ANZAC Newsletter - RAAMC Association

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(Thank you, James, for your very informa - tive letters and articles, they are always well received. I look forward to reading Ian’s book when it is available.) ------------------------------------ Charles O’MEALLY contacted me in late February to tell me the sad news that his partner, Florence Drayton, had passed away. They had been together for 29 years. I am a good mate of Charles and we worked together on the Sydney water - front. I got to know Florence, through Charles, and have seen, over those 29 years, a most devoted couple. Florence contracted alzheimer’s disease about 5 years ago and eventually Charles had to place her in 24-hour care at the very caring Calvary Nursing Home in Cessnock. I attended her Memorial on the 20th February, which was held in the Com - munity Chapel at the Nursing Home and about 30 family and friends came to pay their last respects. It was a most beautiful service, con - ducted by the Celebrant, M/s Karen Tweedie. M/s Margaret Albury, a soloist who sings for the residents, rendered three endearing songs—“Bye, Bye Blackbird”, “Danny Boy” and “May you Always” (the first two were Florence’s favourites). I was struck by the words at the end of the program, under a photo of Charles and Florence, which read…”Once in a lifetime you find someone who touches not only your heart but also your soul…Once in a lifetime you discover someone who stands beside you and not over you…Once in a lifetime—if you’re lucky—you’ll find someone…as I found you.” (Thank you, Charles, for your friend ship. You have lost your mate but you haven’t lost the memories—we are thinking of you.) --------------------------------- John DAVIES asked to pass on his good wishes to his friends in the Asso - ciation. He commented on my “Sea Odyssey” Story in our Christmas (2011) newsletter because it brought back memories of some very happy (and anxious) moments when he and Moira hired a “Sail-a- Clipper”. I knew John had given me this story and I wondered why I could not recall entering it in my 2011 (yet to be printed “Recorded in Newsletter” Items) – When I searched John’s “Messages to Members” in our Christmas Newsletter of 2003 I had written that his “TRIP of a LIFETIME” was in our “Attachments”—I had forgotten to put his article in!!! My sincere apologies John, It WILL go in a future Newsletter. When I was speaking with John, he told me of ‘near miss’ he had — he was helping out in his son’s Auto Supply shop (in Wagga Wagga) when a delivery truck arrived to place some stores in their storeroom at the rear of the shop. John pulled the roller shutter up to let the truck reverse in and when the driver departed, he started to lower the shutter but it ran off its track, so he got a ladder and climbed up to free it. As he was helping it into the guide, the ladder slipped and fell from under him. In his quick thoughts he grabbed on to the lip of the shutter as it descended, BUT then the shutter stopped dead and John, unfortunately, fell about 2 metres, onto the fallen ladder. Thankfully, he only broke a couple of ribs and received a bruised buttock and ego, but with John’s existing medical problems it will take him a lot longer to recover than a normal healthy person. John is thankful that it was not worse. He also kept me informed about the flooding situation in his hometown of Wagga Wagga. He and his family were spared the heartache of any flood damage. About 8,000 people were evacuated with many losing all their possessions. He said many crops and livestock were lost. (Thank you, John, for your help in remembering what year you and Moira did this trip. I am pleased to hear that you are slowly mending after your recent mishap. We hope when you read this you are (almost) back to normal. I was pleased to receive your Email regarding the flood waters.) -------------------------------- Ken ILES passed on his good wishes to his friends. I had to call him when the email I sent advising of the death of our member, John Straskye, ‘bounced’ back. He said he is having problems with his computer, then he also advised me of the death of a friend of his, that some of our members may know, LTCOL Brian Vern- Barnett. I did not know Brian personally. Ken said he was the head of the Dental Corps. Lest We Forget. (Thank you, Ken. I am sure we would have some members who would have known Brian. Please pass on our Association’s sincere sympathies to Brian’s family.) ------------------------------ Ken DOUST passes on his good wishes to his friends in the Association and enjoys reading all the news before leaving his copy in his surgery. He kindly wrote and enclosed a donation of $100 for his Life Member - ship. (Thank you, Ken, for your note and your cheque for Life Membership, it is very greatly appreciated.) --------------------------- Michael MORONEY kindly sent me the following email with some photos. ***** Dear Alan Please find attached photos of 5 Fld Amb Med pannier. It appears to be of WW1 vintage. The pannier was handed into Penrith RSL Sub-Branch by a member of the public. That person was not an Ex-Service member. The Sub-Branch could not supply any further details re donor or history of pannier. I happen to come across this situation when I went to the Sub-Branch to see how they handle memorabilia and displays. 30
As you know I am canvassing Burwood Sub-Branch members to consider donating items to Branch collection or Corp's museum before they pass on. In this regard I have received many valuable items for our Branch collection. One interesting item is an original WW2 Bluey and Curly comic in which they are serving members (Army). The Canberra War Museum has only a photocopy of the same comic. I am trying to ensure that items from other conflicts such as Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan are also donated. The response is a bit slow but consistent. Recently I revamped our display cabinet and in doing so I included a lot of the newly donated items. The revamped display was well received . The management and staff of the Club commented very favourably on the new display, which makes pursuing the saving of potentially lost memorabilia very satisfy ing. Regards Mike Moroney -------------------------------- FROM EILEEN HENDERSON On 9 March 2012 the Governor- General of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, hosted a lunch reception to celebrate Women’s Ex-service Organisa - tions and marking International Women’s Day 2012 at Admiralty House. There were about 150 female guests from the three services, past and present, from across Australia. Her Excellency greeted guests on arrival and during the course of the luncheon spoke to as many as possible. I was able to introduce her to three of our WWII Army nurses, all in their mid to late nineties. In her address she paid tribute to past and current serving members of the triservices and in particular, paid homage to the nurses for their service since the Boer War; also mentioned for their role was the Women’s Land Army, the AWAS and the WRAAC. Dignitaries in attend ance included Major-General Liz Crosson (Rtd), Deputy Commissioner DVA, NSW Ms Jennifer Collins, National President of the RSL, Ken Doolan and many senior women from the three services. A most enjoyable occasion was had by all. I attended the Military funeral for Brigadier Perditta McCarthy RRC, (Rtd) Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps on Friday 16 March 2012. ‘Mac’ or ‘Dita’ as she was known was the first female in the ADF to attain the rank of Brigadier. Mac enlisted in the AANS in 1941 and was posted to Katherine in July 1942 and saw service in New Guinea and New Britain. Her many appointments included Japan and Korea from 1951 through to 1954, in December 1960 was sent to Malaya and returned in January 1964. Her last appoint ment on 22 June 1970 was Matron-In-Chief of the RAANC a position which she held for six years; she was also appointed Honorary Nursing Sister to the Queen. Prior to her retirement, after thirtyone years, she was awarded the Royal Red Cross (RRC) for her dis tinguished service to nursing; she had been previously awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross (ARRC) for her Korean War Service. ------------------------------ Dates to put in your diaries for 2012 RAAMC Association Inc. (NSW Branch) FEBRUARY, *APRIL, JUNE, AUGUST, OCTOBER, DECEMBER. (They meet on the FIRST FRIDAY at 10.30am at Victoria Barracks, Sydney. An “OPEN INVITATION” is extended to you. Please advise me if you wish to attend. *Due to EASTER period this meeting will be held on the 30th MARCH. 25th APRIL MAY 1st JULY JULY (Sat. prior to Sydey Parade) JULY (1 st Sunday) SEPTEMBER (1 st Wednesday) NOVEMBER NOVEMBER (last Saturday) ANZAC Day AHS CENTAUR SERVICE (Concord Hospital, 113 AHG Memorial Chapel). (See page 13) RAAMC CORPS BIRTHDAY (Paddington RSL Club - TBA) RESERVE FORCES DAY --- NEWCASTLE RESERVE FORCES DAY --- SYDNEY (Lunch at Paddington RSL afterwards) BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA COMMEMORATION (Martin Place, Sydney, 11am) Reserve Forces Day “LAUNCH” (TBA) ANNUAL “Mixed” Reunion Luncheon (Paddington RSL Club) ---------------------------------- “Cut-Off dates” for articles in quarterly magazines ~ MARCH 20, MAY 24, AUGUST 19, NOVEMBER 25. 31
Page 1: ANZAC DAY NEWSLETTER AUTUMN ISSUE 2
Page 5 and 6: VALE ~ Sir Victor (“Bluey”) DAV
Page 7 and 8: His fruits have sprung up right aro
Page 9 and 10: Keith was named in the New Year Hon
Page 11 and 12: MAJOR JOHN STRASKYE… Cont’d fro
Page 13 and 14: COL Suresh BADAMI OAM RFD * CAP Ste
Page 15 and 16: Message from the President Welcome
Page 17 and 18: Message from the Secretary Dear Mem
Page 19 and 20: ANZAC DAY March Details Wednesday,
Page 21 and 22: JANUARY: FEBRUARY: Happy Birthday A
Page 23 and 24: CHAPLAIN’S CORNER SERVICE - It’
Page 25 and 26: Mrs. Sue JONES is sincerely welcome
Page 27 and 28: MESSAGES FROM MEMBERS “Bill” O
Page 29 and 30: emembrance of his cousin, Leo Scull
Page 31: medical/ambulance Association. He a
Page 35 and 36: Items of Interest (1) MEDIA RELEASE
Page 37 and 38: NOTE: ADF Members serving outside S
Page 39 and 40: those soldiers who were pushing the
Page 41 and 42: When “Weary” Dunlop died in 199
Page 43 and 44: GA. He was the enlisted Honour Grad
Page 45 and 46: Thank You (From your Committee) Tha
Page 47 and 48: RAAMC ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED) AP
Page 49 and 50: “ SEMPER PARATUS “ 5 th FIELD A
Page 51 and 52: Buy a new car with your Pre-Tax Sal

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