TOUKLEY RSL SUB BRANCH

Newsletter

Issue 30 – 6 November 2017

From the President:

The Sub Branch will be holding a Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph this Saturday, 11 November 2017 commencing at 10.40am. We look forward to having as many attending this important service, as possible. As in previous years, representatives from the Sub Branch will be visiting the Norah Head Cemetery on Friday, 10 November 2017 and placing poppies at the graves of departed veterans, in remembrance. Poppies will also be placed at each plaque at the cenotaph on the morning of Remembrance Day. The Loan to Club Limited has still not been finalised but both Club Limited and the Sub Branch are continually following up to, hopefully, have this matter signed off by the State President, James Brown, without too much more delay. This has been a particularly frustrating process, as we need just one signature, so that this matter can come to fruition. I am pleased to report that the ODE which is played each day in Club Limited is now working as it should. This has taken a little time to sort out but I feel that it is now much better than what we previously had. At the present time we have a Draftsman drawing up the cenotaph area and Memorial Gardens and this should be completed prior to Christmas. Central Coast Memorials is also providing Section Markers for the 6 Memorial Gardens. This work should also be completed by Christmas. The Sub Branch has made written application to the Federal Government for financial assistance for the proposed two bronze statues for the cenotaph. Any assistance we receive will not cover the full cost and installation of the statues, so we are intending to hold a Golf Day in the future (once the State’s fundraising directive has been lifted) with funds raised going towards this project. Upgrade of the Sub Branch carpark and retaining walls is also on our Agenda for the future.

These two photos show two bronze statues superimposed onto our cenotaph, giving an idea of how they could look.

The directive from NSW State RSL to cease all fundraising activities, without exception, remains in place. This has meant that we have been unable to sell poppies for Remembrance Day. I do not know how long this directive will remain in place but I will keep you informed and updated. Tickets are now available for the Sub Branch Christmas party on Sunday 17 December, commencing at 11.00am. Cost per Sub Branch member and partner is $20.00 per person which includes a fabulous three-course lunch, drinks and entertainment. As with previous Christmas functions, a monster raffle, consisting of approximately 40 prizes will also be held. Special mention must be made that the raffle will be run at a loss, as has been the case with previous Christmas in July and Christmas party raffles. There is no money raised from these raffles. For those who are interested, Merchant Mariners’ Day will be held at Norah Head Lighthouse on Saturday 2 December 2017 at 11.00am. This day is being organized by Yasmin Catley MP’s Office at Swansea. The Sub Branch will have a representation on the day, and our bus will be leaving the Club at 10.15am for Norah Head. Limited seating is available on the bus, so please speak to Allan Love to reserve your seat if you are intending on going to this service. With Anzac Day 2018 six months away, the Sub Branch has commenced work for this important day. Next year, we expect to be conducting 21 services (10 schools/11 services, 8 Aged Care Facilities, 2 Anzac Services at the cenotaph). Due to Anzac Day falling in the midst of the school holidays, we anticipate attending Anzac Services for up to two weeks after Anzac Day. The Sub Branch has sent out interim letters to the Schools and Aged Care Facilities asking for preferred dates and times for services. We have one school so far with a date locked in for their service. We have also submitted a Grant to Central Coast Council to cover costs of road closures for the Dawn and Morning Services. The first meeting between the four Patrons from Toukley RSL Sub Branch and the MacKillop Catholic College sporting/educational contingent’s upcoming visit to New Zealand took place on Friday 2 November 2017. The Sub Branch Patrons are Bob Wilson, Milton Porter, Keith Bailey and Arch Wooldridge. An update from this meeting will be given at the November General Meeting. We are very proud to be invited to assist these young ambassadors.

The next General Meeting will be held on Monday 4 December 2017. Bob Wilson, President

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sub Branch General Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month,

At 10.00am, upstairs in Club Toukley RSL, with the exception of January.

All Members are invited to attend.

Saturday 11 November 2017 Remembrance Day

Sunday 17 December 2017 Christmas Party

Wednesday 25 April 2018 Anzac Day

NEW SUB BRANCH MEMBERS

Welcome to the following new Sub Branch Members:

VALE

Ernest Laurence GARTUNG – 12 October 2017

Lest we forget

LADIES’ AUXILLIARY

Good morning members

We have 1 more member joining making 11 in all

No more news at this time, with the suspension of

Charities we are in a time warp of idle hands , well not really

Idle as we all ways have things to do

Fundraising are what we are all about, staying on a

Positive note things will soon be back to busy days

We have missed the selling of Poppies which has

Saddened our hearts

Meeting the public & the many characters & the

Generosity of many have been enjoyable

Take care every one enjoy your moments & your days

Whilst reading this report

The old girl will be in Tasmania , awe wipe your tears

Cause I will be back ., Xmas Party to look forward to

In friendship

Danny

Secretary \\ Treasurer

Why did the British wear red coats in battle?

During the latest royal wedding, millions around the world saw that Prince William chose to

wear a uniform that included the famous British "red coat."

Many people have asked, "Why did the British wear red coats in battle?"

A long time ago, Britain and France were at war. During one battle, the French captured a

British Colonel. They took him to their headquarters, and the French General began to

question him. Finally, as an afterthought, the French General asked, "Why do you British

officers all wear red coats? Don't you know the red material makes you easier targets for us to

shoot at?"

In his casual, matter-of-fact, way, the officer informed the General that the reason British

officers wear red coats is so that if they are wounded, the blood won't show, and the men they

are leading won't panic.

And that is why, from that day forward, all French Army officers wear

brown trousers.

Gandhi - Brilliant!

Gandhi ... A lovely little anecdote about one of life's more interesting characters

When Mahatma Gandhi was studying law at the University College of London, a

professor by the name of Peters disliked him intensely and always displayed

animosity towards him. And because Gandhi never lowered his head when

addressing him, as he expected, there were always "arguments" and

confrontations.

One day Mr Peters was having lunch at the University dining room when Gandhi came along with his tray and sat next to him. The professor said, "Mr Gandhi, you do not understand. A pig and a bird do not sit together to eat. "Gandhi looked at him as a parent would a rude child and calmly replied, "You do not worry, professor. I'll fly away," and he went and sat at another table. Peters, red with rage, decided to take revenge on the next test paper, but Gandhi responded brilliantly to all questions. Unhappy and frustrated, Mr Peters asked him the following question: "Mr Gandhi, if you were walking down the street and found a package, and within was a bag of wisdom and another bag with a lot of money, which one would you take?" Without hesitating, Gandhi responded, "The one with the money, of course." Mr Peters, smiling sarcastically, said, "I, in your place, would have taken the wisdom." Gandhi shrugged indifferently and responded, "Each one takes what he doesn't have." Mr Peters, by this time, was fit to be tied. So great was his anger that he wrote on Gandhi's exam sheet the word "idiot" and handed it back to him. Gandhi took the exam sheet and sat down at his desk, trying hard to remain calm while he contemplated his next move. A few minutes later, Gandhi got up, went to the professor and said to him in a dignified but sarcastically polite tone, "Mr Peters, you autographed the sheet, but you did not give me a grade.

Keep an eye out for this one at the new exit to Maryborough Qld.

Beware !!!

Look for abnormalities in the Armco safety rail. This one gets you and you don`t know where it was that you were

If you have an idea which you think could benefit or improve the Sub Branch, please put it in writing or speak to one of our Committee Members. Remember that we are there to represent the members, so if you have any

ideas, then please let us know.

booked. Coming to a road near you. Should bring in another mountain of revenue! This new style speed camera is on the highway leading into Maryborough! It's one of many that will be installed over the next 12 months throughout Qld.

and of course, everywhere else, after that!!!

The Prudish Son and the Sausage Factory

There once was a man who owned a sausage factory, and he was showing his arrogant preppy son around his factory.

Try as he might to impress his snobbish son, his son would just sneer.

They approached the heart of the factory, where the father thought, "this should impress him!"

He showed his son a machine and said: "Son, this is the heart of the factory.

With this machine here we can put in a pig, and out come sausages."

The prudish son, unimpressed, said:

"Yes, but do you have a machine where you can put in a sausage and out comes a pig?"

The furious father thought and said: "Yes son, we call it your mother."

Within the next 20 years during our lifetime we will be living in a different world !

An interesting talk by the Managing Director of Daimler Benz, Jonathan

Brathwaite, an International Tax Lawyer and founder of Mithril Advisors, as of May

10, 2017

- a bit mind-blowing really --

There have always been the same 3 constants... Death, Taxes and CHANGE!

An interesting concept of what could lay ahead.

Our competitors are no longer other car companies but Tesla (obvious), Google,

Apple, Amazon 'et al' ... Software will disrupt most traditional industries in the next 5-

10 years.

Uber is just a software tool, they don't own any cars, and are now the biggest taxi

company in the world

Airbnb is now the biggest hotel company in the world, although they don't own any

properties.

Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in understanding the

world. This year, a computer beat the best Go player in the world, 10 years earlier

than expected.

In the US, young lawyers already don't get jobs. Because of IBM Watson, you can get

legal advice (so far for more or less basic stuff) within seconds, with 90% accuracy

compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans.

So if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% less lawyers in the future,

only specialists will remain.

Watson already helps nurses diagnosing cancer, 4 times more accurate than human

nurses. Facebook now has a pattern recognition software that can recognize faces

better than humans. In 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans.

Autonomous cars: In 2018 the first self-driving cars will appear for the public. Around

2020, the complete industry will start to be disrupted. You don't want to own a car

anymore. You will call a car with your phone, it will show up at your location and

drive you to your destination. You will not need to park it, you only pay for the driven

distance and can be productive while driving. Our kids will never get a driver's license

and will never own a car.

It will change the cities, because we will need 90-95% less cars for that. We can

transform former parking spaces into parks. 1.2 million people die each year in car

accidents worldwide. We now have one accident every 60,000 miles (100,000 km),

with autonomous driving that will drop to one accident in 6 million miles (10 million

km). That will save a million lives each year.

Most car companies will probably become bankrupt. Traditional car companies try

the evolutionary approach and just build a better car, while tech companies (Tesla,

Apple, Google) will do the revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels.

Many engineers from Volkswagen and Audi; are completely terrified of Tesla.

Insurance companies will have massive trouble because without accidents, the

insurance will become 100x cheaper. Their car insurance business model will

disappear.

Real estate will change. Because if you can work while you commute, people will

move further away to live in a more beautiful neighborhood.

Electric cars will become mainstream about 2020. Cities will be less noisy because all

new cars will run on electricity. Electricity will become incredibly cheap and clean:

Solar production has been on an exponential curve for 30 years, but you can now see

the burgeoning impact.

Last year, more solar energy was installed worldwide than fossil. Energy companies

are desperately trying to limit access to the grid to prevent competition from home

solar installations, but that can't last. Technology will take care of that strategy.

With cheap electricity comes cheap and abundant water. Desalination of salt water

now only needs 2kWh per cubic meter (@ 0.25 cents). We don't have scarce water in

most places, we only have scarce drinking water. Imagine what will be possible if

anyone can have as much clean water as he wants, for nearly no cost.

Health: The Tricorder X price will be announced this year. There are companies

who will build a medical device (called the "Tricorder" from Star Trek) that works

with your phone, which takes your retina scan, your blood sample and you breath

into it.

It then analyses 54 biomarkers that will identify nearly any disease. It will be cheap,

so in a few years everyone on this planet will have access to world class medical

analysis, nearly for free. Goodbye, medical establishment.

3D printing: The price of the cheapest 3D printer came down from $18,000 to $400

within 10 years. In the same time, it became 100 times faster. All major shoe

companies have already started 3D printing shoes.

Some spare airplane parts are already 3D printed in remote airports. The space

station now has a printer that eliminates the need for the large amount of spare parts

they used to have in the past.

At the end of this year, new smart phones will have 3D scanning possibilities. You can

then 3D scan your feet and print your perfect shoe at home.

n China, they already 3D printed and built a complete 6-storey office building. By

2027, 10% of everything that's being produced will be 3D printed.

Business opportunities: If you think of a niche you want to go in, ask yourself: "in the

future, do you think we will have that?" and if the answer is yes, how can you make

that happen sooner?

If it doesn't work with your phone, forget the idea. And any idea designed for success

in the 20th century is doomed to failure in the 21st century.

Work: 70-80% of jobs will disappear in the next 20 years. There will be a lot of new

jobs, but it is not clear if there will be enough new jobs in such a small time.

Agriculture: There will be a $100 agricultural robot in the future. Farmers in 3rd

world countries can then become managers of their field instead of working all day

on their fields.

Aeroponics will need much less water. The first Petri dish produced veal, is now

available and will be cheaper than cow produced veal in 2018. Right now, 30% of all

agricultural surfaces is used for cows. Imagine if we don't need that space anymore.

There are several startups who will bring insect protein to the market shortly. It

contains more protein than meat. It will be labelled as "alternative protein source"

(because most people still reject the idea of eating insects).

There is an app called "moodies" which can already tell in which mood you're in. By

2020 there will be apps that can tell by your facial expressions, if you are lying.

Imagine a political debate where it's being displayed when they're telling the truth

and when they're not.

Bitcoin may even become the default reserve currency ... Of the world!

Longevity: Right now, the average life span increases by 3 months per year. Four

years ago, the life span used to be 79 years, now it's 80 years. The increase itself is

increasing and by 2036, there will be more than one year increase per year. So we all

might live for a long long time, probably way more than 100.

Education: The cheapest smart phones are already at $10 in Africa and Asia. By

2020, 70% of all humans will own a smart phone. That means, everyone has the

same access to world class education.

Every child can use Khan academy for everything a child needs to learn at school in

First World countries. There have already been releases of software in Indonesia and

soon there will be releases it in Arabic, Suaheli and Chinese this summer. I can see

enormous potential if we give the English app for free, so that children in Africa and

everywhere else can become fluent in English and that could happen within half a

year.

New Website for ADF Serving and ex-Serving Members

For information and circulation

Defence has launched a new website to assist Serving and ex-serving members get

support.

https://engage.forcenet.gov.au/

Welcome to Engage Supporting those who serve

Engage is an online portal where users can search for free services and support

designed to benefit current and former ADF members; their families, and/or those

involved in their support. Engage simplifies the process of accessing support by

providing information on not-for-profit services available from a range of service

providers.

Engage ‘connects’ users to support services based on different criteria including:

• Need

• Physical location – local, regional and national

• Service or support required

Engage will readily link to a range of support and services from:

• Government, including Defence and Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Not-for-profit service providers and charities.

• Other service providers who choose to participate.

Engage will be operated by the Department of Defence, with data maintained by

participating service providers.

Patron: President: Vice Presidents: Secretary: Treasurer: Committee: Telephone: Fax: Pensions & Welfare: Bob Williamson (Welfare) Graham Tredinnick (Welfare) Bob Swift (Welfare) Stephen Edmunds (Welfare) James McCann (Pensions) Newsletter Co-ordinator: Phone: Email:

Karen McNamara Bob Wilson Tom Hobbs Keith Bailey Graham Tredinnick Milton Porter George Meier Ray Sutton Bob Swift Allan Love 4396.4855 4396.9310 4396.8807 Keith Bailey 0411.446.098 Kemanisu4@bigpond.com.au

ON WITH

RETIREMENT