5 FIELD AMBULANCE RAAMC ASSOCIATION

CHRISTMAS Newsletter

SUMMER ISSUE 2017 WEB SITE:WWW.RAAMC.ORG.AU

A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE RAAMC ASSOCIATION Inc.

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A Proud Supporter of 5 Field Ambulance Association

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5 Field Ambulance RAAMC Association

Patron: COL Ray Hyslop OAM RFD

Office Bearers PRESIDENT: LTCOL Derek Cannon RFD– 31 Southee Road, Richmond NSW 2753—

(M) 0415 128 908

HON SECRETARY: Alan Curry OAM—35/1a Gordon Close, Anna Bay NSW 2316

(H) (02)4982.2189 (M) 0427 824 646 Email: curry36@bigpond.net.au

HON TREASURER: Brian Tams—453/1 Scaysbrook Drive, Kincumber NSW 2251

(H) (02) 4368 6161

COMMITTEE: WO 1 Warren Barnes OAM Mobile: 0409 909 439

Fred Bell (ASM) Mobile: 0410 939 583

Barry Collins OAM Phone: (02) 9398 6448

Ron Foley Mobile: 0422 376 541

Ann Jackson Mobile: 0407 236 724

CONTENTS

DISCLAIMER:

Opinions expressed in our quarterly newsletters are not necessarily those of our Patron, Ex-

ecutive or Committee. We welcome any input as long as it is not offensive or abusive but if

any member has a problem with a printed article we would like to be informed in order that

the author may be contacted. We do encourage your opinion.

LIFE MEMBERS- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4

VALE—Brian Hogan, Steve Dubsky ---------------------------------------------------------------- Pages 5/6

President’s Message --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 7/8

5 Health Coy. Report ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 8

Secretary’s Message/Grandparents Answering Machine --------------------------------------- Page 9

Poem-’Bivouac of the Dead’ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 10

VP Day (Summary) including Speech-Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO ------------------ Pages 11/12

Australian National Flag Day and Ceremony (Summary) -------------------------------- Pages 13/14

HAPPY BIRTHDAY/Fund-Raising Effort/Application Forms ----------------------------------- Page 15

Chaplain’s Corner (from our ‘late 'Honorary Chaplain Brian Hogan) ---------------------------------- Page 16

Battle For Australia (summary) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 17

Messages from Members ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pages 18-22

75th Anniversary-Kokoda Campaign/Samantha Cantle (profile) ---------------------- Pages 22/23

Photos/Story-”The Smell of Rain” ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 23

Late Subscribers/THANK YOU --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 24

Sick Parade/Poems “Tread Gently” and “Try to Understand”-------------------------------- Page 25

New Members -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 26

Kind Acknowledgements ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 27

Items Of Interest ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pages 28-32

ANNUAL REUNION (Summary) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 33/34

Story-”The Smell of Rain” (Continued from Page 23)/Diary Dates for 2018/POEM “11/11” ------- Page 34

Activity Sheet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 35

ADVERTISEMENTS: Any enquiries to advertise in our magazine, please contact

Alan Curry (above) or any committee member (details are listed above) We are a

‘Not-For-Profit’, community-based organisation and we are unincorporated, and

have been since 1982.

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LIFE MEMBERS (Please contact me if I have omitted your name or corrections are needed)

Mr. Samuel ALEXANDER WO 11 Michael ALI COL Suresh BADAMI OAM RFD # Mr. Adam BAILEY Mr. Trevor BARNES RFD WO I Warren BARNES OAM Mr. Alan BECKERLEG Mr. Fred BELL Mr. Robert (‘Scotty’) BOYD Dr. Harding BURNS OAM Mr Bob BUTLER LTCOL Derek CANNON RFD # Mrs Edna CANNON Mr. Greg CANT WO1 Mick CARLSON (Rtd) Mr. Kevin CARTER Mr. George CARUANA Mr. Ben CASTLE CMDR James CHAPMAN (Rtd) Mr. John CHARTER Mr. Noel CHRISTENSEN RFD Mr. John CLEGG Mr. K.B. (Barry) COLLINS OAM Mr. David COOPER OAM Mr. Roy CROSSLEY # Mr. Joseph CRUMLIN OAM Mr. Gordon CURTIS Mr. Alan CURRY OAM Mr. Greg CURRY Mr. John CURRY Mr. Patrick CURRY # Mr. Stephen CURRY MAJ David CZERKIES MAJ Peter DALGLEISH RFD WO 11 Theo DECHAUFEPIE # Mrs. Olive DODD Mr. George DONNELLY Dr. Ken DOUST OAM LTCOL Marie DOYLE Mr. Stuart DOYLE Mr. Gavin DRISCOLL LTCOL Andrew ELLIS OAM # M/s Brittany EVANS # M/s Felicity EVANS # Mr Josh EVANS # Mrs. Julie EVANS # Mr. Tony EVANS MAJ Madeline EVES RFD Mr. Phillip FAGUE Mr. Laurie FARRUGIA JP Brett FERRARI Mr. Nelson FIORENTINO Mr. Garry FLOOD # Mrs. Adrienne FOLEY Mr. Ron FOLEY Mrs. Frances FOOKES (nee Henderson) LTCOL Paul FOOKES Mr. Richard FORD MAJ John GALLAGHER Mr. Joe GATTY CAP John GORRELL RFD (Rtd) # Mrs. Margaret GORRELL Victoria GORRIE Mr. Gordon GRANT MiD

Mr. Barry (Bob) GRIEVES Mr. George HARRIS Mr. John HEAD MAJ Eileen HENDERSON OAM RFD

(nee Anderson) LTCOL Kym HENDERSON RFD Mr. Rodney HOGAN MAJ James HOOLAN Jr. USMC (Rtd) Mr. Edward HUNG LTCOL Sandy HUNT-SHARMAN RFD

(Ret’d) # Mrs. Norma HUTTON COL Ray HYSLOP OAM RFD Mr Ken ILES RFD CAP Jim ILIOPOULOS CAP Natalie ILIOPOULOS (nee

Polydoropoulos) Mr. Terry IRVINE Mrs. Ann JACKSON (nee Williams) # Mr. Don JARMAN Mr. Ernest JOHNSON Mr. Richard JONES # Mrs. Sue JONES LTCOL Stuart JONES RFD Mr. Anthony JORDAN MAJ Robert (Bob) KENYON Mr. Doug KERSEY Mr. Colin KLINE LTCOL Edward KREMER OAM COL Frank LANG OAM RFD ED (Rtd) # Mr. Terry LANGWORTHY Mr. John LAYHE EM LT Igor LEMECH # Mr. Bryan LINDSAY # Mr. Geoffrey LINDSAY # Mrs. Maureen LIVINGSTON MAJ Kathleen LOADSMAN Mr. Robert LOVE Mr. Edwin LOWERY Mr. Alen LUCIC Mr. Huss MAHOMET Mr. Nick MARSHALL Dr. Helena MARTIN # Mr. Don MELVILLE Mr. Gordon MILLS Mr. Paul MISTO COL Bill MOLLOY RFD ED Mr. Michael MORONEY # Mr. Charles MURRAY # Dr. William McBRIDE AO CBE Mr. John McCARTHY Mr. Hugh McCARTY # Dr. Philip McGRATH # Mrs. Trish McGRATH LTCOL John McKEOWN RFD (Rtd) CAP Tom McLANDERS (Rtd) # Mrs. Yvonne McLEAN Mr. Ken McNUFF # M/s Marion NEWMAN CAP Richard NG # Mrs. Rayda NOBLE (nee Prain) MAJ John O’BRIEN (Rtd) # Mr. Peter O’GRADY Mr. Barry O’KEEFE

WO 1 E. (Bill) O’KEEFE (Rtd)) Mr. Charles O’MEALLY COL John OVERTON AM RFD MAJ Peter PAISLEY (Rtd) WO 2 Steve PARIS (Rtd) MAJGEN John PEARN AO RFD CStJ MAJ Robert PEARSON (Rtd) Mr. Barry PERIGO # Mrs. Heather PERIGO Mr. Peter PETHER LTCOL David PHILLIPS RFD Mrs. Karen PHILLIPS (nee Stead) WO 1 Ken PHILLIPS OAM Mr. Bob PINK OAM Mr. John PRICE Dr. F.G. (Geoff.) PRIOR +Mr. Thomas (Tom) PRITCHARD COL Robert (Bob) REID ED (Rtd) CAP Alan ROBINSON (Rtd) CAP James ROCHE OAM MAJ John ROCHE OAM Mr. Michael ROWLEY Mr. Bill RYLANDS Mrs. Cathy SALMON LT Susan SALVI Mr. Paul SHERGOLD Mr. Robert SHILLINGSWORTH Mr. George SIP Mr. Ross SMITH Mr. Stephen STANSFIELD CAP Stephen STEIGRAD (Rtd) Mr. Robert STEWART # M/s Judith STRACHAN Mr. Chris STRODE Mr. Peter SULLIVAN Mr. Noel TAME Mr. Brian TAMS # Mrs. Debra TAYLOR # Mr. Trevor TAYLOR Mr. Bill THOMPSON Mr. Peter THOMPSON Dr. Peter TRALAGGAN Mr. Ian TUCKER Mr. Keveral TURNBULL Dr. Michael TYQUIN Mrs. Ruth VAUDIN (nee Corbett) Mrs. Kate VERCOE (nee Rose) Mr. Matthew VERCOE Mr. Don WALKER # Mr. Kim WARNOCK # Mr. David WASSON # Mr. Lindsay WASSON LTCOL Darren WATERSON Mr John WEAVER Mr. Ronald WEBB MAJ Bruce WHITTET (Rtd) CAP Don WIKNER ED JP # Mr. David WILKINSON COL Warwick WILKINSON AO RFD ED MAJ Alex WILLIAMS Mr. David WILLIAMS Mr. John WILSON Dr. Phillip YUILE Mr. Jim ZORBAS

+ 2/5th Australian Field Ambulance # Associate

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Brian HOGAN (Our Honorary Chaplain) was a good friend and an old army mate. He was a most

caring and compassionate man as many of our sick members would know. He would often call, phone or

email a sick member to see how they were going and to offer his prayer of comfort and general good

wishes.

Brian passed away suddenly sometime in the late afternoon of the last day of September (30th).

Strangely enough he rang me about 4.30pm, that afternoon, to have a chat and to tell me he had received

the letter of ‘good wishes’, from our Association and that he was going to read it out at the 2/5th Field

Ambulance reunion in mid October. He told me he was finishing off a load of washing in preparation of the

eagerly awaited return of his wife, Sandra, from a 2-week visit to her ailing mother who lives in Perth. He

intended picking her up about 7.30pm, from the Longwarry train station (about 200 metres from their

home). It was not to be!

I received an email from Sandra, the following afternoon, to give me the sad news of Brian’s passing. She

wrote that Brian was not at the station to meet her and she realised there was something wrong when she

called his phones and only got an answering machine. She made her way home and found the house in

darkness and, after searching, found Brian on the floor in the laundry. He had apparently died a few hours

earlier from a heart attack.

Derek suggested, and our committee agreed, that I attend Brian’s funeral to represent our Association and

to pass on to Sandra and their two sons, Timothy and Andrew, our heartfelt sorrow and condolences.

When I emailed the funeral details to our members, one member in particular (who lives in Victoria, Rayda

Noble), expressed her desire to attend to pay her respects because of the times that Brian had ‘counselled’

her when she was very ill.

I contacted Rayda to say I would pick her up late on Thursday morning and then we could both attend

Brian’s funeral at 2pm.

Unfortunately it did not go to plan! My flight from Newcastle Airport was due out at 8am but because of fog

we were delayed until after 10.30am! When I arrived at Tullamarine and picked up the hire car I then

realised that I would have no hope of us being present at Brian’s funeral because I had an hour’s drive to

Rayda’s home and then another hour’s drive to Longwarry.

We arrived at the Baptist Church Hall about 3.45pm hoping, at least, to be able to see Sandra. What a huge

surprise to see so many people still in the hall long after the service had ended. I was so upset I did not get

a chance to say a few words about Brian. Thankfully, we met with Sandra, Timothy and Andrew. They were

so pleased to greet us. I missed seeing Brian’s brothers, Rodney (one of our Life Members) and Robert.

When I signed the “Attendance Book” I noticed this beautiful wreath of flowers, and when I read the card it

was from the RAAMC Head of Corps, Brigadier Georgina Wheelan. This was a wonderful and thoughtful

gesture.

Brian’s ‘Service of Thanksgiving’ was a beautiful program. Eulogies were given by Brian and Sandra’s long

time friends, Graeme MacRobb and Geoff Rowse (whom I did not get a chance to meet), as well as from his

son Timothy and his wife, Sandra. (Sandra is going to send me a CD of the ‘Service’).

I had a laugh to myself (as many at the Service would have done also) when I read in the program, a note

that Brian had stuck above his hospital bed when he was hospitalised some time back. It read...My name is

Brian Hogan. Not “NIL by mouth”. To assist the hospital catering staff. Daily Menu for weeks 1-7.

IMPERATIVE—ALL meals and snacks to be served with ice-cream. Breakfast: 3 sausages with BBQ sauce,

2 eggs, 3 slices of toast with vegemite, 1 X 1/2 Litre of Apple juice. Morning Tea: 1 cream donut, 1 X 1/2 litre

of soda water. Lunch: 2 Meat Pies with sweet and sour sauce, 1 cream donut, 1/2 litre of ginger beer (non

alcoholic). Afternoon Tea: 1 cream donut, 1/2 litre soda water. Dinner: 2 hamburgers with the lot, 1

medium serve of potato chips, 1/2 litre of ginger beer (non alcoholic). Evening Snack: 1 cream donut, 2 X

600mm of soda water OR 1/2 litre of ginger beer (non alcoholic). (Cont. on page 6)

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(Cont. from page 5)

Those of us who have seen Brian in the flesh would have had a laugh because he had outgrown his youthful

figure from his army days to grow into a very big man.

I would have liked to have told his friends that he joined the CMF on the 14th October 1963 (when he was

just over 17 years of age). He enlisted, as a mechanic, with 5 Field Ambulance when the depot was in

Frenchmans Road, Randwick. He discharged with the rank of corporal on the 12th May 1966. Brian’s Corps

was RAEME. He was awarded the Australian Defence Medal. Brian attended 3 Annual Camps with us.

He told me many years ago (after he ’found’ us on the web site and became a member of our Association in

2010) that the time he spent with 5 Field Ambulance helped ‘shape’ him in his life and were some of his most

cherished memories of the friendships that were forged.

I had the pleasure to print some of Brian’s life and army experiences in our WINTER Issue 2014.

He told me that one of his ‘highlights’ with our Association was to officiate at our unit’s Centenary Parade at

Queens Park (Sydney) on the 15th March 2015 and afterwards, back at 5 CSSB depot in Banksmeadow.

Brian, as you read above, was regarded as our motor mechanic even though he was probably still

undergoing his apprenticeship. We sought him out to fix anything mechanical. He was well liked and

nothing was a trouble. What a very sad loss for us and his family and many friends. He was 71 years of age.

———————————————

Steve DUBSKY was not a member of our Association.

The RAAMC Association Inc. informed us, and others, that Steve had passed away on the 10th August after

a long and debilitating illness. When the sad news was received, I notified our members as a matter of

courtesy and received messages from some who knew Steve very well.

Steve is survived by his wife Robyn and family.

Our Association, on behalf of our many members who knew or

served with Steve, offer our sincere sympathies to Robyn and her

family.

Our member (and previous RSM of 1 Field Ambulance) Mick Carlson (top row-3rd from left and our Treasurer, Brian Tams, is also in this photo. He is the

1st on the right) kindly sent me the attached photo of the Subject 1, WO

11’s (ARES) Course of 1977 at Wacol (Qld) (Steve is seated the 4th from

the right.) and asked if I might be able to put a few of Mick’s memories

of a good friend.

Mick first met Steve at this WO 2 Course and they became good friends. He said Steve was so proud of his

WO 11 badge that he had it sewn onto his PJ’s!

The next time Mick met Steve was on an Annual Exercise when Steve was posted as RSM to 1 Field

Ambulance. He would let Mick ‘run’ the unit and was always there to guide and assist him with any

questions he had.

Steve also allowed Mick to run the unit’s Annual Camps …”that was the sort of man he was. He was a very

good instructor and mentor”

Mick remembers the Parade Night when Steve told him to come down to Sydney depot. Mick said in those

days it was about a five hour drive to Sydney. Steve ordered the unit “On Parade” and then called Mick out

“Front and Centre” and then proceeded to pin his WO 1 Badge of Rank on him. Steve then handed his Pace

Stick to him to do some drill with the troops.

Mick always remembers this moment as a wonderful honour from a person whom he considered a great

man.

After the parade, Steve had organised a “Mess Party” to celebrate Mick’s elevation to Warrant Rank. He had

to drink the customary “Yard Glass”!! And later drive 5 hours back home to the Hunter Valley. Mick wrote

that …”thankfully there were no ‘booze buses’ back then”!

Mick wrote that Steve was a good mate of the unit Adjutant, Peter Hulsing. They had both served together

for a while and they both eventually went to the School of Army Health. LEST WE FORGET ——————————————-

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Welcome to the 2017 ‘SUMMER’ (Christmas)) Newsletter of the 5 Field Ambulance

RAAMC Association.

The Association has had a very full year as was the case in 2016. Our Secretary

unfurled our Banner on ANZAC DAY, “AHS CENTAUR” Service at Concord Hospital

in May, RESERVE FORCES DAY in July in Newcastle and Sydney, VP DAY in August and BATTLE FOR

AUSTRALIA DAY at the Sydney Cenotaph in September.

It was good to catch with our Association hierarchy Patron, Ray Hyslop OAM RFD, Secretary, Alan Curry

OAM, Treasurer Brian Tams, and members Eileen Henderson OAM and Kevin Hurrell. Ray, Brian and I

retired to the Legion’s Club in Barrack Street, for lunch and refreshments. See later in this newsletter for

photographs and further details of this latter activity.

It is with great sadness that we lost our Honorary Chaplain Brian Hogan suddenly on September 30th. Alan

Curry attended the ceremony in Melbourne and conveyed all of our condolences to his widow Sandra.

Thanks Alan.

I again attended the 11th of November “REMEMBRANCE - DAY CEREMONY” with Richmond RSL at the

Richmond War Memorial. The participation of pupils from local schools was very moving. Colo High

School read a poem for Remembrance Day entitled “A Tribute” Richmond High School’s theme was

“Remembrance”

In 2014 Bob Ollier, manager of Fenland District Council’s Parks & Open Spaces department (UK), said the

safety program is to ensure unstable memorials don’t fall and potentially injure or kill people.

A particularly unstable memorial was brought to the attention of Stu Jones, secretary RAAMC Association

and Theo Dechaufepie, the then President of RAAMC Association and also President of RAAMC Inc.

The ‘unstable’ memorial to be “laid down” was the one of Surgeon-Major William James Gutherie Bedford,

who died in 1902. In the 1870’s Britain decided that Australia was now in a position to defend itself and

withdrew the British Army garrison.

An Australian army was formed, initially consisting of a battery of artillery and a company of soldiers to

defend it. They needed a medical officer and William James Gutherie Bedford became the first officer of

what would become the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps.

He held the position for several years and returned to England on his retirement, until his wife died.

He remarried and they moved to Doddington-Coney House down Benwick Road-where he died a few years

later

My brother Colin acted in negotiations with the Fenland Council and contacted a local stone-mason to

quote on a new monument.

Stu Jones forwarded the price quoted and RAAMC Association Members subscribed to meet the cost.

Without my brothers chasing Stu recons the project would have failed.

Colin Cannon was visiting us during November and the photographs below show the memorial of concern

and the new memorial thanks to the members of RAAMC Inc.

The mixed annual luncheon was a great success. 26 adults and 2 kids were in attendance. The camaraderie

was excellent. I thank Sandra Hogan for saying grace and Tomas Hamilton for proposing the Loyal Toast.

See later in this Newsletter for photographs and further details.

To all our long-time and recently enlisted members and with constant thought for our sick, Edna and I wish

you all the very best for Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Good reading and I hope to

see many of you, joining our ranks on ANZAC DAY April 2018.

The photos attached show ‘before’ and ‘after’ restoration.

Derek Cannon (Cont. Page 8)

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(Cont. from Page 7)

5 HEALTH COMPANY REPORT

As the year draws to a close we, at 5 Health Company, reflect on a busy and exciting training year. I thank all of the

5 Health Company members for their valuable service throughout 2017.

In August we deployed as part of a Combat Service Support Team exercise within the Holsworthy Training Area.

The exercise was valuable at all levels. The OC Health undertook the role of ADMIN COY commander, and a

number of the junior Lieutenant Nursing Officers, worked as Platoon Commanders. It was excellent preparation for

the second 5 Brigade Exercise, EX TELOPEA WALK, held at Singleton Training Area in September. During EX

TELOPEA WALK, CAPT Charlton undertook the role of HLTH COY Commander, in which she and her team

performed to an extremely high standard and managed several highly complex scenarios.

In October we held the first joint training weekend with the 1st Health Company, who are now under the command

of 5 Brigade. We conducted a mass casualty theoretical training activity and then followed this up with a practical

field weekend in November, to consolidate our skills. Looking forward to the end of the year, we have a range

weekend in December before a reduced tempo period and several of our members are aboard HMAS Canberra

undertaking a joint training activity with the Royal Australian Navy.

Congratulations to LCPL Rhyse Vaughn for being awarded a Soldier’s Medallion, for the consistently high standard

of his performance over the past two years, well done. From all at 5 Health Company, we wish you each a safe and

merry festive season.

Regards

AJ Currie

MAJOR

OC 5 Health Company

5 Combat Service Support Battalion

When I married Mr. Right I had no idea his first name was Always

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Message from the Secretary

To all our loyal members, especially our sick and hospitalised ones, I wish

you all a safe, happy and joyous Christmas with all your loved ones. As you

read this we will be well and truly into our hot and dry summer months so

make sure you stay cool and comfortable.

You will read in this issue that I had the honour of attending the VP Ceremony in August

and the Flag-Raising Ceremony and the Battle For Australia Ceremony in September ( I apologise for heading our last Issue (SPRING) as “Battle OF Australia” -It should have read “FOR” not

‘of’. I thank our member, Jenny Weir, for asking me if it had been changed!)

I had the pleasure of being invited to the 1st Field Ambulance Association Formal Dinner,

by their Patron (and our member) Stuart Jones. It was held in their “Mess” (which was

situated in the grounds of the North Sydney Education Centre of Macquarie Hospital in Wicks Road, North

Ryde) on Saturday evening 2nd September, 1800hrs.

I had a wonderful evening in the company of many friends. It was a credit to Stuart and

his wife, Sue, and daughter Sarah, for all the preparatory work they do to ensure the

evening went well. I know that all who attended had a wonderful time.

Ruth and I had a very nice visit from a couple of our members.

John and Maureen Weaver in early October. They were staying in Salamander Bay for a

short stay and we invited them to our home in our retirement village in Anna Bay, to have

a ‘cuppa’ and ‘catch up’!

Later in the month I received a call from our treasurer, Brian Tams and his wife, Gail.

They had brought their caravan up to Nelson Bay for a week so we organised to have a

nice lunch at our son (Greg) and daughter-in-law’s (Niki) café in Morpeth (“The Servants

Quarters”). It was good to see them all.

I had the honour to give a Citation at my RSL Sub Branch’s Remembrance Day

Commemoration. I spoke about a RAAF Pilot, William Newton, who was the only recipient

of the Victoria Cross in the RAAF, in the Pacific Theatre in WW 2.

Ruth and I had a wonderful afternoon at our Annual Luncheon on the 25th November. It

was a chance to ‘catch up’ with members and friends of our Association.

What a fearful concern is the North Korean situation. Surely its allies, Russia and China,

must be also be concerned as events escalate. We are in the hands of very powerful

world leaders and their decisions, if made wrongly, will have far-reaching effects on

mankind.

GRANDPARENTS! (With kind thanks to my Email friends)

The message on their Answering Machine! "Thank you for ringing. We are not home at present but please press one of the following after the beep” PRESS 1 if you are one of our children and then select the option 1 to 5 in order of “arrival” so we know which one of you it is. PRESS 2 if you need us to mind the children. PRESS 3 if you want to borrow the car. PRESS 4 if you want us to do your laundry and ironing. PRESS 5 if you want the grandchildren to sleep here tonight. PRESS 6 if you want us to pick up the kids after school. PRESS 7 if you want us to prepare a meal for Sunday and have it delivered to your home. PRESS 8 if you want to come here to eat. PRESS 9 if you need money. If you are going to invite us to dinner, or take us to the movies, start talking….we are listening‼!

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“BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD” (Theodore O’Hara- 1847)

The drum’s sad role has beat the soldiers last tattoo;

no more on Life’s parade shall meet that brave and fallen few.

On fame’s eternal camping ground their silent tents to spread.

And glory guards, with solemn round the bivouac of the dead.

No rumour of the foe’s advance now swells upon the wind,

nor troubled thought at midnight, haunts of loved ones left behind.

No vision of the morrow's strife the warrior’s dreams alarms;

no braying horn or screaming fife at dawn shall call to arms.

Their shrivelled swords are red with rust, their plumed heads are bowed,

Their haughty Banner, trailed in dust, is now their martial shroud.

And plenteous funeral tears have washed the red stains from each brow.

And the proud forms, by battle gashed are free from anguish now.

The neighing troop, the flashing blade, the bugle’s stirring blast,

the charge, the dreadful cannonade, the din and shout, are past,

nor war’s wild note, nor glory’s peal, shall thrill with fierce delight,

those breasts that nevermore may feel the rapture of the fight.

Like the fierce Northern hurricane in that sweeps the great plateau.

Flushed with triumph, yet to gain, come down the serried flow.

Who heard the thunder of the fray break o’er the field beneath.

Knew the watchword of the day was “Victory or Death”.

Long had the doubtful conflict raged, o’er all that stricken plain.

For never fiercer fight had waged the vengeful blood of Spain;

And still the storm of battle blew, still swelled the glory tide,

Not long, our stout old Chieftain knew, such odds his strength could bide.

Twas in that hour his stern command called

to a martyr’s grave. The flower of his beloved land the nation's

flag to save. By rivers of their father's gore his firstborn

laurels grew, and well he deemed the sons would pour

their lives for glory too. For many a mother’s breast has swept o’er

Angostura’s plain- and long the pitying sky has wept above its

moldered slain. The raven’s scream, or eagle’s flight, or

shepherd’s pensive lay. Alone awakes each sullen height that

frowned o’er that dread fray. Sons of the Dark and Bloody Ground ye

must not slumber there Where stranger steps and tongues resound

along the heedless air. Your own proud land’s heroic soil shall be

your fitter grave. She claims from war his richest spoil-the

ashes of her brave. Thus ‘neath their parent turf they rest, far

from the gory field. Born to a Spartan mother's breast on many

a bloody shield. The sunshine of their native sky smiles

sadly on them here, and kindred eyes and hearts watch by the

heroes Sepulchre. Rest on embalmed and sainted dead! Dear

as the blood ye gave, no impious footstep here shall tread the

herbage of your grave, nor shall you will glory be forgot while Fame

her record keeps, for honour points the hallowed spot with

valour proudly sleeps. Yon marble minstrel’s voiceless stone in

deathless song shall tell, when many a vanquished ago has flown, the

story how ye fell, nor wreck, nor change, nor winter’s blight,

nor time’s remorseless doom, Can dim one ray of glory’s light that gilds

your deathless tomb. (Kind Thanks to our Email friends)

------------------------------------------

Paddy decides to take up boxing and goes for his required medical. A few days later his doctor rings him and says “Hi Paddy, it’s your doctor. You realise you’ve

got sugar diabetes”. Paddy says “Nice one Doc. When do I fight him”?

Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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VP DAY AT THE KOKODA TRACK MEMORIAL WALKWAY-Summary)

What another memorable occasion. The KTMW committee, through M/s Alice Kang the Director of

Marketing and Community Relations at Concord Hospital (Sydney), sent us an Invitation to attend their

yearly service, at 2pm, to remember the events that led to the end of the war against Japan, on 15th August

1945, known as VP (Victory in the Pacific) Day.

A large crowd was in attendance and all were seated and under cover. The MC was John Gatfield who

introduced the Official Party as they arrived.

The Guest Speaker was Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO who presented the

memorable speech printed below.

Our Banner was proudly held by pupils from St Patricks High School in Strathfield. The band was the NSW

Corrective Services and they did a magnificent job.

All those present were shown, on a large screen, most interesting historical ‘highlights’ of RAAF

operations, during WW 2, of the Middle East and the Pacific regions. These ‘Reflections’ went for about 10

minutes and preceded the Wreath Laying Ceremony which mainly involved the Official Party.

At the conclusion of the service there were sandwiches etc and tea/coffee available to all.

We thank our members, Fred

Bell, Michael Moroney and

Michael Ali OAM, who were able

to be present.

The School pupils (from St Patricks)

holding our Banner are Toby Pickett and

Will Halloran.

The two members with our Banner are

Michael Moroney and Fred Bell.

SPEECH AT THE VP DAY SERVICE

KOKODA TRACK MEMORIAL WALKWAY – CONCORD

(With kind thanks to PROFESSOR THE HON. DAME MARIE BASHIR AD CVO)

Members past and present of Australia’s defence forces, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, young Australians, friends.

It is a deeply felt privilege to stand here before you all today as we gather, united by a deep sense of gratitude, to celebrate the anniversary of the ending of a terrible war, - a war which touched the lives of all Australians.

May I at this point also record my respect for the traditional custodians of this land upon which we are gathered, - the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, - indeed for all Australia’s indigenous people, their ancestors and descendants, who have nurtured our great continent for tens of thousands of years.

As the news broke on August 15, 1945 that the Pacific war was over, Australia’s joy was boundless.

Many Australians still recall that the second world war had been a time of exceptional loss and cruelty. It had cost the lives of almost 40,000 Australians, from a population of only seven million at the time.

Around 17,000 had died in the war against Japan, serving in Malaya, Singapore, the Netherlands East Indies, Papua New Guinea, Borneo and the Philippines, often in the most appalling conditions which struck at the heart of their fellow Australians.

Eight thousand had died in captivity as prisoners of war, from brutality, starvation and disease. And from the suffering and memories of the survivors, a unique chapter in Australia’s history is enshrined.

We must never forget those dark days of 1942, when Australia faced invasion, Darwin and Broome were bombed, Newcastle shelled, enemy submarines entered Sydney harbour, and one of our ships of the merchant navy was torpedoed just off Nambucca Heads. …..(Continued on Page 12)

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(Cont. from Page 11)

And so many of the children attending school in Sydney were evacuated to caring homes in rural New South Wales.

However, the epic of Kokoda was a critical turning point in the (Pacific) war when a troop of only 400 young Australians fought a monumental, rear-guard action against 6,000 of the enemy across an arduous terrain. Their extreme courage prevented the enemy’s access to Port Moresby, within easy striking distance of our nation.

We remember, - must always remember with eternal gratitude, the compassionate loyalty and skill of those New Guinean villagers, the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. We welcome their representatives to this commemoration each year with gratitude and affection in our hearts. This nation will never forget them.

It is integral to our sense of honour and to our identity as a mature nation, that these epic events are commemorated. And our indebtedness to those who turned impending catastrophe into victory must be taught to all Australian children down the generations. It must never be forgotten.

We commemorate, and honour also, all our indigenous veterans, who from across our land, have served in virtually every conflict and peace-keeping mission in which Australia has participated. Indeed, many hundreds of indigenous men, including Torres Strait Islanders, enlisted in World War Two, serving in the 2nd AIF and militia with immense courage and distinction, supporting our nation’s defence.It is important to remember also that Australian men and women had served alongside British and Indian forces in Malaya and Burma, and in the Pacific fleet.

Their contribution was considerable, providing a secure base for the united states in the South West Pacific, from Papua New Guinea to the Solomons and Philippines into Japan. From this shared baptism of fire, a much valued alliance has grown.

Through that war and the deeds of our serving men and women, Australia subsequently entered a new and significant phase of its history with its Asian neighbours. Australian service men and women had encountered people of Asia in virtually every part of the region, in some settings as prisoners of war, and in others as liberators.

In remembering, with endless gratitude, the sacrifice of our military men and women of those years, and before them in World War 1, we contemplate today the precious inheritance of freedom, the good and bountiful Australian way of life, and the unique character which have flourished. Lest we forget.

--------------------------------------

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FLAG DAY-3rd SEPTEMBER-(Summary)

Our Government promulgated the 3rd of September as National Flag Day. It was inaugurated in 1901 after

the Federation was formed and this was when it was first flown.

Because this year’s National Flag Day was on a Sunday, and it also coincided with Fathers Day, their

Association decided to celebrate it on Friday the 1st.

Unfortunately many of their members were unaware of this change and it diminished the wonderful

spectacle they would have enjoyed had they been present.

Our member, Noel Christensen, organised with the National Flag Association many months ago to stage

a memorable re-enactment of an Australian Flag-Raising incident commemorating a WW 1 event which

occurred in August 1917. It was after the first battle of the Menin Road in Belgium.

Fierce fighting by the Australian troops, and in particular the soldiers from the

18th Battalion of the 5th Brigade, won a battle. Witnesses saw a young

Lieutenant Arthur Hull, clutching an Australian flag, run forward to an upstairs

’captured in blood, German redoubt’ and firmly plant the Australian Flag into

the bombed rubble. No picture was ever taken of this event, however when

word filtered back to Australia a post card was produced and sold as a ’war

bond fund-raiser’ !

Noel is to be commended for the immense effort he undertook to get permission to use the Martin Place

(Sydney) amphitheatre (from 11am to Noon) to stage the ‘Re-Enactment’ and then to contact as many of Lt

Arthur Hull’s relatives to invite them to the event and also the services of the 18 Bn Re-Enactment group

as well as a photographer, an MC, and the wonderful presence of the school band from Woolooware High

School.

It was an honour to have our Banner on display because 5 Field Ambulance was the medical component

for 5 Brigade which also comprised the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Inf Bns. (Continued on page 13)

13

(cont. from page 12)

Noel also asked if I would bring our WW 1 Bugle (Presented to our Association from the 2/5th Field Ambulance Association

in 2008) so that the bugler from Woolooware High School could ‘simulate’ the sounding of the LAST POST.

It was a very special spectacle to be present at.

During all the preparatory work that Noel worked on, he received some lovely replies from some relatives of

Lt Arthur Hull.

Alison Hine was one who wrote to Noel about Arthur. She said the family always called him by his ‘nick-

name’ of “Stid” because as a young child he had a team of toy horses and would give the command

”Steady, Steady” which came out as “Stiddy, Stiddy”!

She said all of his nieces and nephews were born well after his death but they all knew about him. As a child,

the picture of the flag-raising was there.

Alison’s mother was the youngest of nine children of Walter and Rose Hull and ‘Stid’ was her eldest brother

(old enough to be her father) and she had a 6 year old’s recollection of how sad it was when they received

the news of Arthur’s death.

In 2015, Alison joined a “Battlefield Tour” of the Australian’s 1917-18 campaign including the 100 year

ANZAC Service at Villiers-Bretonneau (it rained) and the Menin Gate Service. She also visited her uncle

‘Stid’s’ grave at Dochy Farm Cemetery.

Alison wrote that, later, when she was in Bayeux, she met a Belgium couple and she told them why she was

there. The next day the couple (Johan and Veerle) asked if Alison would mind if they could visit and tend to

Arthur’s grave. Alison gladly gave them the details.

The following Remembrance Day, the Belgium couple sent Alison a photograph of them at the tended grave

site, with the assurance that their daughters would continue to tend Arthur’s grave site, even after they pass

on!

Alison closed off saying …”Apart from the absence of gum trees, the land adjoining Dochy Farm Cemetery

is not so different from the land he left behind. Quiet farmland, with a tractor moving along in the near

distance. Uncle Stid travelled a long way to find a resting place similar to the one he would have had at

home.”

Victoria Harrington was another relative of Lt Arthur ‘Stid’ Hull. She wrote back to Noel to ask if he had heard

of, or accessed, the book “Melody of God” written by Desmond Mountjoy. Desmond got to know Arthur in

the Summer of 1917 when Arthur was training to become an officer.

Desmond had written this book about a number of soldiers from the Empire, as it was known then.

Victoria’s mother often quoted from Desmond’s book and she wrote below some her favourite passages….

“A rush to Waterloo Station to catch the early afternoon express to Salisbury after a tiresome morning spent

at a War Office conference.

As I hastened up the platform I was greeted by a sturdy, lithe Australian soldier with the largest, fattest and

most friendly of smiles. A very sunburned face, clean shaven like all the Australians, an extraordinarily fine

set of white teeth, dusky hair and frank eyes the colour of a jade green sea; eyes that had looked long on

sun-drenched far horizons and captured and kept their beauty and their truth—all this made up an

unforgettable picture of happy friendliness.

In the course of my job I met hundreds of officers every week and more than once had met practically every

officer in the 3rd Division then on Salisbury Plain, but who this particular one was I had not the slightest

notion, though evidently he knew me well. The purple and green diamond-shaped badge on his shoulder

said 18th Bn but at that time that Battalion was with the 2nd Australian Division in France.

We talked all the way and long before we reached Andover where he had to get out for Perham Down Camp,

I knew all about him, who he was, where we had met before. In addition I obtained a complete account of his

career as a cadet at Oxford and a glimpse into his home life in far away New South Wales.

We did not part, you may be sure, without arranging an early meeting and as I waved to him standing on the

station the sun seemed to me to have set for the day.

I found this backwoods boy who knew and loved literature and animals and had a passionate love for nature

in all her moods. As we talked the immediate surroundings disappeared and we were together in New South

Wales. I saw the loved homestead where his brothers and sisters dwelt, the little farm not very far away from

it which was his very own. (Cont on page 14)

14

(Cont from page 13)

He said “I can see the very earliest signs of the springing corn (wheat?) I can see it rise in the little green waves that mean so much to me.” Then there were the mountains he loved. Stid spoke of home, of France and happy hours with his best beloved comrade, Little Jim. It was at the Signal Depot, Liverpool Camp in Australia and Jim was getting through his first day in the elementary squad. During an interval he was clumsily practising the ‘figure eight’ when he was offered help by Stid who, from the wide experience gained by a whole week of signalling, felt he must help a newcomer. Jim thought Stid was the kindest chap he had ever met. They walked in the bush together, talked and talked, went to town, visited Stid’s little aunt at Mangrove Mountain on the Central Coast of NSW. The link was only broken—that is if it ever was broken—by death. Egypt, ANZAC Cove (at Hill 60 their section had 5 men left out of 20), Armentiers, Ypres—I heard it all. Then, inspired by the peace around us, we turned once more to our books. It was there and then I tried him high, higher than I dared to try many of my admittedly literary friends. Taking up one of the most beautiful , human and true and understanding books that have appeared in my time. I read aloud. The Australian soldier boy who instinctively recognised the great truth and beauty of these passages thereby proved his kinship with the elect; he understood the meaning of beauty, sorrow sin and life and understanding was unafraid of them as he was of death. Then on to camp where I handed him over in good time to the Commandant. In the presence of many others the last handclaps and the last casual-looking good-bye. I had very few letters from him in France as he went out early in August and was killed in October (9th), Paschendale. Those I did receive were about his work and his men, both of which he passionately loved. He was humble-minded and always trying to improve himself. It is almost impertinent to say he died gallantly. He was a typical Australian soldier boy. He was sincere and direct as sunlight , as simple and unpretentious as a wayside flower. I never heard him talk of heroes or of being a hero or longing for chances of undertaking heroic stunts. Yet when the opportunity came to inspire his men at a critical moment he instinctively took it. There was a job wanted doing and he was there to do his best. He sleeps somewhere in France (Belgium) and away in Australia the little farm is vacant and he climbs no more the windmill top to see how grows the corn (wheat?). He is ever to us a fragrant memory, a quenchless inspiration, a reward for what we have endured, a pledge that however lonely here we shall no longer be alone when, like him, we too ‘go west’”. Victoria closed off her message saying..”I trust this will give you an idea of the character of the man, the uncle we never knew, but somehow, in a way we all know 100 years later.”

15

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE

(SEE PAGE 3—Alan Curry OAM CONTACT DETAILS)

If you would like to join 5 Field Ambulance Association you would be made most welcome. You may

have served in the unit on a previous occasion. You may feel there is a ‘connection’ between you and our

Association even though you may not have served in the ADF. You are welcome. The cost is $15 per

year. This entitles you to participate by telling us your story, participate in our activities and to receive our

quarterly newsletter.

For the RAAMC Association Inc. Are you serving OR have you served in a Medical Unit, in any capacity?

This Association is a “Band of Brothers and Sisters” and is FREE to join (unless you offered a small

donation to cover admin costs). Our Association encourages our members to join.

FUND-RAISING EFFORT FOR 2017 On behalf of our committee I sincerely thank all those members who either bought some $1 raffle tickets or donated money throughout the year to assist in the upkeep of our quarterly Newsletters. Your most welcome contributions are very much appreciated. I have made a fuller report on Page 34 about our Annual “Mixed”Reunion. (Alan)

***Advertisement in shop! ….Guitar, for sale...Cheap...no strings attached.

FEBRUARY

Sam ALEXANDER

Ray BORG

Ross BROWN AM

Dr. Harding BURNS OAM

Jim CHAPMAN

Greg CURRY

Gavin DRISCOLL

Tony EVANS

Brett FERRARI

George HARRIS

Dr. Ray HYSLOP OAM

Robert LIKEMAN

Michael MORONEY

Marion NEWMAN

Peter PAISLEY

Neville ROTHFIELD OAM

Brian TAMS

Dr. Peter TRALAGGAN

Kate VERCOE

DECEMBER

Fred BELL

Noel CHRISTENSEN

Olive DODD

George DONNELLY

Stuart DOYLE

Dr. Andrew ELLIS OAM

Laurie FARRUGIA

Ed HUNG

Ernest JOHNSON

Adriana LINDSAY

Maureen LIVINGSTON

Robert LOVE

Nick MARSHALL

Noel MOULDER

Dr. Phillip McGRATH

Barry O'KEEFE

Chris O'REILLY

Heather PERIGO

Mick ROWLEY

Peter SULLIVAN

Noel TAME

JANUARY

Bob BUTLER

Theresa CICERO

Adrienne FOLEY

Don JARMAN

Ann JONES

Colin KLINE

Dr. Ted KRAMER OAM

Alen LUCIC

Paul NICHOLLS

"Bill" O'KEEFE

Mike O'KEEFFE

Steve PARIS

Barry PERIGO

Ken PHILLIPS OAM

Cath SALMON

Frank SKINNER

Dr. Stephen STEIGRAD

Chris STRODE

Trevor TAYLOR

Rhyse VAUGHN

Ian WHITE

David WILKINSON

Warwick WILKINSON AO

Margaret WOODHEAD

16

The last Chaplain’s Corner

by our much loved, and recently departed, Honorary Chaplain

So this is Christmas !

Australia is, at the time of writing, undergoing a series of competing ideologies. For some, it is

asking for recognition under our national Marriage act. Yet others see this as a threat to free

speech with parental authority being subverted to political ideologies in the education system.

(Hitler, Starlin, Mao did this in their nations). Recently, concerns have been raised in relation to

changing the date of Australia Day to appease the feelings of those who are offended by it. Well

the list could go on ad-infinitum with people arguing about what is in, and what should be deleted

from our national social calendar.

I would like to think that in the future, whatever shape that takes, we will still maintain our national

days as they appear at the present. For our national days remind us of from whence we came,

and who we are as a people. Our national days need to be taught to those who immigrate to our

shores, so that they understand our heritage. In so doing, we can learn of their culture and their

heritage. It’s a two way street. Yet how to do this and maintain our Australian constitution and

Laws will need wise heads and excellent national leadership.

Our national days tell the story about us. It is a shame that we are going through a stage where

political correctness appears to have a desire to obliterate or rewrite and reshape our past

history, both the good and the bad. When that becomes the reality then we shall be the poorer for

it.

We need to consider the basic story behind the days we commemorate.

ANZAC and Remembrance Day remind us of the futility of war, and yet as a nation we will

defend the integrity of those who are oppressed (hopefully this will remain true). It is a lesson

we continually need to learn. But it reminds us of people who exerted themselves in the face of

hardship and danger to serve the welfare of others, while risking their own lives.

Australia Day reminds us that our convict past started in this land because a corrupt

government wanted to off-load its riff-raff. Sadly in many incidences it didn’t recognise the

original inhabitants. We should not forget that in some cases our currency lads and lasses

made friendships with the local aborigines and thus learned how to survive in this land.

Then there is the lesson of Christmas and Easter. It is a story that emanates from Israel. It is a

story about a baby that was born to die. It is a story of a man who reveals the character of the

Creator of the universe. It is the story of how one man has affected the history of nations over

the past 2000 years. Some have called him the Man you can’t ignore. His name is Jesus. We

can’t forget his words for he said, “There is no greater love than this that a man lay down his life

for a friend”. His name and character has been abused and used as a means to curse others.

Yet more books have been written about him than any other person.. He has been the

inspiration of artist and painters, and much of their work has been focussed on his birth and his

murder on a cross. The lesson about Jesus is that He came to share His life and death and

resurrected life for each of us. It is His gift and He asks us to accept him.

As we enter 2018 enjoy what it will bring. Make it your New Year’s promise to keep alive our

national days and the story each day has to tell.

Brian Hogan- Honorary Chaplain (Brian had written this (and one other which I will place in our ANZAC Newsletter of 2018), a few days

before he suddenly passed away from a heart attack. He is now safe in the arms of our Lord.)

17

BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA COMMEMORATION-2017-(Summary)

This Commemoration is remembered right around our country, in every capital city and small township. This

day was promulgated by our government, in 2008, to be commemorated on the first Wednesday of

September. It is the third most significant event of our country’s war history to keep being remembered, it

comes after ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. It is not a Public Holiday.

Our younger generation would not remember the trepidation and anguish, felt by their parents, that led up to

the assault on our country in February 1942. Darwin was bombed many times, mercilessly, by the Imperial

Japanese Army. The attacks and casualty lists were ‘censored’ by our government, at that time, for security

reasons.

It came in the wake of the ‘surprise’ attack on the US Naval base in Hawaii in December 1941, and then

Singapore was captured in early February 1942, (our soldiers in the 8th Division were made captives to the

brutal Japanese invaders for the remainder of war) followed by the air raids on Darwin.

Our Prime Minister at the time (John Curtin), wrote to the President of the US to request assistance and he

gave it in the form of General Douglas MacArthur. He was designated Commander-in-Chief of all Allied forces

in the South Pacific region.

We could not get help at this dire time, from Britain, because they had their backs to the wall in fierce fighting

against Nazi Germany and its allies.

Our armed forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force and just about every man and woman back in Australia did

their job—some more than others—during the Battle for Australia between the uncertain and fateful years-

1942/43.

I unfurled our Association’s Banner in Martin Place in Sydney and we sat and listened to the MC, Mr. Darren

Mitchell, as he outlined the program. The President of the BFA Association NSW, Group Capt. Doug Roser

(Ret’d) welcomed all the distinguished guests which included our State Governor’s representative.

The main “Address” was presented by COL Glenn Ryan CSC and Bar, HQ Forces Command.

I would like to mention here that our member and the past President of the NSW BFA Assn, MAJGEN Warren

Glenny AO was a noticeable absence—due to a bad car accident he suffered a few months back.

Warren was hospitalised with five broken ribs, pelvis and back injuries which had him hospitalised and in

rehabilitation for a few months. Thankfully, Warren is now back home and strongly recuperating.

I would like to thank the members who were present; Our President, Derek Cannon, Our Patron, Ray Hyslop

OAM, our Treasurer, Brian Tams, Bob Pink OAM, Kevin Hurrell, Eileen Henderson OAM and Ron Webb.

Those who were able, adjourned to the “Legions Club” for lunch.

———————————

A woman applied for a job at a lemon orchard. “Look Miss, asked the owner, have you had any actual experience in

picking lemons”? “Well, as a matter of fact, yes!” she replied. “I’ve been divorced three times”

18

MESSAGES FROM MEMBERS Ross SMITH sends his good wishes to all in our Association. He wrote that he often reflects on the many good times throughout his life. He has enjoyed (and is still enjoying) a wonderful life with his wife, Jean, his civilian

jobs, his motor cars and all the good mates he served with in Townsville during WW 2.

He recently rang his wartime buddy, Charlie Dobson. (Charlie is also the father-in-law of our eldest son (and Associate

Member) Stephen) Charlie lives in Port Macquarie, they have been very good mates for over 70 years. Ross and

Jean are very happy and comfortable in their retirement home in the War Vet’s Village in Narrabeen

(Sydney).

Ross signed off…”Ross the dreamer”. (Thank you Ross for your letter and support. I hope to ‘catch up’ with you and Jean as soon as I can make it. This time I will phone you

and make sure you are home!! All the best to you and Jean)

——————————————

Gordon GRANT wrote to thank us for our magazines. Our SPRING Issue waiting for him after he returned

from a two weeks trip to Thailand.

Gordon reflected on the “Centaur” tragedy which he read with interest.

In 1963, when he was in Gympie (Qld), Gordon had the honour of meeting the CO of the Field Ambulance

who was on the “Centaur” (he could not recall his name) which was on its way to New Guinea. The ex CO had

established a medical practice in Gympie after he discharged from active military service, after WW2.

Gordon also wrote that years later he met the heroic nurse, Eleanor Savage. She was given recognition for

her very caring efforts in attending to the very severely wounded. They were floundering in the ocean, hours

after the sinking of the “Centaur”.

When Gordon was the RSM of 2nd Military Hospital at Ingleburn (NSW), he wrote an article in the Monthly

Magazine (in the 1970’s) about Eleanor Savage who was living in Sydney, in retirement.

Gordon wrote that his two weeks spent touring in Thailand ‘opened his eyes’. He does not think he will go

back (now he is in his 80’s) because he now knows why 50,000 mature (and some very old) men visit Pataya, in

particular, with one thing on their mind!

Gordon closed off saying he rang his old mate, Mick Carlson. They had some good memories. (Thank you Gordon for your letter and support. I hope when you read this you are in good health and spirits)

——————————————-

Don WALKER sends his good wishes to all in our Association. He enjoys reading all the news in our

magazines. (Thank you Don, for your support. I hope this finds you in good health.)

—————————————

Brian HARTLEY wrote to pass on his good wishes to all in our Association. He enjoys all the news and

articles in our newsletters and was sorry they are unable to join us for some of our activities.

I sent an email to Brian in mid September, to let him know of the 2/5th Annual Reunion Luncheon in October,

in case he would like to attend. (Thank you Brian for your purchases and support. I was pleased to read that you and wife, June, are in good health.)

————————————-

Rob STEWART wrote to pass on his good wishes to everyone in the Association. He also informed us

that he and his mate, David, decided to sell their properties and move to a Retirement Village in Ainslie in the

ACT.

Rob said the opportunity to move to this village came sooner than anticipated but he was glad he made the

decision to move. Their villa is one of eleven, on the perimeter of four-storey unit blocks and set in very

pleasant grounds.

He said the interior is quite spacious (enough to contend with!) and has a garden in the front and a courtyard

at the back. He said the Aged Care is only a ’jump’ across their boundary fence.

Rob said there were numerous activities available and if one wants a change from preparing meals, the

Ainslie Football Club is close by. (Continued on Page 19)

19

(Continued from Page 18)

He is looking forward to attending a concert presented by the band from RMC Duntroon.

There was an ‘Open Day’ at the Military College on the 16th September. (Thank you Rob for your very welcome card and your desire to get our future quarterly newsletters via the PDF when your computer is

up and running. We hope when you read this you and David will be well ‘settled in’ with all the unpacking done. We hope you will be

happy in your new surroundings.)

————————————

Warren BARNES OAM sends his kind regards and best wishes to all his friends in our Association. He

is involved in a number of organisations, not the least being one of our committee members.

Warren is the Assistant Manager of the Singleton Army Base Museum, he is also the NSW State Secretary

of the Defence Reserves Association, the current President of the 4th Inf Bn Assn, and appointed as the

Regimental Warrant Officer of the RNSW Regt.

Warren was most helpful recently in giving me some contacts regarding obtaining disused army Ordnance

for my RSL Sub Branch. (Thank you Warren for your good wishes and assistance. I hope this finds you enjoying your retirement. One door shuts and another

one opens!!)

—————————————

Rayda NOBLE enjoys reading our newsletters and then passing them on to her friends. She sends her

good wishes to her friends in our Association.

She was most grateful that I was able to pick her up and drive her to Brian Hogan’s funeral, in October, and

bring her back home afterwards. She has some beautiful memories of her dad which has ‘pride of place’ on

her memorabilia table.

Most of her time is presently taken up in collating the history of the Junior Rats of Tobruk (Victoria) with

great help from the editor of the Tobruk House News, Graham Gibson.

She wrote that her son, Shaun, and his family recently had a 4-day break and they flew to Darwin. Rayda

said they would normally travel places in their Goldstream RV caravan because Shaun owns the company

which makes these types of caravans at his factory in Pakenham (Vic) and he likes to promote his

company in this way. Rayda used to do the office work and still misses the happy banter of the workers.

Rayda said they visited the War Museum in Darwin.

She told Shaun that her dad, Charles Prain, worked in Darwin for 6 months in 1946, after he was discharged

from the 2/1st Australian Field Workshops, at the end of WW 2.

He worked with his old boss (Don Speed) to ‘salvage’ trucks from around the bush near Darwin. Her dad

was a ‘self-taught’ motor mechanic.

Rayda’s friend, Robyn, took her to the animal shelter to get another dog. It is a 10

year old beautiful little terrier and his name is “Andy”.

She was in two minds about taking on another dog because her previous dog was a

lovely Rottweiler .named “Shelley”

Rayda had her for 13 years and was heart-broken when she died in 2013.

When she saw “Andy” she had a change of heart. The photo shows a beaming

Rayda with the animal shelter carer nursing a very contented looking “Andy” .

Since “Andy” has been home he escaped once and Rayda chased him (in her PJ’s)

and brought him back home. They are both good now! (Thank you Rayda, for your emails and other news. I hope when you read this you are in good health and “Andy” is being a good boy. I

think you have found another wonderful companion)

——————————————-

Ian PFENNIGWERTH passes on his good wishes to all in our Association.

He replied to one of our emails, after he returned from a very restful cruise around the Pacific, and

commented about the book cover attachment I had sent. It was from Jan Thomas (Ed. of “Centaur "newsletter),

about a new book called ”The Shipwreck Hunter”, written by David Mearns. The short ‘blurb’ on the cover

tells it’s about history, human stories and adventure on the high seas, as well as fascinating detective work.

It covers such ships as HMAS Sydney, AHS Centaur, HMS Hood and Vasco de Gama’s 16th century fleet. (Cont. page 20)

20

(Cont from page 19)

The book was launched in July at various venues around Australia and Ian was asked to ‘review’ it for the

RUSI (Royal United Services Institute). Ian very kindly sent me his (below) ‘Review’ .

The Shipwreck Hunter:

A lifetime of extraordinary discovery and adventure in the deep seas

by David L. Mearns. Allen & Unwin: Sydney; 2017; 400 pp.; ISBN 9781760295219 (paperback) RRP

$32.99 (Reviewed by Ian Pfennigwerth-October 2017)

Quite simply, this is an excellent book, which will appeal to a general readership not necessarily interested in the sea. Featuring the World War II cruiser HMAS

Perth on its cover, Australians will find inside the story of finding the long-lost wrecks of the cruiser and its nemesis, the German raider Kormoran, both sunk in

battle off the Western Australian coast in November 1941. David also describes his adventures in locating the wreck of the Australian hospital ship Centaur, sunk by

a Japanese submarine – in defiance of the rules of war – near Moreton Island Queensland in 1943. He was awarded an honorary OAM in 2010 for his work.

However, David’s book is much more than that. He describes the unlikely entry of a New Jersey boy into the specialised world of shipwrecks through marine biology

post-graduate studies at the University of Southern Florida. Introduced to the amazing underwater world revealed by side-scanning sonar, a deep-water cruise

capped off his studies and led to his hiring by the marine salvage company that had had a key role in recovering the wreckage of the space shuttle Challenger in

1986. Military demands drove the development of ever more sophisticated and deep-diving remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to recover objects from the sea floor

but there was little impetus to improve the detection technology. That changed when David’s employer won the contract to search for a ship deliberately sunk in a

fraud case in deep water off the Maldive Islands. In just five months, David and his team bought and built the equipment to search at 4000-metre depths.

As David reveals, the first of three main issues in finding a shipwreck – repeatedly stressed – is to look in the right place. Easier said than done, readers will be

impressed by the depth (no pun intended) of research involved in finding the targets and David’s persistence in testing all the evidence, including official records.

When there is little evidence or even widely divergent opinions – as in the case of Sydney/Kormoran – making the decision on the search area is a crucial one,

affecting not only the client and the contractor but also those with personal involvement. It seems to be worse to fail to find the wreck than not to try.

The second issue is technology. The best (and most expensive) is not necessarily the enemy of the ‘good enough’, but the sonar pod, ‘flown’ well behind the towing

ship and crucially dependent on the integrity of the tow cable, has got to be reliable and robust enough for the conditions in which it is to be used. Those familiar

with employing maritime technology will sympathise with David’s description of ‘one of those days’ when everything that could go wrong did and his sonar had to be

practically rebuilt from scratch – as the clock ticked, and heave a sigh of relief as his team gingerly recover the tow as its cable’s steel outer cover starts

disintegrating. They will also agree with David’s observation that ‘The one thing you can count on at sea is that when everything starts to turn against you, bad

weather will arrive to really compound the problems’.

The third issue is the planning and conduct of the search. Coaxing the sonar pod to fly accurately along the planned track while it is several miles behind the towing

ship requires both excellent control and good seamanship. When the sea floor is ridged with significant ‘hills’, ensuring the towed body safely clears them adds

another dimension of concern. A collision not only means the loss of an expensive tool but the end of the search.

Early in his shipwreck finding career, David recognised that, in most cases, he would be dealing with loss of life, sometimes very significant. Thousands of men died

in the sinking of ships like HMS Hood, the German battleship Bismarck, and in Sydney/Kormoran, but his most poignant case was the disappearance of the very

large bulk carrier MV Derbyshire south of Japan in a typhoon in 1980. There were no survivors from the 44 people onboard and it took 14 years of lobbying of

Government by their relatives to launch an attempt to discover why she sank. David and his team were shocked by the disintegration of this huge ship their

cameras discovered, and the analysis of the cause of her loss was even more chilling. As the crew located in the after superstructure must have watched, their

ship filled with water from the bows as its hatch covers were successively smashed by the waves until she was no longer buoyant and she broke up and crashed to

the sea floor. As he has on most wrecks, David laid a memorial plaque on behalf of the grieving families.

David Mearns writes of complex adventures in the application of high-technology in challenging environments, but in an easy style without jargon – an enjoyable

reading experience. Just as shipwrecks connect us to our past, finding them has pointed the way to ever more uses for the technology in enhancing our knowledge

of the planet. I commend David’s book to all to explore with him the undersea world around us.

(Thank you Ian for your emails and input. It is very much appreciated by our members)

—————————————-

Nelson FIORENTINO passes on his good wishes to all his mates in our Association. Nelson had a very

nasty accident in July involving a ‘drop saw’! He was sawing firewood when the blade ‘bit’ on a knot and

caused a very nasty injury to his left hand, taking the first joint of his thumb and half a knuckle. He thanked

the Lord that it was not more serious. He told me it could have been all his fingers!

He has spent many months coming to grips with his injury and is still in the process of his brain adjusting to

the injury. (Thank you Nelson for telling us this unfortunate news. We hope when you read this that your hand is getting stronger.)

———————————— (Cont. page 21)

21

(Cont from Page 20)

Fred BELL is our Association’s ASM. He and Margaret represented us and attended the “General

Birdwood Flag Restoration” Ceremony in the Christ Church Cathedral on 30th July. (I wrote about this in our last

magazine, on page 25 of ‘Items of Interest’)

Edwin and Penelope Lowery also accompanied Fred and Margaret to the Ceremony.

Dr. Patricia Gillard is the Chair of the Birdwood Heritage Committee and sincerely welcomed the presence of

our representatives on this very special occasion.

The photos above show the restored flag and our Banner and the group photo shows The Reverend Stephen

Williams, Dean of Newcastle, giving a speech at the ‘launch Ceremony’ on Friday morning 22nd April 2017.

The members of the Birdwood Heritage Committee were:- The Very Reverend Stephen Williams-Dean of

Newcastle, Dr. Patricia Gillard-(Chair), Dr. Rosemary Barnard, Mr. Amir Rezapourmoghadammiyandabi-

University of Newcastle, MAJ Roland Millbank (Ret’d) and Captain Andrew Traill, Warden. (Thank you Fred (and Edwin) for representing our Association at this memorable Ceremony.)

—————————————

Jim HOOLAN is my American friend and also one of our Life Members. Our friendship goes back over 30

years. He enjoys reading all our news and receiving our emails.

He commented on a recent email I circulated which showed photo slides of Vietnam. He

and a veteran friend were selling poppies outside the ‘Ace Hardware Store’ (I took it that this

hardware store was in Jim’s home town of Williamsburg Va?) when a well-groomed older lady came

out of the store and saw his 1st Marine Corps Division pin on his lapel and asked if he had

served in Vietnam?

She told Jim the story that her husband and nine other senior military officers conducted

a 10 day ‘survey’, in 1961, of a war against Vietnam and came to the conclusion that it

would be a ‘loser’! And, she remarked, this story is now history. (Thank you Jim for your emails and input to our magazine. I hope this finds you and Gia in good health)

———————————

Richard FORD passes on his good wishes to everyone in our Association. He was grateful for a general

email I circulated regarding WW 2 photos of the “D” Day Normandy landings.

He is having ongoing problems with his back and knees, owing to old injuries, falls etc. but his general

outlook is very positive.

He is very active with the Filipino community in his capacity as Publicity Officer with APCO Inc. (Alliance of

Philippine Community Organisations Inc.) Richard’s wife, Dian, is Filipino and a very accomplished dancer.

He wrote that he is most grateful for the short time he spent in the army because of the responsibility it

instilled in his young mind at a particular time in his life. He wrote that it prepared him for his future. (Thank you Richard for your emails and words. It seems that your spare time is now not so spare. It is a credit to you for the work you

put into the Filipino organisations you are involved in. We hope when you read this that your ailments are getting better.)

———————————-

Joe CRUMLIN OAM sends his good wishes to his friends in our Association. He enjoys reading all the

news and articles in our magazines. *Thank you Joe, for your support and good wishes. We hope this finds you and Ruth in good health.)

—————————————

Barry PERIGO and his wife, Heather, pass on their very good wishes to all their friends in our

Association. They kindly sent me a short film clip of some of their baby goats skipping and frolicking about

on their farm in Orchard Hills. I enjoyed watching the 15 second clip but my mind wandered to a previous

email, some time back, when one of the ‘Billies’ cornered Heather and knocked her to the ground! (Cont. on Page 22)

22

(Cont. from Page 21)

This nasty incident caused Heather to seek medical attention which, in the long run, set her health back for

quite a few months.

Although she is good with the camera I feel sure she kept one eye on her goats.. (Well done Barry and Heather. I hope all is good with you both. Thank you for your contacts.)

————————————-

75th ANNIVERSARY-KOKODA CAMPAIGN Our Association had an Invitation to attend this memorable Ceremony held at the Kokoda Track Memorial

Walkway, at Concord, Sydney on the Friday, 3rd November at 2pm.

Unfortunately I could not make on the day and was unable to have our Banner present.

Our member Michael Ali OAM, was in attendance and said it was a very moving Ceremony.

Kokoda is as well remembered as Gallipoli.

Japanese armed forces landed in northern Papua in early July. Their goal was to capture Port Moresby so

as to establish a base from which to attack Australia.

Buna was captured by the Japanese Army with 1,500 soldiers on the 21stJuly 1942 and by the next month

the Japanese troops numbered 11,500 soldiers. So began the start of the gruelling and vicious Kokoda

Track Campaign.

Northern Papua saw some of the most desperate and terrible fighting during the second world war. Our

soldiers had to face the enormous difficulties of the Owen Stanley ranges. 96 klms of rugged mountain

peaks and valleys, as well as thick, dense jungle.

Our Australian troops defeated the Japanese in a 12 day ‘advance and retreat’ actions! The first defeat the

Japanese land army had suffered to date.

Australian troops had 641 soldiers killed and over 1,000 were

wounded. Another 4,000 were out of action due to sickness.

The efforts of our medical teams and the assistance of the fuzzy-

wuzzy angels are legendary.

I thank Michael for sending me this photo showing some

descendants of the fuzzy-wuzzy angels from PNG. M/s Alice

Kang, (Director of Marketing and Community Services at

Concord Hospital), standing behind Mr Dick Payten OAM

(President of 7 Division Association and a survivor of the

Kokoda Campaign)

Samantha Cantle-(an introduction)

"My Name is Private Samantha Cantle and in April 2014 I enlisted into the 5th Combat

Support Service Battalion.

My military career has provided me the opportunity to work alongside military personnel

from all services, who have contributed to the soldier that I am today.

I was fortunate enough to deploy on Operation Resolute in 2016 as part of the Transit

Security Element. This involved attachment to Royal Australian Navy Armidale-Class patrol

vessels securing Australia’s northern borders.

I had the chance to implement my existing trade skills and learn what life on a Naval patrol

boat was really like. I am so grateful for this experience.

I am extremely proud of my family’s military background and their contributions to this

country. Continuing this heritage was one of the reasons I wanted to enlist; however, my father works for Defence

Force Recruiting, so I suppose it’s not entirely coincidental that my brother and I enlisted.

My training, through Defence, sparked a passion I didn’t know I had for the medical field, and this year I started a

Bachelor of Nursing & Bachelor of Paramedicine at the Australian Catholic University to further my knowledge and

experience. …(Cont. Page 23)

23

(Cont. from Page 22)

In case that wasn’t going to keep me out of trouble, I find working three casual jobs outside Defence and my full-

time studies manages to do the trick.

Having the opportunity to work alongside skilled medical professionals with diverse clinical experience, skill sets,

and length of service is invaluable while studying my double degree. It allows me to consolidate my skills, learn in

challenging situations I wouldn’t ordinarily be exposed to, and continually develop and grow in this field.

Looking forward, I hope to integrate my degrees and experiences into my future military career and vice versa. " ------------------------------------------

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

STORY-”The smell of rain”

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of

Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery. Her husband, David, held her hand as they braced themselves

for the latest news.

That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an

emergency Caesarean to deliver the couple's new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing.

At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature.

Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs. 'I don't think she's going to make it,' he said, as kindly as he

could. 'There's only a 10-percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she

does make it, her future could be a very cruel one'

Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Dana would likely

face if she survived. She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she would

certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation, and on and

on. 'No! No!' was all Diana could say.

She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to

become a family of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away.

But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Dana's underdeveloped nervous

system was essentially 'raw', the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle

their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love. All they could do, as Dana struggled alone

beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious

little girl.

There was never a moment when Dana suddenly grew stronger.

But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there. At last, when

Dana turned two months old, her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time.

And two months later, though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less

living any kind of normal life, were next to zero, Dana went home from the hospital, just as her mother had

predicted. (Story continued on Page 34)

24

A proud supporter of 5 Field Ambulance Association

LATE SUBSCRIPTIONS A gentle ‘reminder’ to our members who pay yearly ($15). We rely on your subs to keep our magazine in circulation. When you read this and if you are not sure if you have paid your $15 would you kindly phone or email me and I will let you know if you are ’up to date’ with your subs. With our kind thanks, Alan Curry (0427824646, (02) 4982.2189 or email:- curry36@bigpond.net.au

25

SICK PARADE

Bob BUTLER, Derek CANNON, Kevin CARTER , George CARUANA, Ben CASTLE (Mona Vale House, 33 Bassett St., Mona Vale NSW Ph: 9910.7900), John CLEGG, Barry COLLINS OAM, Roy CROSSLEY, Gordon CURTIS, John DAVIES, George DONNELLY, Gavin DRISCOLL, Nelson FIORENTINO, Garry FLOOD, Richard FORD, MAJGEN Warren GLENNY AO, Gordon GRANT, George HARRIS, Kevin HURRELL, Norma HUTTON (Minnamurra Aged Care, 12-14 Clements St, Drummoyne NSW 2047), Ken ILES, Vic INESON, Brian INMAN, Terry IRVINE, Ann JACKSON (nee Williams), Neville JOHNSON, John LAYHE, Robert LOVE, Huss MAHOMET, John McCARTHY, Hugh (Macka) McCARTY, Ken McNUFF, Rayda NOBLE, Peter O’GRADY, Mike O’KEEFFE, Charles O’MEALLY (Calvary Aged Care, Cessnock. (02)4993.9150/0474.305.145), Chris O’REILLY, Barry & Heather PERIGO, Karen PHILLIPS (nee Stead), Bob REID, Alan ROBINSON, Diana ROTHFIELD, Robert SHILLINGSWORTH, Stephen STANSFIELD, Rob STEWART, Judith STRACHAN, Harry STRONG, Natalie SWAN (nee Lloyd), Irene TROY, Keverell TURNBULL, John WEAVER, Bruce WHITTET, Warwick WILKINSON, John WILSON and Margaret WOODHEAD.

——————————

POEM TREAD GENTLY

Tread gently on this foreign field, for it lies soaked in blood

that flowed across this battlefield, a tragic crimson flood.

The names of those who fell near here are muttered now by few.

A brave and selfless sacrifice, the living would all rue

Tread gently on this foreign field, I am every mother’s son

who saw my face at every dawn and each setting sun.

She kept her lonely vigil, till eternity claimed her soul.

Her tears no longer wash my name, upon an honour roll.

Tread gently on this foreign field and dare not caste your scorn,

on all that I could have been and descendants now unborn

For we all charged like Lemmings, for country and for crown

and in the flower of our youth, we were all cut down

Tread gently on this foreign field and remember all those lost.

Their legend, part of history that came at too great a cost.

For the horse that stands unbridled and an empty chair at home.

Memories of the loved ones, who lie beneath this loam

Tread gently on this foreign field, the wretched path I trod,

now I lie without a name , that is known only to God.

A farmer’ plough may strike my bones and I might find a grave

but weep you not for my past, it’s your future you must save.

TOMAS HAMILTON 7/5/17

————————————-

POEM

A vet's cry for help. With kind thanks to author, David Pye, ADF, Viet

Nam veteran, and my neighbour, Leon Fitzgerald.

“TRY TO UNDERSTAND”

“Try to understand” If he stays home alone,

and doesn't like to hear the phone If he won't answer the door,

'cause he doesn't want to see anyone any-more.

"Try to understand" If night-time is something to dread,

And his sleep is restless and fleeting in bed,

If he quietly gets up in the night, So as not to disturb your pleasant respite.

"Try to understand" If he becomes nervous and jumps around,

At unexpected movement or a sudden sound.

If he sits in a restaurant with his back to the wall,

Because he can't have anyone behind him at all.

"Try to understand" If he shows no fear and wouldn't turn if he

could, That part of him has gone that says you

should. If his anger seems quick and extreme,

He's only trying to control intense emo-tions unseen.

"Try to understand" If he seems emotionless and indifferent

some days, And perhaps he just says "Go Away!"

If he becomes depressed and may seem unkind,

He is only trying to spare you the agony in his mind.

"Try to understand" If his mood changes and alters

And he becomes unsure and often falters, If he becomes sad and stares into space,

He has only gone to some other place. "Try to understand”

…..Because he can't……..

I was in the ‘express’ lane at the supermarket and

quietly fuming. Completely ignoring the sign, the

woman ahead of me had slipped into the check-out

line pushing a cart piled high with groceries. Imagine

my delight when the cashier beckoned the woman

forward, looked into the cart and asked sweetly…”So,

which six items would you like to buy”? (Wouldn’t it be

great if that happened more often!) PUN- I didn’t like my beard at first.

Then it grew on me.

26

OUR ASSOCIATION IS ON FACEBOOK

Any member who has a computer and has access to the Internet can now visit our ‘Facebook’ page. We thank our

committee member, Ann Jackson, for ‘opening up’ another avenue to connect to our members who are already on

Facebook. We also would like to reconnect with any past member.

‘Admin’ will then accept members to that group. Our group will be a ‘closed group’

which means only members of the group can see ‘posts’.

David WASSON is most warmly welcomed into our Association as an

Associate Member and Life Member. David, who, like his brother Lindsay, saw

our Banner in Martin Place, prior to the “Battle for Australia” Ceremony in

September and after meeting our President, Derek Cannon, was keen for me to

keep in touch and forward an Application Form to him.

David’s interest is due to his grandfather’s involvement with 5 Field Ambulance with whom he served during

WW 1. His grandfather was James Wasson (he is recorded on our Honour Roll on our website). David kindly

informed me that his grandfather enlisted at Lidcombe (Sydney) on the 2nd August 1915. He sailed out for

Egypt in January 1916. He served in Egypt, France and Belgium and was with the 5th Field Ambulance at

Poziers, Martinpuich, Flers, Ypres, Bapaume, Westhoek Ridge, Villers-Bretonneux and Peronne. When

hostilities were finished he was sent to the Australian Base Post Office until May 1919.

His grandfather was awarded the Military Medal. His citation read:- “On the morning of the 4th of October

1917 about 7am, a heavy barrage was laid down in front of Westhoek Ridge causing numerous losses in

killed and wounded. Without waiting for the fire to lift, Wasson volunteered and went forward attending in

the open to the urgent cases, and in one definite case saving life by the arrest of a haemorrhage from a

shattered leg. His self sacrifice and devotion were a fine stimulus to the other men of the station. Hi conduct

throughout has been marked by the utmost intrepidity”.

When his grandfather returned to Australia, he married Eva Swinbourne on the 25th September 1920. They

had one son, Mervyn, who was born on the 31st December 1921. He joined the RAAF and was sent to

Canada where he met, fell in love with a Canadian lass, Joan Morrison, and they subsequently married.

They had one daughter, Gay, and three sons, Lindsay, David and Douglas, who are (or were) employed with

the NSW Dept. of Education.

His grandfather was also a school teacher and he retired as the Principal at Rockdale (Sydney) Primary

School. David wrote that his grandfather had a wonderful life and was most proud of his son and his four

grandchildren. “None of us would be alive if he had been killed in the war. ‘Pa’, as we called him, was very

much loved and from my naïve and youthful perspective, he never appeared to have been adversely

impacted by his war experiences. He had a fine mind and a very even temper. He was, however, reluctant to

talk about his war experiences, which from my readings, was a common trait”.

David closed off his message saying…”Pa served for some years, like you, as Secretary of the 5th Field

Ambulance”

His grandfather passed away in the Repat. Hospital, Concord (Sydney) on the 18th September 1976.

27

KIND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (Please advise us if you have NOT been acknowledged)

Warren BARNES OAM (Cheque $50) for Raffle Tickets $20 and Donation $30. Derek CANNON (EFT $50) for $1 Raffle Tickets. Joe CRUMLIN OAM (Cheque $30) for Donation. Stephen CURRY (EFT $100) for Life Membership Glen EAST (Cash $20) as a donation for his win in our yearly $1 Raffle. Prof. Robert FOWLER (EFT $50) for RAAMC Tie. (Non Member) Glenda GARDE (EFT $60) for Subs to 2021. Gordon GRANT (Cash $50) for Donation. Brian HARTLEY (Cheque $130) for book ‘Little by Little’ $70, RAAMC Lapel Pin $15 and Subs to 2019 $45. Ann JACKSON (EFT $20) for Name Badge. Bill LAIDLAW (EFT $20) for Subs $15 and donation $5. Bryan LINDSAY (Cash $20) as a donation for his win in our yearly $1 Raffle) Don MELVILLE (Cheque $30) for $1 Raffle Tickets. Mitchell & Partners (EFT $250) for Advertisement for 12 months, Rayda NOBLE (Cheques $150) for Donation. Dr. Geoff PRIOR (Cheque $70) for Donation. Ross SMITH (Cheque $50) for Donation. ST JOHN of GOD Hospital (EFT $500) for Advertisements for 12 months. TELEFLEX (EFT $500) for Advertisements for 12 months. Don WALKER (Cheque $25) for Key Ring. David WASSON (EFT $100) for New Associate & Life Membership.

Do you live on the Tilligerry Peninsula?

Portside Real Estate specialises in selling/renting your home or property, especially in the Port

Stephens area of SALT ASH, OYSTER COVE, TANILBA BAY, MALABULA and LEMON TREE PASSAGE.

They are a family owned business and have been for approx. the last 40 years!

They are situated in Shop 2, 1057 Lemon Tree Passage Road, Tanilba Bay NSW

(near the Service Station).

Give David or Rodney a call on (02)4982.4066 A proud supporter of 5 Field Ambulance RAAMC Association

28

ITEMS OF INTEREST (1) Books, Magazines, Newsletters etc. (Received with kind thanks from members and other sources.)

(i) Tobruk House News -Aug, Oct. Dec. (Courtesy Reg Lawrence)

(ii) Contact Newsletter # 48-51 (Courtesy Jim Jordan)

(iii) FRONTLINE – Sep. Journal of the 1st and 2nd Nineteenth. (Courtesy Bob Pink OAM)

(iv) REVEILLE-(NSW) Sep/Oct. (courtesy Alan Curry OAM)

(v) Shrine of Remembrance (Melbourne) monthly newsletters. Oct, Nov, Dec (Courtesy Rayda Noble)

(vi) 2/3 AHS Centaur Newsletter November. (Courtesy, Jan Thomas)

(2) MALAYA AND BORNEO VETERAN’S DAY-31ST AUGUST

The Malayan Emergency began in 1948 when a group calling themselves the Malayan Races Liberation

Army began insurgency tactics against British rule because the promise, by Britain, to grant full Malaysian

citizenship had not been fulfilled! The MRLA were branded communist terrorists by the British Government

of Malaya.

The hostilities escalated after the British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Sir Henry Gurney, was

assassinated in October 1951.

In October 1955, after the withdrawal of our troops from Korea, our government committed our troops (1, 2

and 3 RAR and supporting artillery and other units) to assist Britain in the “Emergency”.

The successive Battalions were used on constant patrolling, ambushing and food denial, as well as ‘cordon

and search’ operations in northern Malaya.

Almost 7,000 troops were deployed between 1955 until the Emergency ceased on the 31st July 1960. The

Australian commitment remained as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve, together with British and New

Zealand troops.

In the Malayan Emergency, 13 troops were killed in action and 24 wounded. There was an additional 21 non-

operational deaths and 111 non-operational wounded.

The Indonesian Confrontation started in early 1963.

In September 1963 Britain granted independence to its colonies in South East Asia-Malaya, Singapore and

the British Protectorates of Sabah and Sarawak who joined together to form the new nation of Malaysia.

Indonesia attempted to de-stabilise the new nation and an un-declared war which started in 1963 when

Indonesia launched a series of ‘cross-border’ raids into Malaysian territory.

By 1964 Indonesian Regular Army had also become involved and this then drew in British, Australian and

New Zealand troops to support Malaysia.

Our Government was reticent to commit its troops for fear of risking further confrontation with Indonesia

where the Australian Territory Of Papua New Guinea bordered with Indonesian Western Papua, but when

Indonesian troops attacked Labis and Pontian on the Malay Peninsula in September and October 1964, our

Government decided to support British operations.

In January 1965, our Government deployed 3 RAR and later, 4 RAR, 102 Field Battery, 1 SAS Squadron, and

later 2 SAS, plus Field and Construction Squadrons to Borneo.

Our troops were primarily engaged in intensive patrolling along the Papua New Guinea border with

Indonesia, as well as operations on Borneo and the mainland of Malaysia. Our Navy and Air Force also

played a big role.

The “Confrontation” formally ended in August 1966! Seven Australians were killed in action and Six were

wounded, as well as 10 killed and 14 injured, who were not on operational duty.

(3) BEERSHEBA-THE CENTENARY OF A REMARKABLE VICTORY IN WW 1 (with kind thanks to The Weekend Australian. 28/10/17 and my neighbour, Leon Fitzgerald)

On the 31st October 1917, the 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments consisting of 800 mounted

infantry, walked, cantered then galloped 6klms over mainly open country to overcome, and capture from, the

defending Turkish army, the vital township of Beersheba. The Order was given, from General Sir Harry

Chauvel to Brigadier General William Grant late in the afternoon, to attack.

This significant victory became a forerunner of a number of Allied victories, in WW 1, which eventually led to

the formation of the State of Israel in 1947.

This very decisive victory had 31 soldiers killed and 36 wounded. Dead and dying horses were scattered

across the battlefield. The Turks suffered many casualties with about 700 being taken prisoner. (Cont. Page 29)

29

(Cont. from Page 28)

What eventually happened to the remainder of the 130,000 horses that left Australia for service in WW 1?

Major Andrew “Banjo” Paterson received orders from higher command that it was not feasible for

quarantine/financial reasons to repatriate the horses back to Australia after the war!

It determined that the animals should be passed on to the British or Indian armies or sold! Paterson was

appalled by the decision of the ‘Horse Demobilisation Committee” and complained. It was in vain.

It is on record that, in November 1918, Paterson and his offsider, Aiden Sutherland, led 128 horses into the

desert and met the Captain of the machine-gun squadron. Paterson refused to watch the slaughter. After

this the officers ‘turned a blind eye’ to their troopers taking their mounts into the desert to shoot them rather

than to see them sold into uncertainty or machine gunned.

English author, Jilly Cooper, wrote that about 8 million animals, mainly horses, donkeys, mules and camels,

as well as dogs, cats and pigeons died during the war. Her 1984 book “Animals in War” inspired the building

of a Memorial in London’s Hyde Park, dedicated to ”Animals in War”.

Only ONE horse was repatriated back to Australia in WW 1. It was “Sandy” ( a ‘Waler’) and its owner was

Major General William Bridges, who was killed at Gallipoli. He was shot in the leg, by a sniper, but his

femoral artery was cut and he died the next day. The Defence Minister at the time , George Pearce, made the

arrangements to bring “Sandy” home.

(4) BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD. (26 Sep-3 Oct 1917)

This was the first major battle fought by the Australian 5th Division in Belgium. It was part of the third battle

of Ypres. There were 5,770 casualties. Polygon Wood itself was almost treeless due to the constant artillery

fire from both sides, at varying times.

In the 8 weeks of fighting in Flanders, our Australian forces suffered 38,000 casualties.

The Western Front was a crucial theatre during WW 1. Between 1916 and 1918 some 295,000 Australians

served on the Western Front. 46,000 lost their lives and more than 134,000 were wounded or captured.

WW 1 took the lives of 60,000 Australians. These staggering figures are hard to comprehend!

Our Australian government sent a delegation to Belgium to pay its honour and respect, at a Ceremony, to

mark this ‘special’ centenary.

The delegation included the leader, Vice Admiral, Ray Griggs AO CSC RAN, The Governor-General of

Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), The Governor of NSW, David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), The

Minister for Veteran Affairs, Mr. Dan Tehan MP, and representing the Belgium Royal family, Princess Astrid,

Archduchess of Austria-Este.

(5) THE MENIN GATE LIONS

Australia has produced replicas of the Menin Gate Lions and will “Gift” them to the Belgium city of IEPER.

This is the Flemish name for YPRES, which is the French name. All the signposts in the township show both

names. It didn’t take too long for the allies, in WW 1, to affectionately call it “WIPERS”!

WW 1 started in August 1914. A few days later, on the 7th October 1914, Flanders was ’shattered’ by the

arrival in their city of 8,000 German soldiers and all their destructive weapons of war.

They ‘ordered’ thousands of loaves of bread, raided the town coffers and left the following day (8th) having

‘passed through’ YPRES!

French and British soldiers arrived in Ypres a few days later to put up defences and block the German’s

route through Ypres, which leads to the ports on the French and Belgium coasts.

The British army and her allies remained in YPRES for the rest of the war until November 1918

YPRES never fell to German occupation during WW 1. When the war ended it pictured the entire town in

ruins. It was almost completely destroyed by the end of 1918.

The Menin Gate Lions have stood on each side of the Menin road since the mid-19th Century. (Cont. on Page 30)

30

(Cont from page 29)

In 1917, many Australian soldiers passed through the Menin Gate on their way to the Western Front. It would

be the last time seen for many of them, as they marched into battle. They would also have had their last

glimpses of civilian normality.

The Menin Gate Lions were given to the Australian Government by the City of YPRES in 1936 as an

expression of gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made by more than 13,000 Australian soldiers in Belgium.

They have been on display at the entrance of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, since 1991.

They are currently “on loan” to Belgium until Armistice Day 2017.

The replicas will be presented to the Mayor of IEPER, after Armistice Day.

Every evening in IEPER, the residents honour the memory of the 6,000 Australian soldiers killed in Flanders

and who have no known grave, their names are listed on the Menin Gate Memorial. Also honoured every

evening, is every Australian who served in WW 1, by the sounding of the LAST POST.

(6) INVICTUS GAMES—2017 TORONTO, CANADA

Prince Harry was the creator . It was established for wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel to

participate in sport. Prince Harry was enthusiastic to start this as a world event, after witnessing the

success of the “Warrior Games” in the USA in 2013.

The name “Invictus” comes from the Latin word and means “Undefeated/Unconquered”.

The first Invictus games were held in March 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London UK. The

second was in 2016 (none were held in 2015) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney

World near Orlando, Florida USA. The 2018 Invictus Games will be held in Sydney.

17 Countries are participating viz; Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia,

Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, NZ, Romania, Ukraine, UK and USA.

The sports played are; Archery, Driving Competition, Golf, Indoor Rowing, Swimming, Track & Field, Power

Lifting, Cycling, Volleyball and Wheelchair Basketball, Rugby and Tennis.

(7) IMPROVING GLOBAL WATER SECURITY

Our Foreign Minister, The Hon Julie Bishop MP, has participated in a High Level Panel on Water. It was held

in New York in September. The Panel included 11 world leaders whose aims were to promote efforts to

achieve sustainable fresh water use and clean water and sanitation for the world.

It is estimated that the world will face a 40% water shortage by 2030!

Water security is fundamental to global security and prosperity, and is a key element in Australia’s efforts to

improve the livelihoods of people in our region.

Australia’s Water Use Efficiency initiative will help developing countries manage their water resources. The

Water Innovation Engine will bring together entrepreneurs, new ideas and flexible financing to accelerate

innovation to achieve its goals. They will identify, test and invest in innovations that improve access to

water, sanitation and hygiene.

Their first challenge is seeking new ways to deliver critical information to farmers in developing countries

so as to improve agricultural output. The second innovation challenge will focus on urban water sanitation.

A $110.6 Million (over 5 years) Program will start in 2018 to deliver water, sanitation and hygiene services

focusing on women and girls.

(8) TASK GROUP TAJI 5 COMPLETES ‘TOUR OF DUTY’ -TRAINING IRAQI SOLDIERS

TGT 5 consists of 300 ADF and 100 NZDF. Task Group Taji is part of Operation OKRA which is Australia’s

contribution to the military intervention of ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (the Levant is an

undefined region around Syria)). OKRA is part of Joint Task Force 633.

TGT 5 has completed six months duty in Iraq and has trained 1,200 Iraqi Soldiers. They graduated in a

Ceremony held at the Taji Military Complex near Baghdad.

More than 26,000 Iraqi soldiers have been trained in all facets of war against ISIL, since 2015. (Cont Page 31)

31

(Cont. from page 30)

(9) QUEENSLAND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITMENT:

Our Federal government has committed $15 billion, over a number of years, for ongoing road and rail

projects in Queensland.

Two big projects are an ’upgrade’ of the Bruce Highway between the Sunshine coast and Caloundra and a

’duplication’ of the rail system between Beerburrum and Nambour.

(10) NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVES (NFSA)

They wrote a story about Eddie Vormister. He was born in 1918 and most of his working life was with the

Wollongong Council (NSW) as an electrical engineer.

In the evenings he worked as a projectionist in various movie theatres in the Illawarra region and after about

four years of this he decided to build his own projector.

About 2,000 dedicated hours later he manufactured a perfect replica of a Cummings & Wilson 35mm film

projector! (He even had to fabricate his own nuts, bolts and screws due to war restrictions on material).

Eddie estimated it would have cost him about twenty pounds ($40).

He was permitted to bring home the latest films to show, in the garage of his Gwynneville home, to his

family, friends and neighbours. About 20 could squeeze into his small garage almost every Sunday night.

The popularity of the newly discovered television saw the end of Eddie’s film nights in 1956.

Eddie has now donated to the NFSA.his projector, screen and speaker, as well as some glass slide ads and

a handful of films and ads that Eddie screened.

(11) CASHLESS DEBIT CARD FOR WA GOLDFIELDS

This is a “world’s first” for Welfare payments and will start in 2018. It will be the third in the region after

Ceduna and the East Kimberley.

Independent evaluation of the trials to date show it has had considerable positive impact.

Welfare payments have been the main reason for alcohol and drug abuse. The new system will see 80% of

welfare payments being placed onto the “Debit” card and 20% placed in the recipient’s bank account.

WA Police statistics show that alcohol is a factor in 2/3rds of all domestic assaults (2009-2013) and half of

all non-domestic assaults.

The main concerns are for the children and their families. There are over 50 Federally-funded services and

the Government has also committed $1 Million over 3 years to ensure the Goldfields children and their

families have effective services which includes the funding of a new residential rehabilitation centre in

Kalgoolie.

(12) 48th PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM

This brings together the leaders of all the Pacific nations to drive for stronger regional cooperation and

advance collective prosperity and security.

A new Pacific Labour Scheme will start in 2018 which will allow Pacific Island residents to work in rural and

regional Australia for up to 3 years to help ‘plug’ labour shortages in our towns and on our farms.

Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu will have first access to the scheme.

The protection of the oceans and its resources is a vital national interest of all the PIF countries. Australia

will fund a new aerial surveillance mission across the waters of all the PIF members to detect and disrupt

illegal fishing as well as transnational crime and people smuggling operations. This will be controlled by the

PIF’s Fisheries Agency based in Honiara.

Australia is also building Patrol Boats for PNG, in WA. The first is destined to be delivered in late 2018.

(13) YAD VASHEM-THE WORLD HOLOCAUST CENTRE

Our Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and his wife, Lucy, made a second visit to Wannsee House.

Wannsee House is in the suburb of Wannsee in Berlin and it became infamous as the place where a 90

minute conference took place, in January 1942, to implement the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”. (Cont. page 32)

32

(Cont. from page 31)

In September 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland, the persecution of Jews started, but the systematic

killings of men, women and children began in June 1941, after the onset of the attack on Soviet Russia (called “Operation Barbarossa”).

The ‘conference’ was the result of a written authorisation from Hermann Goring to the leader of the SS,

Reinhard Heydrich, in July 1941, to “Prepare a Plan for the Total Solution of the Jewish question in

territories under German control”.

The meeting took place in Wannsee House in July 1942, consisting of senior government officials of Nazi

Germany and leaders of the SS. They prepared a plan for the deportation of Jews from German-occupied

Europe to Poland where they would all be murdered!.

It was outlined at this ‘Conference’ how the Jews would be ‘rounded up’ and sent to concentration camps to

be killed.

One copy of the Protocol and circulated ‘minutes’ survived the war. It was discovered by Robert Kempner in

1947 and subsequently used in the Nuremburg War Crimes Trials

In 1965, a historian, Joseph Wulf, proposed to the German government that Wannsee House be made a

holocaust memorial and document centre. The “House” at this time was used as a school building. He tried

for years, unsuccessfully, to persuade his government until he, sadly, committed suicide in 1974.

On the 50th Anniversary, in 1992, the German government proclaimed Wannsee House as the World

Holocaust Centre.

Malcolm Turnbull said after their visit…”A visit to Wannsee House where the “final solution” was planned by

bureaucrats, reminds us that the smartest, the most technological and the most educated can do the most

terrible things. We must NEVER forget and why we resolve with steeled strength—NEVER AGAIN. We are

determined to stand with Israel and the Jewish people”

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A proud supporter of 5 Field Ambulance Association

33 2017 ANNUAL REUNION-(Saturday 25th November)-(Summary)

A happy and convivial afternoon was had by 28 members and their partners (and grandchildren) who were

able to attend our Annual “Luncheon”.

It was again held in the dining room of the Paddington RSL Club (Sydney), from Noon to about 3pm.

It was a relaxed and casual occasion. A most welcome ‘surprise’ attendance was Sandra Hogan and her son

Tim. They flew up from Melbourne to be with us.

I asked Sandra if she would like to offer Grace-which she did. I was sure that everyone’s thoughts would

have been with her over her recently departed husband, and our Honorary Chaplain, Brian. I know mine

were.

Tomas Hamilton proposed the ‘Loyal Toast’.

After the meal our President, Derek Cannon, thanked everyone for their attendance and read out the names

of our members who had died throughout the year and also the names of our new members who had joined

us in 2017. Derek also read all the ‘apologies’ for today. He reminded us about the Bedford Memorial, (which

was written about in our CHRISTMAS Newsletter-SUMMER Issue 2014 page 16. See also Derek’s “Message” on pages 7 & 8)

The names of our members who passed away during the year were; Gordon Wright, John Lastovicka, John

Smith OAM and Brian Hogan.

The New members who

joined us during 2017 were;

Olive Dodd, Irene Troy, Phyl

Fitzsimmons, Tony and Julie

Evans, Betty Hamilton, Mitch

Pickett and David Wasson.

We kindly thank the following

members for attending:-

Warren Barnes, Derek and Colin Cannon, Mick Carlson, Alan and Ruth Curry, Felicity and Josh Evans,

Nelson and Margaret Fiorentino, Tomas and Betty Hamilton, Sandra and Tim Hogan, Ann Jackson, Robert

Love, Edwin and Penelope Lowery and their two grandsons, Reece and Cameron, Bill and Kerri Rylands,

George and Aileen Sip, Stephen and Ann Steigrad, Brian and Gail Tams …..(Continued on Page 34)

If you can smile

when things go

wrong, you have

someone in

mind to blame!

Behind

every

great man

is a

woman

rolling her

eyes!

34

..(Cont. from Page 33)

A light-hearted moment during our Luncheon was when Mick Carlson played his harmonica for us and we

all sang along to “Waltzing Matilda” and “Silent Night”. Over the last few years we have had Tomas and

Betty Hamilton play the guitar and sing some poetic songs but this year Tomas has not enjoyed the best of

health. It was pleasing to see them both able to attend.

RAFFLE RESULTS:

We raised a total of $320 throughout 2017. Our Association retained 50% ($160) and the members at the

reunion thought it was a good idea to draw eight prizes of $20. Our eight winners were:- Warren Barnes,

Derek Cannon, Glen East, Margaret Fiorentino, Betty Hamilton, Bryan Lindsay, Don Melville and Don Walker.

APOLOGIES were received from; Sam ALEXANDER, Michael ALI OAM, Suresh BADAMI OAM, Fred BELL,

,Ashleigh BORG, ‘Scotty’ BOYD, Edna CANNON, Greg CANT, George CARUANA, Noel CHRISTENSEN, Barry

COLLINS OAM, Joe CRUMLIN OAM, Jane CURRIE, David CZERKIES, John DAVIES, Theo DECHAUFEPIE,

Marie DOYLE, Tony, Julie and Brittany EVANS, Ron and Adrienne FOLEY, Richard FORD, Glenda GARDE,

John and Margaret GORRELL, Bob GRIEVES, Kevin HURRELL, Ray HYSLOP OAM (Patron), Stuart and Sue

JONES, Huss MAHOMET, Barry and Heather PERIGO, Bob REID, Jim ROCHE, Rob STEWART, Noel TAME,

Trevor and Debra TAYLOR, Michael TYQUIN, John WEAVER, Bruce WHITTET, Don WIKNER, Alex

WILLIAMS, and Jim ZORBAS.

(Continued from Page 23…”The smell of rain”)

Five years later, when Dana was a petite but feisty young girl with glittering grey eyes and an unquenchable zest for

life, she showed no signs whatsoever of any mental or physical impairment.

Simply, she was everything a little girl can be and more. But that happy ending is far from the end of her story.

One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Dana was sitting in her mother's lap

in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was practicing. As always, Dana was

chattering nonstop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby, when she suddenly fell silent.

Hugging her arms across her chest, little Dana asked, 'Do you smell that?' Smelling the air and detecting the

approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, 'Yes, it smells like rain.' Dana closed her eyes and again asked, 'Do you

smell that?' Once again, her mother replied, 'Yes, I think we're about to get wet. It smells like rain.'

Still caught in the moment, Dana shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly

announced, 'No, it smells like Him. 'It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest.'

Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Dana happily hopped down to play with the other children.

Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing

family had known, at least in their hearts, all along.

During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them

to touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.

2018 Dates for your Calendar.

The RAAMC Association Inc. (NSW Branch) meet in FEBRUARY, JUNE and

OCTOBER, on the FIRST Friday, at 11.10am in the Paddington RSL Club, If

you are a member of 5 Field Ambulance Association OR a member of the

RAAMC Association Inc. you are most welcome to attend.

ANZAC Day ——————————————–———————-——25th APRIL

AHS CENTAUR COMMEMORATION————————————-—12th MAY

CORPS BIRTHDAY (RAAMC)—————–———————————-1st JULY

RESERVE FORCES DAY (Newcastle-Saturday)——–———————-30th JUNE

“ “ “ (Sydney-Sunday)———–—————————-1st JULY

VP DAY—————————————————–——————-—15th AUGUST

BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA COMMEMORATION—————5th SEPTEMBER

REMEMBRANCE DAY——————————————-——-11th NOVEMBER

ANNUAL “MIXED” REUNION LUNCHEON——— ————24th NOVEMBER

11/11/’17 I bow my head in reverence today, embrace the memory of a hundred years; Revere the sacrifice lifetimes had to pay to lie in peace, beneath poppies bled with tears. © Charles Murray

No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery

35

ACTIVITY SHEET (Please advise your choice/s. Any item ordered includes postage)

Please find enclosed my Subs for 2017 ($15) (cover from January to December) or LIFE

MEMBERSHIP ($100) or Donation (See my details below).

I would like to pay for ____$1 Raffle Ticket/s in our Yearly Fund-Raiser

Please post me a “Surplus” Newsletter @ $7 each. (If available)

Please send me____”Special Edition” 2015 Centenary Calendar/s @ $7 each.

Please order me a Centenary “T” Shirt @ $70 each. SIZE_______.

Please order me____copies of the DVD of our 50th AND/OR 100th Anniversary Parade @

$20 ea. (The 50th also includes a brief history of the 2/5th Australian Field Ambulance)

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 a RAAMC Red Cross Arm-Band @ $10 each. (7 left)

Please send me a 5 Field Ambulance RAAMC KEY RING ($20). (With my membership number on it, if

possible.)

Please ORDER me a NAME BADGE ($20)

Please ORDER me a (XL/Large/Medium/Small) BERET ($40),*BERET BADGE ($23),*LAPEL

BADGE ($7), *CORPS TIE ($50) ---please indicate size of Beret & whether Badges/Ties are to be

RAAMC, RACT or RAEME.

Please send me a copy of “Little by Little”--- A Centenary History of the RAAMC by Dr. Michael

Tyquin (Army Historian). @ $70. (1 left)

(Please make any Cheques/Money Orders etc payable to:- “5th Field Ambulance Association” and post to

either:- Alan Curry OAM (Hon Sec) 35/1a Gordon Cl., ANNA BAY NSW 2316 OR Brian Tams (Hon Treas.),

453/1 Scaysbrook Dve., KINCUMBER NSW 2251—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. (Please Identify your name)

COMMENTS/ORDERS ETC: FROM:_________________________________

CONTACT No:_____________________MONEY ENCLOSED $_____________

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A proud supporter of 5 Field Ambulance Association