Registered by AUSTRALIA POST NO. PP607128/00001 THE December 2012 VOL. 35 No. 6 The official journal of The ReTuRNeD & ServiceS League Of austraLia POSTAGE PAID SURFACE ListeningListeningWa Branch incorporated • PO Box 3023 east Perth, 6892 • established 1920 PostPostAUSTRALIA MAIL Remembrance Day 2012 2 The LisTening PosT December 2012 THE December 2012 VOL. 35 No.6 Listening Post LisTening PosT MessAge BoARD inDeX Contact Directory and Editorial Information ........................ 2 Deadline for next edition: 25 January, 2013 For contributions to next edition. This Month in Australian Military History ............................... 3 If possible, submissions should be typed and double-spaced. Preferred method of receiving From the President’s Pen ...................................................................................... 4 submissions is via email. Photographs can be black and white or colour. This is your journal and contributions are welcome. From the Bunker ................................................................................................................ 5 Address to: The Editor, The Listening Post Pensions, Advocacy & Welfare Services .......................................... 7 RSL, PO Box 3023 East Perth, WA 6892 From the Archives ............................................................................................................ 9 Email: [email protected] Opinions expressed by contributors in articles and reproduced articles are the individuals Notices ............................................................................................................................. 21 – 22 opinions or the authors of such reproduced articles and are not necessarily those of the RSL. Suduko and Crossword ........................................................................................ 23 Reproduction of articles (or extracts) contained in The Listening Post are welcomed, provided Solutions ...................................................................................................................................... 24 the source is acknowledged. The Editor reserves the right to accept, reject, sub-edit and re-arrange material submitted for publication. The Last Post ....................................................................................................................... 24 Infringement of Copyright Laws To all Sub Branch Publishing of Presidents' and The Listening Post We cannot accept Newspaper Clippings for publication without express approval Secretaries 'The Listening Post' is published 6 from the Newspaper Editor as we can send photographs and a short article on times a year, and has a infringe on Copyright Laws. special activities at your Sub Branch to Denis Connelly, Editor The Listening Post. readership of over 25,000. Denis Connelly, Editor The State President & The State Executive Lt Frederick Bell VC wish all members of The League a Merry Christmas and a Memorial Lecture 2012 Happy & Safe New Year Dear Editor, I enclose for your information a copy of my Lt Frederick Bell VC Memorial Lecture 2012 which I presented to the Cottesloe RSL Sub-Branch on Friday, 9 November at Cottesloe Civic Centre, in the event you wish to extract any part of it for publication. Full copies of the printed booklet containing the Lecture are available from me on phone 9367 9771 or email rkocon- [email protected] at the cost of $10 plus $2 postage. Thank you and kind regards, Robert K O’Connor QC Phone: 08 9367 9771 ConTACT DiReCToRY editorial information Contact Directory Editor/Vice President: Denis Connelly (08) 9287 3716 Departments at ANZAC House sTATe Email: [email protected] CEO / State Secretary: CMDR Phillip Orchard AFNI eXeCUTiVe Administrative Assistant / RAN (Rtd) 9287 3799 Assistant Editor: Amy Hunt Assistant State Secretary: Nola Keen 9287 3702 2011-2014 RSL Advertising: Executive Assistant: Caitlin Harnwell Editorial Assistant: Nola Keen Receptionist: Wendy Quinn State President Mr Peter Aspinall Email: [email protected] Membership: Kathy Clark, 8.00am to 3.30pm Mon- Mr William Gaynor OAM RFD Mr Peter Fardon Graphic Design: Type Express Thurs, 9287 3705 State Vice President Printer: Rural Press ANZAC House Manager: Matthew Holyday 9287 3714 Mr Ross Davies Financial Services: Peter McGlade 9287 3718. Mr Denis Connelly Contact Details Helen Beech 8.30am to 4.30pm Mon-Thurs 9287 3703 State Treasurer Dr Neil MacNeill The Returned & Services League Archivist: Naomi Lam 9287 3713, Mr Phillip Draber Trustees Departments at 8 Irwin St of Australia WA Branch Incorporated State Executive Mr Don Blair OAM RFD ED ANZAC House 28 St Georges Tce PERTH WA 6000 Welfare: Rosalind Howat 8.30am 4.30pm Mon-Fri, Mr Damian Dixon Email: [email protected] 9287 3707 • 0412 009 191 Mr John Cox OAM JP Website: www.rslwahq.org.au Snr Advocate: Jim Boland 8.00am to 4.00pm Mon-Fri, Mr Dilwyn “Digger” Cleak OAM 9287 3708 Mr Kevin Trent OAM RFD Telephone: (08) 9287 3799 Mrs Donna Prytulak Mr Wayne Tarr RFD ED Facsimile: (08) 9287 3732 Mr Gary Scott WA Country Callers: 1800 259 799 RFD CEO / STATE Secretary PO Box 3023, East Perth, WA 6892 Mr Ian Johnstone Mr John McCourt CMDR Philip Orchard AFNI RAN (Rtd) The LisTeningThe Li stPoseNTiN Decemberg Post October 2012 20093 3 This Month in Australian Military History Date Year Title event 13 February 1965 First Australian SAS Squadron The SAS served in Borneo during Confrontation to gather intel- advance party departs for Borneo ligence, conduct reconnaissance patrols and collect information on topography. 18 February 1943 9th Division arrives in Fremantle Having served in North Africa the 9th Division was ordered back to help defend Australia against the Japanese. 19 February 1915 Allied warships shell Dardanelles This was the first allied attempt to force a passage through the Dardanelles and attack the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Its failure ultimately led to the ill-fated Gallipolli campaign. 25 February 1951 Hill 614, Korea 12 Platoon, D Company, 3rd battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, captured this important piece of high ground at the second attempt, enabling the United Nations' forces northward advance to the Albany Line to continue. 28 February 1991 Gulf War ends With Iraqi forces having been driven from Kuwait and defeated in the field the coalition forces called a halt to the fighting. 1 March 1901 Naval and military forces of the With Federation state and federal authorities began planning for the States transferred to Commonwealth establishment of federal military forces. control 22 March 1942 Japanese aircraft bomb Katherine This was the only air raid against Katherine in the Second World War, one man was killed. 27 March 1953 Last engagement between Meteors Meteors had been found to be inferior to MIGS in air to air combat and MIGS in the Korean War in Korea and were transferred to ground attack duties. 31 March 1921 Formation of the Australian Air The Australian Air Force became the Royal Australian Air Force Force (RAAF) on 31 August 1921. These events are only a selected number of significant dates when Australians were involved in activities of importance. For the complete list go to: www.awm.gov.au CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON AT THE ANZAC CLUB SERVING TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON TABLES DECORATED WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS (MUST BE RESERVED) TWO COURSE MENU $24.00 PER PERSON Roast Turkey & Pork Stuffing with Ham, Roast Potato & Seasonal Vegetables Served with a Crusty Bread Roll & Butter FOLLOWED BY Traditional Plum Pudding & Brandy Custard Tea & Coffee with After Dinner Mints THREE COURSE MENU $30.00 PER PERSON Shrimp Salad with a Marie Rose Cocktail Sauce (can be substituted with Farmhouse Soup of the Day with a Crusty Bread Roll & Butter) FOLLOWED BY Roast Turkey & Pork Stuffing with Ham, Roast Potato & Seasonal Vegetables FOLLOWED BY Traditional Plum Pudding & Brandy Custard Tea & Coffee with After Dinner Mints *** OPTIONAL FRUIT MINCE PIE only $1.50 per person additional, available with either menu *** Book your group or office table now on 9287 3714. Note: Available until 21st December 2012 4 The LisTening PosT December 2012 From the President’s Pen Welcome to the final edition of The 2014 but at this point in time additional honouring those who serve dynamic solutions to contemporary and Listening Post for 2012. funding is not confirmed. Ministers from Veterans’ Affairs port- newly emerging problems caused by folios from across the globe have met modern combat environments to best Sub branches and veterans are asked to In reviewing the activities and achieve- to discuss issues affecting servicemen serve the current and next generation of get behind community initiatives and ment of the past year I believe we and women, particularly current serv- veterans and their families. have been able to maintain momentum ensure any presentations are conducted ing men and women. Represented at the as we progress towards the Centenary in an appropriate manner. table was: Australia, the United States, Futures Fund established of ANZAC and the foundation of the Should you be considering going to Canada and New Zealand. The Ministers Significant progress has been made in League. We have been able to deal with Gallipoli for the Centenary commemo- acknowledged their country’s fundamen- the establishment of a Futures Fund for governance issues in a very professional rations, you need to be aware of the tally shared values and commitment to the State Branch. Proceeds from the sale manner and maintain the