Radschool Association Newsletter

Radschool Association Newsletter - Vol 10

Next reunion - 27 April 2003

10 April 2002

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Graeme Benthein, Adrian Heinrich and Mick Nicholls

Graeme Benthein (left) who travelled over from Perth with Adrian Heinrich and Mick Nicholls who both came up from Vic for the reunion last March. Mick obviously laying down the law-perhaps it’s "Now look here Benny-it’s definitely your bloody shout…."

If you’re a returned bloke or blokette, and haven’t marched before, you should seriously consider it. We know a lot of blokes who went overseas with the RAAF (or with the Army or the Navy), and who feel that marching on Anzac day is just ‘big noting’ or just some sort of "wank". We’re not sure why this is so, but it is a very common feeling amongst returned blokes, and perhaps stems from the reception they were given way back in the 70’s. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. We do know that the longer you leave it, the harder it is to get started, and usually it takes the constant urging of a mate to get you to "break your duck". But!, once you’ve marched the first time you wonder why you waited so damn long. It’s an absolutely marvellous feeling, walking with your mates down the main street of your City with thousands and thousands of people lining the way, and all of them cheering and clapping you.

When you consider that all those people made a concerted effort to leave their homes, and to get themselves into town, find a park, and in some cases wait for hours while the lines of blokes and blokettes stream by, you really get a feeling of pride. It certainly is a different reception to that organised 30 odd years ago…...If you haven’t marched yet-try it!!

Any-way, in 2003 all the heroes can march with a squadron of their choosing, and then it’s planned that all the Ex-Radschoolers will get together at City Rowers. This is where the non-heroes and partners of heroes can meet and join in, and from past experiences, it’s sure to be a good day. What usually happens, is later in the day all the stayers head for the Irish Club in Elizabeth St in the City where blokes from the other squadron get-togethers join in and the war stories get taller and taller as the hour gets later.

Recent advertisements aimed at increasing the numbers in the Services made us wonder why the Defence Department doesn’t get some of their potential recruits along to one of our reunions. The stories heard there would make any-one join up instantly.....

We’re still working on Saturday’s day-light hour’s activities, but Saturday night will be a sit down dinner, similar to last year. As long as the numbers don’t go through the roof we plan to hold it at the Bookies Club once again, (they can accommodate up to 200) but we’ll give more thought to the drinks situation this time. Running out of freebies last year was a bad mistake (worthy of at least 3 days CB), and we’ll endeavour not to do it again. There are a few options, charge a little bit more, or restrict mixed drinks to 3 or 4 varieties, what ever, but it’ll be alright on the night. We had an open bar last time, and a few made a welter of it, but that’s fine, it was there for all. Raising prices will be the last resort as it is not fair on those that don’t drink a bucket full.

We’ve booked John Broughton to MC the night and we know he’ll do an excellent job as he has in the previous get togethers in 99 and again last year.

Last year only about 35 people went on the tour of Amberley, so perhaps on the Saturday we could arrange another tour for the blokes and blokettes that missed out last time, or perhaps those that went through in 2001 might like to do it again in 2003 (we can see Alan Goulding ducking for cover now). We’ll do some checking between now and the next newsletter to see what can be arranged, and next edition we’ll include a list of activities for you to tell us your preference. One option is to hold a monster Bar-b-q brunch in one of Brisbane’s parks for the Sunday where people can come and go as they please, have a hot snag and a cold chardonnay and say their farewells to long since seen mates. A sick parade perhaps???

So! April 2003 is not far off, we’ll try and get a few editions out before next year to remind you, but please start making your plans now, talk to mates, organise accommodation, get your leave sorted out, but be in it…….

In our last edition we asked if anyone knew where "Jock" Storer was "these days". Shortly after the newsletter was sent out, we had a call from Roy Matthews who now lives on Qld’s Sunshine Coast who told us he was sure that Jock had passed away in the mid 90’s. Roy said he could not remember the exact details, but said that some years ago he was living in the Newcastle area and remembers reading an obituary on Jock in one of the local papers. He’s not sure, but thinks it was cancer. We remember Jock as a "bloody good bloke", and if Roy’s recollections are accurate, it’s a damn shame.
Why do all the good blokes get all the bad breaks.
It’s not fair. Our sincerest condolences go to his family.

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