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RETIRED OFFICERS CLUB (NSW)

PRESIDENT

Phil Cohen 4 Cliff Ave

Peakhurst Hts2210

9534 5480

0418 273 403

Cohenp1@optusnet.

com.au

SECRETARY

Reg. Smeaton 48 McKenzie Ave.

Wollongong 2500

4228 6951

0423 661 789

reg.kini@

bigpond.com

TREASURER

Mike Cunneen 27 Leicester St

Epping NSW 2121

9876 6969

0411 639 317

mikecunneen@

optusnet.com.au

EDITOR

Sebastian

Zammit 4/23-25

Market St

Wollongong

2500

0417 171 703

s.zammit50@

bigpond.com

WELFARE OFFICER

Ken Dighton PO Box 16

New Lambton 2305

0423 104 389

kendighton

@ bigpond.

com

Welcome to our July 2018 NEWSLETTER

anzroc.blogspot.com.au

ANZROC (NSW)

Secretary Report 16th July 2018 Today’s gathering attracted 39 members and President Philip Cohen welcomed all, included in the welcome were the following members not seen for a while: Robyn Jurd and Robyn Macdonald.

Phil’s welcome was followed by the Loyal Toast to the Queen and the People of Australia.

Apologies: Terry Auld, Peter Bradford, Tony Carter, Alf Evans, John Mair, Alf McDermott, Phil Minett, Clive Neutze, Tosh Turnbull, John Turnbull and Angela Vallender.

BEREAVEMENTS: The following was in part extracted from the SMH Death Notices: Patricia Ann Dirou Passed away 5th July, 2018 aged 87 years. Patricia was the beloved wife of Noel and dearly loved mother and mother-in-law to Peter & Val, Michael, Kathryn & Gilbert, and Judy. Patricia was also the cherished grandmother to 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. The funeral was at Bowral on Thursday 12 July 2018. Noel has our deepest sympathy at this terrible time for him.

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Treasurer’s Report: Mike Cunneen reported a sound financial position.

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Welfare Report

Ken Dighton reports:

Sick List:

Alf McDermott – the tumour in his jaw was operated on and a bone graft was not necessary. Alf has now transferred to the nursing home at which his wife Loretta is resident. Once again he is longing for a square meal but for the time being he will have to suffer pureed food. Best wishes Alf, and may you be ready for your next steak soon.

Peter Goerman – our esteemed blog-master has had surgery at the Chris O’Brien Life house to remove a tumour. He received a positive pathology afterwards which is good news, but there is a possibility of radiotherapy in the months ahead. We wish you a quick and full recovery, Peter.

I made contact with the following people who enjoy the esteemed title of Honorary Member to check up on them in their birthday month and to extend good wishes:

Trevor Adams (86) – Trevor is in good form and he’s committed to maintaining a level of activity and fitness which helps him stay that way.

Ian Auld (86) – Ian is enjoying life and stays off the streets with regular games of croquet and bowls, facilities for both of which are at his retirement village. And of course a regular aperitif is taken for medicinal purposes.

Ray Ball (90) – Ray said he is going well and still getting out and about. We hope you celebrated well for this milestone, Ray.

Roger Hickman (88) – Roger recently had an “overnight” in hospital but he said he is OK now. His neighbour and “much younger” mate, Ian Auld keeps an eye on him, particularly on the bowling and croquet greens.

John Reading (87) – I received an email from John to say that he celebrated his birthday with family. He apologised for not being able to come down to Sydney to our July meeting (he would have enjoyed talking over old times). Both he and wife Marcia (who celebrated a birthday in June) are well.

Reg Tuxford (92) – Reg said that notwithstanding his being “a bit feeble” he managed a nice lunch outing with family. On the whole he is OK.

Rodney Kay (83) – Unfortunately Rodney lives with medication because of his chronic back problem, and he now finds getting into the City for our lunch meetings too difficult – he was of course a regular for several years.

Dan Moriarty (83) – Dan is well and he had an enjoyable seafood lunch to celebrate his birthday. He continues to have a regular hit of tennis.

Aub Hyndes (81) – Aub said he is still golfing and he feels “100%”. He sounded quite happy with life.

Neil Murray (84) – Neil is basically in good condition. He sees his cardiologist once a year but otherwise he’s travelling well. Initially I had to leave Neil a phone message with birthday wishes, but later I learnt his good wife Marie had shouted him lunch in Wagga on the day. Neil sends his regards to all members who remember him.

Norm Moon (81) – Norm is wheelchair bound because of a very rare muscle condition, and this of course inhibits his activities. However, his mindset is very positive and he said he is essentially “going like a rocket”. During our conversation he related a story about another of our members (name not for publication at this stage) who once won a very prestigious pie-eating competition up Kyogle way! Coincidentally, the man with the big appetite happened to be at our lunch today and

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promptly identified himself. He said, just for the record, that he demolished 23 pies and 3 sausage rolls. Thanks Norm.

Harold Tilley (81) – Harold said he is OK, but he finds that he “forgets things” (perhaps it depends on their importance Harold, and after all when you’re 81 you have a lot more to remember than someone who is say 61). Wife Lynne was organising a big birthday celebration at home with a cast of thousands.

David Schulz (81) – I was unable to make contact with David. We hope you’re well David and that you celebrate your forthcoming birthday in good style.

Tony Thompson (81) – Tony said he is “still standing and still with a few marbles”. He certainly sounded well and I gather he is enjoying life. He hopes to get to a lunch soon.

Alan Edmonds (80) – one of our new entrants on The Hons list, Alan said there were no dramas in his bailiwick. He is a semi-regular at our meetings but is extending apologies for this month’s lunch. He hopes to come along in August (and to be able to organise Dave Fleming to come too).

John Burke (80) – John said he is “still upright”, but he has been receiving kidney dialysis for 15 hours a week for 3 years now and this procedure takes its toll. However, his sense of humour is not diminished and he seems to be getting on with life. Keep up the good work Burkie.

Marilyne ATTEWELL 2nd Harry McKERROW 15th

Verlie BEHLEVANAS 1st Chris MIRANA 8th

Albert BEN MAYOR 24th Val MUDFORD 13th

John BURG 28th Kevin NELSON 4th

Betty (Ednie)

BURWOOD 16th

Graham PELLEY 31st

John COX 10th Geoff POLLACK 31st

Keith CRAWFORD 25th Graham POPE 24th

Roy CRAWFORD 16th Jamie ROBERTS 18th

Robyn DAY 9th Stephen SARGENT 8th

Cosmo (Cos)

DELFINO 8th

Ron SKEEN 5th

Tony HARDMAN 12th Frank SLADE 22nd

Ray HAWKES 27th John SLOAN 11th

Garry HEIRON 15th John F SMITH 16th

David JONES 5th

Wayne (Scooby)

SMITH 29th

Grahame LLOYD 13th Bruce STEVENS 27th

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John MACKENZIE 29th Phil TIMMS 29th

Gary MASON 20th Margaret WRIGHT 31st

Sandy (Sandra)

McCALL 26th

THE "HONS"

Ron BOOTH 12th Roy EASTON 12th

Alan BROWN 15th

Carlyle (‘Carl’)

FLEMING 29th

Garth (‘Gary’)

BROWN 15th

Keith JOHNSON 16th

Allen BURRIDGE 26th Keith NUNN 25th

Bill CHAPMAN 10th Gary O'MEARA 24th

Bob CUNNINGHAM 29th Colin STONER 27th

Vic EAST 17th

Congratulations to Roy Easton on being our latest "Hon"

BIRTHDAY WISHES

Birthday wishes were extended by Noel Bottrell to Angelo Briganti, Wal Hardy and Brian White.

Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Happy Birthday

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NOSTALGIA CORNER

Some very familiar names in the above team, regrettably many no longer with us but they were without exception a great bunch of men that certainly got a lot of pleasure out of their rugby league team involvement. From memory the nucleus of this team started out as the ANZ Bondi Rams and was a very social group at the time. Alas I was in Fiji by the time they got their trip to New Zealand. (Reg Smeaton).

CORRESPONDENCE: Of Col Malone: Alex and Ann Morgan write “Truly sorry to hear of Col’s passing. He was my Boss in NSW DO Accounts way back in (I think) the mid to late 60’s. He was a great bloke, very helpful and very understanding considering he had to put up with Betty Heron, Cathy Woodward, John Whitford and me. My job was to calculate the NSW balance at the Reserve at COB each day, ready to dump the overs into the short term money market. There were times when John and I felt that our game of table tennis upstairs…or the barmaid at the Angel were more important than that. Thanks Col! Was great to catch up with you again when Ann and I found ANZROC. We miss you.”

A Personal Reflection: Peter Goerman writes – “As many of us look back over their biblical three-score-and-ten and indeed have started to go into overdraft, we can all reflect on a hopefully worthwhile career with one of Australia's great institutions, the ANZ Bank. While my own service with the bank was shorter-lived than most, it was all the more important for me as a young migrant fresh out from Germany to be given the opportunity to work with a bunch of people a cut above the rest. The man who made it possible was Mr Robert Reid, the Canberra City manager of the ANZ Bank and 'éminence grise' of banking in the A.C.T. in the mid-sixties. While I worked hard and diligently, I never repaid him with loyalty for having given me a new start in this wonderful country. Having earlier foresworn my loyalty to the (c)old country, loyalty wasn't my long suit just as patience wasn't and I wasn't prepared to serve the time needed to perhaps rise to a managerial position in that now almost mythical two-handed branch somewhere in the country. Instead, I made my own way but I have often reflected on what I might have been - and, more to the point, what I might not have been - had it

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not been for Mr Reid. Thank you, ANZ Bank, and thank you, Mr Reid, for having given me a leg up!” [Thank you for heartfelt letter, Peter. We all wish you a speedy recovery through your recent health ordeal – Editor].

Peter Goerman writes (second letter to the editor) – “I've just discovered that the ANZROCkers are more than just a bunch of wine-quaffing old fogies. Having had to leave the beautiful Far South Coast to go into Sydney twice for medical consultations, I was more scared of the Sydney traffic than their doctors and ask ANZROC's secretary, Reg Smeaton, if I could park my car at his place in Wollongong and catch a train into Sydney. Not only did Reg allow me to park my car at his house and keep an eye on it, but he and his wife Kini also breakfasted, lunched and dined me and my wife at their home while we talked about the good old days in the Bank. Reg, we had a wonderful time with you and Kini, and leaving you reminded me of that closing line in the brilliant film CASABLANCA, spoken by nightclub owner Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) to collaborationist police boss Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains): “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." (delete 'Louis' and insert 'Reg').” [It will not come as a surprise to any one of us to know of the hospitality, friendship and support being so

graciously extended by Reg and Kini Smeaton – Editor].

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW???????? If you can assist with these members current residential or telephone status or their state of well being generally, your advices would be most welcome.

Mr R B Gorman formerly of Dee Why NSW Mrs Denise Clarke of The Entrance NSW

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SOCIAL NOTES:

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Accommodation Offer – The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel:

The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel is offering a 10% discount to ANZROC (NSW) members for accommodation. Hotel Manager Armindo will be delighted to hear from you on 9284 1000 or for direct bookings, 1800 801 756. You will need to quote Armindo’s name and ANZROC as the reference.

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Gary Mason writes: “Verona Bonnitcha, a fellow Euroa Rotarian and I, recently became engaged. No date for the wedding however we expect it to be arranged in the not-too-distant future. I have attached a photo which was taken on the day we were engaged. An unexpected and very happy development following my arrival in the Euroa area (Strathbogie Ranges) in November of last year.” Congratulations Gary, a more deserving fellow to get a lucky break we cannot imagine.

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Dates for the Diary 20th August 2018 Luncheon at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel 169 Castlereagh St Sydney, with arrival after 11.00am. Pre luncheon drinks are available to be enjoyed at the 2nd floor bar area. Access to 4th floor is only possible after 12 noon, so please drop in to Level 2 and have a chat first! All members are welcome. Bookings are not required; it is always an enjoyable day with good food and lots of old friends and the occasional surprise visit by those who can’t make the meeting all the time.

11th August 2018 Luncheon at the Wagga Wagga RSL Bistro Saturday 12:00 noon. All ex ANZers

welcome. RSVP to Kevin Cameron by email at jannette.cameron@bigpond.com.au or phone 02 6922 4575

15th August 2018 Partners Luncheon at TAFE Ultimo- 12:00 for 12:30 Bookings have now closed.

22nd October 2018 ANSTO (Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor) and will include a bistro meal at the site with

transport from Sutherland Station being arranged. Comprehensive details were in last months newsletter, and bookings closed on 15th July for this outing.

9th November 2018 The Coffs Harbour Annual will be held at the Coffs Harbour Golf Club. Commences with fellowship at 11.30 and lunch to be served at 1 pm. Some refreshments will be provided by ROC. RSVP to Bob Primmer bobprimmer6@gmail.com or 0417717885.

15th November 2018 Newcastle Christmas luncheon at Cardiff RSL. RSVP to Jim or Cheryl by 7th November 2018 is essential to meet club requirements. There will be a $15.00 charge on the day to assist in defraying costs. The train leaves Central at 9.15 AM (Hornsby 9:52 am) - check your local timetables - and will be met at 11.33 AM on arrival at Cardiff at Cardiff Railway Station. Contact : Jim or Cheryl Richardson 02 4943 8031 or 0419 602 087 Email: jimcher@exemail.com.au (subject to changes re pricing and train timetable before the event).

1st December 2018 Luncheon at the Wagga Wagga RSL Bistro Saturday 12:00 noon. All ex ANZers welcome. RSVP to Kevin Cameron by email at jannette.cameron@bigpond.com.au or phone 02 6922 4575.

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13th December 2018 Annual Christmas Cocktails hosted by our Patron Maile Carnegie at the ANZ Banking Group Ltd 242 Pitt Street Sydney Level 24 from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM. This will be restricted to 120 guests, so it is important to book early through Reg Smeaton and is filling fast, (see masthead for contact details). 14th December 2018 Canberra Christmas Function 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm at the Royal Canberra Golf Club Bentham Street (Westbourne Woods), YARRALUMLA ACT. Cost and contact details for R.S.V.P. will be advised closer to the event.

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To our friend and colleague Peter Goerman we extend a sincere note of gratitude for the work he does as our blog-master. Peter generously invests a good deal of his time in uploading our monthly Newsletter as well as maintaining the site and all of its wonderful content for all of us to enjoy. Thank you, Peter. We are looking forward to you being back in the cockpit very soon.

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