May RSL Monthly Newsletter

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Angeles City Sub Branch Philippines www.rslangelescity.com ‘Lest We Forget’ President Vice Presidents Secretary Treasurer

James Curtis-Smith Greg Mann Bob Barnes Dallas Drake Ron Parrott

Editor

Larry Smith

Email address’:

Clubhouse: Ponderosa Hotel president@rslangelescity.com

secretary@rslangelescity.com treasurer@rslangelescity.com

editor@rslangelescity.com

NEWSLETTER # 62 ** MAY 2012

A good turnout at Clark cemetery on ANZAC Day 2012

2 PRESIDENTS REPORT May 2012 A quiet month for the Sub Branch.

Our medical missions have been put on hold until our next planned mission for the first Saturday in July.

Over April and May in each year both Holy Angel University (HAU) and Angeles University Foundation (AUF) are on the long summer vacation and as a consequence we have been unable to co-ordinate our nurses and medical professionals which are of course vital to our missions.

Our annual missions to the children of staff at local business houses, which support us through the year, have gone ahead and are nearly complete. My thanks to Mal Morris who undertook this project and to those helpers he personally enlisted to assist him with the packing of the bags of medicines and assist him with delivery.

The ACT Branch Congress will take place near the end of June at Canberra.

All Sub Branches are entitled to have delegates and this year we are fortunate that Vice President Bob Barnes who is presently in Australia for personal reasons will attend and represent us. We will need him.

Notwithstanding our representations made to Branch and National at the National Congress by Col Whelan and Simon Mann earlier this year, the Executive of the Branch have proposed a motion, that for 2013, the membership of all Sub Branches be fixed at AUD$30.00 per year. Of this sum AUD$24.00 will be required to be remitted to Branch as capitation fees. You will recall that the effect of the passage of this motion removes the concession that overseas Sub Branches have received for the last eight years of being required to pay capitation fess to the Branch of AUD$5.00.

This Sub Branch has filed motions with the Branch Congress (and which essentially are “housekeeping�), to amend the Branch Constitution to remove and or amend clauses within the Constitution and which are discriminatory against the overseas Sub Branches. My special thanks to Secretary Dallas for his work in pouring through the Constitution and highlighting the discriminatory clauses.

One important amendment proposed by one of our motions, is to enshrine in the Constitution that overseas Sub Branch memberships be fixed at 25% of the memberships of ACT Sub Branches. The rationale behind this motion is attached to the motion.

All our motions have been seconded by Subic Sub Branch.

Watch this space !!

JAMES E. CURTIS-SMITH President ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS WELCOME aboard to the following new members: Chris Shearman (NSW) * Kieran Owens (SA) * Dennis Kelley (A/C) * Kym Leake (SA) * Brian Manley (Leyte Phils) * James Hunt (A/C) * Bernd Bohndorf (A/C) * Brian Cooke (A/C) *Kevin Hickman (NSW) * Troy Debman (A/C) * Ronald Shoesmith (NSW) * Patrick Moran (VIC) * Ann Aliva * Peter McInnes (Darwin NT) * William Douglas (A/C) *

3 RSL EVENTS SCHEDULE Weekly Raffle NOW EVERY Wednesday at Emotions Nite Club at 6.00 PM.

Phillies Sports & Grill

Raffle every Saturday at 6.00 PM.

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Tuesday June 5 2012 * General Committee 1.30pm * 4.00pm PHILLIES * ALASKA Tuesday June 12TH 2012 * 2.00PM Ponderosa* Social Tuesday 3.00pm * 4.00pm ANGEL WITCH Tuesday June 19TH 2012 *Monthly General Meeting 2.00pm Ponderosa * 4.00pm WALKABOUT * PARADISE SATURDAY JUNE 23rd 2012 * FAMILY DAY AT CLINT’S FARM Mt. ARAYAT * Meet at Ponderosa 900am for transport assistance.

Expect to return around 2.00 pm Tuesday June 26TH 2012 * 2.00 Social Tuesday Ponderosa * 4.00pm TOUCH OF CLASS

RSL MERCHANDISE WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RANGE OF RSL MERCHANDISE FOR SALE TO MEMBERS & FRIENDS RSL POLO SHIRT SIZES 32 (XXXS) TO 64 (4XL) WITH POCKET LOGO RSL SINGLETS SIZES 36(XS) TO 60 (3XL) WITH POCKET LOGO RSL BARONGS SIZES 44 (M) TO 60 (3XL) EMBROIDERED LOGO RSL BEER WRAP (GREEN & GOLD) RSL BAR TOWEL (GREEN & GOLD) RSL BLUE CAP RSL FLOPPY HAT RSL COFFEE MUG 10 OZ RSL PENNANT (A4 HANGING BANNER) VIETNAM REMEMBERED SHIRTS SIZES 44 (M) TO 60 (3XL) 2012 AUSTRALIA DAY FIESTA SHIRTS SIZES 34 (XXS) TO SIZE 64 (4XL) STOCKS HELD AT PONDEROSA Hotel, Angeles City.

NOTE WE SELL POLO SHIRTS FOR UNDER $12.00 HERE COMPARED TO SHIRTS IN AUSTRALIA AT $35 TO $40. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MANUFACTURE ITEMS AND SHIP TO AUSTRALIA AROUND HALF PRICE. A SHIPMENT OF 50 SHIRTS WE CAN LAND FOR ANY OTHER RSL TO THEIR DESIGN UNDER AUD$20.00 EACH. WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED AN ORDER FOR 4 BANNERS TO WHYALLA RSL AT LESS THAN HALF THE COST QUOTED FOR SUPPLY WITHIN AUSTRALIA.

LIFE SUBSCRIPTIONS WE have made several suggestions that if you intend to remain in the RSL long term, Life Subscriptions is the best way to go. The main reason is that you are immune from any increases in subscription rates, as appears to be in the pipeline from Branch HQ in Canberra.

Also you will no longer have to suffer our reminders that annual subscriptions are due (that actually should be the main reason).

Secretary Dallas Drake will be only too happy to give you a quote on the cost of going this way. All he needs is your birthdate. So give this a serious consideration. ****** ******* ****** At the last meeting it was proposed and, I believe accepted, that we alter the timing of the production of the Newsletter. Until now we have produced the Newsletter to coincide with the monthly meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. On reflection, the consensus of the meeting is that it is probably better produced at the end of each month. Noteworthy is that most of our major events, ANZAC Day, Australia Day, Vietnam Veterans Day are at the end of the month and the reporting of these activities will be fresher. This new arrangement will be implemented with the June newsletter.

4 COMPROMISED EMAIL ADDRESS If you have ever had your email address compromised, you realise that it is a real pain in the butt. I have just had my tassie47@gmail.com address compromised and I am going through the time consuming process of creating another account and re-inserting all names into my address book.

My new email account is similar to my old one but with an added word. It is: tassiedevil47@gmail.com I am like most PC users where we become complacent about changing our passwords regularly. Our webmaster Gerald suggests that we do it often and make it a long one, even making a phrase, using spaces between words eg San Miguel beer tastes great as a password. Makes sense to me now.

The common theme when compromised is someone sends an email to everyone in your address book saying that you are stranded overseas and need to borrow funds. It is all bunkum.

Members and readers, please attend to this advice or, like me, suffer the consequences. So anyone who has not received my new email address please copy it from here. Ed

OTHER MEDIA DISTRIBUTION I AM THE EDITOR of just one of our information distribution methods. Being the print and email version, the newsletter is the last to pass on information to our readers on a monthly basis. This allows a print version to be distributed at meetings.

Do not forget to also look at our BLOG, which issues information almost as it occurs (and likes feedback), and our face book, where almost anything can be posted, including photographs. It is a two way forum where members can post things of an interesting nature.

(I wouldn’t be surprised if someone in our organisation suggests setting up a ‘twitter’ account as well).

So make use of these information distribution methods specifically there for your convenience. ***** ****** ****** ANOTHER ANZAC DAY REPORT- Launceston Tasmania This is the first time that I managed to attended ANZAC Day ceremonies in my home town of Launceston Tasmania since I joined the Army in June 1964. It was the first time that I happened to be home when ANZAC Day fell, and I was proud to be a member of the Vietnam Veterans marching in the Launceston RSL Sub Branch organised dawn service, march, service and afterwards function.

Incidentally, Launceston Sub Branch is the oldest sub branch in the league, being presented with their charter on 8th November 1916.

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people

5 marching and lining the route to the cenotaph.

The weather, which can be a tad frivolous at that time of year stayed good for the occasion.

NB. If you look two back from the boy you will see a fat bloke wearing Angeles RSL polo-shirt under a jacket, that is me. Ed

AND IN LA UNION

VFW POST 9892 La Union conducted an ANZAC Day commemoration at the Coconut Grove resort, Paringao. It was well attended and everyone enjoyed the refreshments afterwards. We thank the POST for conducting an Australian event for our most revered day.

GOT COMPUTER PROBLEMS ????  This logo is the new business that our webmaster Gerald Slide has started

up in Angeles City. Incredibly, using this system, Gerald can enter your computer anywhere in the world and fix any problems that you may have.

Simply it works like this. If you have a problem (I experienced that) get onto Gerald by SKYPE or calling him on his Sydney phone number or Philippine mobile number, and he will get you to download Dr PC. Once downloaded, your computer will generate a randomly selected customer number and a password. You then tell Gerald this information and your computer will allow him access.

The password is a ‘once only’ password. Once Gerald has fixed the problem, he will get you to restart your PC. This then cancels that password. You will need to go through the system again with a new password generated each time.

Testimonial: I had an irritating problem with my PC. I was previously in Davao, now I’m in Brisbane.

In desperation I contacted Gerald for some advice. We downloaded his Dr PC system and by Remote Assistance, he went to work on my PC, resetting many software programs, restart, new password, continue, restart, new password and finally we were back in business. The password is randomly generated every session, so it always secure, it’s like having new keys to your house every time you request quick support.

Gerald’s Dr PC is a licenced program from a company who uses the system exactly as Gerald does.

Have a look at www.drpc.ph His advertisement is shown on the last page of this newsletter.

6 Australian War Memorials (a continuing series)

PERTH TASMANIA Perth War Memorial is a basalt plinth mounted on a three step pyramid. On the top of the plinth is a sculpture of a soldier resting on his reversed rifle. It was unveiled by Capt J. Newland V.C. 30th Oct. 1920.

As in many places in Australia, individual towns have erected memorials to those in their local community who answered the call and went to war. And as a consequence many in the same family paid the supreme sacrifice as shown on the honour board above right.

Left Side Inscription: In memory of Pte A Button & Pte J. Butler South African War 1899 Back Inscription: Lest We Forget World War II 1939 – 1945, with names Right Side Inscription: Gallipoli Egypt France Mesopotamia, with names.

IMPROVING OUR MILITARY REHABILITATION AND COMPENSATION The Gillard Government is bolstering its support for Australia's veteran and ex-service communities in the 2012-13 Federal Budget.

“Our priority is to make sure we look after those who have sacrificed so much for this country,” Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon said.

7 Protecting living standards of some of our most treasured Australians has been a key priority of the Gillard Government from day one, and this important measure reflects that commitment.

As part of the Budget the Government has announced its response to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements and committed $17.4 million over the next four years to implement 96 recommendations flowing from the 108 recommendations of the Review.

The majority of these changes will be implemented from 1 July 2013 and will deliver improvements to current arrangements for compensation and health care; increased financial compensation for eligible members and families; and improved training for those who provide advice to the veteran community on entitlements.

“We have taken appropriate action to ensure services and support for veterans, serving members and their families continue to meet their evolving needs,” Mr Snowdon said.

The main initiatives that will be introduced include: A new method for calculating permanent impairment compensation across multiple Acts (or transitional claims) under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). All those who have claimed permanent impairment compensation under MRCA and been subject to the method for permanent impairment across multiple Acts, since the Act commenced on 1 July 2004, to be reassessed with many receiving increased compensation; Around 6000 former Australian Defence Force members with chronic health conditions accepted under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA), subject to a needs assessment showing long-term treatment needs, to receive a White Repatriation Health Card for specific conditions and the supplementary payment for pharmaceuticals; Earlier access to compensation with claims under permanent impairment compensation under the MRCA for multiple conditions receiving compensation as each condition stabilises, rather than having to wait for all conditions to stabilise; The Eligible Young Person periodic payment, under MRCA, to be increased to match the SRCA equivalent. (Current weekly rates are $84.94 under the MRCA and $126.22 under the SRCA); Compensation payable for financial advice under MRCA, for certain beneficiaries who have made a choice about how they want to receive their benefits, to increase to $2400 (currently $1544); and Greater flexibility for future wholly dependent partners in the way they receive compensation with the option to convert part of their compensation to a lump sum payment.

“I would like to thank the veteran and defence communities for their contributions to the Review – their input was invaluable in helping to shape the future of the military rehabilitation and compensation system,” Mr Snowdon said.

In addition, the Government’s response will improve processes for the delivery of benefits and services under the MRCA including: A boost to the education of providers, clients and their representatives to ensure that they remain informed about the full range of entitlements available through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) for current serving Australian Defence Force members, reservists, and their families in the event of injury or death; Better information on rehabilitation, transition from the ADF and compensation offsetting; More initiatives to improve the quality and timeliness of claims processing; Better pathways to transition from ADF to civilian life; A new model for providing claims representation on complex claims; and Improved cooperation between Defence and DVA through an extra Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission member nominated by the Minister for Defence and improved management of the relationship between DVA and Defence.

8 Three recommendations are subject to further consideration, and 11 recommendations of the Review were not supported.

Of those not supported, two were replaced with favourable outcomes. Details of the Government’s full response to the Review can be found at www.dva.gov.au.

“Budget2012-13 delivers $12.3 billion per year in overall funding, building on the Gillard Government’s commitment to provide quality care, services and support for our veteran community and current serving members.

“This funding will go towards strengthening our support for veterans and their families in recognition of the contributions they have made serving our country,” Mr Snowdon said.

A LOOK INTO OUR PAST (a continuing series) and a small travelogue In the southern New South Wales is a country town called HOLBROOK. Holbrook is located on the Hume Highway, north of the border cities of Albury/Wodonga.

But Holbrook wasn’t always known as Holbrook. Its original name was GERMANTON. Holbrook is a pastoral centre, well known for farming and wool production. But it is also known today as the ‘submarine town’. So how can a farming district town, over 400 km’s from the sea be known for submarines.

Here is the story:

(this story  relates to the picture left)

During WW1, the citizens of Germanton wanted to change the name of their town. They were so impressed with the exploits of Lt N Holbrook (story in the picture right above) that they received approval to change to Holbrook. There is a larger story about how they went around this and the visitations that Lt Holbrook and his wife, and their involvement with Holbrook evolved.

9 Now, if you go through Holbrook you will be surprised to find a full length ’top shroud’ from the decommissioned submarine HMAS Oxley located in ‘Submarine Park’. It is a great drawer of sightseers. Located at the rear of the park is a museum with all things submarine.

Refreshments rooms, rest rooms and barbque facilities are also located in the park. I recommend a stop if you are driving the Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne and go through Holbrook.

There are also many curio shops located in the town.

A LIGHTHEARTED EDITORIAL CALLED ……

Memory and Swimming My short term memory isn’t all that sharp these days but my long term memory, like many others I imagine, is acute. For example, I can remember way back when I went on a picnic with my father and ended up going home with my mother.

At the picnic a swimming event occurred in which I was involved. When the starter’s gun went off, I took off swimming like crazy. I didn’t even swim on the surface, doing the whole distance beneath. The target was a balloon looking

10 structure and when I hit it at full steam my head burst through it and I was declared a ‘champion’.

I can’t remember the actual date of the event but it was somewhere late in July 1946 because nine months later on the 24th of April 1947, I was born. I call that event ‘the swim of my life’.

(me winning the swimming

event) In the subsequent years I turned out to be a fairly poor to average swimmer but as I got older I officiated in thousands of swimming events.

Come to think of it, I conclude that every person reading this editorial is also a swimming ‘champion’. How about that, we are all champs !!!!.

Larry (Ed)

www.beyondtheblackstump.com

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This is a short newsletter this month. Reason ????? Since the last newsletter your editor has flown from Philippines to Singapore, onto Melbourne and then to Tasmania. Two weeks later, a ferry trip of 12 hours from Tasmania to Melbourne, then more than a two thousand kilometer drive up to Hervey Bay, involving being in four states and the ACT. I am still in transit as I endeavor to obtain permanent accommodation here. So distractions and minimal internet time plus the fact my email address was compromised with the loss of much newsworthy material has resulted in me not being able to research topical articles to give more pages. Maybe next month will be different. Ed

“The price of liberty is eternal vigilance�

Lest we forget

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