President’s Report

Where does the time go? It seems only a couple of weeks ago that I was writing my report

for the Winter Edition. Firstly, I wish to pass on my best wishes to all those members who

have had health problems and family bereavements over the past few months. My thoughts

are with you.

The sub branch membership remains at around 300 at the moment with a number of new

members either joining or transferring in. Welcome to you all and I hope you enjoy your

time with us. The current committee has been in the job on and off over the past ten years

and most of them have indicated to me that they would like step down in the coming 18

months. Ill health seems to be taking its toll and after years of dedication to the support

of veterans I believe it is time we respected their decision and stepped up to take their

place. Remember without an effective committee the sub branch will eventually close.

The RSL Qld AGM was held in June and I attended as your representative. The meeting

was not up to my expectations however during the breakout sessions a number of relevant

discussions were held on membership and future directions of the League. It is expected

that a number of these will be addressed in the coming months. Tony Ferris was elected as

the new President for the next three years but unfortunately, the motion to accept the

new draft constitution was defeated and so another attempt must be made to draft a con-

stitution that is acceptable to both the members and the Australian Charities and Not for

Profit Commission (ACNC). You are invited to provide comment/input to the draft Constitu-

tion now located on the League’s web site at www.qld.org . Your comments would be wel-

come.

Our next big event will be the Remembrance Day function “Caboolture Remembers” to be

held at our Memorial followed by an activity at the Centenary Lakes. Please bring your

grand-children along and join in the fun.

Next year is the centenary of the founding of this sub-branch and we will of course be

holding a substantial function to commemorate the occasion. Horrie Hunt, Doc Watson,

Dave John and John Boag have formed a sub-committee to organize the function and I am

sure they would be happy to receive any suggestion you may have.

Anzac Day is a long way off, but we need to get a few things going asap. The first thing is

getting a group together to run the day. If you are interested, please contact the office.

Remember the more people that get involved the easier it is on everyone.

Bruce Miller

President

Snake Tales Caboolture Morayfield & District RSL Sub-Branch Inc.

Web Site www.cmdrsl.com.au

Newsletter Spring 2018 Newsletter Editor: Warren Baker

RAAF Base Butterworth (1955-1988)

(I am armed for the defence of peace)

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Butterworth was established in

1955 as part of Australia’s commitment to the Commonwealth’s Far East

Strategic Reserve, two RAAF fighter squadrons and a bomber squadron

were stationed at Butterworth throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1955 the

airfield was upgraded by No 2 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF,

which took two-and-a-half years. In 1957, the RAF closed the station and

transferred the airfield to the Royal Australian Air Force and it was

promptly renamed as RAAF Base Butterworth, becoming the home to

numerous Australian fighter and bomber squadrons stationed in Malaya

during the Cold War era. Although owned by the RAF, Butterworth was

formerly placed under the RAAF’s control from July 1958.

Early Operations

As the Communist Emergency got underway the six Lincoln aircraft of No

1 Squadron RAAF Arrived in Malaya in July 1950, just one month after

the Dakotas of No. 38 Squadron, they were the only heavy bombers in the

area until 1953 when they were joined by some RAF Lincolns. The Australian Lincolns were therefore the

mainstay of the Commonwealth bombing campaign, especially in the early years of the conflict when the out-

come was still in doubt. From 1950 to 1958 No 1 Squadron flew 4,000 missions in Malaya. The squadron flew

both pinpoint-bombing and area-bombing missions as well as night harassment raids – flying among many

targets but only dropping bombs occasionally – in the manner of the RAF “siren raids” of the Second World

War.

Operation Termite in July 1954 was a high point of the squadron’s service in Malaya. Five Australian

Lincolns and six Lincolns from No 148 Squadron RAF took part in this operation against guerrilla camps in

Northern Malaya. The Lincolns carried out a series of bombing runs and ground attacks in conjunction with

paratrooper drops. The long range and heavy payload of the Lincoln made it an effective bomber, while its

relatively slow speed proved advantageous in Malaya when trying to locate jungle targets. Butterworth was

only a secondary landing field during these operations.

The crew of a No 1 Squadron RAAF Lincoln in front of their aircraft at Tengah in 1954

Caboolture-Morayfield & District RSL

Sub-Branch Inc.

REMEMBRANCE DAY Sunday 11-11-2018

10.00 AM Assemble at the Memorial - Town Square

King Street CABOOLTURE

LEST WE FORGET

REMEMBRANCE DAY - 2 Squadron the Most Highly Decorated Squadron in the Royal Australian

Air Force

No 2 Squadron formed at Kantara, Egypt, in September 1916 and after training in

England began combat operations over the Western Front in October 1917. Flying

at very low levels, the Australian pilots wreaked havoc on the German troops, how-

ever, exposed to heavy ground fire, squadron casualties were high.

Lieutenant Huxley claimed No 2 Squadron's - and indeed the Australian Flying

Corp's - first aerial victory on 22 November, when he shot down an Albatross scout

during a ground strafing mission. From 1917 until the end of the war, No 2

Squadron worked in close co-operation with No 4 Squadron and continued to inflict

heavy losses on the Germans.

When Word War II was declared in 1939, No 2 Squadron Avro Ansons were con-

ducting coastal patrols and providing convoy escort to the ships carrying Australian

troops to the Middle East. After deploying to the Dutch East Indies in 1941, recon-

naissance and bombing operations were mounted against the advancing Japanese forces. In the face of attacks

on its bases and heavy losses to enemy fighters, No 2 Squadron maintained its offensive efforts for the remain-

der of the war, providing vital information on Japanese shipping movements.

In recognition of No 2 Squadron's heroic stand in this, Australia's darkest hour, the unit was later awarded a

United States Presidential Unit Citation - the highest honour that can be bestowed on a combat unit by the

United States government.

Ex-servicemen and women are reminded that they are entitled to the honour of having their casket draped with the Australian flag. Members should acquaint their families with this, so that arrangements can be made accordingly with the appropriate Funeral

Director.

William Wingrave

Brian Barnes

John Fennell

Lindsay Ayton

Roll of Honour

We honour those members who have gone before us .

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them

LEST WE FORGET

Important Notices and Useful

Information

CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

To be held on

Saturday the 15th December 2018

0am for 12.00

Venue: The Caboolture Citizens & Services Club

Cnr. Beerburrum Rd and Hasking St, Caboolture

Dress: Smart casual

Cost: $ 30.00 per head includes 2 course lunch beer, wine and soft drink

RSVP: Monday 10th December 2018

The Secretary

PO Box 166

CABOOLTURE QLD 4510

E-mail: Caboolture@rslqld.org

Telephone: 53539164

This is a photo of June Coe receiving a presentation copy of the citation and medal that got her husband, George, the Military Medal. George passed in May this year aged 100.

The story of 'Harry's Café de Wheels' goes

back to the Depression years of the late 1930s.

With the world on the brink of a devastating

war, an enterprising Sydneysider by the name

of Harry Edwards opened a caravan café near

the front gates of the Woolloomooloo naval

dockyard. Word spread quickly, with Harry's

'pie 'n' peas' and crumbed sausages soon be-

coming a popular part of the city's nightlife -

keenly sought by sailors, soldiers, cabbies,

starlets and coppers alike. Harry operated the

caravan until 1938 when he enlisted in the

AIF during WWII.

During Harry's time in the Middle East, he

was nicknamed "Tiger" due to his boxing

prowess and the name stuck. Upon his return

in 1945, Harry realised that Sydney hadn't

changed much and it was still almost impossi-

ble to get a good late-night feed, so he reopened and the caravan has been operating continuously ever since.

The phrase 'Café de Wheels' came about as the city council of the day insisted that mobile food caravans move a

minimum of 12 inches a day. Harry dutifully obeyed, and thus the name was expanded to Harry's Café de Wheels.

Before the council's ruling, the caravan was known simply as 'Harry's'. When its wheels went missing one night,

local wags coined the nickname 'Café de Axle'. Harry operated the caravan for a further 30 years before selling the

business to Alex Koronya in 1975. By 1988, Alex was getting on in years and the business had fallen on hard times. Current owner Michael Hannah

made Alex an offer to purchase the business and the exchange took place on Australia Day 1988. Michael is the first

Australian-born owner of Harry's, and his father, a Sydney cabbie, would take him and his siblings down to the 'loo

for a pie at Harry's. In 1970, Michael returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam and his first stop after disembarking

HMAS Sydney was of course Harry's. It would be another 17 years until Michael purchased the business.

Michael believes Harry's finest moment came in 1978 when Rear Admiral David Martin - over a pie and glass of

Champagne - commissioned the caravan as 'HMAS Harry's.'

As the years have passed, Harry's has become a 'must' for visiting celebrities. Harry's has served the likes of Frank

Sinatra, Robert Mitchum, Marelene Dietrich, Kerry Packer and, more recently, Sir Richard Branson, Russell Crowe,

Kevin Costner, Brook Shields, Pat Rafter, Olivia Newton-John, Jerry Lewis, Billy Crystal, Pamela Anderson, Sara

O'Hare, Lachlan Murdoch, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Adrian Greiner, Anthony Bourdain and Peter Blakely.

In 1974, chicken king Colonel Sanders stopped at Harry's and enjoyed the food so much that he ate three 'pies and

peas' while leaning on his walking stick in front of the caravan.

Last decent scran before heading for the Far East (scran is Navy slang for a meal)

The Sub-Branch needs your help: Can you donate one hour per month of your time to visit a an ex-service man or woman in

a local care facility. We are currently expanding our visits programme to cover more of the

care facilities in our area. To do this we need our members to volunteer a small amount of

their time once a month or even every two months to have morning tea and a chat with our

aging compatriots.

The Sub-branch is updating its volunteer list for assistance with Sausage sizzles, Badge

sales, Hospital / Nursing home visits, Welfare-pensions.

If you can spare a few hours a month please fill in the attached and return. Please email

(above) to the Sub-branch or better still come into the office.

Sub-Branch Committee - 2018 / 2019

Patron Mr. Gordon Parker

President Bruce Miller

Vice President Greg Hansen OAM

Vice President Glenn Willmann OAM

Secretary Bruce Fraser

Assistant Secretary

Treasurer David John

Committee Tony DiPede

Ray Pyne

John Boag

Brian Manns

Horrie Hunt

Ron Court

BNRD Delegate

Alternate Delegate

Bruce Miller

Horrie Hunt

Welfare Co Ord Tony Di Pede

Sub-Branch Advocate Peter Carey

Pensions Officer Tony Di Pede

Phil Wolfenden

Welfare Officers Glenn Willmann OAM

Ron Court

Our regular mailing address is:~

The Secretary

Caboolture-Morayfield & District

RSL Sub-Branch Inc.

PO Box 166

CABOOLTURE QLD 4510

Tel: (07) 5353-9164 between 10am and

1pm, after 1pm please leave a message at

the front desk on (07) 5495-1699

Email: caboolture@rslqld.org

Preserving the memory of those who have

fallen for our country.

For further information, contact

John Boag 0439 613 093

Photocopying of this Newsletter courtesy of Mark Ryan, MP - State Member

for Morayfield

NAME & PHONE BADGE SALES SAUSAGE

SIZZLES

WELFAREPENSIONS HOSPITAL VISITS

When the first groups of wounded members of the Australian Imperial Force returned to Australia in 1916

the Australian Government had to come to terms with how to receive and assist them. Not surprisingly,

there was only so much the Government could do and groups of returned servicemen began to work

together to assist each other. Many were physically wounded, few had jobs, they had little money and most

were destined to be haunted by their experiences for the rest of their lives. As more and more returned the

imperative for veterans to assist other veterans grew. That their common bond of service and determination

to help each other gave rise to what we now call the Returned and Services League (RSL) across Australia

within just a few years is a remarkable story.

Over the next century the RSL, like any member based organisation, has evolved in line with the wishes of

its members. The fact that the RSL continues to exist and has grown to span the country and manage an

enormous amount of assets - including many hundreds of club houses - is an equally remarkable story.

There have been several instances when a ‘younger set’ of veterans have felt that an ‘old guard’ were un-

welcoming and resistant to change. This is a natural - if unfortunate cycle - in any long- standing

organisation - particularly those with members across different generations.

From its genesis the RSL has been a member based organisation that has embraced the selection of its

leaders through voting; this has not changed. Like all good democracies the majority view prevails and

talented leaders invariably emerge. This is the only pathway for any organisation to evolve and thrive.

All of you would be aware of the leadership and governance issues that have plagued the RSL in recent

months. They have done significant damage to the RSL ‘brand’. Together with other negative experiences

and perceptions we once again find ourselves in a period when younger veterans feel that the RSL has ‘lost

touch’ and is incapable of change. I don't agree with this oversimplified view.

There are many reasons for Veterans to not be a part of the RSL, but none of them are outweighed -in my

opinion - by the fact that being an Australian Veteran is something that we should all be proud of and that

we have a duty to maintain and shape ‘our organisations’ into the image we want.

The RSL is not all about benefits you might receive as an individual member – it is about the benefits that

the veterans’ community receives as a whole. Generations of veterans have built this iconic organisation

and if you are a Veteran you have a moral obligation to ensure that it continues to do the enormous amount

of good work that it does for veterans and their dependents every single day.

We also need to accept that the negatives associated with the RSL aren’t going to change by criticising it

from afar. Change can only come from within and by smart motivated people choosing to be involved. I

strongly believe that the RSL is the body best placed in terms of physical ‘footprint’ (sub-branches) and

assets to remain the prime organisation for current and future veterans.

If you do nothing else, for a very modest membership fee (and a few minutes at an AGM) you get a vote in

the future of the RSL. Democracy is a very powerful tool. If you choose to give or take nothing else, at

least vote for those who you think should lead the RSL into the future. Even if you don’t personally want

any benefits from the organisation do it for the other veterans who need assistance now and for those who

will be veterans needing assistance in the future.

(cont. next page)

An Open Letter to Australia’s Veterans

I sometimes imagine having a beer with a returned soldier from the Great War. The RSL of his day had

few assets, no club rooms and only their mate ship to try and improve the lot of veterans. If I could tell him

about what we have available now he would be astonished and regard us being very lucky to inherit such a

legacy. I refuse to let some relatively minor issues be an excuse not to be a custodian of such a tremendous

century long investment in Australia’s veterans. Don’t accept the status quo – join the RSL and vote for

change.

Marcus Fielding

Victorian Sub Branch president

CMgr, GAICD, FIML, FCMI, CF

0418 418 122

president@camberwellrsl.org.au

Sub-Branch Activities for next Quarter Date September

Sat 1 Sep Spring Newsletter Mail out

Wed 5 Sep Planning for the Future

Tues 11 Sep Committee Meeting 3:00 pm

Sun 16 Sep General Meeting at 10:30 am

Fri 28 Sep Police Remembrance Day

October

Tues 16 Oct Committee Meeting/General Meeting

Fri 26 Oct Happy Hour and Dinner

November

3-10 Nov Poppy Week

Sun 11 Nov Remembrance Day

Tues 20 Nov Committee Meeting 3:00 pm/General Meeting 4:30 pm

Fri 30 Nov Happy Hour

December

Yearly Memberships expire on the 31st December 2018

Sat 1 Dec Summer Newsletter Mail out

Sat 15 Dec Christmas Luncheon

Tues 18 Dec Office Closes