Issue 591 | December 2018 ISSN 2206-7345 (print) ISSN 2206-7353 (online) Highgate Highlights YOUR 2018-19 COMMITTEE President Official newsletter of Highgate RSL Sub-Branch Geoff Hourn | 0414 063 707 [email protected] Returned & Services League of Australia (WA) www.highgate-rsl.org.au Senior Vice President John Cleary | 0417 955 864 From our President [email protected]

he Centenary of Armistice is over and the centennial Junior Vice President & Editor commemorations fall silent. Continuing, however, is the legacy of Roger Buddrige | 0408 900 126 [email protected] T that wonderful, strong, generation that helped save the world and forge a new country. Treasurer Bill Munro | 0411 750 775 Befittingly, as an RSL Sub-Branch that was begun by World War I [email protected] veterans just a few years after the Armistice, Highgate continues to Secretary commemorate that legacy day by day in Kings Park, through the Sub Greg Wilson Wardens of the State War Memorial and the Honour Avenue Group. 0412 095 201 | 9448 8213

In addition to commemorating that World War I legacy in this centenary Box 65 Hillarys 6923 [email protected] year, Highgate has also helped to propagate that legacy by successfully completing the Remembrance Walk in Kings Park. Warden & Immediate Past President Steve Chamarette We have also provided public access to a Virtual Memorial for Western 0409 257 469 | 9242 1865 Australia. [email protected]

Both projects help immortalise the legacy of our forebears, for families Pensions & Veterans Affairs and students and the six million annual visitors to Kings Park. Our aim David MacLean | 0418 917 982 [email protected] was to perpetuate and not only commemorate. (continued on page 2) Deputy Warden State War Memorial Geoff Simpson Our Christmas Luncheon is on Monday 17 December 0408 925 432 | 6380 1014 at the Karrakatta Club in Sherwood Court Perth [email protected]

The Karrakatta Club is located at the bottom of Sherwood Court, on the corner of The Membership Officer Esplanade in the Perth CBD. (Sherwood Court runs south off St Georges Terrace, Howard Montagu directly opposite London Court) . 0417 956 621 [email protected] Monthly luncheon bookings Our monthly luncheon meetings are $40 per person (plus $5 per raffle ticket if wanted) Hospitals & Welfare Bruce Taylor and held at the Karrakatta Club on the third Monday of each month. For catering 0408 955 219 reasons, your booking must be made no later than 1700 on the Wednesday prior to the [email protected] luncheon, please. Honour Avenue Representative Three ways to book - Choose the best for you & Poppy Day Organiser 1. Via the Highgate RSL website at http://highgate-rsl.org.au Click on Next Luncheon . Mike Harness Then click on Luncheon Booking or Apology and you ʼll be transferred to our new 0419 091 708 booking sheet page. Electronic funds transfer details are also on the page. [email protected]

Or... Web Manager Ian Petkoff 2. Go direct to the luncheon booking sheet by pasting this link into your browser: 0490 242 676 https://goo.gl/forms/vNHgoyZm1AnWA4No2 [email protected]

Via the electronic booking sheet, you can add guests, food intolerances, purchase General Committee raffle tickets, check friends; and also register a non-attendance apology. (If you book Richard Adams your luncheon via our website or direct, you will receive an email a couple of minutes 0411 737 723 | 9325 6387 later confirming your booking. [email protected]

Or... Margot Harness 9349 2847 3. Via Committee Member: If you do not have internet access, please call Margot [email protected] Harness on 9349 2847, or any Committee member, and they will help you book in. Leon Griffiths Important dates & events | please diarise now 0439 033 399 | 9332 9039 [email protected] ° 1100 | Mon 17 Dec | Committee Meeting - Karrakatta Club ° 1130 for 1215 | Mon 17 Dec | Christmas Luncheon Allan Downs ° 0427 932 166 1100 | Mon 21 Jan | Committee Meeting - Karrakatta Club [email protected] ° 1130 for 1215 | Mon 21 Jan | Monthly Luncheon Front Desk Peter Garside | 0413 441 855 Last Post | Lest We Forget [email protected] We remember with deep sadness and affection our departed Members and convey sincere condolences and sympathy to their family and friends Owen Page | 0431 956 261 [email protected] Highgate Highlights | December 2018 | Page 2

Poppy Day benefits From our President (continued from page 1) RSL Welfare Funds

I think it is fair to say Remembrance Day Service at the On Friday 09 Nov, Highgate that our endeavours State War Memorial and Poppy Day members again sold poppies in Perth have been more than Appeal. for the RSL welfare funds and we are fruitful. grateful to Mike Harness and all who We turn now to 2019. In doing so, helped. The public generously It was appropriate the Highgate can be satisfied our 2018 donated with a remarkable collection Remembrance Walk Centenary of Armistice endeavours total of $12,548 - up $1,400 from last and the Virtual Memorial were meaningful and lasting. year. The money will be used were launched by the I wish you all a merry Christmas and exclusively for the RSLWA Aged Governor of WA at our Geoff Hourn a happy new year. Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen’s Relief Centenary of Armistice Trust Fund, and the Highgate RSL Luncheon on Remembrance Day. Best wishes - Geoff Hourn Sub-Branch Veterans’ Welfare Fund. In his Centenary of Armistice Address, the Governor recounted Our January guest speaker | Terri-Anne Simmonds the national cost and huge personal sacrifice of almost every family in Australian War Memorial - Places of Pride register Australia at the time. A great follow-on to Highgate Places of

Thank you to Steve Chamarette who RSL’s accomplishment in Pride reminds directed the Remembrance Walk establishing the Remembrance Australians that, Project. Walk and the Virtual Memorial irrespective of during 2018, is the Australian War distance, the Thank you also to Ian Petkoff, who Memorial’s Places of Pride stories told at the directed the Virtual Memorial Project. Project. Australian War

And thank you to the others who And as guest speaker at our monthly Memorial are contributed many hours of luncheon meeting on 21 January, those of our concentrated effort to assist them Project Manager Terri-Anne communities throughout the year. Simmonds from the AWM will tell us across the length and breadth of the country. Our thanks also go to Leon Griffiths all about the project, which aims to and the Highgate members who gather information on the 6,000+ war Memorial Director Dr Brendan organised and set up the Centenary memorials around Australia. Nelson said it was part of the of Armistice Luncheon. The Places of Pride website is the AWM’s job to create a record of these memorials. It was a great success. National Register of War Memorials

Contributing to that success was the that will record the locations and “Our responsibility now is to build a Australian Army Cadet Unit’s 51 images of every publicly accessible national archive, a photographic Swan Regiment Drums and Pipes memorial in Australia, from repository, of all of those places that under the leadership of Music cenotaphs, honour boards, and were conceived and built with love Director, Captain Peter Jones church shrines to memorial halls, and memory at the end of the First pools, bowling clubs and tree-lined World War. OAM. They were fabulous. remembrance ways. “Through Places of Pride we aim to Somewhat subsumed by the centenary, this year, were our efforts Since the Boer War, war memorials connect all Australians, united by selling poppies for Remembrance have been erected across Australia pride and loss, with each of these Day. by local communities, families, and memorials from the Boer War friends to honour those who served through to Afghanistan,” said Dr Thank you to Mike Harness for yet and those who died, allowing our Nelson. again organising and coordinating nation to remember lives lost. “We invite all Australians to take our poppy sales. To continue that community pride part in this initiative and contribute We are entirely dependent for our today, the AWM has developed this images of their community’s Welfare funds on poppy sales and important online initiative, which memorials. This is a challenge to Mike’s efforts are very much encourages users to add images, every RSL, local government appreciated. videos, and information relating to authority, schools, community

Thank you also to those who sold these memorials, to be shared in groups and local MPs to get a the poppies. It was a great effort. perpetuity. photograph taken and upload it.

Warm congratulations are also due This newsletter is printed “The more the better. We hope to to the RSLWA staff for their hard have a large digital wall display in work in putting together the as a service to the the Australian War Memorial Centenary of Armistice Veterans Community where visitors will be able to view commemoration. and interact with memorials from by the Office of the the communities that make up the The 62,000 poppies and the coordi- Federal Member for Perth fabric of this nation – all connected nated buglers in the CBD were by memory, grief, and love.” superb, as was the very well-run

Highgate Highlights | December 2018 | Page 3 Centenary of Armistice | 11 November 2018 Speech from Wreath Laying Ceremony | State War Memorial By Hon Kim Beazley AC | Governor of Western Australia

acknowledge the traditional stronger than - an additional 300,000 in today’s owners of the land on which we 200-300. In equivalent.

I meet – the Noongar people – many ways, There was not an extended family and pay my respects to their elders we just made unaffected anywhere in Australia. past and present. In particular, I add it. our respects to the Noongar men We emerged proud of ourselves. We have We had established an Australian who enlisted and fought with their never been as fellow Australians in this and type. It was really a definition of the influential on Australian male. It wasn’t until subsequent conflicts. the world World War II that an ANZAC All of us here are performing a stage as we definition was gender inclusive. sacred duty. Our forebears were in 1918. In 1914-18, we fought for Empire. promised our Service men and Under women, particularly those who In 1939-45, for survival. General John perished, that they would never Monash. the Australian Army Corps Proud but utterly shattered, our be forgotten, and we uphold that developed new ways of fighting men came home, but many more promise today. died. Make no mistake about it. which broke the trench warfare I was in Albany earlier this week model of bloody attrition and After November 1918, Australia where more than 2,000 children stalemate. was a subdued, quiet and marched down York Street for the devastated nation. We substituted movement and fire Cross and Bell Ceremony for the power for substantial numbers of For me, an overwhelming image Combined Schools Centenary men. We were critical in the from the welcome home parades Commemoration of Armistice. was the 10,000 widows in black defensive battles at the beginning Our State Premier told me that 104 of the year, which broke the last who marched to the harbour in years ago, his Great Uncle marched major German throw of the dice. Sydney from where their menfolk down York Street, then to Lone Pine had left. That August, we were the at Gallipoli - and from there to spearpoint of the counter-offensive, Not the old women we imagine, but eternity. women not much older than those starting in Amiens and then over On 11 November, 100 years ago the next few months, breaking the here today. We were a sadder today, the guns went silent. Ten Hindenburg Line. nation but a more mature one. We minutes before, they were anything were more complex thinkers. Our last great battle at Montbrehain but. Looking back over the four years of and the St Quentin Canal did that For example, on one part of the on the back of our victory at Mont World War I, why were we so front, the Americans fired off all their St Quentin – Péronne. We were committed at the beginning? remaining ammunition. A British then out of the front line on 05 It’s because many saw themselves, machine gunner, at two minutes October 1918. as in the phrase of the day, before 11, fired a whole belt, stood All year, it was a benchmark of ‘Independent Britons of the up, took off his helmet, bowed to the German intelligence that if you southern sun’.

German trenches and walked slowly discovered Australians on your back to his lines. Paradoxically, British diplomat Cecil front, you could expect to be Spring Rice wrote a poem in 1913 However, apart from specialist attacked within 48 hours. which captured that spirit. Verses 2 elements, Australians weren’t at the Our population then was just five and 3 became the content of the front when the firing ceased. We million. Of the 420,000 men of popular English anthem, I Vow to had been withdrawn to refit five military age who served, more than Thee, My Country . weeks earlier when, in a series of half had enlisted, with 330,000 of But it is the never-sung first verse battles, we had broken Germany’s them serving overseas. As a main defence, the Hindenburg Line. that carries the weight of this spirit: nation, we suffered having 61,514 In France, our numbers had fallen killed and over 155,000 wounded. I heard my country, calling, below 100,000 and we were no Away across the sea. longer replacing ourselves. We need to imagine that effect on Across the waste of waters, us. We now have five times the Recruiting in 1918 brought 30,000 She calls and calls to me. population. Calculate what the Her sword is girded at her side, troops, but there were 65,000 of our impact on us would have been if we dead and wounded on the battle Her helmet on her head, had just lost 300,000 men and And round her feet are lying field that year. Still the refitted 1st women in battle and had a million and 4th Divisions were moving up to The dying and the dead; wounded among us. I hear the noise of battle, the front line at the time of the armistice. By then our battalions Further, during the 1920s aftermath The thunder of her guns; across the Corps, supposedly of the war, another 60,000 died as I haste to thee, my mother, around 700-800 each, were no a result of their war service A son among thy sons.

Highgate Highlights | December 2018 | Page 4 Commemoration of Armistice Centenary || Remembrance Day | 11 November 2018 Highgate RSL Special Commemorative Projects: Remembrance Walk & Virtual Memorial Remembrance Walk Project Virtual Memorial Project In addition, this information is By Steve Chamarette By Ian Petkoff almost invisible to web browsers, Project Director Project Director and casual searchers will therefore be unlikely to find the Virtual The Remembrance Walk Project The Virtual Memorial Project consists of Memorial information using Google, computer application brings into the a series of files in PDF format held on the Chrome, Safari or other internet digital age the wartime heritage Highgate Sub-Branch website that show search engines, although the commemorated by the 29 war memorials the names of Service men and women information related to the Virtual in Kings Park. honoured throughout the State. Memorial Project can be found from Significantly, the application will The names are identified to a level the link available on the Highgate communicate to students of military that enables further information for website home page at history, family history researchers each person to be readily obtained www.highgate-rsl.org.au . and the millions each year of Kings by online searches of World War II Park visitors, the significance of and subsequent service in nominal A Great Big Thank You each memorial in the context of rolls at the National Archives, Australia’s military service since the Australian War Memorial, After the Remembrance Day Boer War of 1899. Commonwealth War Graves Service at the State War Memorial in Kings Park on 11 Nov, Governor This free application identifies the Commission and the Department of of Western Australia, the Hon historical importance of each Veterans’ Affairs. Kim Beazley AC was our special memorial and includes photographs The concept of the Virtual Memorial guest at the Centenary of Armistice from the past. It can be downloaded project is not new, as many Luncheon in the State Reception to mobile telephones, tablets, laptop historians have been identifying Centre (above Fraser’s Kings and desktop computers, anywhere names on local memorials for many Park), and we thank him for in the world. More importantly, each years. However, this project differs launching Highgate RSL’s two memorial history details a specific from previous work, as it will major projects that now provide a West Australian community eventually cover the whole State. lasting legacy of the centenary. connection. So far, the Project includes mostly We also acknowledge with By opening the link application at Kings Park Unit memorials to which gratitude the generous financial https://remembrance.memorial , rolls of honour have been added, as support for these projects by students and visitors can access well as virtual local rolls of honour philanthropist Kerry Stokes, information relating to the compiled from Australian War Woodside, Lotterywest , and the campaigns and units associated Memorial and Department of Department of Veteran Affairs. with each memorial. There are also Veterans’ Affairs records. Our sincere thanks also go to Niki links to relevant veteran A DVA grant enabled the nearly 700 Peinke who donated use of the associations connected to particular files and 26 menu links to be added Subiaco Tram to provide transport memorials, plus links to the to the Highgate website. The grant to the venue from nearby carparks, Australian War Memorial in also helped fund a researcher to with assistance from tram drivers, Canberra for further material. collect photographic information Adrian Roberts and Xavier Aerts , In addition, there are suggested from the many war memorials, who also generously donated their Remembrance Walks with specific honour boards and rolls of honour, fee for the day to Highgate RSL’s memorial themes. For the computer located mostly in the Perth welfare fund. Thank you, so much. literate, Google Earth can be used metropolitan and nearby regional to plan your own memorial walk, areas, and for which lists of names Highgate member, Leon Griffiths , including with time and distance were not available from online or project-directed the Luncheon calculations. other sources. Team , which saw 264 members and guests enjoy some of the finest Highgate RSL thanks the The Highgate website is not the food available in Western Australia, Department of Veterans’ Affairs for intended final host for this together with superb precision providing a Major Commemorative information, and all the Virtual performances from the Australian Grant for the Remembrance Walk Memorial information is therefore Army Cadet Unit’s No 51 Swan Project. We also sincerely thank all available to Commonwealth, State Regiment Drums and Pipes , those who contributed their time and and Local Government, ex-Services including ‘piping in’ the Governor effort to bring this project to fruition. and historic organisations who wish on his arrival. The quality of their to display and present the We at Highgate RSL believe the music, their dress and bearing and information on-line. Remembrance Walk Project is an the keen sense of duty displayed appropriate tribute and The reason for this offer is that the by the Cadets under the leadership remembrance to our West Highgate RSL is a low-technology of Music Director, Captain Peter Australian fallen and their families website that cannot be searched, Jones OAM was magnificent, and for the Centenary of Armistice, and although individual files containing greatly enjoyed and appreciated by for many years to come. names can be located, using the everyone present. PDF search function. Highgate Highlights | December 2018 | Page 5 New State War Memorial Warden New Members BIRTHDAYS Members celebrating their Lieutenant Commander Guy We welcome two new birthday in December include: Burton RAN is the newly members to Highgate RSL John (Bill) Bailey, Phil Zeid, Sub-Branch: appointed Warden for the State John Fisher, Ray Galliott, War Memorial. Greg Smith RFD is a Major Greg Lakeman, Michael

On 29 May 1978, Midshipman Guy in the Australian Galvin, Barry Cooke, Craig Burton entered service with the Army Reserve Collas, Jim Irving, Michael Royal Australian Navy. Now, 40 and has Harness, Duncan Warren, years on, LCDR Burton continues completed 40 Richard Albury, Kevin to serve and deliver exceptional years service to Graham, Robin Slater, John the nation. Adeney, Robert Elliot and results. William Kynaston. Over this time, LCDR Burton has completed sea Dean Smith , postings on HMAS Melbourne (the aircraft carrier), Senator for And our very warm HMAS Tobruk , HMAS Onslow (gaining submarine Western Australia, has joined congratulations to member qualification in 1982), HMAS Orion , HMAS Oxley us as an Affiliate Member. Rabbi Shalom Coleman CBE AM JP, who celebrated and HMAS Protector (as Commanding Officer). Dean was his 100th birthday on 05 appointed a He saw operational service in 2009-10 on December. deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations Senator for WA in support of Operation Slipper and the in May 2012. Rabbi International Coalition Against Terrorism, He is the Coleman receiving the Australian Active Service Medal and Government’s joined the the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Deputy Whip in Royal Air

the Senate and Force in 1939 Importantly, he has also been awarded the and trained as has been a Australian Service Medal (Special Operations an Air-Gunner/ member of the WA Liberal clasp) in recognition of his submarine service Wireless through the 1980s. Party for almost 30 years. He Operator, In recent years, LCDR Burton has delivered was awarded the Distinguished flying with 107 exceptional outcomes in the Submarine Escape Service Medal in 2011. Boston Squadron over and Rescue realm, including bringing the new Western Europe. SWM SUB WARDENS hyperbaric suite into service. From 1947-60, he was a No requests have been received And last July, LCDR Burton received the highly for commemorative services at the Padre with the South African coveted Federation Star from Chief of Navy to State War Memorial during Forces. Migrating to Perth, he recognise his 40 year career. December and January became a Chaplain in 5th Military District Australian RSLWA UPDATE Army in 1966 and Padre to the Z Special Unit RSL National Directors have been Planning is progressing well for ANZAC Association. required to sign an Australian Charities Day 2019, including the Dawn Service and Not-For-Profits Commission at Kings Park; Gunfire Breakfast in the In 1977, he received the (ACNC) Compliance document to grounds of Government House; the Queen’s Coronation Medal. ensure RSL National continues to act Street March down St Georges Terrace, He retired in 1985. Rabbi with due diligence while a restructuring and the commemorative service in the Coleman is Honorary Life of the entity is undertaken. RSL Perth Concert Hall. President of the Rabbis and Ministers Association, and an National and its operations will become The new Mandurah Peel Veterans Australian Past District more of a lobbying and research entity, Centre and home for the City of serving the needs of member States. Governor of Rotary. Mandurah RSL Sub-Branch is nearing Sub-Branches point of contact is now completion. Disclaimer Highgate Highlights source material is edited to Matthew Holyday (9287 3799 or Work is progressing well for [email protected]), following the remove any inappropriate construction of the new ANZAC House content, and to clarify or shorten departure of Martin Holzberger on 07 Dec. at the corner of St Georges Terrace and The Chief Operations Officer position the item where needed. Although Pier Street, with basement construction normal tests for accuracy are will remain vacant until a decision is now under way. undertaken, you should not rely made on a replacement. on this material without carrying A Department of Veterans Affairs grant The field of poppies, containing tens of out your own validity checks. application is being prepared to help Opinions expressed in Highgate thousands of poppies knitted by the fund changes and additions of names at Poppy Ladies over a two-year period, Highlights are not necessarily the State War Memorial, following those of RSL Highgate Sub- was a Commemoration highlight. research that indicates 158 names are Branch or RSLWA. You are A successful Poppy Day street appeal missing from the Memorial. welcome to forward this newsletter to your colleagues was conducted on 09 November 2018 RSLWA’s office will close from 1200 Fri with strong community support. and friends, although we would 21 Dec, reopening Wed 02 Jan. appreciate acknowledgment as

its source. Highgate Highlights | December 2018 | Page 6 Commemoration of Armistice Centenary

Thanks, Margot Thank you to Our grateful thanks to Committee member and David Nicolson former Highgate newsletter Editor, Margot Harness, for her excellent editorship, for all photographs production and distribution of the Oct and Nov on this page issues of Highgate Highlights; while the incumbent editor was overseas .