3.

scuttlebutt

Box Hill RSL Sub-Branch Incorporated - trading as Box Hill RSL, 26 Nelson Rd, Box Hill 3128. Ph: 9898 5992, Fax: 9899 1740 Manager: Denis Fernando, Sub-Branch Secretary: Ray Wall, Association Registered No: A0057903U

December 2016ISSUE: #208

EDITOR: Tony Bowden OAM JP

GENERAL MANAGER: Denis Fernando

SUB-BRANCH SECRETARY: Ray Wall

ASSOCIATION REGISTERED NO: A0057903U

Contributions to each issue of Scuttlebutt must be with the editor by the 20th day of each month. Editor's e-mail: heraldry@sub.net.au

scuttlebuttBOX HILL R.S.L. SUB- BRANCH INC.

June 2017ISSUE: #213

EDITOR: Tony Bowden OAM JP

GENERAL MANAGER: Denis Fernando

SUB-BRANCH SECRETARY: Ray Wall

ASSOCIATION REGISTERED NO: A0057903U

Contributions to each issue of Scuttlebutt must be with the editor by the 20th day of each month. Editor's e-mail: heraldry@sub.net.au

2017 ANZAC APPEAL – a thank you to all contributors and volunteers who made this important appeal a success!A large team of volunteer collectors successfully canvased the City of Whitehorse seeking donations.

It had been thought the shenanigans in the NSW RSL would have made a large impact on the Victorian Appeal, but considering the final amount ($77,839.30) donated by our local residents, maybe they know the difference between a well run and honest Sub-Branch to certain ones above our Northern border.

Once again thank you to all who donated their hard earned cash and a further Thank You to all our collectors and volunteers.

John Sheehan Appeals Officer

ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICEWhile the photograph to the left wasn’t taken during our Anzac Dawn Service, it was taken after our School Children’s Anzac Service. The committee in its wisdom has decided to not allow the taking of photographs during the service, one of the main reasons being the flashes going off “willy-nilly”. Also it is our most sacred day where we remember the sacrifices of so many of our family members.

4.

MEMBERS IN AGED CARE

Welfare ReportFor all welfare matters - telephone Faye Clark or Pam McCaughey on 9898 2044

Our best wishes are with those members who are, or have been in hospital since the last issue.

Bob McLellan, Bill Smith, Yvonne Yodgee, Janice Tateson, Ian Ward, Norma Yendall, Tom O'Neill & Keith Box

Vale lest we forget

Noel Clausen 142642 RAAF

Kevan Smith 428380 RAAF

FREE MOVIES FOR MEMBERS Presented by Ray Wall

THURSDAY, 29TH JUNE AT 10.30

The Keeper of Lost Causes 96 MINUTESCarl Morck is demoted to Department Q, the cold case unit, after a raid goes wrong. One case, a suspected suicide, piques his interest. His investigations suggest that the woman, a rising politician, was actually kidnapped. Morck ruffles feathers, and is told to halt the investigation, but he and his colleague Assad continue.

This is a Danish movie based on the first book in the Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. I have read all six books in the series to date. I strongly recommend them if you are interested in well crafted crime stories.

BEULAH ANDERSON, Alawarra, Inala, 220 Middleborough Rd, Blackburn SthARTHUR ATKINSON, Broughton Lea, 9 -17 Broughton Road, Surrey HillsKEN BLYTH, The Gables, 629 Riversdale Rd, CamberwellFRANK BOLTON, Faversham House, 27 Shierlaw Ave, CanterburyMAUREEN BRAYNE, Alawarra, Inala, 220 Middleborough Rd, Blackburn SthHILARY BUTTERFIELD, The Heights, 39 Doncaster Road, DonvaleMYRA CAMPBELL, Dorothy Henderson Lodge, 157 Balaclava Rd, MarsfieldMARGARET CAVILL, Highwood Court, 359 Warrigal Rd, BurwoodALWYN CHARLESWORTH, Uniting AgeWell, 75 Thames St, Box HillFAY CLARK, Uniting AgeWell, 75 Thames St, Box HillROBERT CLARK, Faversham House, 27 Shierlaw Ave, CanterburyMOLLIE CLOUGH, Kew Gardens, 22-24 Gellibrand St, KewNOEL & LOIS DUNN, BUPA, 296-304 Springvale Road, DonvaleROY EDWARDS, BUPA, 18-22 McGlynn Ave., South MorangMARJ FINEBERG, Baradine, Baradine Rd, MooroolbarkALMA GEORGE, Broughton Lea, 9 -17 Broughton Road, Surrey HillsMADGE GILBERT, Broughton Lea, 9 -17 Broughton Road, Surrey HillsGEORGE GIRLING, McGarvie Hostel, Strathdon, 17 Jolimont Rd, Forest HillGORDON HANG GONG, Alexandra Gardens, 42 Old Warrandyte Road, DonvalePAT HAMILTON, BUPA, 296-304 Springvale Road, DonvaleMARY HODGETTS, Faversham House, 27 Shierlaw Ave, CanterburyLORNA HOUSE, Wattle Glen ACF, 45 Silvan Rd, Wattle GlenBILL HOWE, Ascot House, 468 Middleborough Rd, BlackburnLOLA INGLEFINGER, Banksia Lodge, 2 Jones Street, Foster

RAY JACOBS, Uniting AgeWell, 75 Thames Street, Box HillCARMEL JOHANSEN, Opal Gracedale, 205 Warrandyte Rd, Ringwood NthMYRA KELLEHER, Clovelly Cottage, 16 Stewart Street, BoroniaJEAN KING, Opal by the Bay, 185 Racecourse Road, Mt MarthaWILLIE KLOMP, Dutchcare, 736 Mt Dandenong Rd, KilsythALBERT KNOP, Uniting AgeWell, 75 Thames St, Box HillDOREEN KNOP, Livingstone Gardens, 39 Livingstone Rd, Vermont SouthCLARE KNYVETT, Millward Aged Care, 31 Blackburn Rd, DoncasterSYLVIA LANG, Donwood Aged Care, 17 Diana Street, CroydonDOROTHY LEITH, Alawarra, Inala, 220 Middleborough Road, Blackburn SthGARRY LEVEY, Broughton Lea, 9-17 Broughton Road, Surrey HillsDON LIVESEY, BUPA, 222 Serpells Road, TemplestoweROBERT LONG, Faversham House, 27 Shierlaw Ave, CanterburyBETTY MADDOCK, Faversham House, 27 Shierlaw Ave, CanterburySIDNEY MANN, Roseville, Apt.10, 130 King Street, Doncaster EastDAWN MAY, Jack Faichney Hostel, Strathdon, Jolimont Road, Forest HillHARRY & JOYCE MCEWAN, Gregory Lodge, 2-58 Newmarket St, FlemingtonEILEEN MCKEE, Livingstone Gardens, 39 Livingstone Rd Vermont SouthGREGOR MCGREGOR, Cerberus, Strathdon, 17 Jolimont Rd, Forest HillHAMISH MACLEOD, Dowell Court, 159 Lwr Heidelberg Rd, East IvanhoeBILL & BETTY MCNEEL, Arcare, 1997 Malvern Rd, Malvern EastBETTY McQUALTER, Uniting AgeWell, 75 Thames Street, Box HillBETTY MONK, Livingstone Gardens, 39 Livingstone Rd Vermont SouthGEORGE MOXHAM, Regis Lake Park, 40 Central Rd, Blackburn

TOM & PEGGY O’DONNELL, Livingstone Gardens, 39 Livingstone Rd, Vermont Sth.NOEL OUTHRED, BUPA Donvale, 296-304 Springvale Road, DonvaleSHIRLEY PASCOE, BUPA, Heidelberg Park, 222 Serpells Rd, TemplestoweCONNIE PERRY, Faversham House, 27 Shierlaw Ave, CanterburyTHELMA PHILLIPS, Faversham House, 27 Shierlaw Ave, CanterburyGERALD PULLAN, BUPA, 222 Serpells Rd, TemplestoweMILLIE RAYNOR, Faversham House, 27 Shierlaw Ave CanterburyRAY REES, Estia Health, Brooklyn Rd, Melton SouthLEON ROBINSON, Nazareth House, CamberwellDOREEN ROCK, Camberwell Gardens, 15 Cornell St, CamberwellJOYCE ROLLINSON, Uniting Agewell, 75 Thames St, Box HillDICK ROSE, Clovelly Cottage, 16 Stewart St, Boronia.IRENE ROSEVEAR, Vincent de Paul Hostel, 13 Strabane Avenue, Mont Albert NorthMAUREEN SAVAGE, Covenant House, 181 Canterbury Rd, BlackburnELIZABETH SAYERS, Jasmine Lodge, 56 Mt. Dandenong Rd, Ringwood EastBETTY SMITH, Arcare, Cnr Plenty and Gremel Roads, LatrobeLEO SMITH, Alexander Gardens, 42 Old Warrandyte Road, DonvaleEDNA TREWIN, Regis Lake Park, 40 Central Road, BlackburnNORMA VENDY, Dorset Lodge, 362 Dorset Road, CroydonEILEEN WADDELL, BUPA Donvale, 296-304 Springvale Road, DonvalePATRICIA WALLACE, Park Lane Aged Care, 295-299 Maroondah Hwy, CroydonPHIL WALTER, Regis Lake Park, 40 Central Road, BlackburnCLIVE WINN, Livingstone Gardens, 39 Livingstone Rd, Vermont SthHAROLD WOOLARD, Alawarra Inala, 220 Middleborough Rd, Blackburn Sth

VOCATIONAL PATHWAY ADVICE!Our new Welfare Co-Ordinator Pam is a qualified & experienced vocational pathway and rehabilitation counsellor. If you, or anyone you know is struggling with the following;

• Unemployment

• Job dissatisfaction

• Uncertainty with deciding on future study options (VCE students)

• Would like to try a new career but unsure where to start

Pam is able to offer counselling & assistance with job search skills, resume & cover letter preparation, and/or standardised vocational assessment. If you are interested in this service or would like further information, please call the Welfare Department on 9898 2044.

5.

Whitehorse Day Club TripCASTLEMAINE APRIL 2017Leaving Kyneton after morning tea, I pointed out the wall of tiles on the Town Hall’s wall, facing north, in the direction of Redesdale. An artist was commissioned to make a mural of 280 tiles as a memorial to the Black Saturday fires. Each tile has something salvaged from properties affected, in some cases only a scrap of melted metal. The more black on the tile, the more devastation was suffered.

Next stop was Castlemaine. Ernest Leviny, a Hungarian silversmith and jeweller from Budapest, turned what was originally a modest bungalow into the impressive home and gardens known as Buda House. His talented family (10 children) produced many of the artworks and furnishings on display. Ernest worked as a surveyor, mainly in Western Australia, on projects such as the Kalgoorlie pipeline and early railway works. He returned to live at Buda after his wife’s death. Two generations of the Leviny family occupied Buda for 118 years (1863-1981.)

After a hearty lunch at Five Flags Hotel, we visited Castlemaine Art Museum. Sarah, our guide, said it was her first day doing tours but she coped with our large group. At the entrance to the Museum, stand 2 sculptures made out of scrap car-parts and scrap metal. Time was limited, but we managed to see a variety of works.

John and Mary Simpson Trip Co-ordinators

Judy Coates was awarded Life Membership of the Box Hill RSL Bowls Section at the Bowls President’s Presentation Day on 2nd April.

Bowls ReportWinter is slowly approaching! The Autumn trees and their beautiful orange and red leaves are falling which is a beautiful sight to see when going for a walk though not always appreciated when one has to rake up the lawn and pathways. Still beautiful sight to see.

After a busy Pennant Season with Finals completed, Club Championships finalised, President and Presentation day completed, Memorial Day over, and the A.G.M completing the format, it is now time when a few bowlers head further afield to a slightly warmer climate. We wish you safe travels.

Good News! There are still quite a few bowlers dedicated to their club, and to bowls, and who just love to be on the green constantly improving their skills.

During the winter months our Social Bowls are continuing on a Wednesday and Saturday. Management congratulates the incoming Match Committee (established at the A.G.M.). They have some new ideas which is making these days a little more interesting, different, and challenging; this also seems to be adding some extra fun, heaven forbid.

It is bound to be a little quieter bowls-wise in the coming weeks. Enjoy whatever you are doing and try to keep warm! See you on the Green sometime. Happy Bowling everyone!

Helen Harrington President Bowls Section

TREV'S COLUMNMEMBERS PREMIUM REWARDS CARD – “WIN A $6,000.00 CRUISE HOLIDAY FOR JUNE/JULY”

Don’t forget to swipe your Premium Rewards Card at the kiosk when you enter the Club and you could win a Bonus ticket to enter the June/July promotion to win a $6,000.00 Cruise Holiday. The draw is on 29 July. Also present your card over the Bar or Bistro with each purchase and you can obtain additional tickets when you spend $20.00 or more. Each purchase accumulates until you reach $20.00 so present your card even if you are only buying one drink.

ANZAC DAY VOLUNTEERS 2017

On behalf of the Committee of Box Hill RSL, I would like to thank Gail Robertson and all the Volunteers without whom the day couldn’t function. They included Mandy Wallace, Jim Douglas, Chris Lambert, John and Helen Elliott, Myles and Kane Fernando, Ray and Helen Jones, Steve Eno, Ron Carter, Kevin Chandler, Chris Elms, John and Helen Harrington, Cheryl and Michael Frail, Cheryl Ryan, John Woodford, Mal Hams, Hennie Pasveer, Geraldene McDonald, the Ishmali Community, North Box Hill Football Club and Pioneers Football Club. Also the staff and Committee Members who helped on the day are most appreciated. If I have missed anyone I’m sorry.

AIR CONDITIONING

The units have been installed and are operational. You should notice the difference.

NEW CAR PARK

We have advertised for objections which closed on 19 May and hopefully we go to tender in June. A further difficulty is that United Energy require the power lines in Shipley Street to be placed underground and guess who has to pay for it?

NEW FENCE

The fence on the west side of the small car park near the bowling green had to be replaced as the old wall was in danger of collapsing onto the footpath and possibly injuring a pedestrian. This work is now completed.

FRIDAY NIGHT RAFFLE

Looking for something to do on a Friday night? Why not come to the Friday night raffle? It is held in the Upton Room and sale of tickets starts at 5.45pm with the raffles commencing at 6.30pm. The raffle concludes at about 7.15pm in plenty of time to have dinner in the Bistro. Prizes include meat trays, $40 Woolworth Vouchers, $40 RSL Gift Cards, $25 Vouchers, beer or wine, and Mandy’s Mystery Bags. Join in and have a bit of fun!!

BIRTHDAY VOUCHERS

It is important that you check your Scuttlebutt envelope as your birthday voucher will be inside!!

BISTRO TRADING HOURS

The Bistro is now open at 11.30am Monday to Friday for those who are peckish early.

Trevor Symes Vice President

Ballarat Bus TripBox Hill RSL Welfare Department hosted a trip to Ballarat on the 11th May 2017 to visit the Ex-Prisoner of War Memorial, Arch of Victory – Avenue of Honour, and the Grieving Mother Statue.

We arrived in Ballarat mid-morning. Firstly we visited the Prisoner of War memorial in the Botanical Gardens. The memorial was opened in February 2004 to recognise and remember those Australians who became Prisoners of War during the wars of the 20th Century. We were able to search the memorial for the names of family members and friends and to take a moment of quiet reflection.

After boarding the bus, we then drove to the Arch of Victory and the Grieving Mother Statue. The Arch of Victory is quite impressive and signifies the beginning of the Avenue of Honour where 3771 trees have been planted in honour of service men and

women, from Ballarat, who lost their lives during conflict. The statue of the Grieving Mother was a lovely tribute. The moving inscription left many feeling quite emotional, particularly those of us with sons. Inscription as follows;

“I had no skill to offer, I had no wealth to spend;

Mine was a greater glory, I had a son to send.

Silently the shades of evening gather round my lonely door,

Silently they bring before me the face I shall see no more.”

Lunch was enjoyed at the Ballarat RSL! Following lunch we had some free time to explore

central Ballarat by foot. We headed home around 2:45pm and made it through the Melbourne traffic without too much fuss, thanks to our skilful bus driver Rex.

I would personally like to thank everyone who attended the day. This was my first day trip since commencing work with the RSL and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thank you for making me feel so welcome! I would particularly like to thank Bob for organising the day, and Brenda for helping out. I really enjoyed meeting you all and I look forward to many more adventures together in the future.

Pam McCaughey Welfare Co-Ordinator

PAST PRESIDENT Warwick Deuchar

Warwick Deuchar service number 2839 was a life member of the League and whilst a member of Box Hill RSL he served two terms of President of the Sub-Branch. Warwick was a fairly rebellious boy and at the age of 12 he was sent from his home in St. Kilda to work on a farm in Dookie. When war was declared he and his boss walked from Dookie, near Shepparton to Broadmeadows to enlist. This was probably part

patriotism and part a sense of adventure, as it was with a great many of the young men who enlisted. Little did they know!

After basic training he was assigned on 21st October 1914 to the 3rd Division ammunition column and was shipped from Fremantle to Cleopatra, Alexandra. From there he was transferred to Gallipoli, then off to France and Belgium where he saw action and was promoted to gunner.

Warwick was gassed in France and spent eight days in a French hospital and had several other stints either in hospital or behind or behind the lines with shrapnel wounds and with sprains to his knees and ankles caused by jumping into trenches. These injuries affected his later life, but did not stop him playing Aussie Rules for Camberwell in the VFA. He was listed by Richmond FC under the name Duke, probably because he was still being treated for ankle and knee injuries.

His rebellious nature was obviously still evident as he was promoted several times and demoted almost as often. His major offences were being AWOL and being in possession of a false pass. Whilst in England recuperating from injury he found that Deuchar Warwick translated easily into Duke of Warwick and this gained him entrée into places where the humble private would not be accepted. This gained him the nickname “the Duke”, which followed him for many years after the war.

After being demobbed he returned to Melbourne to live with his mother (who he called Mater) and took a Government sponsored rehabilitation course in accountancy, then from there he was employed by John Danks and later the Nauru Corporation on Ocean Island as a stores clerk.

In 1921 a grateful government granted several returned soldiers blocks of land to farm, with Warwick being given a one mile square of virgin mallee scrub in Colignan on the Murray River

and 40 miles south of Mildura. The diggers in the area helped each other to clear their blocks and eventually Warwick planted wheat, oats and barley. He married a local girl and they had five children in quick succession, with me being number five. By 1935 more than one soldier settler realised the one square mile farms was not sufficient to sustain a family. Then after several years of drought and the country in the grip of the Great Depression many of them walked off their blocks. Our family returned to Melbourne to service cars for fleet owners, but the location was not appropriate for the business and it failed.

Work was almost impossible to find but Warwick did whatever jobs he could get including door-to-door selling Singer sewing machines. His assigned area for that job was Collingwood and he rode his push-bike from Box Hill and back each day. Eventually Warwick studied for and passed an examination to become a telephone Mechanic with the PMG, the forerunner of Telstra.

When war was again declared in 1939 Warwick attempted to enlist in the Army and was most upset to be told that with eight children he had sufficient responsibilities at home. The family lived in Thames Street directly opposite Upton House, whose leadlight windows now grace part of the dining area. Warwick attended RSL meetings in the little round building in the median strip of the Maroondah Highway, just opposite the Town Hall. He played a major part in the transfer of the Sub-Branch into Upton House, which was most convenient. He would have marvelled at the current premises.

Apart from the comradeship provided by the Sub-Branch, my Dad’s main focus was the welfare programme which provided help and support for veterans, war widows and their families. He probably spent more time working with them than he did with his family. Warwick died aged 70 at the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg, then by his own wish he was transferred from intensive care out onto the “duckboards” to be with the boys. The RSL was a huge part of my father’s life and he gave so much of his time and effort in supporting its ethos.

Bob Deuchar

The above story of one of our Past Presidents written by his son gives everyone a glimpse of the demanding life of those that went before us, both in peace and war.

This humane story (with picture) is exactly what we are hoping to elicit from you our members. The above story and picture will be included in our forthcoming book on the centenary of Box Hill RSL (January 2020).If you would like to contribute a story of a long departed Box Hill RSL relative for inclusion in this book please contact Faye Clark on 98982044.

BRASS RAZOOThe Brass Razoo is an Australian phrase that was first recorded in soldiers’ slang in World War 1. It is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “a non- existent coin of trivial value”. It is commonly used in the expression “I haven’t got a brass razoo”, meaning the speaker is out of money. While mock coins of 1 Razoo are occasionally produced, no actual monetary unit has ever been so named. Some speculate that the term arises

from Egyptian or Indian currency. In one fictional dialogue, the razoo has been described as “an Indian coin, famous for being the most worthless coin ever issued”. Etymologists and lexicographers have disputed the considered theories of the origin of the phase, but most find no theory satisfactory.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Box Hill R.S.L. Sub-Branch Inc. trading as Box Hill RSL 26 Nelson Rd, Box Hill 3128 Victoria.

T 9898 5992 F 9899 1740 E secretary@boxhillrsl.com.au

General Manager: Denis Fernando Sub-Branch Secretary: Ray Wall Association Registered No: A0057903U

scuttlebutt

WHEN PEARL HARBOUR CAME TO AUSTRALIAOn the 19th February 1942, Japanese fighter bombers attacked the port and shipping harbour of Darwin, twice during the day, killing 252 Allied service personnel and civilians. The war had come to Australia.

On the 3rd March, Broome in Western Australia was strafed, and in the succeeding months attacks were made on many towns in Northern Australia including Wyndham, Port Hedland and Derby. Darwin was attacked again several times and these attacks went down as far as Townsville and Mossman in Queensland. The attacks tied up anti aircraft defences and air force units that would have otherwise been sent to more forward areas.

The Japanese air raids on Darwin on the 19th February involved, collectively, over 260 enemy aircraft. Subsequent raids in April, June, July and November 1942 and March 1943 were carried out with forces of 30 to 40 fighters and bombers. Between the large raids there were smaller operations by groups under a dozen or so Japanese aircraft. Most of these raids occurred in daylight but some, on a small scale, were night attacks.

The 64th and last attack on Darwin occurred on the 12th November 1943. In total there were 97 attacks on Northern Australia and enemy air reconnaissance over the region continued through much of 1944.

Our present display pays tribute to Darwin being the 75th Anniversary of the air raids. All the uniforms, the Navy Officer, the Nurse, the Australian Soldier and the American were all from personnel in Darwin from 1942 to 1943. The main uniform in the centre of the exhibition is an original Japanese Fighter Pilot’s uniform, complete with his watch and floatation vest.

The two main backdrops consist of the Harbour being bombed and the soldiers manning the anti-aircraft guns. The other photos are of the devastation the bombing did to the main airstrip and surrounding houses and the city itself. Darwin, the largest centre in Northern Australia, was considered a vital asset in Australia’s defence against an increasingly aggressive Japanese Empire in the 1930’s. The outbreak of war in the Pacific resulted in the rapid enlargement of the military presence in Darwin, and it was used as a base from which to deploy forces for the defence of the Dutch East Indies.

The bombing of Darwin was when the war actually came to Australia and these attacks were suppressed by the government from the rest of the population in the fear that there might be mass panic. It was Australia’s secret for many years and only recently the full story of the bombing has emerged.

Brian Tateson, Memorabilia