ANZAC Newsletter - RAAMC Association

Message from the Secretary
Dear Members,
This being our first newsletter for the New Year, our
committee wishes each of you a healthy and prosperous
2012.
To our sick members, we pray that the coming
months will see you regaining your strength and ready
to do battle—again.
A very sincere “thank you” to all the ‘carers’ who are
looking after their loved ones.
We also pray that any of our members who have had
their townships flooded in those terrible down-pours up
and down the east coast, during February and March,
are safe and well.
You may have noticed on Page 1 that we have an
Honorary Chaplain.
Our President and committee fully endorse the
appointment of our member, Brian Hogan, as our
Honorary Chaplain. Brian served with 5th Field
Ambulance in the early 60’s as our RAEME compliment.
Some of you may have already received a phone call,
or perhaps a personal visit, from Brian.
I won’t go into his history other than to tell you he
has written quite a lot about himself and his family. I
hope when you read it it will give you a much better
insight into the man.
Brian will endeavour to put an article in every Issue of
our newsletter, under the heading—CHAPLAIN’S
CORNER. Brian’s contact numbers are available if you
feel the need to have a chat—on any matter,
whatsoever.
We thank Derek for sending Brian a warm welcome
on accepting his new role.
Just recently, Ruth and I were ‘shouted’ a few days
away (being for Ruth’s 75th birthday) to a beautiful,
relaxing boutique vineyard in the picturesque Lower
Hunter Valley of NSW.
Our youngest son, Greg, and his wife, Niki, (and their
son Marcus and his friend Jamie) had ‘surprised’ us by
taking us to the Tranquil Vale Winery in Luskintyre.
It was only an hour’s drive from our home in Tanilba
Bay and what a lovely couple of days we spent with
some of our family.
CORRECTION
In our MESSAGES FROM MEMBERS in our last
Newsletter (Christmas – SUMMER Issue 2011) an
article was submitted by our member Chris O’Reilly
(page 31) regarding a Posthumous Award to Capt.
J.R.O. Thompson of the RAMC. I wrote that he
received the Victoria Cross. Chris definitely (and
correctly) wrote that it was The George Cross.
I thank a reader of our magazine, a Mr. Terry
Hissey, for contacting me. My apologies Chris.
------------------------
Tranquil Vale is
situated on 25 acres of
trellised grapevines—one
part is set aside for the red
grapes and the other part is
for the white grapes.
They have 3 beautiful
bungalows set about 50 metres apart
and each one is very private.
Each bungalow, which can accommodate 4 people
in much comfort, is self-contained and has 2 spacious
bedrooms, a large toilet/shower room, a large kitchen
and a large dining/lounge room.
They also have a long front and back verandah. The
back verandah was a most relaxing place to sit,
especially at sunset, and look out across the rows of
vines and onto the rolling hills beyond.
The facility has an all-weather tennis court (day and
night), a gymnasium, other sports equipment and a
large swimming pool.
Bill and Trish Johnson were our hosts; they are old
friends of both Stephen (our eldest son), Greg and
myself. Greg and Bill played in the same Rugby League
team (Macquarie University) for quite a few years and I,
of course ‘barracked’ for the team.
Bill and Trish have two lovely daughters, Lily (the
eldest) and Asta, and, although both attend High
School, they love the vineyard and help whenever
possible.
For an enjoyable and peaceful stay for any length of
time, I thoroughly recommend this lovely place to any
reader.
For any member who has access to the internet, look
at; www.tranquilvale.com.au and their Email is;
info@tranquilvale.com.au or you might like to phone
Bill or Trish on (02) 4930.6100 and make some enquiries.
Also on a happy note, Ruth and I recently (Feb/Mar)
had 17 lovely days up at Mission Beach staying with our
eldest granddaughter, Abby and her family. It gave us a
chance to be with some of our family, which includes
our eldest son, Stephen, and his family. I enjoyed giving
Abby plenty of driving lessons and by the time you read
this she will, hopefully, be fully licenced to drive her
family around without relying on her husband, Tawhai.
(STOP PRESS—She got it!!)
The sad part was being informed of the passing of
two good friends from our Association, John Straskye
and Sir Keith Jones, and being unable to attend their
funerals.
Alan Curry
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