TOUKLEY RSL SUB BRANCH

Newsletter

Issue 55– February 2020

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From the President:

Welcome to the New Year and the first Newsletter for 2020. I trust that you all had a very happy and safe Christmas period. The annual Sub Branch Christmas party held on Sunday 15 December 2019 again proved popular and it was good to see such a great turnout of members, partners and invited guests on the day. A monster raffle followed a lovely 3-course luncheon and the wonderful entertainment was provided by Brassick. Following the raffle, those present dug deep with a very healthy amount of $421.40 raised to assist those on the land who are doing it tough due to the long period with no rain. The raised money has been passed on to Team Rubicon Australia to go towards a tanker of water for someone in need. Thank you so much for your support of this very worthwhile project. Merchant Mariners’ Day was held at the memorial outside the gates to Norah Head Lighthouse on Saturday, 7 December 2019 with a good representation from the Sub Branch Committee and members. Thank you to all of those who attended. The Australian Air League, Toukley Squadron, held its final parade and presentation day on Saturday 14 December 2019. Thank you to Secretary Graham Tredinnick and Vice President Tom Hobbs who attended on behalf of the Sub Branch. We have recently been advised of the location and dates for the 2020 State Congress by RSL NSW. Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre, Newcastle West will host the State Congress from Sunday 25 October 2020 to 27 October 2020 inclusive. A number of Sub Branches put forward their interest in having it held in their area but the final decision met all key requirements for holding this event. Many of you have been asking when the new perpetual membership card will be available. The Committee has been following up with State RSL and they

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have come back to us on 16 January 2020, advising that they are unable to provide a date that it will be ready. They have also said that we will be advised via the State Secretary’s Newsletters, to the Sub Branch Executive, when more is known on this matter. Members are to ensure that their Membership is up to date for the AGM on Sunday 9 February 2020. Names and membership status will be checked at the door for entry to this important AGM. I am pleased to advise that Pastor Don Hobbs has offered to assist the Sub Branch as our Chaplain on a temporary basis until a permanent Chaplain is found. Pastor Hobbs is retired from full time church ministry and is Chaplain for Marine Rescue, Tuggerah Lakes. We are honoured to have his services. The completed upgrading work at memorial gardens continues to receive positive comments. As many of you would know, this is a registered war memorial, officially known as the “Toukley and District War Memorial”, the final resting place of 415 deceased Toukley RSL Sub Branch veterans (as at 31 December 2019). It is also listed on the Australian War Memorial’s ”Places of Pride” site with photos. The Sub Branch has Policies and Procedures in place and, for those wishing, upon your passing, the criteria to have your ashes interred in the Memorial Gardens, is that you must be a Toukley RSL Sub Branch full member to be eligible. Form FO4 is available from the Sub Branch Office. Signed forms are kept in the Sub Branch safe. Completed forms are not binding or legal: they simply state your wishes. It is a good idea to let your wishes be known to family members. I have recently become aware of a great initiative by the New South Wales Government called “The Cost of Living Service”. It aims to ensure that we are all getting the rebates and savings to which we are entitled. I will have some brochures from Service New South Wales to hand out at the February General Meeting for those who are interested. For more information, drop into any Service New South Wales office and make an appointment with one of their Officers to go step by step through items, such as your electricity, council and water rebates, transport benefits, Seniors’ discounts, and much more. It is worth a few minutes of your time and may end up saving you some money – and it is conducted free of charge.

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As my tenure as Sub Branch President comes to a close, this is my last contribution to fifty five issues of the Newsletter. I wish to thank sincerely all of the Committee and Members for your support over the last eleven (or so) years. As you most probably know by now, I will not be standing for re-election at the AGM on 9 February 2020 – less than one week away. I feel that it is time to hand the reins over to someone with new and fresh ideas to continue on as your President, who can guide the Sub Branch through the next three-year term. I am immensely proud of the many achievements that the Sub Branch has made during my time as both President, Trustee and Committeeman, especially the major work undertaken at the Memorial Gardens, and the acquisition of Diggers’ Inn, just to name a few. We have kicked a few goals over this period of time, which could not have been achieved without the dedication of the Committee and support of the members. As you are aware, all positions for the Executive Committee and Trustees are voluntary, and many hours are put in by them for Commemoration Services and ongoing behind the scenes work, to ensure the efficient running of the Sub Branch, as well as weekly visits to veterans by our Welfare Officer and conducting RSL tribute services. Thank you all for your input. I am confident that the current Committee has left the Sub Branch in good stead with our Policies, Procedures and records all in place. It has taken a lot of time, dedication and effort to establish and put everything in order to ensure that the Sub Branch continues to run smoothly. Of course, there will always be changes to be made and records updated to keep up to date with changes as they occur. There will be some interesting times ahead: especially with the new Constitution which came into effect on 1 December 2019. This is a living document and changes will be made as, and when, required. It will mean different ways in which we conduct our business in the future. One of the big, and important, decisions facing our Sub Branch in the very near future will be whether we become “Incorporated” or “Unincorporated”. To better understand what this all means, the Committee recently met with Mick Bainbridge, a Lawyer, from Operational Legal, to answer our concerns and also explain the best way forward for our Sub Branch in making the decision which best suits our circumstances. Armed with this new information, it will be a

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matter now for the new Committee to present the members with a recommendation. I hope you have enjoyed the Newsletters since their inception in 2015. We have endeavoured to keep them informative, interesting and a little light hearted. Please also keep an eye out for upcoming events on the Sub Branch webpage. I wish the new Committee all the best during their term/s in representing and assisting the Toukley RSL Sub Branch members and veterans. I would also like to thank our Patron, Karen McNamara, for her ongoing support. Without her input, we would not have had the honour of visitations by various Members of Parliament to speak to our Members. Thank you, Karen. Thank you to each and every one of you. It has been an honour and a privilege to be your President. Bob Wilson President

NEW SUB BRANCH MEMBERS

Welcome to the following new Sub Branch Members: John Elias

Alan McLeod

VALE

Frederick Allen WILCOX

INTERMENT OF ASHES AT THE CENOTAPH MEMORIAL GARDENS Alan RANN – 18 December 2019

Lest We Forget

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sub Branch General Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, At 10.00am, upstairs in Club Toukley RSL, with the exception of January.

All Members are invited to attend.

Sunday 9 February 2020 – 10.00am AGM Doors close at 10.00am sharp. Sub Branch Membership card must be produced to gain entry.

Saturday 25 April 2020 – 5.20am Anzac Day

Wednesday 11 November 2020 – 10.40am

Remembrance Day

Keeping your Sub Branch Details Up to Date

If you have recently moved, or your details have changed, please let the Sub Branch Office know so that we can update your address and contact details. This information is required so that we can send any correspondence and membership renewals to the correct address. Also, if you know of a member who has moved, either to another area or to an Aged Care Facility, please notify the Sub Branch Office.

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Never get too busy making a living

That you forget to make a life

Puzzle Corner

Trivia 1 What country is the first to see the sun rise each day? 2 What was the first planet to be discovered using the telescope, in 1781? 3 Which bird is also the term for two below par in golf? 4 What is sushi traditionally wrapped in? 5 Periwinkle, cornflower and azure are shades of what colour? 6 How many sides does an octagon have? 7 What continent is cut into two fairly equal halves by the Tropic of

Capricorn? 8 What strait separates Australia and New Guinea? 9 What is allspice alternatively known as? 10 What is the only American State to begin with the letter “P”? 11 What is the largest and oldest rainforest in Australia? 12 Which fruit is also known as a “love apple”?

Number Crunch

Number of Deadly Sins

Number represented by the Roman numeral V111

Cloud you’re on when you are very happy

Base number of the decimal system

Number of players on a soccer team

Answer Total

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You never appreciate what you have till it’s gone.

Toilet paper is a good example.

Photo Gallery

The Memorial Book in the foyer of Club Toukley RSL

With the Wyong Women’s Shed handmade poppy wreath behind

Sub Branch Christmas Party

Raffle Prizes

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Members & invited guests enjoying the day

Patron Karen McNamara & her husband, John, (foreground) at the Christmas function, together with

Bob Couper OAM, President of Doyalson/Wyee RSL Sub Branch, seated next to John.

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Cenotaph Inscription

The Lone Pine – strong and healthy

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The Great Escape Tunnel Untouched for almost seven decades, the tunnel used in the Great Escape has finally been unearthed. The 111-yard passage nicknamed 'Harry' by Allied prisoners was sealed by the Germans after the audacious break-out from the POW camp Stalag Luft III in western Poland. Despite huge interest in the subject, encouraged by the film starring Steve McQueen, the tunnel was undisturbed over the decades because it was behind the Iron Curtain and the Soviet had no interest in its significance.

But at last British archaeologists have excavated it, and discovered its remarkable secrets. Many of the bed boards which had been joined together to stop it collapsing were still in position. And the ventilation shaft, ingeniously crafted from used powdered milk containers known as Klim Tins, remained in working order. Scattered throughout the tunnel, which is 30ft below ground, were bits of old metal buckets, hammers and crowbars which were used to hollow out the route. A total of 600 prisoners worked on three tunnels at the same time. They were

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nicknamed Tom, Dick and Harry and were just 2 ft. square for most of their length. It was on the night of March 24 and 25, 1944, that 76 Allied airmen escaped through Harry. Barely a third of the 200 prisoners, many in fake German uniforms and civilian outfits and carrying false identity papers, who were meant to slip away managed to leave before the alarm was raised when escapee number 77 was spotted.

Tunnel vision: A tunnel reconstruction showing the trolley system. Only three made it back to Britain. Another 50 were executed by firing squad on the orders of Adolf Hitler, who was furious after learning of the breach of security. In all, 90 boards from bunk beds, 62 tables, 34 chairs and 76 benches, as well as thousands of items including knives, spoons, forks, towels and blankets, were squirreled away by the Allied prisoners to aid the escape plan under the noses of their captors.

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Although the Hollywood movie suggested otherwise, no Americans were involved in the operation. Most were British, and the others were from Canada, (all the tunnellers were Canadian personnel with backgrounds in mining) Poland, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.

The site of the tunnel (above), excavated by British archaeologists The latest dig, over three weeks in August 2011, located the entrance to Harry, which was originally concealed under a stove in Hut 104. The team also found another tunnel, called George, whose exact position had not been charted. It was never used as the 2,000 prisoners were forced to march to other camps as the Red Army approached in January 1945. Watching the excavation was Gordie King, 91, an RAF radio operator, who was 140th in line to use Harry and therefore missed out. 'This brings back such bitter-sweet memories’, he said as he wiped away tears. 'I'm amazed by what they've found. Gordie King, 91, made an emotional return to Stalag Luft III.

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In a related post: Many younger ones are unaware of the cost in lives and treasure that were paid for the liberties that we enjoy today. (This is no surprise as most of us reading this were born after WW2). They also have no idea in respect of the lengths that the “greatest generation” went to in order to preserve those liberties. Below is one true, small and entertaining story regarding those measures that are well worth reading......... Escape from WWII POW Camps — starting in 1940, an increasing number of British and Canadian Airmen found themselves as the involuntary guests of the Third Reich, and the Crown was casting about for ways and means to facilitate their escape. Now obviously, one of the most helpful aids to that end is a useful and accurate map, one showing not only where stuff was, but also showing the locations of 'safe houses' where a POW on-the-lam could go for food and shelter. Paper maps had some real drawbacks -- they make a lot of noise when you open and fold them, they wear out rapidly, and if they get wet, they turn into mush. Someone in MI-5 (similar to America's OSS) got the idea of printing escape maps on silk. It's durable, can be scrunched-up into tiny wads and, unfolded as many times as needed and, makes no noise whatsoever. At that time, there was only one manufacturer in Great Britain that had perfected the technology of printing on silk, and that was John Waddington Ltd. When approached by the government, the firm was only too happy to do its bit for the war effort. By pure coincidence, Waddington was also the U.K. Licensee for the popular American board game Monopoly. As it happened, 'games and pastimes' was a category of item qualified for insertion into 'CARE packages', dispatched by the International Red Cross to prisoners of war. Under the strictest of secrecy, in a securely guarded and inaccessible old workshop on the grounds of Waddington's, a group of sworn-to-secrecy employees began mass-producing escape maps, keyed to each region of

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Germany, Italy, and France or wherever Allied POW camps were located. When processed, these maps could be folded into such tiny dots that they would actually fit inside a Monopoly playing piece. As long as they were at it, the clever workmen at Waddington's also managed to add: 1 A playing token, containing a small magnetic compass. 2. A two-part metal file that could easily be screwed together. 3. Useful amounts of genuine high-denomination German, Italian, and French currency, hidden within the piles of Monopoly money! British and American air crews were advised, before taking off on their first mission, how to identify a 'rigged' Monopoly set – by means of a tiny red dot, one cleverly rigged to look like an ordinary printing glitch, located in the corner of the Free Parking square. Of the estimated 35,000 Allied POWS who successfully escaped, an estimated one-third were aided in their flight by the rigged Monopoly sets. Everyone who did so was sworn to secrecy indefinitely, since the British Government might want to use this highly successful ruse in still another, future war. The story wasn't declassified until 2007, when the surviving craftsmen from Waddington's, as well as the firm itself, were finally honoured in a public ceremony. It's always nice when you can play that 'Get Out of Jail' Free' card!

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Normality is a paved road: it’s comfortable to walk but no flowers grow. – Vincent van Gogh

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2020 Membership Due now Sub-branch memberships for 2020 are now due. As reported in the President’s report in the front of this Newsletter RSL NSW have still not provided the new membership cards and numerous requests to follow-up the arrival date of the new cards have been fruitless. As being a financial member is a requirement to attend the AGM all members are reminded to pay their fees by this Thursday 6 February. A list of financial members will be at the entry door on the day of the AGM and you must be financial to attend the meeting. Ian Collier Membership Officer.

Toukley RSL Sub Branch Bus Trips

The 2020 itinerary is currently being prepared. More details in the March newsletter.

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Recipe Corner

LASAGNE

Ingredients: 500g lean beef mince For the White Sauce Oil for frying 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons flour 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 cup milk ¼ cup tomato paste 400g can tomatoes ½ cup beef stock 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs 250g packet instant lasagne sheets 1 cup grated cheese Place mince in a bowl and mix in a little oil. Heat a large frypan to hot. Brown the mince in two batches, breaking up any lumps with a fork. Set aside. Add onion and garlic to the frypan, cook until onion is soft. Return mice and add the tomato paste, tomatoes, stock, sugar and mixed herbs. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To make the white sauce, melt the butter or margarine in a saucepan, add the flour and stir until bubbly. Add one third of the milk and stir continually until the sauce boils and thickens. Repeat this twice until all the milk is added. Keep stirring until the sauce boils. Season to taste. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Alternate layers of meat sauce with the lasagne sheets and half the white sauce in a greased lasagne dish, finishing with a layer of white sauce. Sprinkle with the grated cheese. Bake lasagne uncovered for about 30 minutes or until thoroughly hot. Serve with salad or seasonal vegetables. Enjoy!

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Puzzle Corner Answers

Trivia Answers 1 New Zealand 7 Australia 2 Uranus 8 Torres Strait 3 Eagle 9 Pimento 4 Edible seaweed 10 Pennsylvania 5 Blue 11 Daintree 6 Eight 12 Tomato

Number Crunch Answers

Number of Deadly Sins 7 Number represented by the Roman numeral V111

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Cloud you’re on when you are very happy 9

Base number of the decimal system 10

Number of players on a soccer team 11

Answer Total 45

Traditional Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home; and may the hand of a friend always be near. May green be the grass you walk on. May blue be the skies above you. May pure be the joys that surround you. May true be the hearts that love you.

Anonymous

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TOUKLEY RSL SUB BRANCH

Patron: President: Vice Presidents: Secretary: Treasurer: Committee: Telephone: Fax: Pensions & Welfare: (Located at Diggers’ Inn) Trustees: Newsletter Co-ordinator: Phone: Email:

Karen McNamara Bob Wilson Tom Hobbs George Meier Graham Tredinnick Milton Porter Ray Sutton Allan Love Ian Collier Brian Murphy 4396.4855 4396.9310 4396.8807 Bob Wilson, George Meier, Milton Porter Ian Collier 0412.265.623 ianpamcoll@aapt.net.au