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SPRING Issue 2012
“A PROUD MEMBER OF THERAAMC ASSOCIATION INC.”“SEMPER PARATUS”
www.5fdamb.com
The official quarterly magazine
BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER
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OFFICE BEARERSPRESIDENT: LTCOL Derek Cannon RFD ~ 31 Southee Road, RICHMOND NSW 2753 ~ (M) 0415 128 908
HON. SECT: Alan Curry ~ 6 Reliance Boulevarde, TANILBA BAY NSW 2319 ~ (H) (02) 4982 4646 Mobile: 0427 824 646
HON TREASURER: Brian Tams ~ 4/24-26 Barrenjoey Road, ETTALONG BEACH NSW 2257 ~ (H) (02) 4341 9889
COMMITTEE: Warren BARNES Mobile: 0409 909 439 Fred BELL (ASM) Mobile: 0410 939 583 Bill CLUTTERBUCK Phone: (02) 4982 5725 Barry COLLINS OAM Mobile: 0407 439 237 Mick ROWLEY Phone: (02) 9570 5381
HON CHAPLAIN: Brian Hogan ~ 1 Cook Road, LONGWARRY VIC 3816 ~ (H) (03) 5629 9548 (M) 0405 443 771
5th FIELDAMBULANCE
RAAMCASSOCIATION
Official Publishers: Statewide Publishing P/LABN 65 116 985 187
PO BOX 770, WEST RYDE NSW 1685PHONE: 1300 662 885 • FACSIMILE: 1300 557 996
EMAIL: [email protected]
Printed by Galloping PressUnit 29, 398 The Boulevarde, Kirrawee NSW 2232 • Phone: 9521 3371
5th FIELD AMBULANCE RAAMC ASSOCIATIONPATRON: COL Ray Hyslop OAM RFD
CONTENTSLife Members..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Message from the President.................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Message from the Secretary....................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Battle for Australia Ceremony Details ................................................................................................................................................... 9
Reserve Forces Day Parade.................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Happy Birthday / 2012 Fund Raiser ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
Chaplain’s Corner / Dates for your Diaries for 2012.................................................................................................................. 15
Kind Acknowledgements / Sick Parade ........................................................................................................................................... 16
New Members .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
What is a Naval Rating / Thank You.................................................................................................................................................... 18
Messages from Members .......................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Items of Interest............................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
5 CSSB Health Company News.............................................................................................................................................................. 24
Member Profle: John McKeown............................................................................................................................................................ 25
Member Profle: John Davies.................................................................................................................................................................... 26
RAAMC Application for Membership.....................................................................................................................................................29
5th Fld Amb Application for Membership Form........................................................................................................................ 31
Activity Sheet..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
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COL Suresh BADAMI OAM RFD* CAP Steve BALDICK RFD ED
WO I Warren BARNES+ Mr. Neil BARRIE
Mr. Fred BELL* Mr. Don BOOTH* MAJGEN John BROADBENT CBE DSO ED
Dr. Harding BURNS OAMLTCOL Derek CANNON RFD
# Mrs Edna CANNONMr. Kevin CARTERLTCOL David CAVANAUGH RFD ED (Rtd)Mr. John CHARTERMr. Bill CLUTTERBUCKMr. K.B. (Barry) COLLINS OAM
* Mr. Ross CRAFTERMr. Roy CROSSLEYMr. Alan CURRYMAJ Peter DALGLEISH RFD
* Mr. Shaun DANAHERMAJ John de WITT ED (RL)Mr. George DONNELLYDr. Ken DOUST OAMLTCOL Marie DOYLELTCOL Andrew ELLIS OAM
* LTCOL James ELLIS AMMAJ Madeline EVES RFDMr. Phillip FAGUE
* WO 1 Bert FERGUSONMr. Nelson FIORENTINOMr. Garry FLOODMr. Ron FOLEYMrs. Frances FOOKES (nee Henderson)LTCOL Paul FOOKES (Rtd)Mr. Joe GATTYVictoria GORRIE
* LTCOL J.R. (Ray) GRANT Mr. George HARRIS
* LTCOL Miles HAVYATT ED MAJ Eileen HENDERSON RFDLTCOL Kym HENDERSON RFDMAJ James HOOLAN Jr. USMC (Rtd)
# Mrs. Norma HUTTONCOL Ray HYSLOP OAM RFDCAP Jim ILIOPOULOSCAP Natalie ILIOPOULOS (nee Polydoropoulos)Mr. Terry IRVINE
# Mr. Don JARMAN* Sir Keith JONES KB FRCS (Edin.)FRACS# Mrs. Sue JONES
LTCOL Stuart JONES RFDMr. Anthony JORDANMAJ Robert (Bob) KENYONMr. Colin KLINELTCOL Edward (“Ted”) KREMER OAMCOL Frank LANG OAM RFD ED (Rtd)
# Mr. Terry LANGWORTHYMr. John LASTOVICKA
# Mr. Bryan LINDSAY* # Mrs. Estelle LINDSAY
MAJ Kathleen LOADSMANMr. Robert LOVE
* Mr. Roy LOVEMr. Edwin LOWERY
Mr. Alen LUCICMr. Robert (Bob) LYNCHMr. Huss MAHOMETMr. Nick MARSHALLDr. Helena MARTIN
# Mr. Don MELVILLECOL Bill MOLLOY RFD EDCOL G.R.W. (“Roy”) McDONALD (Rtd)LTCOL John McKEOWN RFD (Rtd)
# Mrs. Yvonne McLEANMr. Ken McNUFFMAJ John O’BRIEN (Rtd)Mr. Barry O’KEEFEWO 1 E. (Bill) O’KEEFE (Rtd))Mr. Charles O’MEALLYCOL John OVERTON OAMMAJ Peter PAISLEY (Rtd)WO 2 Steve PARIS (Rtd)MAJGEN John PEARN AO RFD CStJMr. Barry PERRIGO
# Mrs. Heather PERIGOLTCOL David PHILLIPS RFDLTCOL John PHILLIPS OAM RFD EDMrs. Karen PHILLIPS (nee Stead)WO 1 Ken PHILLIPS OAMMr. John PRICEDr. F.G. (Geoff.) PRIOR
+ Mr. Thomas (Tom) PRITCHARDCOL Robert (Bob) REID ED (Rtd)CAP Alan ROBINSON (Rtd)CAP James ROCHE OAMMAJ John ROCHE OAMMr. Michael ROWLEYMr. Bill RYLANDSLT Susan SALVISr. Elizabeth SHEARD (nee Reid)Mr. Paul SHERGOLDMr. Robert SHILLINGSWORTHCAP Stephen STEIGRAD (Rtd)Mr. Robert STEWARTMr. Chris STRODEMr. Peter SULLIVANMr. Brian TAMSSr. F.E.W. (“Sue”) THOMPSON (nee Shaw)Mr. Peter THOMPSONDr. Peter TRALAGGANDr. Michael TYQUIN
* CAP A. (“Morrie”) VANEMrs. Ruth VAUDIN (nee Corbett)Mrs. Kate VERCOE (nee Rose)Mr. Matthew VERCOE
* Mr. Arthur (“Bubby”) WALTONMr John WEAVERMAJ Bruce WHITTET (Rtd)CAP Don WIKNER ED JP
# Mr. David WILKINSONCOL Warwick WILKINSON AO RFD ED CLJMAJ Alex WILLIAMSMr. David WILLIAMSMr. John WILSONDr. Phillip YUILEMr. Jim ZORBAS
+ 2/5th Australian Field Ambulance # Associate * Deceased
5 Field Ambulance RAAMC Association(Please contact me if I have omitted your name)
LIFE MEMBERS
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anytime!
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anytime!
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anytime!
5
Message from the PresidentWelcome to the Battle for Australia Newsletter - Spring
2012 Issue. The Reserve Forces Day (RFD) Parade rehearsal on
Sunday 17 June was a mock up affair as the Domain wasdeclared un-useable due to recent rainfall. However, inlight of an early weather forecast for the main parade on 1July a change of venue had been decided. The new venuewas inside the Sydney Town Hall. However, the rehearsaltook place on the Sydney Hospital side of the Domainwithin a fenced area the rough dimensions of the maininner area of the Town Hall. The rehearsal was fine but onecould not visualize the fenced area as an inside venue. Iwas unable to accompany those attendees who visited theTown Hall at the conclusion of the Domain exercise.
I personally thank Ron Foley for turning up as eventfirst aid co-coordinator but alas was not required due tothe event changes and earned an early dismissal andmorning coffee with his charming wife Adrienne. Also, toour Banner party LCPL Mark Backhouse and PTE Kerry Erufrom 202 ACU Blacktown.
Unfortunately our trusty cadets were not required onthe final day due to entry and space restrictions in theTown Hall although the two cadets turned up for action.
Please refer to Alan Curry’s Secretary’s message andarticle on the RFD Parade later in the newsletter.
The RAAMC ASSOCIATION (NSW) met on 1 June atVictoria Barracks and in business arising Colonel C NewOAM had responded and accepted our invitation tobecome the Patron of the RAAMC Association (NSW Zone).
The Acting Chairman advised the committee that theRAAMC Association had received a request for supportfrom the Association from Head of Corps. (HOC) BrigadierSteve Rudski canvassing for presenters for the comingRAAMC Conference on Friday 31 August 2012. The themeis “Lessons Learnt in Combat Casualty Care” The HOC haspresenters for recent conflicts but requires assistance withVietnam, Rwanda and Timor (around the 60’s, 70’s and90’s) He requires 3 speakers for each of the 30 minutepresentations. After discussion the Secretary was directedto send this request out to all NSW members of theRAAMC Association. The Secretary is to contact Major MikeTyquin who may be able to assist.
The next meeting is on Friday 3 August at VictoriaBarracks at 1030. Outcomes of importance will be coveredin the Summer Newsletter. I encourage 5 Field AmbulanceAssociation members to attend if possible. Furthermeetings are scheduled for Friday 5 October and Friday 7December.
I have received an invitation from the President andMembers of The Battle for Australia CommemorationCommittee to attend the Annual Service of Com memo -ration at the Cenotaph in Martin Place Sydney onWednesday 5 September 2012 commencing at 11.am.
The term “Battle for Australia” was first used by PrimeMinister John Curtin in an address to the Nation on 18February 1942. When the war ended many ships,squadrons and army units commemorated those actions
specific to themselves.Such occasions tendedto fragment com me mo -rations. In more recenttimes veterans have feltwhat is needed is onemajor commemorationto honour all service andsacrifice in the defence of Australia.
In August 1998 a national committee was formed toconsider this problem and out of their deliberations the“Battle for Australia Commemoration Day” was approved.This was to be the first Wednesday in September eachyear. (Taken from the Battle for Australia Service Program2011)
Again I encourage 5 Field Ambulance Associationmembers to attend.
Please don’t forget our Annual mixed reunionluncheon on Saturday 24 November 2012 at thePaddington RSL. Please refer to Secretary Alan’sannouncements.
To all our 200 plus very special members and withthoughts for our number of sick, Edna and I wish you allwell and hope to catch up with you at one of our futureplanned gatherings. Good reading.
Derek Cannon
Derek Cannon
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST(2nd request)
The CENTENARY of our beginnings — 5th FieldAmbulance AAMC – will be MARCH 2015.
To celebrate and remember our comrades-in-armsthrough the years gone by, our Association’s Committeewould like your input on the following:1. I would purchase a bottle of Port for $35..........YES/NO2. I would purchase a bottle of Red Wine
for $20 (Shiraz) ..............................................................YES/NO3. I would purchase a bottle of White Wine
for $20 (Chardonnay or Riesling) ...............................YES/NO4. I would purchase a short-sleeve, collared “T” shirt
(With pocket) for $35 ...................................................YES/NO5. I would purchase ONE of each of the above
for $100 (Includes postage) ........................................YES/NOAll money raised from these “Expressions” will go
toward a 3-course sit-down luncheon, with all drinks, fora nominal price of $15 per head. The venue to bedecided.
Please advise me if you would travel from interstatefor this occasion?
As of this issue I have received three of our memberswho will purchase everything when requested. OurAssocia tion sincerely thank you, in advance.
_________________
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Message from the SecretaryGreetings Members,
A special greeting goes out to all our sick members. None ofus are getting any younger but those of us who are reasonablyfit and well often think of their mates who are doing it a bittougher. Don’t forget to give them a call.
By the time you read this Issue, the London Olympics willprobably be concluded. Our Association wishes all ourcontestants GOOD LUCK as they pursue their individual andteam goals.
A special message of encouragement is sent to Sr. Francis(“Sue”) Thompson. Sue was in the Big Sister Hostel in Miranda(Sydney) but some weeks ago she fell and broke her hip andafter the surgeons operated on her, she suffered a stroke—nowone would think that at 101 years young her body would havesaid “That’s it”, well her body may have said it but her mind andspirit took no notice.
“Sue” had to be moved to a new Aged Care home in Bexley(her new address is in our “Sick Parade”). She has a good relative,Mrs Sue Bridges, who has kept me informed of her progress forwhich we are thankful. Sue said when you visit her to be patient,as the stroke has affected her speech, but she can converse ifyou speak slowly.
Ruth and I had a very pleasant 3 weeks up north (in June) atMission Beach in FNQ, just ‘chilling out’ with our family inQueensland. When we left Newcastle it was cold and wet (hadbeen for days prior) yet the moment we landed in Cairns, untilwe left to return to Newcastle, the weather was absolutelyperfect! (The family said it hasn’t stopped raining since we left—Ha Ha)
On another matter, our Honorary Chaplain, Brian Hogan, isdoing a great job with our Victorian members (and some of our
Sydney members also). Hesends me Emails to ‘update’me on various visits andphone calls he makes to ourmembers down south. Ourcommittee very much appre -ciates your efforts Brian.
I look forward to greeting you,if you are able to make it, in MartinPlace on the 5th September (firstWednesday) at 11am. (Battle for Australia Day)
On behalf of our President, Derek Cannon, and ourCommittee I would like to dedicate this issue to the memory ofthirty three of our ADF members, who did not return from theirTour of Duty to Afghanistan alive, and also to their lovingfamilies.
The latest casualty was SGT Blaine Diddams who was shot inthe chest and killed.
He and his SAS patrol had been dropped in by helicopter, inthe Chora Valley, in the early hours of the 2nd July, to attack aterrorist commander’s compound.
(Since our Government’s involvement, 33 brave soldiers havelost their lives in Afghanistan, ‘working in’ with the AfghanGovernment where their, and our, troops, are trying to restoredemocratic self-rule.
-- 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 6 Sergeants, 3 Corporals, 4 LanceCorporals, 10 Privates, 4 Sappers, 2 Troopers and 1 Signaller.)LEST WE FORGET
Alan Curry
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On the 19th February 1942 the Japanese attackedDarwin from the air. They raided the city, by air, on 64occasions for nearly two years. In the first raid, 188Japanese aircraft dropped over 116,000 kilograms ofbombs on the city of Darwin and the surrounding areas.The official death toll was said to be 243 with more than300 wounded.
There was not much news about this at the time dueto very strict censorship of the media. In actual fact itwas, more or less, kept very secret until 30 years hadelapsed and the true story started to filter through tothe general public of Australia.
Our Association unfurls its Banner in Martin Place,Sydney. We gather to sit and listen, in silence, to some ofthe stories that are associated with the Battle forAustralia and to remember and honour the sacrificesmade.
Our Government proclaimed in 1988 that the FIRSTWEDNESDAY each SEPTEMBER, be known as “THEBATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA DAY”—If you are free for anhour, please join us. We will have about 10 seatsallocated for our Association.
You may also help their Committee by filling in theattached form and giving a small donation that goestoward ensuring this day is forever honoured.
DETAILS:
DATE: Wednesday, 5th September.
LOCATION & TIME: Martin Place, Sydney--11am (N/W corner of the Cenotaph)
DRESS: ADF Personnel-Ceremonial (less sword),Gents-Lounge Suit with Corps Tie,Medals, Beret and Name Badge, Ladies-as appropriate.
At the conclusion of the Ceremony, you are mostwelcome to join us for a small lunch at the nearbyGallipoli Legions Club.
---------------------------------
BATTLE for AUSTRALIA CEREMONY DETAILS(Wednesday, 5th SEPTEMBER)
PATRON: Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashier AC CVOGovernor of New South Wales
Please reply to: Battle for Australia, 25 Spruson Street, Neutral Bay NSW 2089Ian Guild Phone: 02 9460 4579 / Mobile: 0402 938 863 / Email: [email protected]
* Please make cheque out to: Battle for Australia
Name: .........................................................................................................................................
Address:......................................................................................................................................
Telephone:...................................... Email: .................................................................................
Name of contact person:..............................................................Position:.................................(Other than individual membership)
I authorize you to charge this Membership / donation to my credit card.
(Minimum amount $25)
Card Type: Visa □ Mastercard □ Amex □ Cheque enclosed □
Name on card:
Card No. □□□□ □□□□ □□□□ □□□□ Expiry Date: ...................
Security No................................................... Signed: ................................................................
I / We hereby apply for membership of theBattle of Australia CommemorationCommittee Association NSW Inc.ABN 52 276 883 255
I / We enclose my / or membership fee asindicated and look forward to advise ofacceptance of my / our application.
Annual Membership will commence 1 July 2012 up to 31 August 2013.
Annual 3 years
Individual $10 $25
Service Organisations $25
Corporate bodies $50
Donation $
10
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SYDNEY PARADE (Sunday 1st JULY)Unfortunately the Parade had to be moved from the
Domain, at the ‘11th hour’, so to speak. I was alerted on the Rehearsal Day (17th June) by our
President, Derek Cannon, who rang me whilst I was inter -state to say the Domain was unusable due to the state ofthe ground from all the previous heavy rain.
I was only able to alert our members who are on email,and some members I rang personally, that the RFD CouncilCommittee had been given approval to move the Parade tothe Sydney Town Hall!
Our Association must thank the RF Day Committee forwhat must have been a logistical nightmare to organise thisin 14 days.
There was obviously some confusion at our differentform–up areas, which was in this huge area under the TownHall.
Whilst we were all being organised in our units, ourStandard Bearer was ushered to another section with all theother Standard Bearers, as they busily practised their drills.
No Banners were allowed due to the height restrictionsand narrow doorways. This was a very unfortunate, butprobably necessary, decision to make but a few Associa -tions did not turn up because of this.
Somehow the drill worked, in a fashion. All the troops
marched into the main hall and entered via their respectivedoorways from the left and right hand side of the main hall.We marched in and lined up facing each other. There wasabout 30 metres of space between the two groups.
Then the Standard Bearers were marched in and took uptheir respective positions in front of their units.
The State Governor, Her Excellency Marie Bashir AC, andthe Official Party was about 20 minutes late in arriving, andafter a number of Royal Salutes and a very long speech byour good member, MAJGEN Warren Glenny AO, we startedto have a couple of ‘past Reservists’ (one of them was ours)and a Band Member, collapse. It was not good to witnessbut I have since heard that all are now OK, including ourmember.
I did go upstairs to the Gallery area, prior to the OfficialParty’s arrival, that looked down the main hall to the stagewhere the Band was playing and was able to take a fewphotos.
I don’t think it was very spectator friendly and Iunderstand that the guests who were seated upstairs onthe right and left hand sides of the hall could only see thegroup they were facing i.e. those upstairs on the left side ofthe hall could more or less just see the Reservists who werelined up on the right hand side of the hall (if this makessense?).
Reserve Forces Day Parade(Summary)
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Thankfully, the Governor gave a short speech and theOfficial Party retired.
When we “Dismissed”, those who were able made theirway to our luncheon venue at the Paddington RSL Club.
We would like to thank the following members andfriends of our Association who either paraded or came backto Paddington RSL where we also celebrated CORPSBirthday (1st JULY);
Warren BARNES, Fred BELL (ASM), Derek & Edna CANNON,George CARUANA, Barry COLLINS OAM, Alan CURRY, TheoDECHAUFEPIE (NSW President RAAMC Assn. Inc. & NationalV/President), Brittany & Felicity EVANS, Ron FOLEY, Stuart &Sue JONES, Frank & Val LANG OAM, Michael MORONEY, JohnO’BRIEN (also NSW Secretary-RAAMC Assn. Inc. & NationalSecretary), Barry & Heather PERIGO, James ROCHE OAM,Neville ROTHFIELD OAM (1st Fd Amb), Bruce WHITTET andJackie & Alex WILLIAMS (Standard Bearer).
We also kindly thank CAP Ken Duncan, OC of 202 ACUBlacktown, for the VOLUNTARY services of two of hiscadets. They came to the Banner Rehearsals in the Domainon the 17th June and again turned up at the Town Hall tovolunteer again, on the day.
They were;LCPL Mark BACKHOUSE and PTE Kerry ERU.
NEWCASTLE PARADE (Saturday 30th JUNE)A beautiful sunny day greeted all those who marched
and assembled in Civic Park. Although our particularnumbers were few, we took part in a well-organisedParade.
I had the pleasure of giving a ‘lift’ to the Parade, to oneof the 1st Field Ambulance Association members—MickCarlson.
Stu’ Jones came up from Sydney and he brought theirBanner, and he and Mick carried it with Dr. Neville RothfieldOAM taking the Salute.
We were fortunate in that one of the Parade Marshallsorganised for two National Servicemen to carry our ownBanner and I had the honour of taking our Salute. The twoNational Servicemen (Mr Ray Greenfield and Mr HarryStrong—both from the Gosford Sub Branch) were sincerelythanked for their assistance.
We had two members, Kevin HURRELL and BarryO’KEEFE, march behind me and our Association marchedbehind the 1st Field Ambulance Association as per theORBAT.
An unfortunate apology was received from MAJGENWarren GLENNY AO. He is normally on the Saluting Dais.
The Australian Army Band – Newcastle, were absolutelymagnificent. Their bugler, who played The Last Post, is to becommended—his notes were slow and so crystal clear—itwas ‘touching’ and one of the best renditions I have heard.
The march from Lamen Street down to Civic Park (about300 metres) was a great Parade. The “Re-enactment Troops”(their numbers are about 10) do a fantastic job.
We all gathered in Civic Park and heard a wonderful‘Address’ presented by Mr Les Perrett, about Australia’sinvolvement in the Boer War. Then later, the presentation ofthe Boer War Medallions to a great many recipients wasvery well received.
I emailed a “Letter of Appreciation” to Mr Fred Goode,the President of the RFD Committee-Newcastle, for a jobwell done.
We joined with 1 Fd Amb Assn and had lunch at theNewcastle Worker’s Club—a good day was had by all.
-----------------------------
14
HappyBirthday
JULY: Neil BARRIE, Helen BOYTER, Lee CASTLE, Alan CURRY, John de WITT,Marie DOYLE, Garry FLOOD, John GALLAGHER, Edwin LOWERY,Huss MAHOMET, Dr. Helena MARTIN, John McKEOWN,Alan ROBINSON, Sr. Elizabeth SHEARD, George SIPand John WILSON.
AUGUST: Derek CANNON, David CAVANAUGH, John DAVIES, Phillip FAGUE,Nelson FIORENTINO, Barry FOSTER, Sue JONES, John LAYHE,Brian LINDSAY, John MAIR, John McCARTHY, David PHILLIPS,Tom PRITCHARD, Paul SHERGOLD, Robert SHILLINGSWORTHand Bruce WHITTET.
SEPTEMBER: Dr. Suresh BADAMI OAM, Dr. Robert BAILEY, John CLEGG,Bill CLUTTERBUCK, David CZERKIES, David EMANUEL,Frances FOOKES, Glenda GARDE, Kym HENDERSON, Norma HUTTON,Natalie ILIOPOULOS, James JORDAN, Dr. Frank LANG OAM,Terry LANGWORTHY, Geoffery LINDSAY, Prof. John OVERTON OAM,Susan SALVI, Robert STEWART, Darren WATERSON, John WEAVER,David WILLIAMS, Keith WHITE, Gordon WRIGHT and Jim ZORBAS.
OCTOBER: Edna CANNON, Dorothy FOSTER, John GORRELL, Margaret GORRELL,Rayda NOBLE, Dr. James ROCHE OAM, Dr. David THOMPSONand Peter THOMPSON.
NOVEMBER: Roy CROSSLEY, Peter DALGLEISH, MAJGEN Warren GLENNY AO,Robert GLOVER, Betty GREENWOOD, Simon HERLIHY, Bob KENYON,Tony MILLER, Gordon MILLS, Dr. Bill MOLLOY, John SMITH OAM,Judith STRACHAN and Dr. Phillip YUILE.
Our Association wishes each of you “All the Best” on your “special” day.(Have you given me your month of birth?)
We are only selling $1Raffle Tickets and whateverwe receive will be drawn atour Annual “Mixed”Reunion Luncheon at thePaddington RSL Club onthe 24th November (the lastSaturday).
The WINNER will receive50% of what we collect. OurCom mittee thanks you inadvance.)
2012Fund-Raiser
That’s how my uncle described his stint sitting onthe south side of the Yalu River in Korea 1953. He saidhe spent all his time trying to keep warm, and therewas a Chinese soldier on the other side trying to do thesame. “Neither he nor I fired a shot as our weaponswere useless in -40 degree weather. All we did was towave to each other, and duck under cover to keepwarm”.
In the matter of our relationships within ourimmediate family, life can be just like that. We feel thatwe are tackling a useless war with equally uselessweapons. My spouse yells at me and in like manner Irespond. Then I quickly head to my shed, not because Iam a coward, but because my spouse has betterweapons, which are usually verbal. And I’m left out inthe cold (usually emotionally).
It has long been known that our words have thepower to encourage others, or they can be destructive.Sometimes our words reveal just how intransient wecan be over issues which we might claim are ourdefinite policy.
And although somewhere in our distant past wehave heard such ancient sayings as:- “An anxious heartweighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up”, or“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh wordstirs up anger. We too soon forget that they arebehaviours (even powerful weapons) which can defusesituations.
The “Truth and Reconciliation Movements” as seenin South Africa, and East Timor have been powerfulweapons which have helped to defuse past grievances.Yes they are imperfect, but that’s part of our humannature, but they give us a reference point from whereto start.
Words of true reconciliation not only includeforgiveness, but justice, restitution where possible,punishment, and a proper apology as opposed to asimple “I’m sorry”.
Ghandi, Dietrich Bonheoffer, Martin Luther King,and General Montgomery have referred to theSermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes as thewise words of Jesus. Yet Jesus says it is in puttingthese words into practice which is important. Thosewords are about how to live and relate to God andto others. They can shape our values and thereforeour lives. You can read them for yourself in theBible, Mathew’s Gospel chapters 5 – 7.
“Well I’m sitting out in my shed,wondering what I have said
When she came out and kissed my bald head.
Such a tender response I could not deny,as she asked me to give her a kiss
For she melted my heart, by making the startto clean up what went amiss.
We stuck to the issue and she freely admitted,her part in our outlandish debate
So I did the same for we are both were to blame,for turning and bolting the gate
For nothing’s achieved by walking away,and letting such arguments smoulder
Whatever the issue and problems it causes, that’ssomething we both have to shoulder.
I have to admit that in 40 plus years of marriage,my wife and I have never had an argument. Butoften you can my wife and I reasoning together, …… six blocks away.
In the midst of interpersonal conflict, what areyour weapons for diffusing the situation ?
Have you tried listening to Jesus and followinghis directions ?
BRIAN HOGANHonorary Chaplain
CORNER
15
“Useless War – Useless Weapons”
CHAPLAIN’S
Dates for your Diary for 2012RAAMC Association Inc. (NSW Branch) AUGUST, OCTOBER, DECEMBER.(They meet on the FIRST FRIDAY at 10.30am at Victoria Barracks, Sydney. An “OPEN INVITATION” is extended toyou. Please advise me if you wish to attend.
SEPTEMBER (1st Wednesday) BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA COMMEMORATION(Martin Place, Sydney, 11am)
NOVEMBER Reserve Forces Day “LAUNCH” for 2013 (TBA)
24th NOVEMBER (last Saturday) ANNUAL “Mixed” Reunion Luncheon (Paddington RSL Club)----------------------------------
“Cut-Off dates” for articles in quarterly magazines of 2012 ~NOVEMBER 25.
16
SICK PARADENeil BARRIE (Brimlea
Aged Care,Murrumbeena, Vic)
Derek CANNONKevin CARTERGeorge CARUANADavid CAVANAUGHBarry COLLINSBill CLUTTERBUCKJohn DAVIESJohn de WITT (Chesalon
Nursing Home, 15 LennaPl., JANNALI NSW 2226—Phone: (02) 8543.7200)
Gordon DODDGeorge DONNELLYNelson FIORENTINOPaul FOOKESRichard FORD
Dorothy FOSTEREileen HENDERSONKevin HURRELLBrian INMANNeville JOHNSONWilfred (Bill) JONES
(Calvary Nursing Care,Hebburn Lodge, Cessnock.Phone: (02) 4990.8656)
Ted KREMERBob LEECHRobert LOVEHuss MAHOMETBill MOLLOYJohn McCARTHY“Roy” McDONALD
Bob McINERNEYRayda NOBLEFrank OLIVER
Charles O’MEALLYChris O’REILLYBarry & Heather PERIGOJohn PHILLIPSMaurice PORTER (Shalom
Lodge, “Fairview”, 157Balaclava Rd., Marsfield.NSW)
Tom PRITCHARDRob STEWARTJudith STRACHANChris STRODEBrian TAMSSr. Francis (“Sue”)
THOMPSON (St GeorgeAged Care Centre,Verdun St, Bexley.Room 22,Ph: (02) 8566.1400)
John TROYJohn WEAVERBruce WHITTETJohn WOODHEAD (Lourdes
Nursing Home, Room 27,Stanhope Rd., Killara ,(02) 8467.4550).
-----------------------------
KIND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS(Of monies received since last magazine, WINTER Issue 2012. Please contact me if your name has been omitted.)
• Fred BELL (Cash $10) for RF Day Drinks.• Derek CANNON (EFT $20 and Cash $10) for Mug and
Donation $12.50 and RF Day Drinks $10.• George CARUANA (Cash $5) for RF Day Drinks.• Barry COLLINS (Cash $5) for RF Day Drinks.• Roy CROSSLEY (Cheque $10) for Mug and Donation
$2.50.• Alan CURRY (Cheque $34 and Cash $5) for 2 Lapel Badges
$14, Mug and Donation $12.50 and RF Day drinks $5..• John DAVIES (Cash $30) for Subs, Mug and Donation $7.50.• Theo DECHAUFEPIE (Cash $5) for RF Day Drinks.• Brittany EVANS (Part Cheque $55) for New Member Subs
$15, Name Badge $20 and Key Ring $20.• Felicity EVANS (Part Cheque $55) for New Member Subs
$15, Name Badge $20 and Key Ring $20. • Ron FOLEY (EFT $70) for Donation.• Frances FOOKES (Cheque $100) for New Member Life
Membership.• Paul FOOKES (Cheque $100) for New Member Life
Membership.• Betty GREENWOOD (M/Order $15) for New Member Subs.• Brian HOGAN (Cash) $10 for Mug and Donation $2.50.
• Frank LANG (Cash $10) for RF Day Drinks.• Brian LINDSAY (Cheque $30) for ‘Fund-Raiser’.• Edwin LOWERY (Cheque $10) for Mug and Donation $2.50.• Michael MORONEY (Cash $5) for RF Day Drinks.• Paul NICHOLLS (EFT to HMC C/U $40) for Subs, Mug and
Donation $2.50.• Rayda NOBLE (Cheque $30) for Subs.• John O’BRIEN (Cheque $100 & Cash $5) for Life
Membership and RF Day Drinks..• John OVERTON (Cash $10) for Mug and Donation $2.50.• Barry PERIGO (Cheque $70) for RFD Luncheon.
(Reimbursed Cash $70 and paid $10 for RF Day drinks)• Bob REID (Cheque $50) for Mug and Donation $42.50.• Jim ROCHE (Cash $20) for Mug and Donation $12.50.• Neville ROTHFIELD (Cash $5) for RF Day Drinks.• John SMITH (Cheque $22) for Subs and Mug.• Brian TAMS (EFT $100) for Life Membership.• John WEAVER (Cheque $12.80) for Mug and Donation $5.• Bruce WHITTET (Cheque $10 & Cash $5) for Mug and
Donation $2.50 and RF Day Drinks $5.• Jim ZORBAS (Cheque $25) for ‘Fund-Raiser’.
---------------------------
MILLER`S SCAFFOLDING AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
ALL TYPES OF SCAFFOLDING • FORMWORKINGWORK PLATFORMS • MOBILE SCAFFOLDING
FREE ONSITE QUOTES
PHONE: SCOTT: 0427 274 811WERRINGTON COUNTY, NSW
17
Paul FOOKES made contact withour Treasurer, Brian Tams, and postedboth his and his wife, Frances (seebelow) applications to join us. Paulserved with our unit many yearsback and rose through the ranks toLTCOL.
He and Frances live on a propertyin Stubbo — yes, I must admit Ithought he meant Dubbo!
Stubbo is a small community ofabout 400 people and is about 7 klmsfrom Gulgong. They are about 1 & ½hours drive from Dubbo but thenearest large city would be Newcastle— about 215 klms north east.
When I contacted Paul he told mehe had had an unfortunate accidentand slid down his old steel ladder andgave himself a very nasty shin injury, ofwhich he is still incapacitated (sinceApril).
I will write more about Paul whenhe is up to sending me ‘something’.In the meantime I wish to sincerelywelcome Paul to our Association andhope by the time he reads this he is ‘onthe mend’.
Paul and his wife, Fran, opted tobecome Life Members and for this wesincerely thank you both. WelcomePaul.
---------------------------------Frances FOOKES, as I wrote above,is the wife of Paul. Some of ourmembers may remember her by hermaiden name of Henderson. Franceswas a LCPL in our unit.
We sincerely welcome you, Francis,and also look forward to reading someof your history in the near future. Wethank you most sincerely for yourgenerous donation of Life Member -ship also.
We look forward to meeting youand Paul at one of our ‘gatherings’ inthe future.
----------------------------------Betty GREENWOOD recently read,and liked, one of our magazines andpromptly cut out the Application Formand attached a Money Order for $15and sent it off to our Treasurer, BrianTams.
It gives me much pleasure towelcome Betty to our Association asan Associate Member.
Betty is 93 years young and resideswith her son, John and his wife, on theCentral Coast of NSW.
Betty’s husband, Ron, passed awayin 1991. He served in the army duringWW2, in the Army Service Corps.
We look forward to reading a bitmore of Betty’s story in the near future.
----------------------------John O’BRIEN is warmly welcomedto our Association. We were talkinggenerally at the luncheon at Padding -ton RSL, after the Reserve Forces DayParade, and he said he would like tojoin us and promptly wrote a chequefor Life Membership.
I asked John if he would write andtell us a little of himself and he wroteback with the following ‘story’;
“I was born in South Australia(Semaphore) in March 1942, son of Jackand Vera O’Brien, long term residents ofSouth Australia.
I attended Catholic Schools fromprimary (with the Nuns) and then withthe Christian Brothers and finally theMarist Brothers until second year highschool.
I then started work with ‘Wool -worths’ and because I missed out onselection for National Service I joined theCMF (32 Infantry Battalion) with a matefrom work. I enjoyed the Training nightsand weekend bivouacs and decided tojoin the Regular Army.
I was accepted and joined up on 23November 1959 for an initial 6-yearengagement.
The ‘Adventure’ then began for this17-year-old taking his first trip out ofSouth Australia by the overnight trainfrom Adelaide to Melbourne. On arrivalin Melbourne I was taken with a group ofother recruits to an overnight barracksjust outside of Melbourne.
The next night it was onto the trainagain on my way to Wagga Wagga andKapooka Recruit Training Battalionwhere I spent the next 3 months learningall the requirements on the way tobecoming an effective(?) soldier.
On Corps allocation I asked forMedical Corps as I had been a memberof the St John’s Ambulance Brigade inAdelaide since I was fourteen. I wassuccessful and allocated to the RAAMCand was soon back on a train toMelbourne and then by the “Reg Ansett”
bus line to Healesville. (I recall that thebus arrived in Healesville at 6.30 pm - thePubs had shut - and I stood on a streetcorner alone, without any knowledge ofhow I was supposed to get to the Schoolof Army Health, which was aboutanother 10 miles away.
Finally a land rover arrived and I wason my way to ‘Summerleigh Lodge’.
Corps training was a breeze. I recallthat the Instructors were a much merrierbunch than those I exper ienced atKapooka.
I stayed at SOAH for 18monthswhere I met a local girl, Margaret.Captain Jim (Stan) (“Junior”) Nichollswas the Adjutant and locked the‘engagement ring’ in his safe prior to myasking Margaret’s father for permissionto marry. The engagement happenedand the wedding took place on 9thDecember 1961.
Over the years I have served in thefollowing units, SOAH (3 times) 3 CCS,Area Command Puckapunyal, A Sqn4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse, HQSouthern Command, 8 Field Ambulance,7 RAR, RGH Heidelberg, Jungle TrainingCentre, 7 Field Ambulance (RSM) 5T r a i n i n g G r o u p ( W A ) , 1 1 F i e l dAmbulance (RSM), 1 Malaria ResearchUnit (Twice as a Captain), 1PreventiveMed Coy (Capt) , 1 Field Hospital (Twiceas QM captain and as Admin OfficerMajor).
I served in South Vietnam with 8 FieldAmbulance and 7 RAR and in theSolomon Islands with the MalariaResearch Unit.
Margaret and I have two sons,Russell and Anthony, 6 grandkids (3 boysand 3 girls and 1 great grand son).
My great loves are family and ‘AussieRules’. I was head Trainer for theAustralian Teal Cup Team (Qld) and wasthe President of the Campbelltown‘Blues’ on their first year in Division 1 inthe Sydney Competition. I am currently amember of the “Swannies”.
I currently spend my retirement as avolunteer Justice of the Peace at theIngleburn Library each week and am thecurrent RAAMC Association Inc. NSWSecretary and RAAMC Associa tion Inc.National Secretary where I am con -tinuing my love of the RAAMC in which Iserved for 28 years”.
(Continued on page 20)
NEW MEMBERS
18
Thank You(From your Committee)
Thank you Members, for your yearly dues, donations and LIFE MEMBERSHIPS,they are so very much appreciated.
….for completing your (FREE) Application Form to join the RAAMC Association Inc.
….for giving your “unwanted Magazine” to your local doctors/hospital waiting rooms/Nursing Homes/Retirement Villages/local chemists/RSLs/etc “Reading Rooms” for their enjoyment.
….To all the businesses who have paid our publishers to have their advertisement placed in our magazine.
….To our members who pay by EFT, and for identifying yourself. (There are some members who are alittle behind with their Subs—any little effort is much appreciated.)
… For your contributions, letters and emails. They are enjoyed by us all and are an encouragement.
Members on the Internet—don’t forget our own site, www.5fdamb.com, and also “surf” theRAAMC website:- www.raamc.com
If you do visit our website, please feel free to write a comment in our “Guest Book”.
5 Field Ambulance RAAMC Association is also a proud member of the RAAMCAssociation Inc.
NB: Some of you reading this magazine may decide you may now wish to discontinue to be on ourMailing List. We hope this is not so, but if it is please let me know and your wishes will be respected.
WHAT IS A NAVAL RATING?(With kind thanks to member, Bruce Whittet)
A Naval Rating is an individual who has joined the service for varying reasons—to see the world, toget away from a nagging wife, because he likes wearing a uniform, or because the fire of patriotismcaught him at an early age, and he didn’t realise how long 12 years could be anyway.
In an Officer’s mind, Ratings are divided into 4 classes—Good, Indifferent, Helpless, Hopeless.A Naval Rating loves girls, make-and-mends, pay days, girls, sports afternoon, stray animals and
girls. He dislikes Divisions, Rounds, Defaulters, Watches, Examinations AND doing his ownwashing.
His day begins at 0630 when he is aroused from slumber with…”Wakey, wakey, lash and stow”and ends with…”Lights Out” at 2230.
Particularly the day after being paid, he feels like neither rising or shining, but extremely sorryfor himself. Reluctantly he will leave his hammock and all that day tries to escape the watchful eyeof any Officer who may ask questions.
He is a member of a strange Order called “The Grape Vine” and it is staggering at times justwhat he knows!
Comes the day when his time is up, it is with mixed feelings he dons his last uniform and goesto his last divisions. For quite some time now he has been a member of a large family; he’s eaten,worked and lived with it for many years. Suddenly it means much more to him than at firstrealised.
Out into the “other” work he goes, but he never really breaks away. Just watch two ex-sailors swapping ‘dits’ and you’ll see what I mean!
(Kind thanks to author, L.Mann, HMAS Melville, Darwin, NT. Editor of “Melville Moments” magazine, Darwin)
19
MESSAGES FROM MEMBERS Brian LINDSAY wrote to say he isenjoying his lifestyle in Failford (nearTaree). He kindly enclosed some photosof the orchids he has grown and havenow just started to bloom.
He also enclosed a photo he hadtaken of a 43 tonne Tank that wasobsolete to army requirements and wasnow ‘housed’ outside the Foster RSLClub.
Brian wrote that he also occasion -ally goes down to his old neigh bour -hood (Epping) to help out his (late)mum’s friend who is 92. She also growsorchids and Brian wrote… “They stillneed my magic touch every so often”.
(Thank you Brian, for your letter andphotos and your “Interest” in our 1915Centenary year.)
---------------------------------------Heather PERIGO sent a very nice“THANK YOU” card for the article wewrote about her brother, Robert, wholost his life when his ship—HMASPerth—was sunk by the Japanese inthe Battle of the Sunda Strait, in theJava Sea, on the 1st March 1942, duringWW 2.
(Thank you Barry and Heather, for yourcard. The loss of Robert and his memory willalways be with you.)
---------------------------------Gordon DODD sent me an Email totell of the passing of his friend, CharlieAdams. He wrote that he, and theJannali/Como Probus Association, willmiss his cheery disposition.
He thought that Charlie served inthe 9th Field Ambulance and then withan A.I.F. medical unit—possibly the2/9th or a CCS. His funeral was held onthe 15th June.
Gordon went for 3 weeks ‘Respite’in the Thomas Holt Hostel and washoping to join us on RF Day.
He said he has just purchased a 24inch iMac which he is just learning tomaster and he said some of themistakes he misses, his daughter, Pam,fixes for him.
(Thank you Gordon. You are to be com -mended for your computer skills—especially at92 years young—you are an inspiration.)
-----------------------------John McCARTHY is thanked forcompleting his Application Form andsending it to me. He has been amember of our Association since 2003but I did not have a ‘formal’ ApplicationForm from him and this was very muchappreciated.
(Thank you John. This completes ouradministration for you. We hope this finds youin good spirits.)
---------------------------------James HOOLAN Jr. wrote from theUS to send his kind regards. Jamessends me some of his publications fromtime to time (See “Items of Interest”) thatmight be of interest to some of ourmembers.
He enjoys reading our newslettersand commented on the Winnie MayDavis story and the AHS Centaur article,in our last Issue (WINTER Issue 2012).James said it reminded him of the storyof the sinking of the Lusitania, by aGerman submarine, in 1915.
(A German U-boat torpedoed the ship onthe 7th May 1915 at about 1.40pm. The shipwas about 14 miles off the coast of Ireland withalmost 2,000 passengers aboard, bound for theUSA—nearly 1,200 perished when the shipsank in about 18 minutes. In 2008 divers foundthe wreck and confirmed the suspicion that theship was carrying ammunition—in war time--Remington .303 rifle ammunition, and it wasnow thought that this was the cause of a majorsecond explosion shortly after the torpedo hit.)
James also remarked about thesmall portion of the speech given byPatrick Henry (page 40, same Issue) duringthe American Revolutionary Waragainst England. He was talking to hiscousin in New York City and asked himif he knew if the American revolu tionarywars were recorded in the Englishhistory books (Barry did not think so).
James recalled reading an Issue of“Navy Times” in 1990, of the terrificeffect that the American ‘Privateers’had when they captured or destroyedabout 2,400 British merchant vessels. Itwas written that this action had morestrategic effect on this war than theAmerican military.
Apparently the English shipownersand Lloyds Insurance asked KingGeorge 111 to stop the war due to theextreme loss of shipping and theinsurance payouts!
This was probably the reason theBritish Navy did not attack the Frenchblockade of Yorktown, Vancouver andhence, where Cornwallis surrendered.
(Thank you James for your letter ofencouragement and ‘sparking’ a little ofAmerican history.)
----------------------------Bruce WHITTET sends his kindregards to his friends in the Association.He apologised for not being able toattend the June Meeting of the RAAMCAssociation at Victoria Barracks due toprior engagement.
He was invited to attend the Pre -sentations of the Long Tan Bursarieswhich are organised by the AustralianVeterans’ Children’s Trust.
His good Navy friend, CommodoreNick Helyer AM RAN (Ret’d), is also theCEO of this Trust.
(Thank you Bruce, for your Email, and youattendance at RF Day.)
--------------------------------Brian HOGAN is our HonoraryChaplain (and he is doing a great job).He emails me with much information—mainly on our members, for which ourcommittee is very grateful.
He sent me an email (and I gather itmay have been from a conservation hehad with this lady) and, in part, said thather dad (the late Roy Mariott of the2/5th Aust Field Ambulance) told herwhen he “joined up” he did not divulgethat he was blind in one eye and whenhe went for his medical and had to dohis eye test he read from his good eyeand when the doctor asked him to readfrom the other eye he just changedhands with the cardboard and fooledthem. (His time with the 2/5th and his poemsare another story—some have been publishedin our past newsletters!)
Brian and his wife, Sandra, recentlycame to Sydney via Broken Hill andMildura and spoke to our member,Maureen Livingstone, by text message.They were on their way to Sydney tosee Brian’s mum who is not in the bestof health at this time. She is 97 yearsyoung and Brian’s brother, Robert,takes good care of her.
They are hoping to be back homebefore the end of July because Brian
20
has been invited to a “Rats” meeting ofthe Victorian Branch and is lookingforward to accompanying a couple ofour “Rats” members—Neil Barrie andTom Pritchard, together with Neil’sdaughter (and our member, GlendaGarde) and her husband Dennis.
Then, in September, Brian andSandra, hope to be heading to Brisbaneto celebrate a 45 year (Salvation Army)College Reunion.
He said that one of the girls incollege with them, at the time, camefrom India. “They are all chipping in” tobring her out for this ‘Special’ occasion.
They hope to make contact withmore old friends in the Brisbane areawhom they haven’t seen since theirdays in PNG.
(Thank you Brian. We are thinking of youand your sick mum, we hope she is not in anypain. We thank you for making contact withour sick members and I hope some of them willget a chance to meet you ‘in the flesh’—have asafe trip and a wonderful “Sallies” Reunion.)
-------------------------------John DAVIES sends his good wishesto his friends in the Association. He andMoira were planning to head “North” inJune and hopefully meeting up with hisold mate Huss (Mahomet) and his wife,Judy.
(Thank you John. We hope your trip wassuccessful and you ‘caught up’ with Huss andJudy.)
----------------------------Maurice PORTER sends his goodwishes to us through his wife, Barbara. Barbara wrote to say that she andMaurice have moved from their Car -ling ford complex to new surroundings.
The Nursing Home where Mauricewas in, is in the process of ‘closingdown’ due to the age of the complex.Barbara had a choice of moving toeither Baulkham Hills or Marsfield andshe happily chose Marsfield.
Barbara said her new unit is verypleasant, bright and airy and only a 5minute walk to see Maurice. She saidMaurice has also ‘settled in’ verysmoothly because the nurses told herhe is ‘wolf-whistling’ them, so that is agood indication. She said he lovesreceiving our magazine and his “Whiteover Green” 4th Bn Newsletter.
Barbara still attends her portraitpainting group and goes “plein air”painting whenever she can, and asSecretary of the City of Ryde Art Societyit keeps her ‘in touch’ with other artists.
(Thank you Barbara, for your Email andchange of address. We are very happy for youboth to have embraced a new home and
surroundings which, at Maurice’s age also,must have been very stressful.)
-----------------------------Alan BECKERLEG is also workingwith his committee in relation to theCentenary year for their 25th BnAssociation. He kindly sent me theattached photo of the 25th BnMemorial which islocated in EastCreek Park in Too -woomba. Alan saidthat most Memo -rials are located inthis park.
(Thank you Alan.We thank you for your email and photo.)
-------------------------------John ROCHE sends his kind regardsto all his friends in the Association. Herecently Emailed that he read in theUniversity of Sydney Medical News thenotice that Dr Jack Goldie had died. Hehad graduated in 1945 and was asurgeon at RPA Hospital. John thoughtthat he may have served in the CMFwith 5th Field Ambulance!
He also remarked about an articleon Harry “Breaker” Morant in the Week-End Australian (14/15 July 2012)because our good member, Bill Molloy,went to South Africa recently to attendthe 110th Boer War Centenary. He saidthe Bill also gave an “Address” at“Breaker’s grave (in Pretoria). Unfor -tunate ly, wrote John, that whenreturning he had a fall and travelledback home on the plane with difficulty.Bill was admitted to St Vincents Private
Hospital with cracked ribs and apunctured lung.
John said his brother, James, waspresent at the Town Hall on ReserveForces Day (Sorry James, I was unawareof this until this email from John) andreceived a Memento Boer War Medal -lion from the Hon Bronwyn Bishopbecause their great uncle was at the“Relief of Mafeking”-he had sent ahandkerchief home to his sister andwhen he visited his sister after return -ing home, he slept on the dining roomtable—he said the beds were too soft!
John finished off his Email sayingthat he and James would be at the WarMemorial for Fromelles Day (19th July).
(Thank you John, for your email and theunfortunate news about Bill Molloy—Iunderstand that Bill is slowly ‘on the mend’.
-------------------------------Huss MAHOMET sends his goodwishes to all his friends in theAssociation. His daughter, Claire, hasbeen kind enough to keep meinformed of her Dad’s condition(dialysis 3 days a week). Claire says hewas ‘over the moon’ to receive thepewter mug we got for him.
Huss and Judy have now ‘settled in’into their new surroundings with theirother daughter, Katherine, in theQueensland suburb of Scarborough.
(For any friend of Huss and Judywho may not have their new land linenumber, it is:- (07) 3885.8329.
(Thank you, Claire, for keeping in touch. Toyou Huss and Judy, we are thinking of you andour prayers are with you also.)
---------------------------
NEW MEMBERS (Cont’d from p17)
Thank you, John, for some of yourvery interesting story. It is muchappre ciated. We look forward to your,and Margaret’s company in thefuture.
---------------------------------Brittany EVANS has joined us as anAssociate Member and, as you willread below, her twin sister has alsojoined us. We have to thank theirgrandfather and our President, DerekCannon, for their enthusiasm tobecome a member.
They have both been very wel -come at our various venues and wesincerely welcome Brittany.
------------------------------Felicity EVANS, as I wrote above, isalso sincerely welcomed to our ranksas an Associate Member. (It is a bit‘tricky’ trying to write about twins!)
Felicity and Brittany are very goodmates, as you would expect, and it isalways pleasing to see them come toour “turn-outs” and we enjoy theircompany.
Welcome Felicity and we hope youand Brittany are able to join us as oftenas possible.
---------------------------Reg LAWRENCE is warmly wel -comed to our Association. He isanother of our Victorian members anda valued committeeman of the Rats ofTobruk Association (Vic Branch).
Reg is the Secretary/Treasurer andHall Keeper of their Association.
With the “Rats” numbers dwind -ling, Reg, a National Serviceman,offered his services to ensure theirAssociation and their memory andtheir deeds never die.
Good on you, Reg, for a doing agood job.
Items of Interest(1) NEWSLETTERS:
I have received various interesting newsletters from friendsof our Association and if any member would like me to postany of them to you, at no cost, please contact me;“Crossroads” – The Marine Memorial “Spring Issue”(Courtesy, James Hoolan Jr.)“The Old Breed News” – Official Journal, 1st Marine Div.Assn. (Courtesy, as above)“The Australian Reservist – The DRA Official journal, April2012 (Courtesy, Warren Barnes)“Tobruk House News” – ROTB Assn. (Vic Branch) June 2012(Courtesy, Reg Lawrence)“Forces Re-United” – British Armed Forces Newsletter-(Courtesy, Barry Perigo)“Penrith Branch NSSA” Sep/Oct 2012 (Courtesy, Barry Perigo)“Grey & Scarlet 2012” Magazine of the RAANC. (Courtesy,ALTC Latchford Barracks)
-------------------------------(2) DVD-“A Very Short War”
My sister-in-law (Judy Marks) gave me the above DVD formy birthday! What wonderful enjoyment I got when I sat down andquietly watched it. It is the true story of a young Australianwho grew up with a love and an obsession of aeroplanes. His name was Jack Clifford (Cliff) Carpenter. He went toEngland just prior to WW 2. When war broke out he became part of a crew on aSunderland Flying Boat on a secret mission over Norwayand their plane was shot down and crashed. There was onlyone survivor and he was thrown from aircraft when it wasattacked by Messerschmitt’s. He fell from the aircraft WITHOUT his parachute, was foundin the snow, and lived to help tell this story. I would be happy to post it, FREE of charge, to any memberfor their enjoyment. Please contact me if you would like toview it.
-------------------------------(3) M/s Debbie FANIA visited our website and was seeking
information on her great grandfather, George H. Long,during WW 1. I was wondering if this is the same man that Amy and MattLong were also searching and are they related? (see “Items ofInterest” item 12, page 41—AUTUMN Issue 2012)?Debbie said that a book “The Body Snatchers”, which she isstill seeking, mentions the 5th and 12th Field Ambulancesand also Hill 60, where her grandfather was awarded theMilitary Medal.
--------------------------(4) Chris RIDGE is also ‘exploring’ information on his
grandfather, L/Cpl Francis G. Ridge MM. I made a small mention of Chris’s article in our AUTUMNIssue 2012 and since then he was kind enough to emailsome more details which he gleaned from his Nan.He sent me 5 photos of his grandfather, with some of hismates. Some were taken in Egypt, possibly after all thetroops were withdrawn from Gallipoli in December 1915.The other men with Francis were D.C.Cunningham and PteJ Rees and a Wally ???. Chris’s Nan said Wally had a farm in South Australia (in thesouth eastern part) and later on, owned a leading hotel inNaracoorte (SA).
Chris said his grandfather died when he was in his nineties.He said that when he looks upon his granddad’s portrait helooks like an innocent, loyal young man.Chris said his granddad’s enlistment date was January 1915and was placed in 4th Field Ambulance. He disembarkedfrom the TS “Borda” in June 1915, in Egypt.I read on Francis’s ‘papers’ he was nearly 30 years of agewhen he enlisted. He was ‘taken on strength’ of 5th FieldAmbulance as a driver on 8/3/1916. He was wounded in the back by shrapnel in Poziers andremained on duty. For his courage in this battle he wasawarded the Military Medal. He was appointed L/Cpl on the31/8/1916 and was discharged on the 12/9/1917.Francis was also awarded the 1914/15 Star, British WarMedal and the Victory Medal.He died on the 28/9/1981.Chris was wondering if his granddad would have beeninvolved in all the fighting that 5th Brigade was involved in?He mentioned that he read the book “Riders of Destiny”which mentions D.C.Cunningham and F.G. Ridge – hehoped that they made it back home to their relatives –below are the photos that Chris kindly sent.
(On seeing the above photos it reminded me of seeing my owndad’s photos from WW 2. I remember, as a young boy, readinghis very small pocket diary that he kept during his time with the6th Division, in the Western Desert and when John Curtin (thethen Australian Prime Minister) ordered the withdrawal of the6th Div. back to Australia, he got injured on the troopship witha fractured skull and was ‘discharged’ Medically Unfit’—I don’tknow what became of this little treasure!)
--------------------------------(5) MEDIA RELEASES (With kind permission of the Dept of
Defence—edited for space and in no particular date order)(i) ADF Personnel depart for Pacific Partnership.
This Partnership started in 2004, after the disastrousBoxing Day tsunami. It embraces the followingpartners; United States, Canada, Chile, Japan, Australia,New Zealand and Thailand.It is an annual, US-sponsored, humanitarian exercise, toenhance international relationships and inter -operability of regional forcesWe will have 37 Personnel representing Command andMedical Specialist as our contribution, under thecommand of Commander Ken Walters.
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All will be based on the American hospital ship USNSMERCY.The Partnership will deliver medical, dental, veterinaryand engineering aid to Indonesia (North Sulewesi),Philippines (Samar), Vietnam (Vinh) and Cambodia(Sihanoukville).
-------------------------------(ii) 2nd Commando Regt takes part in US counter-
terrorism demonstrationIn early June, Special Forces soldiers from ourCommando Regiment took part in a dramatic counter-terrorism response demonstration at the ISOF(International Special Operations Forces) Conference 2012,held in Tampa, Florida.In a public display, soldiers from 10 nations workedtogether to ‘showcase’ their drills and capabilities. Their Mission: To rescue the Town Mayor, BobBuckhorn, in downtown Tampa, who had been‘kidnapped’ by terrorists!One of the soldiers from the Commando Regt said…”We had 4 days to train together for this mission and thebond you build with members of other Special Forces,sharing training and conducting an exercise like this, sideby side, is of immense value to us.”The Special Operations Commander Australia, MAJGENPeter Gilmore said the participation of the CommandoRegiment highlights our ability to work closely withother nations, to combat terrorism.
-------------------------(iii) RAN EXPLORES ALTERNATIVE FUEL USE WITH THE
USNThe Royal Australian Navy has signed an agreementwith the United States Navy to explore the increaseduse of environmentally friendly fuels.The USN is moving towards the general use of a 50/50blended biofuel product by 2020.As part of the significant signing, the RAN’s FleetCommander, Rear Admiral Tim Barrett, delivered theStatement of Cooperation to Secretary Mabus onboard the US Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz, via a RANSeahawk helicopter.Later, the Seahawk was re-fuelled with a biofuel blendbefore flying the Fleet Commander to HMAS Darwin—this is the FIRST time a RAN aircraft has flown with abiofuel blend.
------------------------(iv) AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS IN WW 1 GIVEN FINAL
RESTING HONOURNine Australian soldiers, whose remains were positivelyidentified in March this year, were respectfully laid torest in Fromelles, France, in the Pheasant Wood MilitaryCemetery. A Headstone Dedication Ceremony was conducted aseach soldier was named.Among those present was Senator David Feeney,Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and relatives ofthe nine soldiers.(Two were from 29th Bn, two from 30th Bn, two from 31st Bn,and one from 53rd, 54th and 55th Bn.—Among the relativeswas Peter Wynn, the ex-1st Grade Rugby League player fromthe Parramatta club. He represented his forebear, PTE JohnWynne who was 19 years old)96 years ago these nine men were among 250Australian and British soldiers who were buried in amass grave near Fromelles. They died in BATTLE in thebloodiest 24 hours of Australian military history.
To date, 119 Australian soldiers have now beenidentified. Another 92 soldiers have been identified as‘unnamed Australian soldiers’ and 2 soldiers as servedwith the British Army, 37 more soldiers remain ‘knownunto God’.Any relative of a soldier who died in the Battle ofFromelles is encouraged to contact the Army. Thereare still 131 soldiers to be identified. CALL1800.019.090
----------------------------(v) FOUR RAN MEMBERS TO GUARD THE QUEEN’S
PAGEANTFour members of the Royal Australian Navy werechosen to form a Ceremonial “Guard” around theQueen during her Diamond Jubilee Pageant in earlyJune.An estimated 2 billion people would have witnessedone of the biggest flotillas ever to amass on theThames. Watercraft of all shapes and sizes sailed the 7miles from Battersea to the Tower Bridge.The Australian White Ensign was flown from the vesselthat carried the Australian contingent of LEUT KateMunari of Sydney (a Naval Pilot flying with the UK’sCommando Helicopter Force), Joshua Gould of Sydney,Leading Seaman Combat Systems Operator, Alan Boneof Brisbane, Able Seaman Clearance Diver and LukeNeil of Perth, Able Seaman Clearance Diver.The BBC said it was the biggest event they had evertelevised.
------------------------------(vi) AFGHANISTAN-KEY INSURGENTS CAPTURED
Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and SpecialOperations Task Group (SOTG) have detained severalkey insurgents and suspected commanders.They are suspected of being experienced IEDbuilders—including suicide bombs—and facilitators. It is believed that they were responsible for the May(2012) bomb attack in Tarin Kot in which two coalitionsoldiers were killed and eight others wounded.Another insurgent is suspected of direct involvementin targeting Afghan government officials.The CO of the SOTG said the removal of these allegedinsurgent commanders was a significant result. Theunrelenting pressure of the ANSF and the SOTG inrecent months is having a marked effect. Because of our efforts we are likely to see a halting ofoperations and a reduction in the frequency ofinsurgent attacks because of the loss of thesecommanders.
---------------------------(vii) HMAS CHOULES
I wrote a small piece about her in our last magazine(Page 33, WINTER Issue 2012).The vessel was on its way north to take part in “ExerciseHamel”, conducted in the Shoalwater Bay TrainingArea, when it developed engine problems whichreduced its power by 50%.The Commanding Officer decide to return to Sydneywhere, at present, Navy and DMO (Defence MaterielOrganisation) are working with the original manu -facturer of the transformer to have it repaired and theship return to sea ASAP.
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(viii) RECOGNITION OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAITISLANDERS:A Service was held at the Australian War Memorial inearly July, to acknowledge the role that the Aborigine
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and Torres Strait Islands people played, in the defenceof Australia during WW 2.The Ceremony was part of NAIDOC Week 2012. More than 3,000 Indigenous Australians enlisted intoservice. A further 150-200 served as ‘de facto’Servicemen and patrolled and performed othermilitary duties along the north Australian coastline,while an additional 3,000 supported the WW 2 defenceeffort as civilian labourers.The Chief of the Defence Force, GEN David Hurley, saidin part of his Address …”History shows that ourIndigenous Servicemen and women fought for theircountry in a time of great need and were among the earlypioneers of a reconciliation process that continues today.There is a long list of exemplary Servicemen and womenwho also happen to be Indigenous. We thank them fortheir service and welcome the next generation ofIndigenous Australians who will carry on their tradition ofservice”.
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(ix) PACIFIC RIM NATION EXERCISE IN HAWAII:Australia will form part of a further 21 Nations that willtake part in “Exercise RIMPAC 2012”. It is the world’s largest maritime exercise, conductedover 5 weeks and will conclude on the 3rd August.Australia will supply Navy, Army and Airforcepersonnel, and will lead the maritime component--thisis a FIRST.Commodore Stuart Mayer will be in charge of the 1,100strong Australian contingent. He will also be given thetask of planning and coordinating seven CombinedTask Forces comprising 40 surface ships and 6submarines and over 25,000 Navy, Army and Airforcepersonnel.Commodore Mayer said the opportunity to com mandthe maritime force is a tribute to the trust in which theAustralian Navy is held. It will also be a great personalchallenge.The RAN vessels involved will be the Frigates HMASDarwin and Perth and submarine HMAS Farncomb,which will also conduct a range of missions withAllied Forces, including Clearance Divers in action inHawaii.The RAAF will have AP-3C Orion and an Early Warningand Control Wedgetail aircraft to take part in anti-submarine warfare and surveillance operations.The Army will have approximately 150 personnel fromthe Townsville-based 1st Bn, 1 RAR, as well as a “SpecialPurpose Marine Group Task Force” from 3rd Brigade,who will work with the US contingent to furtherdevelop the ADF’s amphibious capability.RIMPAC 12’s primary mission is to enhanceinteroperability of the participating forces improvingindividual war fighting competencies, disaster reliefand maritime security operations. This year’s THEME is;Capable, Adaptive, Partners.
-------------------------(x) MENTORING TASK FORCE-4 RETURNS HOME:
Approximately 750 Brisbane-based soldiers from8th/9th Bn RAR returned home after a 5-monthdeployment in Afghanistan.The CO of MTF-4, LTCOL Kahlil Fegan, was pleased withthe progress his team had made, in the past 5 months,with the Afghan National Army’s 4th Brigade, 205 HeroCorps.LTCOL Fegan said his team had forged trust and
respect, with the ANA, during combat operations. Thiswas integral to the success of the mission.This involved several successful clearance operations,led by the ANSF. Another important step was the planning, building andmanning of a new Patrol Base at Chaka Juy in easternUruzgan Province. This was the result of the ANA determining the needfor a secure supply route from Tarin Kot to KhasUruzgan. The ANA are manning this base.MTF-4 personnel assisted in upgrading the route,transporting stores and equipment, providingspecialist trade skills at the build site and mentoringsecurity patrols in the area.A “Transfer of Authority” Ceremony, to 3 RAR, wasconducted at Tarin Kot on the 24th June. The ADF has now changed the name of the new Forceto 3RAR Task Group and they will be led by theirCommanding Officer, LTCOL Trent Scott.In another ‘release’ dated 12 July, two soldiers, from theabove mentioned relief Task Group, were injured whenthe Bushmaster vehicle they were travelling in, in theDeh Rawud region in Uruzgan province, had an IEDexplode beside them.Both received immediate first aid and were thenevacuated by helicopter to the medical facility at TarinKot. The more seriously wounded of the two soldierswill return to Australia for further recovery andrehabilition.
----------------------------(xi) SOLDIER WOUNDED AND MILITARY DOG KILLED IN
ACTION:During a ‘partnered’ operation between the AfghanNational Security Forces (ANSF) and the SpecialOperations Task Group (SOTG) on a mission (in lateJuly) to destroy an insurgent bomb training andmanufacturing facility, an Australian soldier received aminor fragmentation wound. He was treated at themedical centre and is now returned to full duties.17 Soldiers have been wounded in 2012, inAfghanistan.A military dog was also killed by insurgents’ small armsfire in the same mission. His body was recovered andreturned to the Multi-National Base-Tarin Kot and hisashes will be repatriated to Australia in the near future.The dog was 4 years old and on his second ‘tour’ toAfghanistan.(Sadly, I was not informed of the dog’s name but as anaside I note (thanks to “Google”) that, since 2001, in theUK over 800 war dogs have been ’put down’ as beingclassified as too fierce to see their days out as pets.Usually, when a ‘Sniffer dog’ comes to the end of itsdays he sees out the end of its life with his handler’sfamily. I read a beautiful article by Teresa J. Firthentitled “Military Working Dogs—A Service member’sbest friend from the back yard in War and in Peace”.Dogs are trained in 5 areas; Sentry/Attack, Sled, Pack,Messenger Carrying and Mine Detecting and Scout.Her conclusion read… ”All in all, military dogs haveserved faithfully and well in both war and peace. From thebattlefields of Germany in World War II to a complex inPakistan to help find one of our greatest enemies, theseanimals have truly been man's best friend. So on thiscelebration of Memorial Day: it is fitting to give a heartythree “woofs” for these wonderful and brave animals, themilitary working dog. “WOOF”, “WOOF”, “WOOF”.)
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Throughout this year 5 HealthCompany’s main effort has been thesupport to 5 Brigade and the deploy -ment of a Force Element to Timor-Lesteor TLTG5. Like any deployment theForce Element requires to be checked,medicals conducted for CFTS and thevaccinations of soldiers in readiness fordeployment. To prepare a forceelement of 170 personnel the staff of 5Health Company required to audit,dental check and medical board almost250 personnel to fill 170 position on thedeployment. This also included our ownhealth staff (in anticipation) for apossible position on the CSS manning.However, we are waiting to hear fromhigher command for approval beforeany guernseys are awarded to thosewho have nominated. Hopefully in thenext issue of the magazine we couldprovide more details on this.
This year has been a busy one withnot only TLTG5 preparations, but alsothe introduction of Garrison HealthServices to Army Reserve. This servicehas replaced the medical support inunit RAPs and the holding of all unitmedical records for Army Reserve atcentral locations. Health Company’sinvolve ment has been active from thestart with meetings at Forces Commandand Regional Health Services. SGTChapman the Training Sergeant (HealthCompany) was made the 5 BrigadeLiaison Officer. If he hasn’t got enoughof a workload with TLTG5, HealthCompany Trg Sgt role and any othertasks the OC throws at him (notphysically).
From the beginning of August stafffrom 5 Health Company will beaugmenting with civilian contractoremployed by Joint Health Services
(Regional Health Services NSW) toprovide medical/health support to theArmy Reserve. This will be conductedon allocated training weekends andTuesday night parades. Here memberswill attend a central location where theywill be able to attend to medical boards,vaccinations and alike. 5 Health Com -pany will be responsible to provide staffto Holsworthy Health Centre and to themedical centre located at HMASHarman in Canberra. This task will be achallenge for the reminder of the yearas we go through all of the bumps andtwists to get this process working.
In July the unit conducted a dinnerfor all of the Other Ranks posted to 5CSSB. The evening was call a ProtocolTraining Dinner. Health Companyattend ance at the dinner consisted of17 OR’s, not including the officers andSNCO’s. The dinner was supported bythe unit’s officers, WO’s and SNCO’swho performed a range of duties suchas; food and wine stewards, kitchenduties, bar duties and the marching ofthe Army Banner into the dinner. Thisjob was given to Health Company’s LTEd Campion as the Banner’s Ensign.Health Company also had the appoint -ment of Dining Vice President and thisrole went to LCPL Catherine Salmon.The evening was attended by the Comd5 Bde – Brig. Blood, 5 Bde RSM – WO1Chisea, CO 5 CSSB LTCOL Mandic andRSM WO1 Killen.
The evening almost did not get offto a good start for a certain OC whosomehow had left a certain item ofmess dress at home. However, the quickthinking of the Trg Sgt - SGT Chapmanalluded the problem and was able togain a cumberbund for the OC.
The evening provided an oppor -
tunity for the soldiers to gain an insightto mess etiquette with good food andbeverages served by officers and SNCOsand the company of fellow membersand guests in conversation. The dinnerconcluded with the traditionalspeeches of thanks to the staff whoprovided the assistance to the evening,presentations of awards and promo -tions. During the presentations SGTChapman was presented his DefenceLong Service Medal for 15 years serviceby the Comd 5 Bde Brig Blood. Welldeserved and congratu lations. PTEEdmond Hung and Belinda Donkers totheir surprise were promoted to LCPLby the CO LTCOL Mandic. At one pointwe were wondering whether Hungywould recognize he was being pro -moted until someone told him it washim they were announcing. Congra -tulation to both Hungy and Donkers onyour promotions.
A good night was had by all withthe officers, WO’s and SNCO’s invited bythe Dining President CPL Halabi to jointhe OR’s for drinks. This was acceptedand gave me an opportunity to per -sonally congratulate all our soldierswho were awarded and promoted.
That is all for now and hopefully beable give a further report in the nextissue.
Alan, thank you for the opportunityand look forward to talking with yousoon.
Regards,
David CzerkiesMAJOR
Officer Commanding 5 HealthCompany
5 Combat Service SupportBattalion.
5 CSSB Health Company News(with kind thanks to OC MAJ David Czerkies)
ANNUAL “MIXED” REUNION LUNCHEONLAST REMINDER
Please ‘fill in’ your intention (on the last page—ACTIVITY SHEET) to attend so as we can arrange with ourcaterer.
DATE: Saturday, 24th November 12 noon for 12.30pmWHERE: Paddington RSL Club, Oxford Street, PaddingtonDRESS: Smart Casual (Jacket and Tie optional)COST: $35 per head for food and refreshments
Our President, Derek Cannon, and your committee, warmly welcome you to attend with your partner/friends. We look forward to your company.
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John was born in July 1942 andcompleted his schooling with Mar -cellin College, Randwick in 1959,a f t e r a c h i e v i n g t h e L e a v i n gCertificate.
He studied Pharmacy at SydneyUniversity from 1960 to 1962 andgraduated Bachelor of Pharmacy.
John worked in communitypharmacy until 1977 and then inhospitals until 2008, when he optedfor retirement. John is still registeredbut not working.
He is enjoying working in avolunteer capacity as a guide at theNational Maritime Museum and alsoas a demonstrator in dispensing atSydney Univers i ty Faculty ofPharmacy.
In 1975, he joined 1st FieldAmbulance and applied for a com -mission in the RAAMC. “I will neverforget the officer who signed me up –h e h a d a h u g e ‘ h a n d l e - b a r ’moustache—his name was Stu Jonesand we became good friends—and westill are”.
Whilst waiting for his commissionto be ‘official’, his C.O. LTCOL MichaelDwyer asked him to enlist andattend their Annual Camp inFebruary 1976.
John ‘signed on’ and wasimmediately promoted to sergeant.He had one week’s experience in thearmy which he said …”led to some‘interesting’ situations, especially onthis camp”!
John’s commission came throughin September 1976.
H e s e r v e d w i t h 1 s t F i e l dAmbulance as Pharmacist until 1981by which time he had beenpromoted to Captain, and thentransferred to 1 General Hospital.
He was later promoted to Majorand posted as SO2 Pharm, 2 MD andthen transferred back to 1 GeneralHospital as OC Admin. for a fewmonths.
John, again, was transferred to5th Field Ambulance and posted asOC Admin.
He wrote…”I enjoyed a ‘stint’ asacting C.O. for 3 months whilst ourC.O. LTCOL Derek Cannon was absenttrekking around the NepaleseMountains”.
John was promoted to LTCOLand transferred to his next postingas SO1 Health at Health ServicesSupport Cell-Army.
John wrote that even though anopportunity did not arise for him to
volunteer for any overseas service,he thoroughly enjoyed his time inthe army.
Of a particular memory was thetime he attended Exercise K89 inDarwin. He was supposed to beattending as a medical officer in anadmin role but the morning after hearrived in Darwin, the Brigadiercommanding the Exercise SupportElement sent for John and saidwords to the effect…”You are aPharmacist aren’t you”? John repliedthat he was, and the Brigadiercontinued…”Well, our medicalresupply system is not working, go outand fix it”! John said it was an‘interesting’ 2 weeks.
In 1992, John received hisReserve Forces Decoration with aClasp and in 1996 he received hisAustralian Defence Medal.
John said he learned a lot fromthe Army and hopes that he hasbeen able to pass on somethinguseful in return.
John is married to Moira and theyhave two sons, Andrew, who is a‘sound engineer’ and Sean, who is alawyer and presently working in theUK.
MEMBER PROFILE
John McKeown
POEM — “SLOW DANCE”(With kind thanks to Barry Perigo by email — Author Unknown)
(It was supposedly written by a teenager from New York — she has cancer.)
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask “how are you”? Do you hear the reply?When the day is done, do you lie in your bed, with the next hundred chores running through
your head?
You’d better slow down, don’t dance so fast—time is short—the music won’t last.
Ever told your child “we’ll do it tomorrow?” and in your haste, not see his sorrow.Ever lost touch—let a good friendship die, ‘cause you never had time to call and say “Hi”.
You’d better slow down. Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there.When you worry and hurry through your day, it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.
(She concluded by saying “Life is not a race, do take it slower—hear the music before the song is over.)
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John Moreton Davies, born 30th August 1947, at “TheTerricks” Private Hospital, Darling Street, Leichhardt, NSW wasthe second son of Harold Kent and Lillian Mary Davies and ayounger brother to Kent.
We lived in a small cottage in Wright’s Road, Drum moyne,on the Parramatta River. Dad was a Store Manager forHaslem’s Menswear in the Sydney City CBD, while mum was ahome keeper raising the two of us boys while looking after herageing mother.
Dad’s family was from Brisbane and both of his brothers,one older and one younger, were sent to the war (WW2).Keith, the eldest, was in the RAAF while Douglas, previously inthe Militia, was in the Army, 2/10th Fld Rgt, and was takenprisoner by the Japanese. Following the completion of theBurma Railway he was transported by sea to labour in the coalmines or the shipyards of Japan. The Japanese ship that hewas on (RAKUYO MARU), was carrying bulk rubber, carried nomarking to indicate the presence of POW’s, was subsequentlytorpedoed by the USS Sealion (one of the American wolf packsnamed Ben’s Busters). Douglas Davies was lost at sea wethink.
Although dad had registered for military service in thisconflict he was rejected as medically unfit, but proudly worethe badge of a volunteer until the day of his untimely death atthe age of 35 years in 1952. I was just 5.
Mum was now the provider, Nanna inherited the role ofbabysitter of sorts, while mum did whatever work she couldfind to keep the home fires burning and putting food on thetable.
Schooling for my brother and I was at St Mark’s CatholicPrimary School Drummoyne before heading off to ChristianBrothers Technical High School at Rozelle for secondaryeducation. Kent was the scholar of the family winning anIntermediate State Bursary and completing his Higher SchoolCertificate at Lewisham Christian Bros. I was not a scholar nordestined to be an academic, but completed and passed theIntermediate Certificate as a “middle of the road student”.
As kids Kent and I grew up pretty quickly, doing morearound the home than most of the other kids. However, wewere lucky to have good friends around us who understoodthe situation and included us in many of their family activities.Mum, who was a proud and determined woman, carried onwith the task at hand, that of raising her two boys and lookingafter her mother until health problems engulfed her too. Nanpassed away in 1965 following a fall and then a stroke. Mumwas diagnosed with Lupus which was a new and debilitatingdisease way back then. As a result of Lupus she died in 1985.
Kevin Findlay, a neighbour residing two doors from ourhome, had become a fairly close friend to the whole family. Hewas a male nurse working at Gladesville Asylum, Callan Park,Broughton Hall and Balmain & District Hospitals, over a periodof time, had a caring, gentle and generous nature which wenthand in hand with the type of work that he did. Kevin, a Kiwi,was a RNZRPN (Royal New Zealand Registered PsychiatricNurse) and held a Diploma in Chiropody, a Korean Warveteran and a Sergeant. He was my introduction to the 5FldAmbulance Unit at Carrington Road, Randwick in 1963.
Early in this friendship, Kevin observed that I had a flare forsport of any kind and was fairly good at most, had a wild,daring, streak that needed to be harnessed into somethinggood. I had a love for manual and mechanical things, wasalways messing about with cars, even though I didn’t hold alicence. He said to my mum that he knew where I could putsome of that unbridled energy to good use, that was wherethe Army discipline came into my life (CMF).
Through guidance of family members, I had under takenan apprenticeship in the printing industry and was expectingto become a Hand and Machine Compositor. I was working at“The Land Newspaper”… aka The Bushmans Bible, in RegentStreet, Sydney, near Central Railway Station, which was aconvenient en route journey by public transport to bothhome and the Randwick Training Depot.
I was just 17 when I enlisted and received my servicenumber, #2127243. My armoury number was #22522, thosenumbers are a part of me to this day.
My employer allowed me time off for Annual Camps andBivouacs. I always “volunteered” for the Advance Party. Ienjoyed army discipline (as a casual or part time soldier), thiswas better than nothing. What kid of 17 could go to a livefiring range and become proficient with weapons like theOMC, SLR and pistols, drive 4WD, 6WD and a host of othervehicles across rough terrain and camp in the middle ofnowhere, in a forest, having arrived there by reading a map,this was life to me and I wanted more.
I really loved this part of my life. I met some great peoplewithin the unit in both formal and informal situations and Ihad adapted to respect and discipline fairly well.
I wanted to succeed, did all of the courses that I could,gained my first stripe, became a marksman with the OMC, SLRhad a G11 (army Driver Licence) with a few handy endorse -ments, sat for and passed all exams to Sergeant.
National Service had been reintroduced, so nearing 20years of age I was keen to become a full time soldier.
At this time in 5Fld Ambulance, LtCol Ian Dawson had“taken over” from LtCol Bob Reid as CO and following severallengthy discussions with him, regarding my desire forNational Service resulted in him granting me an HonourableDischarge with a strong recommendation for National Service,which included my full Service Corps history within the unit.
This was all to no avail – “they” wouldn’t let me volunteerbecause of the “Birthday Ballot” system. I attempted on otheroccasions to join Nashos even after my birthday numberwasn’t successful. I became frustrated and rejected, I decidedto finish my apprenticeship and move on with my life as acivilian.
For the next few years I lost sight of 5 Fld Amb and theboys. I had a change of direction in life and in 1970 moved toQueanbeyan, where I had taken the position of retraining thestaff of a country newspaper, The Quean beyan Age, who wereat that time changing from the old style of letterpress printingto the newer offset method as well as computer typesetting,lithographic platemaking and commercial camera operations,and web-offset newspaper production. All processes that Ihad been familiar with while I was in Sydney.
MEMBER PROFILE
A Brief Story of the Wanna-Be Soldierby John Davies
(With kind thanks to the members who furnished their personal details)
27
I married in late 1970 and had two children, firstly a boy(Evan) 1976 and a girl (Jane) 1980.
Then a further employment change in 1976 when Ientered the field of Sales and Marketing, when I wasemployed by Ramset Fasteners Australia P/L (a division ofSiddons Industries, well known for the production of Sid -chrome Tools) and this firm became an important and signi -ficant part of my life for the following 18 years.
I grew with the company in that time and progressed froma Sales Rep to being the Manager for ACT and Southern NSW.
I was involved with projects of varying type, size and value,throughout my territory. Parliament House and the DefenceForce Academy are two of the more notable, but there weremany others within the Parliamentary Triange and sur -rounding Canberra. At one time I had the smallest sales area inAustralia but had the biggest budget.
My greatest achievement in sales with Ramset was 177%and I was awarded “The Best Salesman in Australia” for thecompany.
During this time I attended the Annual Reunion Dinners ofthe Association, when time would permit, and I hadn’tforgotten the mates that I had made back at Randwick.
The pressure of business took its toll on my health in 1994,at age 47, I was first diagnosed with Non-HodgkinsLymphoma.
My marriage of 25 years had already failed. I had chemo forpretty much all of 1995, had a short reprieve but hadrecurrences in 97, 98, 99. My current wife Moira, supported methrough some of the most horrific times that one couldpossibly imagine.
In 1997, when my cancer returned and I was again in thegrips of chemotherapy, this time my freedom was for 11months. Then in 2000 my specialists decided that I shouldhave bone marrow transplantation and on the third day ofhigh dose chemotherapy I had a heart attack in the transplantward of Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital.
Alan Curry visited me there and presented me with myBeret with RAASC badge, which fitted my then very bald head.
The six or so weeks that followed saw my bloods slowlyrecover sufficiently for me to undergo open heart surgerywhere I had 5 coronary artery by-pass grafts.
This has put me out of action for a further 6 months whilethe Sydney Olympic Games were on. Needless to say who hadthe best seat in the house for that.
In November 2000 it was back to St. Vincent’s to completethe transplant which was expected to grant me 10-15 years ofcancer freedom. I got 13 months before my first recurrencewhere a mass the size of a grapefruit appeared behind myliver.
I had already had the strongest chemo drugs possibleduring the transplant and still the bugs were with -standing them so now it was up to radiotherapy.
31 cycles of four fields radiation every day for theduration saw the onset of severe depression andthere were times where I would wish that I hadtaken the choice of joining the Regular Army wayback and taken my chances in overseas combat,who knows what the outcome may have been?
At the completion of the radio I was totallyexhausted, and was advised to have a holiday torecover, then return in 6 weeks to see if the radio haddone its job.
On day four of our trip along the Great OceanRoad, Vic. I collapsed and was admitted to the
Apollo Bay Hospital. Good for the broken limb, cuts andscratches and general stuff of the normal tourist, but not thistime. I was complicated.
Moira to the rescue once again, she had me loaded to theeyebrows with morphine/pethidine, in the car and over theOttway Ranges to Geelong Hospital where I was to stay for thefollowing 15 days in the renal ward being stabilised before shegot me back home to Wagga.
My gall bladder had been newked in the radiation processand needed urgent removal. But that was another problem.Due to my recent radiation there were adhesions within thatarea. My surgeon was trying to buy time and was thinking of“choppering” me to Sydney for blood work when infection setin, time was running out.
He decided to bite the bullet and proceeded with thesurgery, later claiming that it was challenging, but on the upside, he said the radio had done its job and reduced the tumorto scar tissue.
Life came back to normal slowly over the following 11months when there was yet another call from my onco logist.There was a 35mm (golf ball sized) mass in the lower lobe ofmy right lung, more radio.
Since 2004 and all of this I have slowly recovered, but thetreatments have made their presence felt. I am a firm believerthat every treatment has its ups and downs, some fix someproblems and some create other problems. I can sure vouchfor that.
I now have osteoporosis, arthritis, wear glasses, hearingaids, take a multitude of medications and am a general messBUT I still have my own teeth, wake up in the morning, see thelight of day and hear the sound of Moira’s voice. I think we area long time dead and I’m not ready for that yet.
I have great memories of my life and the people whom Ihave encountered along the way. My part time army days arevery close to me and as I think back to Randwick, there havebeen so many gone before me… too many in fact. There istruth in the old saying “ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG”because I’m still here.
Given that life hasn’t been the kindest to me, I am notbitter, for although I haven’t been able to have a real job formany years I have been what I call useful in other ways, ie:volunteering with the Cancer Council is one where I oftenspeak with newly diagnosed people who just want to ask thequestions that only a survivor can answer. Sharing and caringis what I call that one.
Moira and I spend a lot of time with our grandkids andhave helped them in the preparation for school, that is veryrewarding to both of us and it does in fact help one to retainsome sort of sanity.
The acceptance of technology is another therapy for me.Only in the last 12 months I managed to get on the internet,
played around with a few emails, had a look at Googleand Wiki..... found what I had been missing out on forsometime.I have since put it to good use and researched into the
death of my uncle who was lost during WW2, and in doing sohave uncovered much unknown / unanswered questionsabout what what really happened in 1943 when the RakuyoMaru was torpedoed and the ensuing hours or days that hemay have been in the water with his fellow diggers.
The research is not completed yet but I do intend to followthrough with it and then, maybe, I’ll have some “real” familymilitary history to pass onto my grand children.
Thank you for sharing my story.
28
OLIVER FOOTWEAR www.oliver.com.au T: 1300 1 BOOTS (26687) E: [email protected]
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“ONE FINAL NIGHT”(D.J.Kramer)
Scatter me not to restless winds.Nor toss my ashes to the sea.
Remember now those years goneby…when loving gifts
I gave to thee.
Remember now the happy times…the family ties we shared.
Don’t leave my resting placeunmarked, as though
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A single lasting proof that says--I loved…
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DISAPPOINTMENTS!(With kind thanks to my Email friends)
It is an awful feeling to get dis -appointed, whether it is by otherpeople, by circumstances, or by yourown mistakes.
And yet, in each disappointmentthere is always an opportunity. When adisappointment comes, acknowledge itfor what it is, then quickly step awayfrom it and take a more objective look.
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When life lets you down there isvalue to be found in that dis appoint -
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When you go forward, you willoccasionally stumble, and when youchoose to positively recover from thosestumbles, you will move more quicklyahead.
(Mason Cooley said… ”Dis appoint -ment proves that expectations weremistaken”!)
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RAAMC ASSOCIATION INC. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
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Address
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Telephone Email Address
______Ordinary Member _______ Special Member (Other than RAAMC) ________Associate Member (Allied)
I understand membership of the RAAMC Association is free, however, I wish to make a donation of $___________to assist in the administrative costs. Please make cheques payable to the RAAMC Association. Donations to theRAAMC Association are VOLUNTARY.
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Name of Proposer: ____________________________________________Signature:_______________________
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31
““ SEMPER PARATUS “
5th
FIELD AMBULANCE RAAMC ASSOCIATION Patron: COL Ray Hyslop OAM RFD
President: LTCOL. Derek Cannon RFD
WEB SITE: www.5fdamb.com
A proud member of the RAAMC Association Inc.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Preferred Title:
Mr./ Mrs./ M/s. Dr. Etc. Date of Birth:
FAMILY NAME: (Wife/Partner Christian Name)
FIRST NAME OTHER NAME/S
Military/Civilian Awards (if any)_____________________________________
Service/PMkeyS Number (if applicable)______________________
ADDRESS NUMBER: ________
STREET NAME:
SUBURB/TOWN/CITY etc __________________________________
POST CODE:___________ STATE_________
Contact Details: Telephone (H) ___________________ (W) __________________
FAX: __________________ Mobile: _____________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS (If applicable):
I hereby apply to join 5th
Field Ambulance RAAMC Association as (Please mark “X” in
the appropriate box below)
� A FULL MEMBER (served/serving in the A.D.F. or Allied Forces)
� AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER (never served in the A.D.F. --Australian Defence Forces)
Annual Subscription ($15) is due on the 1st January each year. (Reminders will be
included in each “ACTIVITY SHEET”) --LIFE MEMBERSHIP is $100.
Cheques/Money Orders should be made out to “5th
FIELD AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION” and
forwarded to either — Alan Curry (Hon Sect) 6 Reliance Bvd, TANILBA BAY. N.S.W 2319 OR Brian Tams (Hon Treasurer), 4/24-26 Barrenjoey Rd, ETTALONG BEACH. NSW 2257. EFT
Details: BSB: 637000, A/C Number: 717253825, A/C Name: 5th
Field Ambulance Association, Bank:
Greater Building Society. (Please identify yourself). All acknowledgements will be in next Newsletter.
(SIGNATURE) ___________________________ (DATE) ________________
✂
32
✂
ACTIVITY SHEET (for SPRING Issue--2012)
(Please indicate your choice/s with an X or Tick. Any item ordered includes postage)
Please find enclosed my Subs for 2012 ($15) (cover from January to December)
or LIFE MEMBERSHIP ($100) or Donation (See my details below).
I will/will not be at our ANNUAL “MIXED” REUNION Luncheon on Saturday
24th
NOVEMBER. Please reserve me_____places @ $35 per head (all inclusive).
Please send me____ RAAMC Centenary “Coin and Token” set/s @ $30 each.
Please send me a RAAMC coat/jacket Lapel Pin for $15.
Please send me_____RAAMC Centenary (Stamped) Envelopes (1903-2003)
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add 10c stamp.)
Please send me ____RAAMC Red Cross Arm-Band @ $10 each. (8 left)
Please send me a 5 Field Ambulance RAAMC KEY RING ($20). (With my membership
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Please ORDER me a NAME BADGE ($20)
Please ORDER me a (XL/Large/Medium/Small) BERET ($30), *BERET BADGE
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and whether Badges/Ties are to be RAAMC or RAASC/RACT or RAEME.
Please ORDER me a copy of the Reserve Forces Day Committee book
“The 39 ER’S”. ($40)
Please ORDER me a copy of “Military of the Hunter—1855-2005 @ $45.
Please send me a copy of “Little by Little”--- A Centenary History of the RAAMC
by Dr. Michael Tyquin. @ $70. (2 left)
(Please make any Cheques/Money Orders etc payable to:- “5th
Field Ambulance Association” and
post to either:- Alan Curry (Hon Sec) 6 Reliance Bvd., TANILBA BAY NSW 2319 OR Treasurer,
Brian Tams, 4/24-26 Barrenjoey Rd., ETTALONG BEACH, NSW 2257 — All acknowledgements
will be in our next issue.
Our EFT details are: BSB: 637000, Account Number: 717253825, Account Name: 5th
Field
Ambulance Association, BANK: Greater Building Society. (Please Identify your name)
COMMENTS/ORDERS ETC: FROM:_________________________________
CONTACT No:_____________________MONEY ENCLOSED $_____________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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