BY THE WAY.
Dave Humphreys reports on a few old Gunners:-
Bill Dellar (7) has been living in Rochester for a couple of years after moving from Lilydale, and had a recent “do you remember” session with Dave.
Alec Hough (7) calls in occasionally when visiting Bendigo. Alec who is approaching 80, lives with his wife at Moama.
Dave sees Tom Williams (7) often as he is in Echuca Group of Legacy. Tom is fit, working hard at his golf handicap.
Len Morgan (7/8) lives with his daughter Penny at Echuca.
Herbie May is now in Bendigo. Herbie said Les Stephens wanted to get hold of a Bofors gun. Can anyone find one for him?
Dave Hunphreys himself is retiring from the Board of Bendigo Hospital after many years service during which time he has seen it become a leader in country base hospitals. Dave and his wife spent August / September 1992 in Canada and the USA.
While in New York they were burgled losing a camera and some jewellery.
On reporting the matter to a policewoman Dave had to spell “Australian” for her. She didn’t have a clue where it was. However Dave did meet some people who had seen Crocodile Dundee.
We heard that Les Coutts had not been very well, so trust that he is back in good form again.
Phil Bishop (RHQ/7) is a remarkably fit 84 years of age, and divides his time between Surrey Hills and Mornington.
Our Greek Friends: During the calendar year representatives of the Association attended ceremonies connected with the anniversary of the Battle of Crete and the anniversary of the Greek Heroes.
When visiting Sydney, The Secretary of 2/3 Aust. Composite AA Regiment Association is Kevin Grey. He lives at 5 Dalwood Ave, Seaforth 2092 (907 9l0l).
On Anzac Day the members assemble in Castlereagh Street near Hunter Street about 8.30 a.m. under the banner with the 1st Corps Artillery colour patch displayed. It is suggested that you call Kevin when in Sydney as the Association has several functions during the year and he assures us that you would be very welcome.
Murray Takasuka (7) is still going well at Afterhead SA despite he and his wife having had a few health problems in recent years.
Clive Greenhill (9) now in his 80th year has still been busy with Missions to Seamen Chaplains Conference, Legacy, interstate and overseas travel, despite needing a wheelchair.
George Howat (8) has had a couple of spells in hospital but at the last report is going well.
Col Reilly, probably the Regiments youngest officer in 1941, again made the journey down from Sydney to our 1992 re-union and march. Col still swims early mornings at Balmoral Beach and in 1000 & 1500 metres swimming races.
We were there! In the excellent TV series “When the War Came to Australia” shown again by the ABC during 1992, one of the commentators said: “In 1942, Western Australia was left undefended”. Only until those magnificent 7th and 8th Batteries of our Regiment arrived to protect the girls in Perth, the US Navy’s Catalinas and canteen at Crawley Bay, the RAAF with their WAAF’s and the Bullsbrook Hotel at Pearce, the Avro Ansons and the Italian tomato growers at Geraldton aerodrome, and the RAAF’s 76 Squadron at Onslow.
No wonder the enemy didn’t come down the West coast!
Nonagenarians! Congratulations to Tom Evely (7) and to
Hugh Roger Taylor (8) on reaching their 90th and 9lst birthdays
respectively. Both have kept remarkably good health. How many
other members of the Regiment are in their nineties?
Did you get one of the 75 cent stamps bearing a picture of one of 9 Bty guns which co-operated with 6 HAA Bty in the defence of the Port Morseby, Milne Bay area?
