some months ago and that was quite a session. Margaret (Les' wife) blamed me, but I was innocent - Athol caused the damage. All O.K. here. We had an enjoyable holiday over Christmas, and spent the five weeks in Sydney, North Haven and the Gold Coast. Kathleen passed her School Certificate well - 6 advance subjects - and won the Club Scholarship for Education, based on that exam. Margaret (married name O'Neill) is now teaching at Drummoyne Boys High School - English and History being the subjects. Jim has passed his P.M.G. exam, and is now a Postal Officer at Haberfield. John is also working for the P.M.G. at Darlinghurst, but reckons he will be going North to Queensland again soon. Regards to all. (Footnote: Mention of Heck recalls the tragic death of his eldest son, Michael - see page 9 - and a para. in S.M.H. Column 8 on 31/3/75 which concluded with "Last week, from throughout the south-western wheat-belt, 15 friends and neighbours arrived at the property with plant worth $250,000 and helped his father prepare 480 hectares (1,200 acres) for the new season. The spirit of the country still survives." - Ed.) Jack Grossmith (HQ Coy) mislaid his Circular reminder re Subs, so he fined himself and included a donation with his Subs, when writing in from Woy Woy. He advised: "No news from here of any import - life goes on much as always", so we can only assume that he and Hilda are well. Thelma Gibbs naturally had to send in Bob's (A Coy) Subs from Turrawan, so she sent in enough to keep him out of trouble for a couple of years. Thelma was in a bit of a hurry, but she did manage to advise that Bob was keeping reasonably well, despite the slight coronary he had a couple of years ago. She also mentioned that elder daughter, Janelle, who married some time ago, now has two sons; and that younger daughter, Berice, was married last October. That leaves the Gibbs back at where they started - just the two of them at home. Bob Dickson (HQ Coy) didn't receive a Circular re Subs - he merely received advice that his Subs in Advance A/c had been utilised to make him "Paid for 1975". So he promptly sent in enough from New Lambton to put him in advance for a few years to come. In his covering letter, Bob mentioned that although he was in pretty good health otherwise, he had had a bit of a setback recently, with an abscess on the right thigh, from the old wound. That confined him to his cot for the month of November, and kept him very quiet and dry over Christmas and the New Year, but was showing signs of healing up towards the end of January. He thought it possible that he might have to have a skin graft with plastic surgery in due course. Otherwise, he just potters around these days, trying to keep himself busy. Don Schumacher (D Coy) sent in his Subs from Birmingham Gardens (not so far away from Bob Dickson) and advised that he and Monica were "still in the land of the living (only just)". Their son, daughter-in-law and grandson (aged 1) spent Christmas Day with them, and Don sees Ray Godbolt (D Coy) fairly often. Don had some nice things to say about Ray, whom he reckons is a rare type and whose helping hand is there at all times. Althea Southwell had to send Les' (A Coy) Subs in from Bateman's Bay, and she advised in her accompanying note that they were both well, and that Les was kept busy with his bowls. They are still managing to have their Overseas trip each year, to places they have not seen before. Their 1974 trip covered the U.S.A., including the Rockies, Niagara Falls, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Los Angeles and Honolulu. (Quite a pleasant way to spend retirement - Ed.) Cecil Palmer (HQ Coy) did the right thing when sending in his Subs from Scone, and brought us up to date with the Palmer Family news. Apart from a spot of hypertension, Cecil keeps reasonably well, but Jean has been having rather a bad trot of late with diabetes and arthritis. To add to her troubles, she has growths behind the eyes, and her eyesight is gradually deteriorating. Fortunately, their three boys are as fit as fiddles, with Geoffrey, the eldest, a carpenter. In his spare time he is building a brick veneer home of about 18 squares for his wife and himself. Richard, the second son, is still single, and Cecil reckons everything points to him remaining a bachelor. He is a welder, and spends most weekends somewhere along the coast, between Newcastle and the Queensland border, fishing. David, the youngest, doesn't display any of Richard's tendencies - his hobby is girls. He is also a carpenter, and finished his apprenticeship at the end of 1974. Cecil continues as Storeman fore the Scone Council, and reckons he will stay there until he retires in about five years time. With 70 employed on the outside staff, Cecil says he is kept busy enough. When sending in his Subs from Turramurra, Bert Farr (HQ Coy) merely mentioned that his family and himself were O.K., and he proceeded to request information concerning Life Membership. Life Membership may be obtained by payment of a fee of $10, but that doesn't seem a worthwhile step at the present time. Ordinary members are required to pay 50c membership fee each year, and though Life Members don't have to pay that fee, they, together with Ordinary members, have to pay $1.50 each year for the MAKAN Sub. We cannot set a Life Subscription for MAKAN, as costs continue to escalate at an alarming rate, and MAKAN is being posted at the present time at possibly a trifle under the actual cost. The Subscription rate for MAKAN is set by the Executive each year, and it could well be that there will need to be an increase in the rate for 1976. Instead of converting to Life membership, it is far better to bung the $10. in as Subs in Advance, then sit back and enjoy freedom from harassment by the Chief Correspondent for a few years. George Stephenson (HQ Coy) sent in a couple of years Subs from Mollymook, and reckons that he and Flo are quite happy, living in somewhat idyllic surroundings; though he would like to get to Sydney one of these days in order to meet up again with some of the boys. George reckons that Mollymook gets all of the best people - Arnie Ainsworth (HQ Coy) has just built a house in the area. Laurie Mountford (BHQ) included a very short note with his Subs from Leeton and advised that although he had been on the sick list, he was doing fairly well at the time of writing - early January. He seldom sees any of the boys, with the possible exception of Jock McKenzie, but admits that is possibly due to the fact that he doesn't get round much. Joyce Parfrey had to send Les' (D Coy) Subs in from Deniliquin, and advised that, having sold the farm, they are now living in the Township; and Les has retired, apart from a few hundred sheep on agistment. Les had rather a nasty accident a few months back, when his arm got caught in the rollers of a potato digger. Although very painful, it healed remarkably well, and he had 80% use of the arm at the time of writing - mid February. Les and Joyce hope to take a trip to Singapore in the near future, so that Les can visit the old scenes in a little more style than he did previously. Clyde Blencowe (D Coy) included a donation with his Subs from Tumbarumba, and also sent in Bluey Gray's (C Coy). Clyde mentioned that he, Bluey and Ted Campbell (HQ Coy) were keeping quite well, and that Ted has retired to Town to live (presumably Wagga, though he hasn't let us have his new address as yet - Ed.) Clyde and Mollie were in Sydney in November for the wedding of their eldest son, which they reckon was a very proud day in their lives. The son works for Pryce Waterhouse, Chartered Accountants, and lives at Maroubra. Naturally, Betty Dews had to send in Cec's (C Coy) Subs from Richmond, and though she is generally flat to the boards, she managed to add a few notes advising that Cec is keeping fairly well, though Repat found recently that he is suffering from glaucoma - fortunately in the early stages. Betty also mentioned that Cec is a Foundation Member, First Life Member and now President of a small Club called "The Hawkesbury Sporting Club", situated in Beaumont Road, North Richmond, and he would like any of our members to call in when they are passing through the Hawkesbury area. Dorothy Hemming was also busy when she sent in Les' (HQ Coy) Subs from Yagoona, but she managed to mention that Les is keeping fairly well, though he has frequent trouble with his bad back. Les has developed a keen interest in photography, but Dorothy doesn't quite know whether his main interest is in that or in son Brian's electric trains. Daughter Lois is now 21, and is still working at Burwood, while son Brian sat for his School Certificate last year and son Kevin (14) is in Third Year. Ben Pearce (D Coy) took a while to get around to sending in his Subs from Sawtell, so he fined himself a sizeable amount, and we profited thereby. Beyond advising that he and Mildred were well, and he hoped we were all ditto down here, we merely got his kind regards to all. Back to 1975 index or Main Index |