December 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 # 33 ** DECEMBER 2009

President Jim Curtis-Smith and his committee wish all of Angeles City Sub Branch members and families, a very Merry Xmas 2009 AND…… (see last page)

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PRESIDENTS REPORT * December 2009 Yet another year draws to a close, and whilst I will reserve a report on what we as a Sub Branch have done in 2009 for the Annual Report, I feel so exhilarated to report on what happened last Saturday (December 5).

To finish off the year’s RSL Children’s Medical Missions here in Angeles City, the medical mission at Barangay Mauaque at Mabalacat resulted in a record number of 1260 children being examined by a panel of up to 6 doctors and 4 senior nurses. The members of the Sub Branch then handed out free, the medicines and vitamins prescribed, from the temporary RSL pharmacy set up at the covered community basketball court where the mission was held.

This mission together with the other medical missions held during the year, and the free medicines and vitamins given to children of the employees of business houses who have given support to the Sub Branch during the year, has resulted in a total of 10,221 children in the Angeles area each benefiting from the receipt of free medicines purchased by and dispensed by this Sub Branch. In addition so far this year we have given away 6 wheelchairs to permanently and totally disabled children and 10 nebulizers given to the poorer barangays medical centres for use by the indigent people within those barangays. A wonderful effort, and a truly very satisfying experience for all of us who have taken part.

The RSL as an Australian institution is now well recognized within this area, particularly in Pampanga, and we look forward to 2010 where yet another 10 or 12 barangays will receive missions.

Talking of 2010, I remind members of the annual Remembrance Service of the landing of allied forces at Lingayen Gulf in 1945, to be held at Lingayen on January 9. The Sub Branch will represent the Australian participation at this annual service. We are also working hard to prepare for the week long activities to celebrate Australia Day at the end of January. See elsewhere on this web site for details.

The financial year of this Sub Branch ends on December 31, and membership renewals for 2010 are now being received.

I wish all members and other readers of our web site, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, or as they say here, Maligayang Pasko, Manigong Bagong Taon

J.E. Curtis-Smith President

Once again we welcome the following new members:

Tony Bamford (A/C) * Samuel Dieli

(SIN) * Agnes Gavanzo (A/C) * Peter Lodge (NSW) * Steve Tye (A/C) * Darren McLaren (Agusan del Norte) * Paul Harrison (A/C) * Paul Neish (UK) * Ken Edwards (A/C) * Jim Farell (Cebu) * John Higham (NSW) * Clifford Wall (UK) *

Welcome back: Kenneth Burke (A/C) * Life Subsribers: Dallas Drake (A/C) * Lee Townsend (WA) * Peter Strudwick (WA) *

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Location codes:

A/C = Angels City * SIN = Singapore * Agusan del Norte = Philippines *Cebu =

Philippines

For Vietnam Veterans who would like to have a nostalgic look at Saigon and Vung Tau in the 1960‟s and a bit earlier, go to : http://www.flickr.com/photos/9854423@N08/show There are hundreds of pictures and they flick through fairly quickly. Enjoy. Ed

Changes to DVA Cards All Department of Veterans‟ Affairs (DVA) Repatriation Health Cards (DVA Cards) are due to expire during 2010.

From March 2010 DVA will begin reissuing all cards. As part of this reissue there will be some improvements made to DVA cards. All eligible veterans, war widows/widowers and dependants will be issued with a new card.

Changes to DVA Cards will not reduce or change current eligibility to hold a DVA Card. The changes being made to the cards are to increase: · veteran access to services; · provider satisfaction; and · security of the cards.

Veteran Access to Services The magnetic stripe on the cards will contain the following information: · full name; · file number; · card Type; and · expiry date.

This change is expected to improve provider satisfaction, as this will enable providers to swipe DVA cards in the same way Medicare or Private Health Fund Cards are currently utilised. By improving the claiming experience for the providers it increases the likely hood of providers accepting DVA cards.

All eligible clients living overseas will, for the first time, be issued with a DVA card. This will remove the need for veterans to contact DVA to receive a “letter of authority” when receiving medical treatment within Australia.

Entitlement to treatment overseas is limited to veterans that have an accepted disability/disabilities and DVA funds treatment of those accepted disabilities only. This process for receiving treatment while overseas will not change.

Security Upgrade All DVA cards will have microprinting and a DVA registered hologram added as security features. The microprinting and hologram are added se curity features to ensure non entitled persons cannot reproduce a card.

Expected Arrival Date The reissue of all cards is due to commence in March 2010, this process is expected to take 6 weeks to complete.

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL TRAGEDY REMEMBERED TODAY On the 68th anniversary of the sinking of the HMAS Sydney during the Second World War, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin encouraged Australians to pay tribute to the 645 men who lost their lives in the tragedy.

4 “The sinking of Sydney and the death of her crew was one of Australia’s greatest naval tragedies. I hope that, now the wreck has been located and the commission of inquiry into the loss of the Sydney has handed down its findings, the families of those lost have some certainty as to the fate of their loved ones,” Mr Griffin said.

HMAS Sydney sailed from Fremantle on 11 November 1941 on a routine escort mission. On her way home, Sydney crossed paths with the German raider Kormoran 130 miles off the West Australian coastline.

After failing to identify itself Kormoran, masquerading as an unarmed Dutch merchant ship, opened fire on Sydney. Despite fierce attempts to defend herself, Sydney sank killing the 645 Australian crew onboard.

Although Sydney’s return fire forced Kormoran to abandon ship, some 317 of her German crew survived and were later interred in Australia.

“For more than 60 years, the location of the Sydney and Kormoran has remained a mystery until both wrecks were located on 17 March 2008 around 112 nautical miles off Steep Point, Western Australia,” Mr Griffin said.

“Today we commemorate the 645 Australians who died onboard and pay tribute to their service, sacrifice and bravery. We also acknowledge the suffering and grief of the families left behind.

Visit Website

“To ensure the memory of those lost endures, in May this year the Australian Government declared the HMAS Sydney II memorial in Geraldton, Western Australia, a memorial of national significance.

“My Department also honoured the memory of the Sydney crew last year, producing a poster featuring her crew, which was sent to schools, ex-service organisations, aged care facilities and government agencies across the country.”

Photographs and video footage of the Kormoran and the Sydney’s final resting place on the sea bed are now part of the Australian War Memorial collection and are available to media at www.awm.gov.au/media.

More information on HMAS Sydney and a copy of the poster is available on the DVA website. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ****** ***** *****

AND ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM MINISTER GRIFFIN SEARCH ONLINE FOR OVERSEAS AUSTRALIAN MEMORIALS

Including a visit to an Australian war memorial during your next overseas trip is now much easier with the help of a new online resource launched today by Minister for Veterans‟ Affairs Alan Griffin.

The Overseas Memorials Search http://memorials.dva.gov.au includes details and photographs of more than 110 official and privately constructed overseas memorials which honour Australian service across the globe.

“Australians have served in locations throughout the world – not only protecting our nation, but helping to protect our neighbours and allies,” Mr Griffin said.

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“Official memorials have been established by the Australian Government or the Commonwealth in many of these locations, and local communities have also erected special memorials and monuments.

“I encourage all Australians to consider visiting an overseas memorial as part of future travel plans, or as part of research into our wartime history.”

Visit Website

Mr Griffin said the new database provides travellers with details about memorials on the Kokoda Track, a memorial plinth at Subic Bay in the Philippines and a memorial stone in Elands River in South Africa.

“The database will continue to grow as more data is collected, and I invite people with information about the location or details of overseas memorials to contact my Department,” Mr Griffin said.

“The stories behind each memorial are unique and provide a powerful reminder of the courage of Australians who served and died overseas.”

One such story is the moving tribute from the local community in Stadil, Denmark, who built a wooden Visit Website cross to commemorate the crew of the Lancaster bomber EE138 which was shot down by a Luftwaffe night fighter over Stadil on 4 September 1943.

The crew of eight men, four of whom were Australian, managed to steer the damaged Lancaster away from the village before it crashed. All eight men were killed.

The cross was engraved with the words “Minde over faldne allierede Flyvere” translated as “In memory of fallen Allied Airmen”, and after an Australian Government grant, now includes a memorial plaque and garden maintained by locals.

“The Australian Government has provided funding to help upgrade and restore some of these memorials through the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorial Restoration Program,” Mr Griffin said.

“The grants program has helped local communities enhance the memorial they have maintained over the years. Through this program we are hearing stories of appreciation and gratitude for our Australian servicemen and women.”

For more information contact the Office of Australian War Graves at wargraves@dva.gov.au

HERE IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM DVA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS ARRANGEMENTS DURING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR Veterans will be able to access key services throughout the Christmas and New Year period, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, said today.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ offices will close between 5pm on Christmas Eve and 9am Monday 4 January 2010, however key services will continue to be available to the veteran community during this period, including:

6 crisis counselling – VVCS–Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service offers 24-hour crisis counselling through Veterans’ Line. This service is available toll free on 1800 011 046 to veterans and peacekeepers of all conflicts, their families and eligible members of the Defence Force; transport – if transport is not booked prior to the Christmas period, it will need to be paid for up-front and reimbursement can be sought from DVA at a later date; hospital admissions – doctors can admit DVA patients into hospital and request admissions approval, where required, when DVA re-opens on Monday 4 January 2010; Defence Service Homes Insurance – help with policy and claim enquiries is available 24-hours a day on 1300 552 662, while payments can be made on 1300 304 989, for the cost of a local call or via the website www.dsh.gov.au Pension pay days will not be affected by the Christmas shutdown arrangements.

It has taken a while to be distributed, but below is a flow chart showing the before and current Single Service Pension rates, resulting in the recent pension reforms. If your pension is subject to asset or income test, these figures do not apply as a different amount will accrue.

Visit www.dva.gov.au or

www.centrelink.gov.au

and look for pension rates.

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PASSING PARADE In the November we gave a quick notification of the passing of RSL member William (Bill) N Feldt.

Chaplain of VFW post 2485, Lafayette Donaldson advises that Bill was a USAF Msgt and served in Vietnam from May 71 to May 72. Bill was a life member of VFW Post 2485 Angeles City. He was also the Communities Activities Chairman when Lafayette was Commander of Post 2485 for two years from 1997 to 1999. Bill was born on 10 December 1944 and died of a long illness on 13 November 2009 aged 65 years. VFW Post 2485 conducted burial rites at the Clark Cemetery at 1030 hrs 19th Nov 2009. Bill left his lovely wife Leticha to mourn his passing.

Bill was a long time member of Angeles City RSL Sub Branch. Lest we forget

AS WE round up this year, which has been a very busy year for your Sub Branch, I recommend that those members on the internet have a look at the following websites, especially those concerning the Australian Government departments and those that try to keep them on their toes: Department of Veterans Affairs Centrelink Parliament House Comsuper Defence Force Welfare Association Australian Military Superannuation

Australian War Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Nominal Rolls Australian Defence Department Digger History Returned & Services League of Australia Australian Embassy Philippines

www.dva.gov.au www.centrelink.gov.au www.aph.gov.au www.comsuper.gov.au www.dfwa.org.au read their newsletter „Camaraderie‟ www.militarysuperannuation.for-our.info this an Interesting non gov‟t site on Military Super www.awm.gov.au this site is where you can find „Diggers‟ on the various nominal rolls plus other military facts www.vietnamroll.gov.au www.defence.gov.au www.diggerhistory.info www.rsl.org.au For Branch information look under- About the RSL www.australia.com.ph

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The next big Sub Branch event is the annual AUSTRALIA DAY FIESTA conducted from Wed 20 Jan 2010 and concludes on Sun 24th Jan. This is a tremendous event and all participants have a great time. The main event is the Miss Australia Day beauty pageant conducted at the RIB EYE STEAK HOUSE. If time permits there will be more information later in this newsletter (see page 12) but certainly a schedule of events and maybe a list of raffle prizes will be published in the January newsletter. ********************************

VC Corner Frank Partridge VC Private Frank John PARTRIDGE 8th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF 24th July 1945, Bonis Peninsula, at Bougainville On 24th July 1945 two fighting patrols, 8th Australian Infantry Battalion, were given the task of eliminating an enemy outpost in Bougainville which denied any forward movement by our troops. Private Partridge was a rifleman in a section which came under heavy medium machine- gun fire. He was hit twice in the left arm and again in the left thigh, while the Bren gunner was killed and two others seriously injured.

Private Partridge quickly appreciated the extreme gravity of the situation and decided that the only possible solution was personal action by himself. Despite wounds and with complete disregard for his own safety, Private Partridge rushed forward under a terrific burst of enemy fire and retrieved the Bren gun from alongside the dead gunner. He handed the Bren gun to another man to provide covering fire while he rushed the bunker, into which he threw a grenade and silenced the medium machine gun. Under cover of the grenade burst, he dived into the bunker and in a fierce hand to hand fight, he killed the only living occupant with his knife. Private Partridge then attacked another bunker, but weakness from loss of blood, compelled him to halt, when he was unable to continue.

With the way clear by the silencing of the enemy machine-gun, the Platoon moved forward and established a defensive perimeter. However, heavy enemy medium machinegun and rifle fire soon created an untenable situation for the Platoon, which withdrew. Despite his wounds Private Partridge remained in action until the Platoon had withdrawn after recovering their casualties. The information gained during these actions enabled another, this time successful attack to be mounted.

The serious situation during the fight of the two patrols was retrieved only by the outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by Private Partridge, which inspired his comrades to heroic action. "The subsequent successful capture of the position was due entirely to the incentive derived by his comrades from the outstanding heroism and fortitude displayed by Private Partridge."

Frank PARTRIDGE was born on 29 November 1924 at Grafton, New South Wales. He was killed in a motor accident on 23rd March 1964 and was buried at Macksville, New South Wales.

Photo courtesy of the AWM

Editors note. For those of us old enough to remember the radio and early TV show, BP Pick-a-box with Bob & Dolly Dyer, must remember the Quiz champion named Frank Partridge. This is the same Frank Partridge.

9 While we are in the VC Corner, I would like to update you on our latest Victoria Cross awardee, Trooper Mark Donaldson VC, who, “has been to London to visit the

Queen�. Here is the story: LONDON: Australia's first Victoria Cross recipient in 40 years met the Queen last night in Windsor Castle as part of official Remembrance Day commemorations.

SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson was awarded the VC in September last year for acts of gallantry during his tour of duty in Afghanistan. He said being granted an audience with the Queen was a great honour and something he would never forget.

"I feel very proud to be given the opportunity to meet Her Majesty the Queen. It's something not many people get to do, so I feel very privileged."

Mark Donaldson never dared dreamed he would one day be the boy from the Australian bush who went to England to meet the Queen.

But the extraordinary heroism displayed by the 30-year-old SAS Trooper in Afghanistan last year so impressed the Queen that she just had to meet the man in person.

Trooper Donaldson became the first Australian in 40 years to be awarded the Victoria Cross, the military's highest honour, for rescuing an Afghan interpreter while under heavy gunfire from the Taliban in September 2008. During the fighting, Trooper Donaldson ran nearly 100m under machinegun fire to rescue a wounded interpreter.

He received his prestigious medal from Governor-General Quentin Bryce in January, prompting invitations for a private audience with the Queen and to attend official Remembrance Day ceremonies in London.

Donaldson, who was born in Waratah near Newcastle NSW and is currently based in Perth, admitted to being "in awe" of the Queen but said she made him feel at ease during their 15-minute chat in Windsor Castle's white drawing room on Tuesday.

"It's quite an amazing experience coming from Australia and a small country town and over here to a castle to see the Queen," he told reporters, with his proud wife Emma and two-year-old daughter Kaylee standing alongside him."It's quite outstanding and definitely an honour.

Trooper Donaldson later joined British Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC in a wreath-laying ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

While in London, he will also meet members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, of which he is the newest member. "It will be a learning experience for me to meet with other VC holders through the association. It will be good to share stories," Trooper Donaldson said.

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THE BATTLE OF ISURAVA- AUSTRALIA'S THERMOPYLAE In 480 BC the Persian king Xerxes the Great launched an invasion of Greece with a huge army conservatively estimated at 360,000. To give the Greeks time to mount a defence, Leonidas, king of Sparta and commander of the Greek army, resisted the Persian advance into Greece at the narrow mountain pass called Thermopylae. When the Persians outflanked his small army, Leonidas and his 300 Spartans remained behind to delay the Persians as long as they could. They fought until the Persians had killed them all. The sacrifice of Leonidas and his men at Thermopylae to save Greece has passed into world history. There would be few Greek schoolchildren who are unaware of the small band of Spartans who gallantly sacrificed themselves to save Greece from a Persian invasion.

Australia has its equivalent of Thermopylae in the Battle of Isurava, but very few Australian schoolchildren appear to have heard of it or the manner in which several hundred Australian soldiers held their ground on the Kokoda Track against 6,000 of Japan's best combat troops in August 1942. The Australians were heavily outnumbered, inadequately armed, and poorly supplied, but their resolute stand over four days at Isurava inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese and blunted the momentum of the Japanese drive towards Port Moresby. The stubborn resistance of the Australian troops at Isurava wrecked the Japanese timetable for crossing the Kokoda Track, gave time for Australian reinforcements to be brought up, and paved the way for the ultimate defeat of Major General Tomitaro Horiiâ€&#x;s army before it could reach Port Moresby.

Every Australian child deserves to know how these gallant Australians saved their country from greatly increased Japanese aerial bombardment and a real threat of invasion of the mainland. Without their sacrifices, it is likely that many Australians would not have been alive to celebrate a centenary of Federation in 2001.

The official relief of the 39th battalion on 6 September 1942 at Menari is one of the most famous images from the Kokoda Campaign. The exhausted survivors of the 39th Battalion are parading at Menari (see picture left) after the Battle of Isurava before their proud commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Honner. There were only about 180 members of the battalion left to parade and about a quarter of these were sick or wounded. They came to New Guinea as raw recruits and their average age was eighteen. When they faced Japanâ€&#x;s best jungle troops they were poorly equipped and supplied. At Kokoda, Deniki, and Isurava they blunted the momentum of the Japanese drive towards Australia along the Kokoda Track and paved the way for the ultimate Japanese defeat.

It would appear from the above picture that the soldiers beat back the Japanese with sticks. This is not so, although they probably could have done that they were so tough, the sticks were to assist them climbing almost vertical muddy hillside tracks to close with the enemy.

This ends the Kokoda series of articles. We hope you got something from them. Ed

11 WALLABY AIRLINES I don‟t suppose there is an Australian or Kiwi Vietnam Veteran who has not had a flight on a Wallaby Airlines Caribou aircraft during their tour/s in Vietnam. Following is an abridged story on how the flight had a callsign Wallaby. I can still recall the sign on the baulk head below the flight deck which read „ Welcome aboard Wallaby Airlines‟. Ed THE Origins of the Callsign “Wallaby” RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) 1964 As the RAAF is planning to demob the Caribous it is an appropriate time that the origins of “Wallaby” are explained.

Like most tales the origins of the name “Wallaby” Airlines was a combination of different events, a name which later became famous in Vietnam amongst many armed services and peoples including US, New Zealand, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese Armed Forces, French plantation operators, the occasional Brit on some civil aid project and of course the Australians who served both in the armed forces and the civil assistance programs.

About a year before the formation of RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RFTV) a young group of pilots from 38 SQN had formed an association with several Qantas air hostesses who shared a flat in the Sydney eastern suburbs. The association was neither constant nor regular. The relevance of this casual relationship and its importance to the “Wallaby” callsign will soon become apparent.

In late 1963 we heard that crews had been picked for the ferry of the Caribous from the de Havilland factory at Downsview, Canada, to RAAF Base Richmond, in Australia. Most of the co-pilots on Caribou ferry I and 2 had formed a close and friendly contact with many Qantas air hostesses.

Both the first and the second Caribou ferry had been completed by June 1964.

During the second ferry through RAAF Base Butterworth, Malaysia the pilots on that ferry learned that a flight of Caribou aircraft would be committed to operations in Vietnam.

Back in Australia a week later those that were picked for Vietnam were given pre-embarkation leave then briefings and some intensive training. We started to think about what we might take to Vietnam to identify ourselves; slouch hats, flags, koalas? All the suggestions were dismissed as kitchy, too large or too expensive.

During this busy period the friendship with the Qantas air hostesses was renewed. At one of the get togethers, one of the girls was seen with a Qantas pin; the golden kangaroo. We asked the girls if they could get us some pins. They told us they would try and also that they would organise a send off party for us. The party was a happy affair. Delas England, a hostie, gave us a small cardboard box jammed packed with a few hundred kangaroo pins, a great gift from Qantas.

On the day that the Caribou‟s were to arrive in Vietnam, there was a terrible storm. The powers to be were informed that the aircraft could not possibly fly in these conditions and not to expect them. Shortly thereafter they heard the unmistakable engine noise emitting from the arriving Caribous. They had not factored in the forceful willpower and flying excellence of the RAAF pilots.

A day or so after arriving in Vietnam, our boss, SQNLDR Chris Sugden (Suggy) gave a pin to the Base Commander Vung Tau, Colonel Dillard, US Army. Dillard was a most professional officer who did what he could to get us kitted, billeted and supplied to become an effective unit without delays. Likewise Major Dillard, US Army, the Executive Officer to the colonel

12 (but no relation) received a pin. Other people around Vung Tau also received the kangaroo aka Qantas pins.

Major Schaumberg, USAF, was our liaison officer and he was most diligent in getting RTFV operational “in country”. RTFV had been integrated as part of the USAF air support services and was tasked by the USAF but most of the tasks were supporting the US Army and the South Vietnamese Army. Our induction had been completed in record time thanks in a large part to Schaumberg. The only item requiring agreement was a unit callsign which would identify us for all future operations.

So when „Suggy‟ gave Schaumberg a Qantas pin as appreciation for his services to us the conversation went something like; “What is this animal called, Chris?.

Schaumberg sometimes had a peculiar manner of pronouncing and emphasising each syllable. On this occasion in an almost Southern drawl Schaumberg said “An- I- Mal” although I do not recall Schaumberg being a Southerner. Chris replied. “A Kangaroo. That could be a suitable name for our squadron callsign?” Schaumberg was almost aghast.

“A Kan-Ga-Roo? Hell Chris, that‟s not an easy name to pronounce. The Vietnamese would find it impossible. Are they called something else”. Chris replied. “A Wallaby”. The name had an instant appeal for Schaumberg. He said it several times. “Wal-La-By” sounded much better to Schaumberg than”kangaroo.” It was Schaumberg who then said that he would arrange for “Wallaby” to become the identifier for the RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) which later became 35 SQN. Thus “Wallaby” Airlines was named after a casual relationship with the QANTAS kangaroo.

I owe thanks for this story to Don Pollock who was a pilot both on the Caribou delivery ferry and pilot in Vietnam. His story was quite lengthy and was designed to be read by other RAAF pilots of that era, requiring me to cut out the rhetoric to get to a story suitable for our newsletter. Ed

Message from Dallas about upcoming events.

Australia Fiesta

(see website for full schedule of events)

Starts Jan 20 Wednesday 5.30 pm with the Beauty Pageant Jan 22 Friday 5.30 pm. is the Poker Machine Derby and Bell Ring at Golden Nile Jan 23 Saturday 6.00 pm. Chook Raffle at International Sports & Gaming Jan 24 Sunday 12 Noon Midday is Curry Cook Off and Street Party Jan 31 Sunday 9.00 am is Family Day at Angeles Sports & Country Club (Billiard Comp, Golf, Lawn Bowls, Darts, Dummy Spit, BBQ, Swimming, and Relaxing ) Pre-notice. We are organizing a trip to Lingayen on the 9th Jan 2010 as it is the 65th Anniversary of the Lingayen Landing in WW2. We will be arranging a trip there most likely two nights away. For further details, and if you wish to avail of accommodation, advise Dallas ASAP. So far 21 rooms have been booked for the New Year party at Dreamland (Barrio Barretto), so should be a great start to new year,(only a few rooms left). Once again, contact Dallas.

Also I am doing Bookings for Xmas Buffet @ Clarkton Hotel (will be mid afternoon Xmas day all you can eat).

13 FEBRUARY is AGM month, so members need to think about nominations for all positions.

GOOD ADVICE. Always check our website for coming events and notices @ www.rslangelescity.com

Why keep aspirin by your bedside?

About Heart Attacks There are other symptoms of a heart attack besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating, however these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack. The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.

If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.

Afterwards: - phone a neighbour or a family member who lives very close by - say "heart attack!"

- say that you have taken 2 aspirins..

- take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and... ~ do NOT lie down

www.beyondtheblackstump. com.au

This cartoon is a true picture what is occurring in some major cities in Australia right now.

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An old Italian lived alone in New York. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament: Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over... I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.

Love, Papa A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Pop, Don't dig up that garden. That's where the bodies are buried.

Love, Vinnie

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Pop, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances. Love you, Vinnie. ***** **** ***** ****** ****** ****** *****

Have a chuckle at this one → then have a laugh at this one ↓ I think we all have done a fair bit of flying in our lifetimes and I can just imagine this bit of comedy actually happening.

A plane was taking off from Perth Airport.

After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from Perth to Sydney. Flight time will be approximately four hours. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY GOD!" Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier.

While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants. A

15 passenger in Economy yelled, "That's nothing. You should see the back of mine”.

***** ***** ***** ***** For those of us Aussies who will not be in Australia for Xmas, here is a little reminder of what it is like, sung to the tune of Jingle Bells

*****

*****

Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute, → Kicking up the dust, Esky in the boot, → Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs, → Its summer time and I am in my, singlet, shorts and thongs.

Chorus Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells jingle all the way, Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer's day, Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut, Oh what fun it is to ride, in a dusty Holden ute.

Engine's getting hot, we dodge the kangaroos, The swaggie climbs aboard, he is welcome too.

All the family is there, sitting by the pool, Christmas day in the Aussie way, by the bar b que

→

Chorus Come the afternoon, grandpa has a doze, The kids and Uncle Bruce, are swimming in their clothes, The time comes round to go, we take a family snap, And pack the car and all shoot through Before the washing up. Oh! Chorus……

For our international members, some explanations on some of the Aussie words used in Aussie Jingle Bells: 1. Holden Australian brand GM car.

2. Ute Otherwise known as a pick-up or truck.

3. Esky What Aussie‟s call a cooler.

4. Kelpie Australian working dog.

5. Thongs Footwear, not what some women wear as underwear these days.

6. Beaut Aussie way of saying „terrific‟.

7. Swaggie Hobo or vagabond.

8. Snap Photo or picture 9. Shoot Through Depart or „get out of there‟

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Why men shouldn‟t write advice columns Dear John,

I hope you can help me. The other day I set off for work, leaving my husband in the house watching TV. My car stalled, and then it broke down about a kilometre down the road, and I had to walk back to get my husband‟s help. When I got home, I couldn‟t believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbour‟s daughter! I am 32, my husband is 34 and the neighbour‟s daughter is 19. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted they had been having an affair for the past six months. He won‟t go to councelling, and I‟m afraid I am a wreck and I need urgent advice.

Can you please help?

Sincerely, Sheila Dear Sheila A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the injectors.

I hope this helps John

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17 SOME ADMINISTRATIVE ADVICE When membership renewals are due, the options on how to pay the ₱700.00 (in PI) or AU$20.00 (in Australia) are:

1.) Cash to Bob Young, Rob Cairns or Dallas Drake on any Saturday or Tuesday 2.) Philippine transfer to CHINABANK Beneficiary Customer = ANGELES CITY RSL Account Number = 281-028301-5 Branch = SM CLARK CITY 3.) Commonwealth Bank Australia. BSB 062905 ACCOUNT #10153195 Angeles City RSL

4.) PayPal online within web site WWW.RSLANGELESCITY.COM Keep your membership current to retain the Membership Benefits. Have you changed your address?? Next of Kin?? Phone Number??? Please send email to secretary@rslangelescity.com

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