July Issue of the 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 Noel Roach Vic Meller Dallas Drake Bob Young

Editor

Larry Smith

Email address’:

Clubhouse: Ponderosa Hotel president@rslangelescity.com

secretary@rslangelescity.com treasurer@rslangelescity.com

editor@rslangelescity.com

Newsletter # 27 ** July 2009 PRESIDENTS REPORT July 2009 As each year comes and goes, it seems to pass more quickly commensurate with increase in age. It seems only recently that the last Australia Day Fiesta was held, but already the Australia Day Fiesta Committee for 2010 has been formed and the planning and the appointment of members to organize various activities has begun. More information and requests for assistance will appear in these pages as the year progresses, but the layout colour and sponsor logos are nearly complete for the Australia Day RSL T shirt and ready to go to the manufacturer for making. The committee are putting together the prize list for the giant raffle and if you can assist in obtaining support of donors for substantial prizes please let us know.

Pictures of the last children‟s medical mission at Abacud, Malabanias, appear in the Image Gallery of the web page and I can report that 816 children were examined by seven volunteer doctors and we filled the prescriptions for medicines as prescribed by the doctors for each child. Assistance in marshalling and crowd control was given by personnel from the Philippine Army reservists to whom I give my thanks.

Barangay tanods and members assisted in the set up and I also thank you on behalf of the Sub Branch.

We have planned three further missions for this year at Barangays Pulungbulo, Pampang and Dau, and more details will be provided on the web page closer to the dates planned.

2 We have now ordered more nebulizers for donating to barangays and these are also available for purchase by members (together with the capsules). The price that we pay for the nebulizers (and which have a five year warranty) is less than half of the price that the same nebulizers are available at retail outlets. For those of us who have experienced a child undergoing an asthma attack, the ready availability of a nebulizer is a must.

Finally this month, a more sombre matter. In the last three weeks I have been contacted by the widows and partners of three Australians who have died at Angeles City, and in each case having made no provision of money available for their burial or cremation, let alone to provide for the continuing needs of those they have left behind. The Australian Embassy cannot help, except to provide a service to contact relatives in Australia. It is a responsibility of each of us to ensure that we have a plan of what happens if we suddenly pass away and have in place funds and a succession plan (also a last Will), for those we leave behind. I am only too willing to assist any member who may want advice in this regard.

JAMES E. CURTIS-SMITH President

**** *** **** **** **** **** A HEADS UP FROM SECRETARY DALLAS Coming Events you need to PLAN 4.

July 19 Sunday 8.30 a.m. Family day at Angeles Sports & Country Club.

Last time we did this it worked out very well so this time, more activities and fun.

Ladies will be able to have Facial and Hand SPA and learn how to do it for yourself or your friends, kids will be free to play in the pool under supervisor provided free of charge.

Lr Beauty Product Consultants will demonstrate their quality Health & Beauty products and ALL profits from any Sales will go to our RSL Charity Programs. Please invite your friends to join and enjoy. Facial Spa will cost P150 (P100 back 2 our Charity) Golf or Lawn bowls for the guys or lazy around the pool with a Cold Drink and get a facial from your GF or missus, hmmm did I say that.!! OK enough said, anyway you can bring your own meat and do your own thing !!! That is a BBQ will be there for personal use.("C's" of Italian Cuisine fame is doing catering there now so you can just order from the menu and let them do your favourite thing..!! Thongs of feet variety will be tossed and Dummy spitting will determine levels of acceptable drinking behavior.

AUGUST 14th to 17th TIP Training at PONDEROSA Club rooms.

Reg Tulip once again will train any interested members in Pension & Welfare matters.

REGISTER your interest to Dallas.

AUGUST 15th 2100hrs (YES that's right a late night event ,9.00 p.m. for those who may not be used to a 24 hour clock) This will be a very Special Show to demonstrate to Reg Tulip how much we appreciate him coming.

Front Seats will be reserved for us and LIMITED to around 20 guys, so you might have to bribe Dallas to get on the list.

AUGUST 18th 1100 hrs at Clark Cemetery followed by Function at Ponderosa VETERANS DAY (formerly Vietnam Veterans day) is the second most important day on our Annual Calendar and is very well attended by our Allies and Comrades in Arms.

August 23-30 is Veterans Health Week (see attached Notice ) 20 mile hikes will be conducted every day commencing at 0500 hrs from Fields Ave.(do not see Dallas about this)

3 SEPTEMBER 29 OVERNIGHT In Barrio Barretto,(SUBIC). Along with SUBIC BAY RSL Members Tuesday 1330 hrs we will visit supporting Establishments.

Southern Cross Shuttle leaves Brass Knob 0900 hrs Tuesday and returns Wednesday departing at 1100hrs. (choices of accommodation available and some members will be taking vehicles ) OCTOBER 13th ERMITA, METRO MANILA. (more detail near to end of this newsletter) Ed A Special Meeting will be held at the Southern Cross Hotel.

Interested members will depart Brass Knob 1300hrs Southern Cross Shuttle, stay at SC Hotel, conduct meet and greet gatherings and return Wednesday DEPARTING 1500HRS NOVEMBER 11TH SUBIC BAY (SBMA AREA) 1100HRS Hellships Memorial Plaque Unveiling N.B. This will be a major event, stay tuned.

DECEMBER 15th Following our Monthly meeting President James will host traditional Christmas festivities.

JANUARY 9TH 2010 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF LINGAYEN LANDINGS This will be a planned trip departing Friday 8th Jan and returning Monday 11th.

JANUARY 20TH Beauty Pageant begins Australia Day Fiesta 2010.

Bell Ring, Friday 22nd, Pool and Darts, Saturday 23rd.

Street Party Sunday 24th (Curry Cook Off ) Sunday 31st, Lawn Bowls and Golf Competitions as well as Family day Pool side BBQ, Thong (slipper) Tossing and Dummy Spitting. **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

New Members Welcome Still we welcome new members to our Sub branch. Welcome to: Perry Lee * Roger Varnam * Welcome back to: Walter Graue * **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Somebody else happy about a visit to Angeles City From: tannenjade@bigpond.com To: secretary@rslangelescity.com Subject: to say hello Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:23:33 +1000 Just a short note to say thank-you for the welcome and help afforded to me on my recent visit to Angeles City. I was most impressed with your Sub branch, and the work your Sub branch does to help the children in the villages. It good to see your President has a sense of humour. I wish your members and your Sub branch all the best and I look forward to catching up with you all early September.

Cheers Bob Green OAM Vice President Ipswich RSL & Services Club I’m sure everyone will be looking forward to your next visit in September Bob. Ed

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Training and Information Program (TIP) We advised members in the May newsletter that Reg Tulip will again be carrying out TIP training in August this year. We do need trained Welfare and Pensions Officers for the betterment of our members in the administration of disability claims to DVA. There is also a side benefit. Having a Welfare/Pension section within the Sub branch allows us to claim funding for administrative purposes from DVA, called Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) scheme.

So bearing that in mind, please consider whether you can contribute some of your time to the benefit of our members and therefore to the Sub branch. If you think you can, please give your name to Secretary Dallas pronto so that Reg Tulip can arrange the appropriate training aids for TIP 1, 2 and 3 levels.

The training is also open to those already trained to attend a refresher course. This is a one day „catch-up‟ with new events in the TIP and the latest Statement of Principles (SOP‟s) concerning claims.

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Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List VA050

Friday, 12 June 2009

LIFE AFTER WAR EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE SHRINE An exhibition showing how Australia coped with the debilitating effects of the First World War on our young nation will be opened today at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne by the Minister for Veterans‟ Affairs, Alan Griffin.

Shell Shocked: Australia After Armistice shows that while a great many Australians celebrated the end of the war, the following years brought a period of grief and unparalleled adjustment which quickly tempered the joy of victory.

“Of the more than 330,000 Australians who left our shores to serve overseas during the First World War, more than 61,000 never returned home. Up to 160,000 returned injured or ill and for many their recovery was slow or life-long,” Mr Griffin said.

“In 1938, twenty years after the war, there remained more than 1,600 veterans in homes for the permanently incapacitated, and around 23,000 seeking care from repatriation hospitals.

“The human toll on a young nation is highlighted in the exhibition through records, photographs, letters and medical reports which reflect many personal stories of Australians from different walks of life.

“The exhibition shows the many ways Australia and Australians coped with the aftermath of the war. Its stories include the lasting impact on the women of the Australian Army Nursing Service, the anxiety of those at home and the introduction of the Repatriation system which fulfilled the promise to care for those who suffered from their war service and provide for the dependants of those who did not return.

“Shell Shocked also shows the treatment of returned Indigenous servicemen – equal as soldiers but not as civilians, the internment camps for „enemy aliens‟, and the community and government response in building memorials on battlefields and here, at home, post war,” Mr Griffin said.

“It is an insightful exhibition into what was a truly daunting time for our young country.”

Based on files from the National Archives of Australia and funded by a grant from the Department of Veterans‟ Affairs, Shell Shocked is on a national tour and will be on display at the Shrine until 26 July, covering the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.

5 PASSING PARADE Angeles City RSL Sub Branch founding Jr Vice President, Alan Bruce THOMAS died in Brisbane of medical complications, on 22 June 2009 , aged 62 years. He was cremated at Nerang QLD on 1 July.

Alan has been in declining health for many years. He has been in Australia for years, mainly due to his health problems. He lived for many years in Felicitas St, Sta Maria 1, Balibago.

He leaves a daughter Rachael aged 15 years who still resides in Angeles. She was with Alan on a visit during the recent Philippine school holidays and it was decided that she would finish her schooling in Australia. Incredibly, Rachael was on her flight from Manila to Australia the night Alan died. She was informed on arrival of his death.

Alan was a Vietnam Veteran and his health problems stem from that service.

RIP Alan.

Above is a picture of Alan (centre), Rachael & brother Les, taken only weeks before his death.

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Another heads up of what’s coming up (so put them into your social calendar) AUSTRALIA DAY FIESTA 2010 Planning has commenced for all events for next Fiesta Jan 2010.

The 2009 Shirt sponsors have ALL been contacted and asked to confirm participation for 2010. (50% did so within 3 days of initial notice) We are NOW Seeking Donors and Sponsors for the Charity Raffle Prizes Airline Tickets, Furniture, TVs, Fridge, Motor Bike, etc etc .

Everyone can help here to find suitable Major Prizes as this is our largest fund raiser of the year.

Beauty Pageant will Kick off

the week of events commencing Wednesday evening

January 20th Bell Ring, Poker Machine Derby Friday 22nd Jan International Pool Competition Saturday 23rd Jan Darts Tournament Saturday 23rd Jan Street Party Sunday 24th Jan Curry Cook Off Sunday 24th Jan Golf and Lawn Bowls Sunday 31st Jan.

TIP Training Commences Friday August 14th through to Monday 17th THERE ARE SOME GUYS WHO ASK "WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JOINING THE RSL HERE ??"

SO HERE ARE SOME ANSWERS:

OK,

6 1. Social gatherings and activities with a bunch of great blokes.

2. Help is at hand when needed.

3. Sub branch emergency fund (conditions apply but it is a cash fund to LOAN in an emergency).

4. Death benefits (conditions apply).

5. Some medical items at special prices.

6. Trained Welfare and Pensions Officers available to members.

7. Full affiliation to the Royal British Legion (allows entry into RBL clubs in some 74 countries).

8. RSL discounts at many places, such as: bars, restaurants, resorts, massage, dental and optical.

9. RSL conducts three functions each year that offer great value to members: ANZAC Day, Veteran’s Day and President’s drinks, (attending any one would give you back the cost of your annual membership fee alone).

SO, GO AND TELL YOUR BUDDIES TO JOIN NOW !!!

WE ACCEPT ALLIED SERVICES AS SERVICE MEMBERS AND NON SERVICE PERSONS AS AFFILIATES.

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Seeking comfort and closure 67 years on Happier days ... Hooky with his mother, and his father and sister, Judy. Inset, Philip 'Hooky' Street.

June 18, 2009

Massacred or drowned? A son searches for answers about his father, writes John Huxley.

PHILIP "HOOKY" STREET remembers his father as a decent, scholarly, rather otherworldly man, who topped the state in Latin and German exams, dressed as a clown at parties and saluted the dying of the day with a rendition of Red Sails In The Sunset.

But inevitably memories of those far-off days, growing up in Rabaul, on the northern coast of New Britain, where his father, James, served as solicitor-general, have dimmed.

"The last time I saw him was Christmas 1940. I was only 11 years old," Street said. When he returned from war-torn Rabaul to Sydney to attend boarding school, followed months later by his mother, his father stayed on as Japanese forces swept south. What followed was chaos, confusion, mystery but, undeniably, bloody slaughter.

Hundreds of civilians and soldiers including James Street, a public servant who joined the Australian Imperial Force shortly before the fall of Rabaul, in January 1942, disappeared in the nation's worst maritime disaster: the sinking of the Montevideo Maru.

Officially, 1053 Australians - double the toll from the 10-year Vietnam War - died that night when the unmarked cargo ship was mistakenly torpedoed by the American submarine USS Sturgeon off the Philippines while moving prisoners to Hainan Island.

7 It was not until 1945, after years of waiting, hoping and praying for James Street's safe return, that his family were told he had died on the ship. Later, the official report changed: more likely, he had been bayoneted to death by the Japanese in the Tol plantation massacre.

More than 60 years on, Street, like thousands of others who lost loved ones in the tragedy, is still waiting for explanations, still fighting for "comfort and closure", still seeking national recognition of the sacrifices made by the Australians abandoned in PNG. "Many people believe there's been a government cover-up from the start, to prevent panic at home, perhaps. I tend to think it was more a stuff-up, a terrible blot on the nation's military history. I don't want a witch-hunt, but I want answers."

Street, of Woollahra, (Sydney) is a member of the newly formed Montevideo Maru Memorial Committee, which will unveil a plaque to commemorate the sinking at Subic Bay in the Philippines on the anniversary on July 1. It is also seeking an inquiry into the botched evacuation of Rabaul, a new search for the Japanese passenger roll of names of those on board, and the declaration of the Montevideo Maru's wreckage, in 3700 metres of water, about 100 kilometres off Luzon, as a war grave.

The committee's patron is the former defence minister Kim Beazley, whose uncle, the Reverend Syd Beazley, is believed to have died, aged 33, in the tragedy.

Despite devastating losses, the sinking remains "a quiet part of public consciousness of World War II history", said Beazley, who is now a professor in political science at the University of Western Australia.

"The Japanese occupation of Rabaul produced many heroic Australian efforts at resistance and escape and an enormous tragedy, both from massacres on land and the huge loss of life at sea," said Beazley, whose Labor Party colleague, Peter Garrett, lost a grandfather in the tragedy.

Andrea Williams, of St Ives, who like Hooky Street was born in Rabaul, also lost a grandfather, Philip Coote, a company manager, on the Montevideo Maru. "Time is running out for the older generation who were there," she said.

It is believed only one eye-witness of the sinking survives: a Japanese sailor, Yosiaki Yamaji, who recalled hearing "death cries" and snatches of Auld Lang Syne as trapped Australians went down with the ship.

The committee hopes that the July 1 ceremony might be attended by a senior minister were dashed yesterday when it was disclosed that Australia's ambassador to the Philippines, Rod Smith, will deliver the keynote address on behalf of the Government.

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, told the Herald that he was "not aware of any claims regarding lost documents or a cover-up", and there were no plans to organise a search for the ship.

"Through official commemoration and an ongoing program of publications, the Government recognises and honours those lost on the Montevideo Maru, bringing the disaster to the nation's attention."

Only recently the Angeles City RSL sub-branch in the Philippines has been granted $7200 by the Federal Government to install an interpretive panel about the Montevideo Maru at Subic Bay. Meanwhile, Hooky Street - the nickname comes from his favourite pirate in Peter Pan - keeps looking for answers. He has never returned to the home of his idyllic childhood, and probably never will. "Everyone tells me I'd be disappointed."

And more follows

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List VA055

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

REMEMBERING MONTEVIDEO MARU – OUR WORST MARITIME DISASTER On the 67th anniversary of Australia‟s worst maritime disaster, the Minister for Veterans‟ Affairs, Alan Griffin, has called for the nation to pause and remember the 1053 Australian lives lost in the sinking of the Montevideo Maru.

“War brings many tragedies and today we remember one of the greatest tragedies of the Second World War,” Mr Griffin said.

Speaking on indulgence in Parliament last week, Mr Griffin said the story of the sinking was an unfortunate and lesser known episode of the Second World War. “On 1 July 1942, a United States submarine, USS Sturgeon, torpedoed and sank what it believed to be a Japanese merchant vessel. It was in fact the Montevideo Maru, carrying Australian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians who were locked in the hold with no means of escape once the ship was struck,” he said.

8 “On board were 1053 Australian prisoners of war and civilians who had been captured and held by the Japanese at Rabaul on the island of New Britain, in what is now known as Papua New Guinea.

“The Montevideo Maru took 11 minutes to sink. No Australians survived. It was not until after the war that Australian authorities discovered the tragic fate of those captured at Rabaul.

“The families and associations with connections to the Montevideo Maru have never lost sight of the tragedy that occurred 67 years ago. That some questions concerning the ship may never be answered must also add to their sense of loss. It is something that we as a nation should never forget,” Mr Griffin said.

Mr Griffin said a local ceremony would be held in Subic Bay to remember those lost in the tragedy.

“Today the Australian Ambassador to the

Philippines, Mr Rod Smith, will unveil a plaque commemorating those on board the Montevideo Maru on behalf of the Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles Association at the Hellships Memorial, established in memory of all the ships that carried POWs,” he said.

Mil Attache CAPT Vic Jones, Ambassador Rod Smith and Asst Mil Attache LTCOL Gary Barnes at Subic Bay

Military Attache CAPT Vic Jones, Ambassador Rod Smith and Asst Mil Attache LTCOL Gary Barnes at Subic Bay

Mr Griffin also confirmed he has approved a $7200 grant to enhance the central plinth at Subic Bay. “Later in the year, under a grant made by the Australian Government to the RSL Angeles Sub-branch in the Philippines, commemoration of the Montevideo Maru at the Hellships memorial will be further enhanced and an interpretation will be placed in a nearby museum.”

The funds have been granted through the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorial Restoration Program, which recognises the contribution that organisations around the world make to honouring Australia‟s wartime heritage.

The sign says it all

Ambassador Smith (rear left) with a party from Rabaul

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Ted Kenna, VC recipient, dead at 90 Australia's last surviving World War II Victoria Cross recipient, Ted Kenna, has died aged 90.

Edward Kenna, known as Ted, was awarded the Army's greatest honour after risking his life to help save his platoon during a heavy machine gun attack in New Guinea on May 15, 1945.

Less than 50 metres from a Japanese machine gun crew, the then Private Kenna stood up in full view and continually fired upon the enemy gunner to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.

As bullets darted between his arms and his body, Mr Kenna continued to fire and when his machine gun ran empty called for a rifle to continue his assault.

He shot the gunner dead but was fired upon from a second position as another enemy soldier tried to seize control of the machine gun.

Mr Kenna remained standing and killed the man with his next round. His bravery allowed his company's attack to succeed and the enemy bunker to be captured.

Three weeks later, Mr Kenna was shot in the mouth by an explosive bullet and spent more than a year recovering in hospital where he was nursed by Marjorie Rushberry, who was to become his wife of more than 60 years.

An RSL spokesman said Mr Kenna died last night, two days after his 90th birthday. He had been living with his wife at a nursing home in a Geelong suburb after moving from the family home in Hamilton, which community members had paid for as a symbol of their gratitude and pride in the VC recipient. Mr Kenna had watched on television from the nursing home earlier this year as Trooper Mark Donaldson became the first Australian awarded the VC in 40 years.

Mr Kenna's daughter, Marlene Day, said at the time her father had admired Trooper Donaldson for looking out for his mates. She had said her father was modest when he talked about his own Victoria Cross which he was awarded for gallantry. "He's always said to me that he's proud to wear it, but he wears it for every soldier because he says everyone contributes to those sorts of things,'' she said.

"He's a very modest man, so he doesn't talk about it much."I know that he's proud of what he's achieved, and we are too.''

Mr Kenna was born in Hamilton, in Victoria's west, in 1919 and returned there when discharged from service in December 1946. He worked at the local council and played for the local footy team, was active in army reunions and has led Melbourne's annual ANZAC DAY march.

Before enlisting in the army in August 1940, he had worked as a plumber in his hometown.

Victorian State Government Minister Tony Robinson, who assists the Premier on Veterans Affairs, described Mr Kenna as a man of humility and humour.

"He was a very modest person, not withstanding that incredible bravery, he got on with his life and was a great asset to the RSL and other ex-service organisations,'' he said.

"It does mark the march of time ... it will not be too long before that whole generation has passed us by.''

Mr Robinson said the offer of a state funeral had been accepted by Mr Kenna's family. LEST WE FORGET

10 Below is an edited version of an email from RSL member Phil Bewley, currently experiencing some cultural problems in his home country, England, on what he calls RSL Medical Mission. He is having some troubles expressing himself to others. Read on........ Ed RSL medical mission to EnglandInital report from RSL member, Phil Bewley.

Hello everybody!

Thought I‟d drop you a note to tell you how my little trip to the other side of the world is going.

Certainly underestimated the cultural shock I've been though. The first week I just staggered around aimlessly looking for a trike to take me home to Angeles. Starting to get to grips with the place now and a very backward and strange place it is. The weather is nice...it seems to rain most of the time, it‟s always cloudy and its bloody cold, but apart from that the weather is nice.

The people who inhabit this little island seem a peculiar bunch. As far as i can tell the female seems to be regarded as a second class person. They seem forced to wear these ridiculous outfits which barely show any skin at all, also they are force fed lots of sugar and salts which result in their arses and stomachs expanding to enormous sizes. I can only assume all this is make their females less attractive to other males, and it bloody works, with this male at least.

I also wonder if they get any form of education, I have tried to communicate with several of them in bar environments. But all my normal conversational lines with women don't seem to achieve the normal response.

Normal Angeles talk such as " EDITED OUT or EDITED OUT and EDITED OUT. These seem to produce an angry, upset response from local females. I can only assume that either they are unable to understand me or that I need to work on the local language.

On a good note there has been some excitement lately from the locals because their national cricket team managed to fluke a massive DRAW against the visiting Australian women‟s cricket team. Apparently a draw in this country is a huge achievement.

Well not much else to report so far, pissed off and bored already, but these people certainly need all the help they can get so guess I'm stuck here for a little longer. Shall try to keep you all informed about progress and stay in touch.

Keep the EDITED OUT and the beer cold and I'll be back kicking ya arse at pool as soon as possible.

Love Phil. P.S it‟s bloody expensive over here!!!

www.beyondtheblackstump.com

I hope everyone is getting a laugh out of our cartoons. I have many so there will be no shortage.

Not all cartoons will be large ones like this one, most will be a two or three panel cartoon. In this one you can see how big our cane toads get, like the one in the bottom panel.

ED

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*A Well-Planned Retirement*

*From The London Times:*

Outside the Bristol Zoo, in England, there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 coaches, or buses. It was manned by a very pleasant attendant carrying a ticket machine charging cars £1 (about $1.40) and coaches £5 (about $7).

This parking attendant worked there solid for all of 25 years.

Then, one day, he just didn't turn up for work.

"Oh well", said Bristol Zoo Management - "we'd better phone up the City Council and get them to send a new parking attendant..."

"Err .. no", said the Council, "that parking lot is your responsibility."

"Err .. no", said Bristol Zoo Management, "the attendant was employed by the City Council, wasn't he?"

"Err .. NO!" insisted the Council.

Sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain, is a bloke who had been taking the parking lot fees, estimated at £400 (about $560) per day at Bristol Zoo for the last 25 years.

Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over £3.6 million ($7 million)!

And no one even knows his name.

Even Collingwood supporters would smile at this cartoon.

July is the month when our football season in Australia is at about the half way mark. I couldn‟t help but like this „naughty‟ (for a newsletter) cartoon of one of Australia‟s famous cartoon dogs, PIGDOG.

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I have obtained the following advice from Diabetes Australia Website What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease with serious complications, currently affecting an estimated 1.7 million Australians.

About 275 adults develop diabetes every day, yet research shows that most Australians think diabetes is not a serious illness and believe they have a lower risk of developing it than they actually do.

Diabetes Mellitus (Diabetes) is the name given to a group of conditions that occurs when the level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood becomes higher than normal.

Insulin is a hormone that moves glucose from your blood stream, into the cells of your body where it is used for energy. When you have diabetes, the body either can‟t make enough insulin or the insulin that is being made does not work properly. This causes your blood glucose level to become too high. High blood glucose levels can affect both your short and long term health.

There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2. At this stage there is no known cure for either type of diabetes, although diabetes can be well managed.

Type 1 diabetes Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but is more often diagnosed in children and young adults.

In type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin are destroyed by the body‟s own immune system.

Why this happens is uncertain. As the body is unable to make its own insulin, injections of insulin is the only treatment at present and are needed to survive.

The onset of type 1 diabetes is usually sudden and symptoms are obvious. Symptoms can include excessive thirst and passing large amounts of urine, unexplained weight loss, weakness and fatigue and blurred vision.

Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes affecting 85 to 90 per cent of all people with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults over the age of 45 years, but it is increasingly occurring at a younger age.

Type 2 diabetes tends to run in families and is often triggered by being inactive or carrying excess weight around the abdomen. It is known as a „lifestyle disease‟ and it is not uncommon to have high cholesterol and high blood pressure as well.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes are still able to make their own insulin. Although the following may occur: There may not be enough insulin for the body‟s needs; The cells in your body are resistant to the action of insulin. It is being produced, but cannot work effectively. This is called „insulin resistance‟; and There is a combination of both problems.

In the early stages your body may be producing more insulin than normal but with time, the pancreas becomes exhausted from trying to keep up and makes less insulin. Tablets may be required and eventually, even insulin injections to help control the blood glucose level.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be similar to those for type 1 diabetes, although they tend to occur more gradually and rapid weight loss is not usually seen. Persistent infections, such as candida (genital rash and itching) or skin infections can also occur.

13 Many people with type 2 diabetes do not experience any symptoms and feel completely well, so it is possible to have undiagnosed diabetes for a number of years. Sometimes, the first sign that something is wrong is when they present to their doctor with a complication of diabetes such as a heart attack, eyesight problems or foot problems.

The management of type 2 diabetes involves regular physical activity, healthy eating and losing excess weight. Many people will also need to take tablets and/or insulin injections in addition to lifestyle changes as the condition progresses.

Pre-diabetes Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

There are two conditions that fit into the prediabetes category: Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) ; Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT); and IGT or IFG are detected with the same Oral Glucose Tolerance Test that is used to diagnose diabetes.

Diabetes Facts About 100,000 Australian adults (0.8 per cent) develop diabetes each year .

About 890,000 Australians are currently diagnosed with diabetes. For every person diagnosed, it is estimated that there is another who is not yet diagnosed, a total of about 1.7 million people.

Nearly one Australian in four over the age of 25 years has either diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism (prediabetes) .

The total number of Australians with diabetes and pre-diabetes is estimated at 3.2 million.

People with diabetes have a similar mortality risk to smokers.

People with pre-diabetes have a 45 to 55 per cent increase in mortality risk. ****

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RSL OCTOBER MEETING TO BE HELD IN ERMITA MANILA (as shown in ‘heads-up) The cost to individuals who attend this meeting for October in Manila is P2500.00 This includes: 1 X round trip pass on the Southern Cross Shuttle. Departing Angeles from the Brass Knob at 1pm and returning the next day from Manila to Angeles at 3.30pm.

1 X evening meal special on the Tuesday night, and 1 X breakfast on the Wednesday morning.

1 X night accommodation in a standard room.

1 X free drink voucher.

The meeting will be held at the hotel on the Wednesday about 1pm so we can finish before the bus departs.

Staff of the Southern Cross Hotel will conduct an unofficial bar tour of the surrounding Ermita area on the Tuesday afternoon/night for those that are interested.

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The Bar The onset on an early wet season has got the old Bar fly a bit bogged down and heavy rain storms described as FREAK by Malacanang's External Affairs Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan has dampened his spirits to bar hop around quite a lot.Damage to buildings has amounted to 80 Million peso and sadly includes some watering holes down Swagman way. Swagman has had part of their accommodation washed away down a creek that was 10ft wide and is now 25 Meters wide. Part of System plus College (two class rooms) has collapsed into the creek..

One foreign owner collapsed into tears having lost his bar (the bar has been in area since the era of the USAF Base at Clark).

The Freak rains kept many guys from going home at Des Bowater Fund Raiser Tuesday 7th July Ponderosa Hotel. The Fund Raiser was successful in raising around â‚ą50,000 to assist Des in covering some of his Hospital expenses incurred due to a ruptured ulcer. Although not a RSL function we did hold our Bar Hop day there to add support to the event. Great Steaks supplied by John from Cold Drop as well as snags and lots of tucker from Ponderosa gave good value to those who attended. BIG HITS Sports bar is now up and running well.

Owner Greg has assured me there will be plenty of Icy Cold beer at all times and at economical prices.

Large Screens will show customers all the sporting events of significance and there are Snack foods to go along with the viewing.

SHANOS Irish Pub will soon have a Name Change !!!

Something INTERNATIONAL, I hear. Electric Blue may have a new owner shortly and Eruption Bar will see one partner retire and a new partner join in to take care of daily operations.

Dennis of Magic Moments cannot be too happy as Doll House Tropics owner Derrick has managed to get the lease on the property even though his Legal Case against Crazy Horse is still ongoing with that crook Charles whatever name he is using these days. He is one guy that will rot in Jail.

Still lots of activity down Fields way in the finishing off of about 7 new bars that I guess will be mainly for tourists as prices tend to be a bit on the high side for a guy that lives here. ****

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15

As can be seen in prior pages, July was a big month concerning the HELLSHIP Memorial at Subic Bay. It is an appalling historical fact that came out of World War 2.

There will be a big event at the Memorial on November 11th, as mentioned in the „heads up‟. Please put this date in your social calendar as it will be time that the RSL plaque will be unveiled and the annual commemoration for Remembrance Day service will be conducted at the memorial. Following are two more pictures taken there on July 1st.

The banner showing the sponsors for the memorial which read: 2/22 Battalion LARK Force Assn NGVR & PNGVR Assn PNGA of Australia, and Greenbank RSL Sub Branch

President Jim and Secretary Dallas positioning the Angeles City RSL Sub Branch wreath.

However it does appear that Jim has gone camera shy and Dallas has taken to smelling the roses.

The dedication plaque is immediately behind Dallas.

“The price of liberty is eternal vigilance”

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