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Back to 1949 index or Main Index Makan – No. 33 Official Organ of 2/30th. Bn. A.I.F. Assn, Patron: Maj. Gen. F.G. Galleghan, D.S.O., O.B.E., E.D. Dear Dig, After six weeks holiday spent mostly on my spine at Yaralla, I am back, determined to always keep at least two Makans written in advance. For the first time since our Makan came into existence, I was incapacitated and Reg Ellis, old fix that he is, turned out an edition last month that made previous ones look like a school kid's composition. My enforced holiday did me a lot of good in many ways. It gave me an increased respect for the Sisters and Staff at Yaralla, a wider knowledge of the tremendous benefits which Ex diggers receive from the Repat. Dept. and a better understanding of what some of those poor fellows, the semi-permanent patients, have to undergo. Take the case of the "Chest" boys. Ned Kelaher (sic - KELEHER) has not been out of hospital for more than a few days since we returned home. He has to put up with trials and tribulations which would send the average man half crazy in a few weeks. Just imagine having to lie upon one's back, not for a few hours, but for months. Yet Ned is just as cheerful as he ever was, in fact, he has had the audacity to marry a really charming girl. Ned cannot help but make a success of his marriage and we wish him all the success he deserves. Within a few months he may see the outside of hospitals for good. Harry Webber is in Yaralla now - he is also chesty, yet worries less about his misfortunes than a man with a sore toe. He is confined to bed absolutely, even though, in himself, he feels reasonably well. Most of his spare time is spent writing out lottery ticket applications. He buys as many as £9 worth a fortnight. We'd like to see him crack a big prize, particularly the prize of good health. Like the Public Service, our membership is increasing every month. One of our latest is Watty Gates, ex "A" Coy., who was a patient last month at Yaralla. Watty is a little fellow with gingery hair and moustache, and a heart as big as himself. Since our return, he has been working here and there, and his present employment is in the Rathmines air base, where he is a Steward. This is a job with good conditions and wonderful makan but, despite this, Wetty's health has deteriorated rapidly, and when I last saw him he weighed only six stone. Despite his rough spin, which we hope is only temporary, he is in excellent spirits and has persuaded the doctor to officially allow him to drink bottled stout in the hospital ward. Lennie Matthews was at Yaralla last month, probably still there too. He has spent most of the last two years in hospital and has had all sorts of horrible operations to his kidneys. He is a good battler and is always more concerned with other patients' worries than his own. The little nurse in Lennie's ward is Bully Cody's sister so he is well looked after. Young Geoff Gillespie doesn't muck about when he pays his subs. His last payment was 25/- and makes him financial until about 1960. Reg Ellis mentioned Vince O'Reilly last month. But I enjoyed his letter so much that I must touch upon it again. He and his cobber, Tom Aspinall, also of "A" Coy. left us at Darwin on the way home, when they transferred to another ship. Vince is back on the farm again after spending 21 years as a P.M.G. Linesmen. He became fed up with working for a boss and is thoroughly enjoying his farm life again. Vince has kept good health since we returned and has a two year old daughter to keep him from becoming lazy. Tommy Aspinall (writes Vince) is a carpenter and went through the same school as Jack Chatfield. He is working for a boss now and is doing so well that he will be starting his own house as soon as he receives a permit. Tom, unfortunately, has not enjoyed good health since we returned. He has two little boys, Peter 2 and Shane 3 months. Tom Steele, of 2/26th Bn., who was well known and liked by our chaps, is the Postmaster at Georgetown now. Vince O'Reilly would appreciate letters from any of his old gang. He evidently has not changed much because he asked us for the address of Ross Madden so that he could return a razor he borrowed whilst a P.O.W. Wally Barnes is having a busy time with his two year old twins and wrote a long letter, in which he casually mentioned them about 30 times. He writes a newsy letter though, and tells us that Mick Hilton ex Don Coy., is now in Newcastle, Bill Jones is working for the A.B.C. at 2NC, and Don Schumacher is still on the buses and still refuses to collect fares from 2/30th chaps. Latest Life Member is Harry Holden. Our Life Members are increasing each month - saves all that business of carrying postal notes around for so long that they eventually become too shabby and dirty to put in an envelope. The 8th Div. Annual Ball will be held at the Trocadero on Monday night, 15th August. Tickets are 15/- each. The Ball will be a big one and a first class night. Debs are to be Presented and this opportunity is open to any young lady directly related to a 2/30th Digger. If you have not made your reservation, ring Major Johnston, XA1122, as soon as possible and book your table. We saw Andy Hyslop a few weeks ago. He is Headmaster of a large city public school and is feeling the strain of overwork brought about by the current shortage of teachers. We received a long letter from Les Perry, ex Don Coy. Les is publicity man for an 8th Div. Reunion which will be held at Narrandera early in Sept. It will be a rather high class job, with all the facilities of the town thrown wide open for the ex-P.O.W’s. There will be a lot of our chaps there, fellows who live in those parts, and perhaps a few of the boys from the city. We intend to publish full details in the next Makan of the Reunion and will tell you the cost of plane fares, times of departure and arrival from Sydney, and so on. At least two of our lads have already said that they intend to go to Narrandera for the Reunion. They will leave Sydney by 'plane in the Friday night and return, they hope, on the Sunday night. The main cost, they believe, will be the fares - accommodation will probably cost little, if anything at all. Anyway, all the details will sooner in the next Makan. A new member to the Association Is Dick Newman of St. George, Q’land. We cannot yet tell you much about his doings in the last three years but will do so as soon as we hear anything of him. It is very hard to find out much about these Queenslanders because our lads up there live miles apart and we must rely upon personal letters. Here are some more addressee for your list - D.G. (Dinny) Garland, Bill Gibson, Alan Good, Jack A. Goodwin, Bill Gough, Stan Grainger, Tommy B. Grant, F. Jack A. Greenwood, Sid A. Grounds, Ron W. Grubb. A few months ago we asked if anybody was interested in having their name included on a special Association advertising sheet. The response to this suggestion has pot been sufficient to warrant the cost of such a sheet. However, we will start to give you, over a period, full details of all those who wished to have their business advertised. Don't forget the date of the next Reunion. You country lads can start your plans now - it will be held on Friday night, 18/11/49. The "Old Man" will be back for it and it will be a bigger and better show than ever, Ken Perry was seen walking down George Street last Tuesday morning. At first, it was thought he was on stilts, but a closer scrutiny revealed him to be walking on air; the reason being that his wife, Betty, had presented him with a baby boy the night before. The little bloke will bear the Scandinavian name of Rose Campbell Parry. When remitting money please make all cheques and postal notes payable to R. E.. Ellis, 21 Military Road, Neutral Bay. All the best, STAN ARNEIL Back to 1949 index or Main Index |