BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2009

found in thick jungle in an extremely rugged, remote andsparsely populated area of Quang Nam Province, Vietnam,near the Laotian border, was that of the bomber, becausemilitary artifacts were found which included a club badgethat was unique to the RAAF’s No: 2 Squadron. No humanremains have been found, as yet.The former Minister of Defence, Hon Warren Snowden MPsaid…”These brave airmen gave their lives in the service of theirnation, and locating the crash site is an important step inaccounting for them”(Thank you, Rayda, I hope this newsletter finds you in goodhealth and that the trauma of selling your home was not too biga “hassle”!)★ ★ ★ ★ ★Robert (“Scotty) BOYD sends his good wishes to hisfriends in the Association and enjoys reading all the news.He wrote that himself and our other member, Noel Tame,recently met up with another good friend from 1 Gen Hospdays—RSM John Layhe.Scotty said that John remembered quite a few of ourmembers once names were tossed around. He was kindenough to give me John’s details. Hopefully, we might haveanother good member in our ranks in the near future buteven so, I have put John on our Mailing List for futurenewsletters.Scotty is hoping to be with us at our Re-Union inNovember.(Thank you, Scotty, I contacted John—who knows, youmight all get to the Re-Union and if so it would be a good thing.)★ ★ ★ ★ ★John GALLAGHER attended the RF Day celebrations inthe Domain and was accompanied by his wife, Sue.They were in the VIP section and John said it was awonderful spectacle and the RF Day Committee deservedevery accolade for a bold new concept that was carriedthrough with great confidence and fanfare.John was encouraging us as we passed by him.(Thank you, John, for your note, it was good to see you—alasall too briefly.)★ ★ ★ ★ ★Derek CANNON (Our President) returned an email I sentto him recently when I enquired, among other matters, afterhis health.We are in the process of trying to find a “Resting Place” forour Memorabilia and are hopeful it might be in the medicalmuseum at Bandiana.We are having some preliminary discussions with a fewparties and may be in a position in the future to make somedecisions.You would have read in Derek’s “Message” at the front ofthe magazine about his problem with Peripheral Neuropathy.It causes the nerves in his calf’s and feet to have a slowreaction, so much so that, as an example, when he is in his car,at traffic lights, he could not feel himself “revving” the engine.(The drivers either side of him must have thought he wantedto “burn them off”!) It is causing him great concern because itis curtailing his bush-walking and mountain climbingpleasures.He is trying to adjust his life style by slowing down but ishopeful that a pending visit to his Neurologist (in December)will show an improvement.(Thank you, Derek, for your note. I hope one of our doctorsmay be of help.)★ ★ ★ ★ ★John de WITT and myself have been writing to eachother over recent weeks in an endeavour to finalise his “Story”.John has been pretty crook for the last two years and hasbeen in and out of hospital.He has had a type of nerve rash for the last 12 months ormore and has frequent visits from the Home Nursing Staff toapply cream all over his body to lessen the itching.He is back in his own home now, but can’t get to anymeeting or functions because of the rash treatment andother medication he has to take.Each time I ring him he is ever so cheerful to me but Iknow he is doing it tough. He is grateful for the messages ofgood cheer from his mates in the Association and he hopesthat when you read his story you will enjoy it.He is hoping to join us on our Re-Union day in November.(Thank you, John, for all your perseverance and words ofwisdom. We all hope that when you read this newsletter you aregetting relief from your rash and feel better in yourself.)★ ★ ★ ★ ★Jim ROCHE was present at his good friend, Jim Ellis’sfuneral. He saw a number of our members including WarwickWilkinson, Bill Molloy and another friend, Don Faithfull. Hewas sorry he missed our group at the conclusion.Jim’s cousin, Percival Holmes, was in 5 Field Ambulance inWW 1 and is in the process of getting together someinformation for our newsletter.Doctor Bill McBride, is a good friend of Jim (Roche) and hemust have read one of our newsletters because he remarkedto Jim that his uncle, Bill Dunne, was also in 5 FieldAmbulance in WW 1.His uncle Bill was shot through the chest and Bill (McBride)had remarked that when he saw him in later life and saw thered mark on the front of his chest and another red mark onthe back, to show where the bullet had gone through hischest. His uncle recovered and went on to fight again inFrance.After the war, when he lived in Wagga Wagga he becamethe Mayor and had the pleasure of entertaining the Queenwhen she visited Wagga Wagga in the 1950’s.Recently, I sent our members (on email) a copy of an emailfrom MAJ John Straskye (President, RAAMC Association Inc.)regarding a future diorama depicting RAAMC involvementfrom the Sudan war onwards. Jim wrote that he would bevery interested to seeing the finished product. (See “Items ofInterest” No: 10 in this newsletter.)(Thank you, Jim, for your letter. It would be of some interest towrite about your cousin’s WW 1 experience. I thank you for Dr. BillMcBride’s details, I have put him on our Mail List.)22