LEGEND

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Speers Point’s braveBrothers in Arms

RESTING PLACE: The WorldWar II section of Ismailia WarMemorial Cemetery, Egypt,where Robert Frith is buried.

MONUMENT: The Speers PointWar Memorial at LakeMacquarie which wasdedicated on Armistice Day,1976.

The taste of ANZACTHE story of the ANZACBiscuit stems from theconcern of mothers, wivesand girlfriends of WWIsoldiers. They feared theirmen overseas were notgetting enough nutritionalvalue. Food supplies had tobe carried in ships whichwere slow, so a recipe wasformulated for a biscuitwhich had both nutritionalvalue and lasting qualities.

Ingredients1 cup plain flour 1 cup rolled oats1 cup sugar¾ cup desiccated coconut1 tablespoon golden syrup125g (4oz) butter (or margarine)1½ teaspoons bicarbonate of soda2 tablespoons boiling waterMethodMix flour, oats, sugar and coconut.Melt the syrup and butter overgentle heat. Dissolve bicarb sodain boiling water, stir in syrup

mixture and pourover dryingredients. Stiruntil well mixed.Put heapedteaspoons ofmixture, ongreased oven trays, about 5cmapart to allow for spreading. Bakein moderately slow oven (180C or350F) for about 20 minutes or untilgolden. Remove from oven andleave on trays for a few minutes,then lift off with a spatula.

THOMAS Frith and his wifeMaria endured the tragic lossof not just one son but twowithin the all too brief spaceof a month during World War II.Having only just accepted the awful realisation that 29-year-old Robert would notbe coming home, the Frithswere then informed Ernest, 32,had also been killed in action.The Frith brothers’ names andthose of the eight soldiers witha connection to Speers Pointwho lost their lives in the warof 1939-45 are perpetuated onthe honour roll at the local RSLClub.In all, 165 from Speers Pointenlisted in WWII.

Robert Hamilton Frith, asolicitor, enlisted on December6, 1940, attaining the rank ofFlying Officer with the RoyalAustralian Air Force.At the time of his death, June30, 1942, he was attached tothe Royal Air Force’s 203Squadron in the Middle East.He was buried in the IsmailiaCemetery in Egypt.Ernest Francis Hamilton, whoalso worked in law, signed upfor Air Force duty in Sydney onFebruary 3, 1941.A Pilot Officer with 10Squadron (United Kingdom),Ernest’s plane went down offthe coast of Spain on July 31,1942 and he was officiallypresumed dead.The loss of her boys took itstoll on poor Maria, who hadalready lost another son,young James, in 1918. She andher husband had a largefamily and were widelyrespected throughout thedistrict. Thomas Frith was apillar of the community and aleading businessman who wasalso a shire president.

Losing two sons was too muchfor Maria to bear and,heartbroken, she passed awayin 1948. Thomas died in 1957.Robert’s next of kin was hiswife Marjorie Esme, whom hehad married in 1937. Having kept the home fireburning and now a widow,Marjorie Esme, at age 31,bravely went out to do her bitfor the war effort and tohonour her husband’ssacrifice, enlisting with theArmy on February 23, 1943and serving for just over twoyears.

APRIL 2009

Brought to you by

GREG PIPER MP Member for Lake Macquarie

Brought to you by

GREG PIPER MPMember for Lake Macquarie

BOOLAROO-SPEERS POINT5.30am: Assemble at Lake Macquarie Council car

park for march to Speers Point Cenotaph.6.00am: Dawn Service at Speers Point Cenotaph.

Breakfast at Speers Point RSL Club after service.CARDIFF5.10am: Dawn Service at Cardiff RSL Club.

Breakfast afterwards.DOYALSON-WYEE5.00am: Dawn Service at the Doyalson-Wyee RSL

Club. Breakfast afterwards.8.30am: March steps off from the Presbyterian

Church in Wyee Rd for the War Memorial at theRSL Club. Form up at 8am.

9.00am: ANZAC Commemoration Service at the WarMemorial.

MORISSET6.00am: Dawn Service at the Morisset Country Club.

Breakfast afterwards.10.00am: March from Morisset train station to the

Country Club. Form up at 9.30am.10.30am: ANZAC Service at the Country Club.RATHMINES3.00pm: ANZAC Service at the Catalina Memorial in

Catalina Park.

TERALBA7.40am: Assemble at Teralba Community Hall for

march to War Memorial.8.00am: Service at Teralba War Memorial in ANZAC

Park.TORONTO5.00am: Dawn Service at the Toronto RSL Club.

Breakfast afterwards.10.50am: March steps off from Toronto Post Office to

the War Memorial in Goffet Park. Form up at10.40am.

11.00am: ANZAC Service at the Memorial.Refreshments afterwards at the club.

WANGI WANGI5.30am: Dawn Service at the War Memorial at Wangi

RSL Club.10.00am: March steps off in Puna St for the War

Memorial. Form up at 9.45am. ANZAC Service atthe Memorial to follow march.

WYONG5.45am: Dawn Service at Wyong RSL Carpark9.30am: Morning Service commencing at Wyong

Town Centre Park, Cnr Alison Road and RankensCourt. This will be followed by a march alongHely St, into Anzac Ave., into Margaret St andconcluding at the RSL carpark.

2009 ANZAC Day activities in the region

PLEASE NOTE: All times and venues have been supplied by various RSL Sub-Branch officials. Care has been taken to ensure as manyElectorate services as possible have been included and were correct at the time of publication. For verification of other servicesplease contact your local RSL Sub-Branch.

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LEGEND

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SAS Trooper MarkDonaldson joined aselect “band ofbrothers” when hebecame the firstrecipient of theVictoria Cross forAustralia.He is one of only 10winners of the VCalive in the worldtoday.For more than twohours in south-eastern Afghanistanlast September 2, TprDonaldson, 29,repeatedly foughtalone in open

ground raked by accurate andheavy Taliban machine-gun fire to allow hiswounded comrades to be dragged to safety.

Deliberate exposure to draw enemy fire awayfrom the wounded would have been enoughfor a VC recommendation, but Tpr Donaldsonthen sprinted 80 metres over the same killingground to save the life of a seriouslywounded Afghan interpreter.

In the words of the award citation, TprDonaldson “reacted spontaneously to regainthe initiative” following an ambush whichinflicted the worst casualties suffered byAustralia since the Vietnam War.

The VC for Australia replaces the original VCwhich was awarded to 96 Australians,including nine from Gallipoli.

Australia’s only other surviving VC winnersare Keith Payne, 75, and Ted Kenna, 89.

PICTURE: Trooper Mark Donaldson, VC,stands proudly behind his Victoria Crossmedal, which is now on loan to the AustralianWar Memorial, Canberra.

VC winner in a rare group

Bid to keep ‘Cat’ flyingTHE Catalina Flying Memorial was originally foundedby members of the Seaplane Pilots Association ofAustralia initially to buy, restore and operate a PBYCatalina aircraft for the benefit of the Catalina Association ofNSW and the Catalina Aircrew Group. A “Cat”, a 1945 model PBY6, was acquired in Portugalwhere it was last used as an aerial fire-fighting water bomber. There were 168 Catalinas usedextensively in WWII by the RAAF and it was to Australia what the Spitfire was to England. TheCatalina’s wartime exploits are legendary. It played a vital role when the enemy was at ourdoorstep and virtually saved Australia. Sadly, 320 Australian Catalina aircrew did not returnfrom long-range bombing missions, mine laying, air-sea rescue and reconnaissance missions.It is the Memorial’s intention to maintain and operate this beautiful “Cat” in its originalconfiguration and to then house it at Rathmines at Lake Macquarie. For more information,visit www.catalinaflying.org.au

Flying mateswith a greatstory to tellWHEN old Aussie war-time mates get togetherthey could be forgiven if their stories fromyesteryear, like good fishing yarns, had becomebigger and better through the passing of theyears.But for former Royal Australian Air Force FlightSergeant Donald Lowe and Flying OfficerGordon Milne Wicks, there is no need to tell talltales.Their experiences need no garnishing and thereality is both heroically and selflessly servedtheir country in its greatest hour of need.They served during those dark, desperate days,when Australia’s defence was under very realthreat and their close bond has developed overthe past 15 years and strengthened as othercolleagues have passed on, gradually thinningthe ranks of brave airmen from the old RAAFBase Rathmines.Gordon, 88, and Don, 82, do what they can tokeep the memory of Rathmines alive.Flying Officer Wicks flew dangerous missionsand was lucky to have made it through WorldWar II. Enlisting with the RAAF at age 20,Gordon served in a number of posts and at theend of February 1943 was posted to Rathminesto train on Catalinas.Having completed operational training andbecome part of a complete and permanent

crew, Gordon was then posted to Cairns withthe No. 20 Squadron operating through PortMoresby and Milne Bay.Later the crew was sent to Karumba in the Gulfof Carpentaria to No. 43 Squadron and fromthere took part in long ocean patrols, convoyescort duty, bombing and mine-laying andoccasionally taking “Z Force” Commandosbehind enemy lines or withdrawing them whennecessary.At war’s end in 1945 Flying Officer Wicks helpedfly Prisoners of War home … a job he recalls asbeing “a harrowing experience”.Don signed on with the RAAF in 1944, but theRAAF required his mother’s approval as he wasthen only 18.He did his air gunner’s training at West Sale inVictoria then headed straight to Rathmines andon completion of training became a member ofa Catalina crew under Flight Lieutenant JackWells in mid-1945, beginning what is now alifelong association with the plane.

FRIENDS FOREVER: Gordon Wicks (left) andDonald Lowe reminisce about old times at theRAAF Base Rathmines.

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LEGEND

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AWM well worth a visitOFFICIAL World War I historian Charles Bean first began thinking aboutcommemorating the sacrifice of Australians in war in 1915, at Gallipoli.The idea of a national museum took hold later, while Bean was at Pozières,France, where the Australian divisions suffered 23,000 casualties in less thanseven weeks of fighting in 1916.Bean’s idea was to set aside a place in Australia where families and friendscould grieve for those buried far away and difficult to visit – a place whichwould also contribute to the understanding of war itself. His vision – the Australian WarMemorial in Canberra – was opened on November 11, 1941.“The museum is part of our national heritage and I encourage everyone to visit it at least oncein their lifetime,” State MP Greg Piper said.Entry is free (donations welcome) and the AWM is open 10am-5pm daily.

Birth of the ANZAC LegendANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the first major military actionfought by Australian and New Zealand forces during The Great War of1914-18. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New ZealandArmy Corps, whose soldiers were known as ANZACs. They landed atGallipoli, Turkey, in the pre-dawn darkness on April 25, 1915, to begina determined yet ultimately unsuccessful eight-month campaignagainst the Ottoman Empire which resulted, according to theAustralian War Memorial, in 26,111 Australian casualties, including8141 deaths. It also led to the birth of the ANZAC Legend, anintangible yet undeniable fighting spirit of commitment, courage,mateship and sacrifice embedded in all who wear the Australian

military uniform. ANZAC marches were held all over Australia in 1916. The first year in whichall States observed some form of public holiday together on ANZAC Day was 1927.

A day of pride,remembranceAPRIL 25 is a date burned into the conscience of agrateful nation. It is a day on which communitiesacross Australia pause to remember the fallen inconflicts down through the decades.Also on this day of commemoration we think oftoday’s men and women serving our country undertrying conditions and in dangerous situations, inplaces such as Afghanistan, East Timor and Iraq.We pray for their safe and speedy return.The Spirit of ANZAC burns as brightly now as it everdid. Numbers at dawn services and morning marchesin cities, towns and villages seem to increase eachANZAC Day. It is a wonderful tribute to those who have servedAustralia in all theatres of war that the popularity ofthis day of remembrance grows each year.The recent growth in ANZAC Day crowds show today’sgeneration cares deeply and is greatly appreciative ofthe sacrifices made so that we may now live inrelative peace.I have produced this booklet to further foster thetrue meaning of ANZAC and trust it will prove akeepsake for all who uphold this great tradition.Local service times have been included as a handyreference. I hope you are able to make it to anANZAC Day commemoration this year.

Greg Piper MPMember for Lake Macquarie

ELECTORATE OFFICE:92 Victory Parade, TORONTO NSW 2283

Telephone: 4959 3200 Facsimile: 4950 4076

E-mail: lakemacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au

REFLECTIVE: Greg Piper MP at one of thememorial walls at the Catalina BaseMemorial at the old RAAF Base Rathmines.COVER: Mr Piper (centre) with FLGOFFGordon Wicks (ret) (left) and FLTSGT DonaldLowe (ret) at the Rathmines monument.

No shark or tin leg couldkeep Attie groundedSHEER guts and determinationenabled many servicemen tosee it through World War II.Decorated airman Athol (Attie)Galway Hope Wearne was oneof the bravest of them all,serving with distinctiondespite losing a leg in a sharkattack during the war.Wearne was a 26-year-oldofficer at the Royal AustralianAir Force Catalina base atCairns when his life changed inan instant.Treading water whilstswimming at Trinity Beach onSeptember 12, 1942, Wearnewas mauled by a tiger sharkabout three metres in length.His right foot and calf weresevered but Wearne survivedthe horrific ordeal.Afterwards Wearne would havehis leg surgically amputatedbelow the knee and fitted withan aluminium leg, completewith built-in bottle opener!But nothing would stop himfrom getting back behind thecontrols of his belovedCatalinas.“It was a fine aeroplane to fly,

very docile, but its greatestasset, of course, was its long-range capability,” he saidmany years later.Asked how he managed to flywith his handicap, Wearnereplied: “I just knew that I hadto put more pressure on theleg, that was all. If the seaswere very heavy and take-offswere very heavy sometimes I'dget my second pilot to assiston my right leg if I couldn'thold the rudder. But ninetimes out of 10, it wasperfectly OK.”Group Captain Wearne was still

able to fly Catalinas fromCairns in 11 and 20 Squadronsand later commanded thebase at Rathmines.During his Cairns posting hewas awarded a DistinguishedFlying Cross for outstandingachievements on difficultoperational flights in 1943 andin 1946 he received aDistinguished Service Order.Wearne remained in the RAAFuntil 1968, retiring on his 52ndbirthday. This fine andcourageous Australian liveduntil he was 87, passing awayin August 2004.

A FINE GROUP: Attie Wearne (front row, sixth from left) in agroup portrait of trainee pilots of No. 1 Flying Training School ACourse, January to October 1939. Sadly, of the 40 pictured, 14made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II.

At various stages during World War II, Rathmineshoused Nos. 9 (Walrus), 11, 20 and 43 (Catalina), 40(Sunderland and Martin Mariner), 41 (Dornier Do 24K,Mariner and S23 Empire) and 107 (Kingfisher)Squadrons.The Rathmines RAAF seaplane base played anintegral part in the defence of Australia in WorldWar II and its flying boats were involved with themining of Manilla Harbour and played an importantpart in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942.The base reached its peak strength of almost 3000 RAAFpersonnel in 1944-45. It comprised 230 buildingsand marine facilities and there were 40 aircraftin service. After World War II, Rathmines was used as aground training base and the Officers’ TrainingSchool was formed there along with trainingfacilities for senior non-commissioned officers,physical training instructors and nationalservicemen. In 1962, the base was sold to LakeMacquarie Council. Many buildings wereprivately purchased and removed fromthe site or used by the Council ascommunity halls. A large hangar, complete withelectrically-operated doors, which wasused for servicing seaplanes and flyingboats, was pulled down and shippedto RAAF Base Richmond to house theRAAF’s then-new C-130A Hercules aircraft.The original Rathmines base has now beenheritage listed by the State Government and anapplication for similar recognition hasbeen made to the Federal Governmentso funds may be raised for theerection of a hangar-type museumfrom which the Catalina FlyingMemorial’s Catalina, VH-CAT willeventually operate.The base has ongoing significance toWWII service personnel and to thecommunity of Lake Macquarie, whorecognise the site's history andcontinue to use the site, creating anevolving landscape which retainssignificant elements of the RAAFbase.

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LEGEND

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THE deafening roar of those magnificentflying boats, the Catalinas, has been replacedover the old Rathmines air base with themore tranquil sounds of many forms ofbirdlife.No longer does the gentle breeze blowing inover Lake Macquarie carry the mighty andsleek patrol bomber, which dominated theskies over the area during World War II.The “Black Cats”, as they were affectionatelycalled, have long disappeared but theirpowerful legacy remains and is evident inmany locations around the old base site.Rathmines has a rich and colourful history.The Rathmines site on the shores of LakeMacquarie was first identified as a possibleplace for a flying boat base in 1936 after aground and water survey of the bay and inletwas undertaken.During July 1938 Joseph Eric Hewitt, theWing Commander who would command theRathmines base, was sent to investigatelanding areas and sites around LakeMacquarie. The base became operationalwhen the No. 9 Squadron transferred fromPoint Cook, Victoria, to Rathmines, withSeagull flying boats.In September 1939, just as the storm cloudsof war were hovering large over Europe, theRathmines base was set up andarrangements made to rent local cottages asliving quarters. Catalina flying boats arrived at the base inFebruary 1941 and by September 1943 thebase comprised 14 Catalinas, two Seagulls, aDornier and a Dolphin. During training,many personnel brought their families tolive in the towns and villages near theRathmines base which influenced theestablishment of other services such a postoffice and school.Rathmines became the largest RAAF flyingboat base in the Southern Hemisphere. LakeMacquarie was a perfect spot as it isAustralia’s largest saltwater lake and is fourtimes the size of Sydney Harbour with 175kilometres of shoreline.

Rathmines’ pivotal rolein our nation’s defence

MAJESTIC ‘CATS’: Catalinas from No. 3 OperationalTraining Unit (Rathmines) on a formation flyingexercise. This unit provided the final training forthe crews of Nos. 11, 20, 42 and 43 squadrons inthe multiple tasks of long-range reconnaissance,supply-dropping, bombing and mine-laying inWorld War II. Picture: Royal Australian Air Force 1939-1942.

LEST WE FORGET: A plaque with a poignantmessage about lives lost and comradesremembered at the Rathmines War Memorial.

PEACEFUL PLACE: The Catalina RAAF BaseMemorial at Rathmines with a path leadingbetween the two memorial walls containing thenames of those from the base who lost their livesin World War II and others who have since passedaway. The obelisk, erected in 1972, contains apropeller from a flying boat.

SKYWARD: From the cover of the 1943publication RAAF Log.