Inside This Issue - Victoria Park RSL Sub Branch€¦ · Liddiard) has been circulated some major limbs hanging over the car park may have been removed which will make it safer for

Printed by the Office of Steve Irons MP Member for Swan

Posted by the Office of Ben Wyatt, MLA, Member for Victoria Park

Official Newsletter of the Victoria Park RSL Sub Branch

President’s Pen 2

Membership 3

Living History Records 4

Happy Birthday & Christmas Function

5

Schedule of Events 6

Introduction to new Sub Branch President

7

Contacting Us & WA State Branch

8

Monday 9am to 12noon Wednesday 9.30am to 12.30 pm

Join us for a cuppa Other times by

appointment please.

Issue 30 – March 2017

Inside This Issue

Sub Branch Hours

Contact Editor Newsletter:

Email: [email protected] Phone: (08) 93618802

Deadline for contributions/articles next issue is 03/02/2017



I have been busy over the last couple of months in familiarizing myself with the administration and operation of our local branch of the RSL. The job has been made easy by the cooperation of our past president and our current secretary/treasurer Kelvin and Jacquie Liddiard. Their contribution over many years towards the organisation has been beyond what could be expected.

As you are aware the branch relies on many volunteers who put in many hour in making the place ship shape. Our current committee is very versatile and have a great depth of knowledge and I rely on them to keep me on an even keel.

Due to lack of usage of the canteen facility, which we current hold a licence, along with the ongoing costs. Plus the necessity of having two licensed persons in attendance when the bar is open, the committee is considering a recommendation of handing the licence back. We can apply for a function permit when the occasion arises or the hirers can apply for a function permit thus taking the burden off our volunteers. I could ask for more volunteers to handle the canteen, but the cost of training them does not warrant the income from the canteen. If someone has a solution to the above situation please contact me on [email protected].

Next time you visit the Gurney Centre you may notice the Town of Victoria Park has removed some more gutters on our building at our request. By the time this copy of “Stand Easy” (compiled by Jacquie Liddiard) has been circulated some major limbs hanging over the car park may have been removed which will make it safer for our members and parents and school children who use the car park.

Preparation for our 2017 ANZAC ceremony is in full swing. Our Protocol Officer, Kelvin Liddiard, has been beavering away over the last couple of months. Remember that we hold an evening service on Monday 24 April 2017 so our members can attend the event in the city. Our event will be similar as last years along with some nibbles after the service.

Someone has donated a piano, which is located in one of the committee rooms. We need a donation of a set of industrial wheels and platform so we can move the piano around and we are also seeking the donation of a piano tuner. If you can help with the please contact me.

Till next time stay well and safe..

PAGE 2 PRESIDENT’S PEN

Reprinted courtesy of David Cohen of

Post Community Newspaper.



OUR COMMITTEE FOR 2015/2016:

John Bissett President Trevor Freestone Vice President Jacquie Liddiard Secretary/Treasurer

Alan Miller Warden Jurgen Kahlfeld Warden

Steve Dean Committee Lorraine Patrick Committee Kevin Duckworth Committee Jack Matthews Committee Dick Garrett Committee Peter Gumbrell Committee Frank O’Connor Committee Kelvin Liddiard Committee

WA AGED RETURNED SAILORS, SOLDIERS

& AIRMEN’S RELIEF

TRUST FUND

Ready to Assist

Veterans and Dependants in Need or Necessitous

Circumstances

Apply: Welfare Officer

(08) 9287 3707

PAGE 3 MEMBERSHIP

To all of our members , come along and join us for morning tea on

Wednesday mornings. Great chance to get to know your Sub Branch and fellow members. The mornings have been a great success.

Change of Address If your Address has changed or is incorrect please return this sheet to us

Name:________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________

_____________________________ Postcode_______

We are seeking the following positions, if you have time and can help please contact Jacquie, our Secretary at 9361 8802 or 0432 201 440. Need a couple of hours a week/fortnight spare to help.

1 Historian - someone to get our history onto paper so to speak. A start has been made but we need more work done after all we will be 100 years old in 2018.

2 Secretary - someone to assist with data entry, filing and other general office work.



of our servicemen from Victoria Park

Full Name : Arthur Leonard GIBBONS Service #: 415245 Rank: Pilot Officer Unit: No. 467 Squadron, RAAF Born: 3rd November 1921 Service: 17th August 1941 to 28 July 1943 Arthur was the son of Leonard Broadmeadow and Olive May GIBBONS. He was born in Victoria Park, was 19 years and 9 months when he enlisted, stood 5’8 1/2” and weighed 142 lb. He was listed on his Enlistment Form as having a dark complexion, brown eyes and hair. He served six months with 25th Light Horse (MG) Regiment but was

discharged on enlistment to the RAAF. Prior to enlistment he was an Insurance Clerk with AMP Life Insurance Society in Perth. From the files it appears that Arthur was killed during a flying battle and his body along with two other of the crew were washed ashore at Terschelling Dutch Frisian Isle and was buried alongside his companions. His body was later exhumed and the body was identified as Arthur and reburied at the Terschelling (West Terschelling) General Cemetery, Terschelling, Friesland, Netherlands. He is listed on the Roll of Honour and is located at 110 in the Commemorative area at the Australian War Memorial.

PAGE 4 LIVING MEMORIES HISTORY

DATE: MONDAY 24th APRIL 2017

Time: 5.45pm Venue: Victoria Park

RSL Sub Branch (1 Fred Bell Parade, East Victoria Park)

PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY (WE WILL COMMENCE STRICTLY AT 5.55pm)

Join us for tea/coffee and supper following our service



The committee and members of the Sub Branch wish you the very best for your day with much happiness and health for the future. May your

day be as happy as you make others.

PAGE 5 HAPPY BIRTHDAY

February

Warren Everett 5th Dick Garrett 11th J Robinson 16th Phil Quartermaine 19th Michael Edwards 21st Kevan Ferris 28th March

R Ledger 8th Dee Sanders 24th K Morrision 24th

May

Jim Lorrimar 1st Russell August 3rd Charles Jones 6th Vic Honczarenko 6th Cath Dean 12th Peter Gumbrell 30th June Patrick Page 6th Dennis Wesson 6th Steve Dean 6th Marlena Burling 6th Jurgen Kahlfeld 12th Jacquie Liddiard 16th Christine Baker 18th Stuart Fairbairn 29th Peter Varley 30th Patricia Wadsworth 30th

April Tina Baker 1st Ben Wyatt 1st Colin Crocker 3rd William Horan 13th John Morgan 13th Robert Steadman 16th Malcolm Kinnaird 19th Gail Lawrence 19th Ron Baker 30th

Post office, harbour, wharf, airfield, military barracks, Main Street, homes, vehicles heading south, and

panic. Anti-aircraft guns not designed for low level attack and not rotating greater than 90 degrees and

facing the wrong way.

D- Notice Darwin 19th February 1942 the weather on the morning was fine and clear which was a bit unusual for the

middle of the wet season. Father John McGrath, head of the Mission of the Sacred Heart at Nguiu on

Bathurst Island was a volunteer coast watcher equipped with a radio transceiver to the AWA Darwin

Coastal Station. “Large formation of aircraft heading south.” Time, 0937 hours. About 40 kilometres

north-east of Darwin near Adam Bay the Japanese aircraft invaded Australia.

It is now obvious that Japanese knew about the Darwin anti-aircraft placement. The Japanese aircraft

followed a clockwise arc over Koolpinyah, east of Darwin, then swinging around south of the Town,

passing over Noonamah, then turning back near East Arm of the Port of Darwin onto their final north-

west heading, with the harbour, town and Larrakeyah Military Barracks directly ahead of them. Prior the

Japanese aircraft arriving overhead some residents and others thought the Americans were arriving,

“Who else would come from the south”? One of first buildings to be wiped out was the post office the

centre of communications. Direct hit. With the telephone and main radio system down panic spread.

Military personnel left their posts. Lack of leadership in the initial stages of the bombing and after the

bombing did not help the situation. Many acts of bravery were experienced during this time by civilians

and the military. Causalities 292, ten Post Master General people killed in the initial raid with the

bombing of the post office. … cont. p6



Darwin Defenders Day - cont.

A second wave of attack took place one hour later. The Australian anti-aircraft gunners established a disciplined counter-attack, after the initial shock. 188 carrier-borne aircraft and 54 land based enemy

bombers from Ambon. 242 Japanese aircraft dropt 683 bombs over Darwin harbour, wharf, town and

airfields. This Japanese task force had bombed Pearl Harbour some weeks before. More bombs landed on

Darwin than on Pearl Harbour. The bombs dropt on Darwin may have been smaller but the result was

beyond belief. Over the next 13 months the top end was bombed 61 times.

The government of the day concealed this invasion of Australia for many days possibly strategically not to

panic the wider population, two days prior to the Darwin bombing Singapore had surrendered some

weeks early Pearl Harbour had been bombed by the Japanese and news of this was filtering through the

telegraph system. Was the Curtin Government correct? Possibly yes at the time. To conceal this event

for such a long time was a historical error. “The first victim of war is truth”. Was Australia prepared for

this event? The answer was no.

We are gathered here this morning to remember the event which took place 75 years ago. We have to thank those founders of Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc. for their dedication in bringing this

event to the national level. The event that took place on the 19 February 1942 is our history and the

story should be told. Modern Australia has only been invaded by one enemy who nearly demolished a

whole town and that was on the 19 February 1942. Darwin.

“Darwin has been bombed - but not conquered. We must face with fortitude the first onset, and remember that

whatever the future holds in store for us, we are Australians and will fight grimly and victoriously.” John Curtin

Prime Minister 23 February 1942.

The purpose of our gathering here today is to pay homage to the civilian and military personnel who

were in Darwin at the time of this tragic event, they never expected to find

themselves exposed to the

ravages of war on home soil.

Service at Sub Branch on

Sunday 19th February 2017.

PAGE 7 SCHEDULE OF HAPPENINGS

check your diary in case of changes

Please find below the meeting dates for the 2016/2017 Committee: 11.00 am Monday 10th Apr General 10am Sunday 11th June AGM 10.00am Sunday 29th October 2017



PAGE 8 ToVP Australia Day Awards

To those of our members who are not travelling too well at

this point in time please accept our heartfelt wishes for your quick recovery and remember we are here if you need us.

From the President, Committee and Members of the Victoria Park Sub Branch

It was great to have the opportunity of catching up with our

volunteers who helped during the Remembrance Day collections

on Wednesday 22nd February at a luncheon held at The Pines

Restaurant in Bentley. Unfortunately not all volunteers were able to make the lunch but

were missed and spoken of with thanks. Perhaps next time we will

catch up with all.

Again thank you all so much for your efforts on our behalf.

Editors Note: Jacquie has asked that we put her comments in and not only those of the reporter who didn’t use all of her actual comments. Jacquie told the reporter that the inspiration for the research came from members like Jack Matthews, Bob Devereux, Dick Garrett and many others, it was a privilege to hear these stories and she wanted to ensure that their memories were never lost. Jacquie also thanked her assistant Tina Baker for her help in recording the data into the database, this is a massive undertaking and involves many hours by both ladies to ensure that those brave men and women will be duly recognised.



DOING BUSINESS WITH RSL State Branch:

8:30am - 4:30pm

ANZAC HOUSE 68 St George’s Terrace, Perth Website: www.rslwahq.org.au

Email: [email protected] Telephone: (08) 9287 3799

Fax: (08) 9287 3732 Country Callers :

1800 259 799

RECEPTION

Monday to Friday -

General Enquiries

PO Box 3023

Perth Adelaide Terrace, WA 6832

Tel: 9287 3799

Email: [email protected]

SUB BRANCH CONTACT INFORMATION: PHONE / FAX: (08) 9361 8802 MOBILE: 0432 201 440 STREET ADDRESS: 1 FRED BELL PARADE, EAST VICTORIA PARK WA 6101 POSTAL ADDRESS: PO BOX 5444, EAST VICTORIA PARK WA 6981 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.victoriaparkrsl.org.au FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/victoriaparkrslsubbranch

Disclaimer The information in this publication is of a general nature.

The articles contained herein are not intended to provide a complete discussion on each subject and or issues canvassed. The Victoria Park RSL Sub Branch does not accept any

liability for any statements or any opinion, or for any errors or omissions contained herein. The Editor of the Victoria Park RSL Sub Branch reserves the right to print or reject any

articles submitted without reflection. All articles submitted must be signed and have the name and address of the writer

appended thereto, this information will not be printed if requested.

VICTORIA PARK RSL SUB BRANCH ABN 12 618 372 757

HALL FOR HIRE

THE RSL HALL IN FRED BELL PARADE, EAST

VICTORIA PARK IS AVAILABLE FOR LONG TERM OR CASUAL HIRE AT

VERY ATTRACTIVE RATES SOCIALS / LUNCHES / DINNERS /

MEETINGS, END OF YEAR SOCIALS

FOR INQUIRIES Phone: 9361 8802 or 0432 201 440 or

check our website at www.victoriaparkrsl.org.au

for more information

EDITORS NOTE

If you have any information or contributions for the next edition of the Stand Easy or

any upcoming editions please send it to the Editor

Email: [email protected]

PAGE 10

The reason the Air Force, Army and Navy bicker amongst themselves is that they don't speak the same language.

For instance, take the simple phrase "secure the building". The Army will post guards around the place. The Navy will turn out the lights and lock the doors. the Air Force will

take out a 5 year lease with an option to buy.

http://www.rslwahq.org.au

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.facebook.com/VictoriaParkRSLSubBranch

Documents

Inside This Issue - Victoria Park RSL Sub Branch€¦ · Liddiard) has been circulated some major limbs hanging over the car park may have been removed which will make it safer for