1 MORWELL RSL SUB-BRANCH NEWSLETTER ( QUARTERLY ) DECEMBER, 2012 - FEBRUARY, 2013 LEST WE FORGET Morwell RSL Sub-Branch Inc. Corner Elgin & Tarwin Streets Morwell P.O. Box 105, Morwell 3840 - Phone (03) 5134 2455 E-mail: [email protected]- Website: www.morwell.rslvic.com.au _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your Committee President:- Bruce Jeffrey Senior Vice President:- Les Maher Vice President:- Wayne Gwynne Secretary:- Dennis Cleary Treasurer:- William (Bill) Hall Committee Members:- Ted Dunstan, Joe Geddes, Don George, David Nutt, and Paul Rayment General Manager:- Dennis Cleary Manager:- Christine Hennessy _____________________________________ Sub Committees Appeals:- Wayne Gwynne (Appeals Officer) and Don George Pensions and Welfare:- Joe Geddes, Ted Dunstan and Don George Newsletter & Web Site Editor:- Graham (Beatle) Burgess Annual General Meeting Wednesday 27 th February, 2013 The Annual General Meeting of the Morwell RSL Sub-Branch will be conducted in the “Milne Bay” Function Room at 7-30pm on Wednesday 27 th February, 2013. Nominations for all Committee positions will be received on forms supplied by the Sub-Branch, during the period 10-00am Monday 28 th Jan and 6-00pm Friday 15 th Feb, 2013. If an election is required it will be conducted between 10-00am and 6-00pm on Friday 22 nd February, 2013. Please check with the Sub-Branch one week before the AGM and enquire if an election is required. You may then wish to vote. _______________________________________________________________________________ Pensions / Welfare Office Holiday Closure Times Pensions officers Joe Geddes, Ted Dunstan and Don George, and the Welfare Group, would like you all to know that the Pensions and Welfare Offices, located in the Sub-Branch’s Berg Street building, will close on Friday 14 th December, 2012 and re-open on Monday 21 st January, 2013. During 2013, the volunteers will be available for appointments on weekday mornings between 10-00am and 12-00 noon. Please Phone 5134 2455 for more details or to make an appointment. _______________________________________________________________________________ Annual Subscriptions – Due 1 st January. If you haven’t already, most of you will soon receive your “Membership Renewal Notice”. Membership subscriptions are due to be paid on the 1 st January and it would be appreciated if you renew your membership soon. If you don’t receive a renewal notice by 1 st January, please notify the Sub-Branch. Reciprocal rights at other Sub-Branches may not be available if you are not financial after 31 st December.
Transcript
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MORWELL RSL SUB-BRANCH NEWSLETTER ( QUARTERLY )
DECEMBER, 2012 - FEBRUARY, 2013 LEST WE FORGET
Morwell RSL Sub-Branch Inc. Corner Elgin & Tarwin Streets Morwell
Douglas the humble Crab and Kate the Lobster Princess were madly, deeply and passionately in Love.
For months they enjoyed an idyllic relationship until one day Kate scuttled over to Douglas in tears.
“We can't see each other any more” she sobbed. “Why”? gasped Douglas. “Daddy says that crabs are
too common”, she wailed. “He claims you are a mere crab; a poor one at that and crabs are the lowest
class of crustacean and no daughter of his will marry someone who only walks sideways”. Douglas was
shattered, and scuttled sideways into the darkness to drink himself into a filthy state of aquatic oblivion.
That night, the great Lobster ball was taking place. Lobsters came from far and wide, dancing and merry
making, but the lobster Princess refused to join in, choosing instead to sit by her father's side,
inconsolable. Suddenly the doors burst open, and Douglas the crab strode in. The Lobsters all stopped
their dancing, the Princess gasped and the King Lobster rose from his throne.
Slowly and painstakingly, Douglas the crab made his way across the floor and all could see that he was
walking, not sideways ... but FORWARDS... Yes FORWARDS! One claw after another!!! Step by step
he made his approach towards the throne, until he looked the King lobster in the eye.
There was a deadly hush .......... Finally, Douglas spoke .......... “Crickie, I'm pissed”. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Monday 31st December, 2012 / 2013
Featuring – YESTERYEAR – 8-00pm to 12-30am.
In the Morwell RSL ANZAC Function Room.
COST Per Person – $15.00 with Nibbles provided on the Tables.
Book a table now at the Morwell RSL reception.
Booked Tables not filled by 9-00pm will be given to other paid-up Guests.
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Can’t Leave the Military
You can leave the Military, but it never leaves you. – Years since our military service, many of
us may have at some time, ventured back to a military unit’s base, whether it is for a re-union, a tour or to
watch a family member or friend “Pass-Out”. On arrival you may be greeted by an imposing security
guard who looks carefully at your ID or invitation and hands it back saying, "Have a good day".
Every time I’ve visited a base, I feel like I should be addressed by my previous rank, and it’s odd to be in
civilian clothes, walking among the servicemen and servicewomen going about their duties, as I once did
years ago. I was proud and even felt like saluting the officers as they passed by.
The military, for all its flaws, is a comfort zone for anyone who has ever worn the uniform. It's a place
where you know the rules and know they are enforced. It’s a place where everybody has a duty and is
fairly busy, but not too busy to take care of business. Because there exists behind the gates of every
military facility an institutional understanding of respect, order, uniformity, accountability and dedication
that becomes part of your marrow and never, ever leaves you.
Personally, I miss the fact that you always knew where you stood in the military, and who you were
dealing with. That's because you could read somebody's uniform from about 6 metres away and know the
score. Service personnel wear their careers on their sleeves, so to speak. When you approach each other,
you can read their name tag, examine their rank and, if they are in dress uniform, read their ribbons and
know where they've served.
I miss all those little things you take for granted when you're in the ranks, like breaking starch on a set of
greens fresh from the laundry and standing in a perfectly straight line that looks like a mirror as it
stretches to the endless horizon. I miss the sight of troops marching in the early morning air, the sound of
boot heels thumping in unison on the road or parade ground, the bark of sergeants and the reactions from
the troops as they pass by in review. I miss the humour, the mateship and comradery.
To romanticise military service is far from its reality, because it's a very serious business, especially in
times of war. But I miss the salutes I'd throw at officers and the crisp returns as we crisscrossed the base.
I miss the smells, the noises and the sound of machinery roaring around. I even miss the hurry-up-and-
wait mentality that military men gripe about constantly, a masterful invention that bonded people more
than they'll ever know or admit. I miss people taking off their hats when they enter a building, speaking
directly and clearly to others and never showing disrespect for rank, race, religion or gender.
I miss being a small cog in a machine so complex it constantly extended all over the world and so simple
it feeds everyone on time, three times a day, on the ground, in the air or at sea. Mostly, I don't know
anyone who has served who regrets it, and doesn't feel a sense of pride when they pass through those
gates and re-enter the world they left behind with their youth.
Face it – you probably miss some of it, whether you only served for a short time, did one tour or it was
your career. – The Military Shaped Your Life.
This article is an edited version of one reported as written by an American, Ken Burger. I think it could
have been written by any one of us. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Librarians
After a period without someone looking after the Sub-Branch’s library, we are now pleased to announce
that Tom and Maureen Pritchett have taken on the responsibility of being our Librarians. They have now
tidied-up the backlog of books and videos and the Library is once again worth a visit. The library is
located in the Sub-Branch’s Mal Bugg Board Room
If you would like to borrow a book or video to take home, you only have to sign “it-out” in the Red
ledger you’ll find on the shelf and when you’ve finished with it sign “it-returned”.
If the library is not open, please ask one of the staff to unlock the door for you. You may be surprised at
what we have in there, books, movies and memorabilia. This is a great place to show your guests.
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Christmas / New Year in the VC Bistro
Mary and Theo, managers of the Morwell RSL Sub-Branch’s Victoria Cross Bistro, wish to thank
everyone who has supported them throughout 2012. They also wish to publically thank the staff for their
hard work, patient and courteous attitude towards the patrons who visit our venue. Also thanks to the
Sub-Branch and DVA for providing an update to the Sub-Branch’s kitchen.
Mary, Theo and Staff wish everyone a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year. They
also look forward to seeing you all Morwell RSL Sub-Branch Inc.
next year and hope you have been V.C. Bistro
satisfied with their services.
The $15.00 “All-You-Can-Eat”
Smorgasbord and individually
priced à la carte meals, every
Friday and Saturday evenings,
will continue in 2013.
Special Meal theme nights
such as Seafood, Steak,
Schnitzel and Parma
will also continue to be
served on Wednesdays
throughout the year.
Don’t forget Christmas Day lunch
with Mary & Theo. They have also Mary
organised a huge “All-You-Can-Eat” Theo
smorgasbord on New Year’s Eve. This great meal
will cost $20.00 per head. Book now in the Bistro.
Remember - Mary and Theo can also cater for your private
functions and you may contact Mary by phone on (03) 5135 3689. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remembrance Day
This year’s Remembrance Day Appeal raised less than most of our previous appeals and this may have
been due to the Melbourne Cup carnival and a huge OzLotto Jackpot during our collection period.
However, the Morwell RSL Sub-Branch once again thanks and congratulates the people of Morwell,
Churchill, Boolarra and Yinnar districts for their generous support of our Poppy Appeal.
Thanks to our volunteer Appeals Officer Wayne Gwynne, Don George, Bruce Jeffrey, Terry Blackford
and the group of volunteers who gave their valuable time and organised another successful Remembrance
Day poppy appeal. The public’s generosity and work by volunteers is greatly appreciated by the RSL.
Thanks to all the groups who supported our Remembrance Day Appeal by allowing us to sell poppies
from their premises or storing our equipment overnight during the Appeal, including the following:-
International Power Hazelwood and their associated contractors (Peter Massey did the co-ordination and
collecting there), Australian Paper (Ron Randall did the co-ordination and collecting there), Energy Brix,
Loy Yang A & B Power Stations, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Morwell Post Office, Bunnings, Mid Valley
Shopping Complex, Coles Supermarket, Williams Shoe-shop, Silvers Restaurant, MECU Credit Union,
and Centrelink. Churchill’s Ritchie’s IGA & Safeway Supermarket and the Yinnar & Boolarra General
Stores. Thanks to all the Schools and Colleges who were also involved.
On Remembrance Day a large crowd, including many school groups, attended a service at the Morwell
Cenotaph. The service was conducted by our Senior Vice President Les Maher.
The Bistro will close
at 8-00pm on both
Christmas &
New Year’s Eve.
The Bistro is
CLOSED
on Boxing Day
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During the past year the Power House Day Club enjoyed bus trips to places including Port Albert, Noble
Park Day Club, Thorpdale Potato Farm and the stage show “Annie”. The members also enjoyed such
things as games, bingo, quizzes, carpet bowls, a fashion parade and a barbeque in the Gippsland
Immigration Park near the Kernot Lake. They had a great time and enjoyed each other’s company.
The Day Club co-ordinators and volunteers would like to pass on to everyone their best wishes for the
Christmas and New Year period and hope you all have a great 2013 when they hope to see you all again.
Please remember to mark your calendar. The last Power House Day Club for 2012
will be on Tuesday 11th
December. Members will be served with a 2 course Christmas dinner
by Bistro staff and the volunteers. There will be NO DAY CLUB IN JANUARY but it will
resume on Tuesday 5th
February, 2013.
More Volunteers are always needed. If you would like to assist the Day Club, please contact
the Morwell RSL Sub-Branch and ask to talk to one of the Day Club Co-ordinators.
New Members are always welcome.
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Julie Strini Walks the Kokoda Track
After reading a newspaper article about 83 year old Don Murray, who was set to become the world’s
oldest man to walk the Kokoda Track, Julie Strini from local radio station “Gold 1242” was also inspired
to walk the Track with a team of people in August 2012.
Julie walked the Kokoda Track with “Kokoda R&R (Rock’N Roll) Trekking” who offered a ten-day
Kokoda Track walk from Kokoda Village in the north to Owers Corner in the south of Papua New
Guinea. She had a personal porter to carry her large pack but still needed to carry her own daily pack
which totalled about 10kg. Julie’s nightly accommodation along the track was in guesthouses or tents
and there were showers or a cool running river every night.
Before Julie embarked on her successful Kokoda Track walk, Julie interviewed Morwell RSL President,
Bruce Jeffrey and Morwell Veterans’ Affairs Office Manager, Michael Mihaly on her radio program.
Bruce presented Julie with a wreath which she laid on behalf of the Morwell RSL at the Port Moresby
(Bomana) War Cemetery. The cemetery contains 3,823 Commonwealth burials of the Second World
War, 700 of them unidentified. Julie also laid poppies on behalf of her uncles who served in New Guinea
during the Second World War.
Shortly after returning from her Kokoda trek, Julie visited the Morwell RSL together with some
representatives of the “Kokoda R&R Trekking” group. Two of the visitors were descendants of the
“Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels”. Bruce Jeffrey, Michael Mihaly and Morwell RSL Member, John (Jacko)
O’Callaghan also met with the visiting group. Jacko served in New Guinea during World War II.
After inspecting
our facilities the
group enjoyed a
meal in the Bistro.
Bruce and Michael
also presented the
visitors from
Papua New Guinea
with a quantity of
DVA and RSL
caps, stationary,
books, footballs,
and drink bottles
for them to take
back to Papua New
Guinea for the
children in their
villages.
Jacko O’Callaghan with two of the Julie Strini lays a wreath & poppies at
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel descendants. Bomana War Cemetery. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Newsletter – 10 Years Old
The 1st edition of the Morwell RSL Newsletter in this format was produced in December, 2002. This is
the 49th edition of the newsletter since I started producing it 10 years ago.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who have assisted me with the newsletter’s
production. They include proof readers, Sue & Jan, envelope addressers and packers and those who have
kindly supplied articles or ideas for inclusions into the newsletter. I hope you still enjoy reading it.
The newsletter is produced totally voluntarily; however the printing and mailing costs are quite
substantial. Due to this, I would also like to thank our Sub-Branch committee and management for
supporting the newsletter and allowing its continual production.
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Morwell RSL Sub-Branch
Lunch & Dinner, Every Day – Enquiries & Bookings, Phone 5135 3689 ________________________________________________________________________________________
Friday Evening Meals – 6-00pm to 8-30pm
Friday evening Bistro Meals feature an extensive “All-You-Can-Eat” smorgasbord
selection, including Soup, Salads and Sweets for $15.00. Individually priced meals may
also be ordered from a selection of à la carte meals listed on the menu above the Bistro
Servery and other special meals listed on a “Specials Board”.
Available with all meals is Soup and a selection of Salads and Sweets.
Wednesday Evening Meals – 6-00pm to 8-30pm
Special Meals, each with a specific theme, are available in the Morwell RSL’s Victoria
Cross Bistro on each Wednesday evening of the month, as follows:-
Available with all meals is Soup and a selection of Salads and Sweets. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Family History
It is proposed to have a presentation about Family History and Research in the Morwell RSL Sub-
Branch’s ANZAC Function Room, at 1-00pm on Tuesday afternoon, 19th
March 2013.
The Family History and Research presentation will be given By Claire Wood from the Morwell Public
Library and more details about it will be printed in the March 2013 newsletter.
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Beware – Some Funeral Plans may be Misleading
One of our members brought this article to my attention and reminded us all to do some research before
committing to a funeral insurance plan. It is an edited version of one sourced from the Consumer Action
Law Centre which is a campaign-focused consumer advocacy organisation. The Law Centre is based in
Melbourne, and primarily funded by Victoria Legal Aid and Consumer Affairs Victoria.
We understand that, for many Australians, funeral plans offer a level of certainty and peace of mind, both
emotionally and financially. But Australians thinking about taking out a funeral plan should remember
that financial counsellors and consumer lawyers are often contacted by consumers struggling under the
cost of funeral insurance or not fully understanding what their funeral product entails. A report found
funeral insurance seemed “likely to attract customers in the 60-plus age range, particularly those who are
ill, or respond to being made to feel guilty about leaving the family with a financial obligation”.
Most people don't appreciate that if you are executor of a will, you can provide evidence of the funeral
directors' fees and that is the one expense that the banks are allowed to release funds to cover. The
insurers may be misleading the consumers, saying, “Don't be caught with a financial burden”. Funeral
costs are the one expense that you access to the estate, through the executor.
The fact is people rarely shop around for the funeral product that’s best for them, they simply buy the first
one they come across, or what they see marketed on TV or through the media. The problem with this
approach is that the term funeral plan can refer to three different types of product:-
Consumers may be spending thousands of dollars without fully understanding the range of options open
to them, and these options vary greatly. This problem has also been recognised by the Australian
Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) which has undertaken research into funeral products and
published a guide for consumers which describes each option and outlines the pros and cons of each.
From Consumer Action’s perspective, funeral insurance is the most problematic product. This works like
any other insurance product in that you pay a regular premium and the policy pays out when the insured
event occurs, in this instance, at the time of your death. But what some people overlook is that what
starts out looking quite affordable can over time become more and more expensive. Of the policies
Consumer Action has reviewed, many had less than transparent fees and often the regular premium
increased with age.
Example:- One policy reviewed was marketed at a low weekly premium of $3.41 a week
(for a 44 year old), which seems remarkably cheap. However, the fine print noted that
“premiums increase with age and cover”. Looking more closely at the product
disclosure statement, we found that weekly premiums increased to $9.48
by the time someone was 65, and $25.08 a week for those over 80.
It should be remembered that the average life expectancy for young
Australians is around 80 years of age!
We calculated that if someone purchased this policy at age 50, they will have paid over $15,700 by the
time they’d reached 81, and that’s for a policy that pays out $6,000 for funeral expenses.
Some consumers that have contacted us have been unable to maintain premiums as they increased over
time, and so wanted to cancel the insurance. Like other insurance products, if the policy is discontinued,
all payments made, and coverage is lost. The pricing of funeral insurance is unclear and benefits can be
easily lost. We recommend that consumers investigate their options before signing up to a funeral plan.
Be wary of funeral insurance, take a moment to read ASIC’s guide, and decide which product, if any,
suits your needs. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Quickie:- If you get an email or pamphlet telling you that you can catch “swine flu” from tins of
ham, then delete or destroy it. It's spam.
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Entertainment Calendar – ( Shez’s GIG Guide ) – Duty Manager, Sheryl has
organised the following entertainment for you all. Please support these evenings and have a great time.
Friday and Saturday Evening Entertainment throughout December & January
DECEMBER – 2012
Saturday 1st
- THE ESQUIRES
Friday 7th
- DESTINY
Saturday 8th
- I. C. ROCK
Friday 14th
- SNAKE
Saturday 15th
- COOLCHANGE
* Sunday 16th
- OLD TIME DANCE * ( Ken & Alice Rae - 2pm onwards. – Free )
Friday 21st
- UNKNOWN QUANTITY
Saturday 22nd
- H.B.T.
Friday 28th
- HOUND DOGS
Saturday 29th
- MISTY
Monday 31st
- NEW YEAR’S EVE
( Featuring YESTERYEAR. See advert page 3 )
JANUARY – 2013
Friday 4th
- SOLO
Saturday 5th
- SHINDIG
Friday 11th
- D. J. MIKE
Saturday 12th
- COOLCHANGE
Friday 18th
- JORDAN GARTH
Saturday 19th
- I. C. ROCK
* Sunday 20th
- OLD TIME DANCE *
( Ken & Alice Rae - 2pm until 4pm. – Free )
Friday 25th
- TAKE 2
Saturday 26th
- HOUND DOGS ( Australia Day – Come dressed as a famous
Aussie person, animal, or wear green & gold.
Prizes for the best dressed male & female )
Please check the latest “Gig Guide” at the Sub-Branch reception desk or contact the club by telephone on
5134 2455 in case there are any late changes to the entertainment calendar.
* The OLD TIME DANCE with Ken and Alice Rae is a great afternoon’s entertainment. It’s on the
Third Sunday of each month. This entertainment is in the ANZAC Function Room and IT’S FREE.
Unless noted, all entertainment is held in the Members’ Lounge and is Free Entry. Starting times for
these functions is around 8-00pm.
Table Bookings in advance, will NOT be accepted for functions in the Members’ Lounge. However
you may arrange a table on arrival, if one is available.
IMPORTANT: - Due to Health regulations, patrons are not allowed to bring food or beverages onto
our premises for any function. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday and Friday Evenings – For Members & Guests
Prize draws are conducted in the Morwell RSL Sub- Branch’s Members’ Lounge every
Wednesday and Friday evening. The evening prize draws commence at 7-00pm.
All prize draws on Wednesday evening and the “Pot Club” on Friday are conducted by the
Sub-Branch. The remaining draws on Friday evening are conducted by the Morwell RSL
Sub-Branch's Women’s Auxiliary.
Prizes include, meat packs & vouchers, Coles vouchers, chooks, pot club and members’ draws.
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Australian Government
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Articles regarding the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs are extracts of media
releases from the Department’s Minister.
Originals are available on his website at
http://minister.dva.gov.au/index.htm
Morwell VAN Office Visited by Management Team - In October the regions of
Gippsland and East Gippsland were visited by two members of the Executive Management team for DVA
Victoria. They were the Director Operational Support, David Cunningham and his Assistant Director
VAN Victoria, Mark Dalton, who are both based in Melbourne. Before working with DVA, David
served for 27 years with the RAN. His service gives him a very good understanding of veterans (older
and younger) and current serving members. Mark has worked for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for
approximately 15 years in a variety of positions.
At Morwell David and Mark familiarised themselves with the Morwell VAN Office and met with its
Office Manager, Michael Mihaly and the Client Contact Officer, Phil Head. They then visited the
Morwell RSL Sub-Branch and received a personal tour by our President, Bruce Jeffrey and also joined us
for lunch in the VC Bistro where they chatted with some of our members. David and Mark had
previously visited the Moe RSL Sub-Branch and received a personal tour by its President, Ray Watson.
Of course those of us who met David and Mark made sure they are aware of how pleased most of the
veterans are with Michael and Phil in the Morwell VAN office and also the important role they play in the
wider Gippsland community. We also made it clear to David and Mark that we don’t want the VAN
Office integrated into any other local government offices.
David Cunningham Mark Dalton Michael Mihaly Phil Head _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Veterans Remember the Battle of Kokoda - On 2nd
November, 2012 a group of Australian
veterans who served in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War gathered once again in the
Owen Stanley Ranges to attend a commemorative service marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle of
Kokoda. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon said “Kokoda is an iconic battle in our
nation’s history. It is remembered as being amongst the most difficult terrain in which Australian soldiers
have ever fought”.
The veterans enjoyed a welcome ceremony by local villagers in Kokoda, followed by a moving
commemorative service in which the Australian flag was once again raised over Kokoda, 70 years on.
The support of local Papuans, affectionately known as “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels” in standing beside
Australian troops in their darkest hours, was also acknowledged.
Throughout several engagements along the Kokoda Track, more than 600 Australians lost their lives and
more than 1,600 were wounded or struck down with terrible illnesses. From July to November 1942,
Australians and their Papuan allies fought up steep inclines, in torrential rain and in extreme humidity to
push the Japanese onslaught back over the Owen Stanley Range to the beachheads where they had landed.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Continued on page 12
12
Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Continued from page 11
In August, the Australians temporarily retook Kokoda, before being pushed back to Isurava where they
were met by reinforcements. There they held firm against Japanese attack for four days in late August
before once again withdrawing, this time to Imita Ridge – only 48 kilometres from Port Moresby. In
September they launched a counter-offensive and forced the Japanese troops slowly back along the track.
By 2 November, 1942 they had retaken Kokoda and by 18 November they had reached the Kumusi River.
If you would like additional information regarding these or any other topics that DVA are
responsible for, please do not hesitate to contact Michael or Phil at the DVA office, No.10
George Street Morwell, on any Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, or phone them
anytime on (03) 5133 0177 or free call 1300 551 918. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Women’s Auxiliary Host Area Meeting
On Wednesday 21st November, 2012 the Morwell RSL Women’s’ Auxiliary hosted the last Area Meeting
for the year. There were 33 ladies present including State Senior Vice President Ros Bryan as well as
others who came from Stratford, Loch Sport and Maffra.
The meeting was opened by the President of Morwell
RSL, Bruce Jeffrey. Two of the Morwell members,
Lynne O’Callaghan and Joyce Williams ran a small
trading table selling craft items made by the ladies
during the year.
Our guest speaker was Morwell Veterans’ Affairs
Office Manager, Michael Mihaly and following his
informative talk we all enjoyed a lovely lunch with a
Kris Kringle.
Thanks to Graham Burgess for his excellent work on
the commemorative placemats which were very well
received by all the ladies present; they all took them
home as a souvenir of the day. Women’s Auxiliary Area Meeting Luncheon _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Morwell Veterans’ Affairs Internet Kiosk
DVA and Morwell RSL - Connecting Families and Friends through the Internet.
A computer is available to use by everyone eligible for DVA Services. The computer is
located in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs office, 10 George Street Morwell.
Don’t be afraid to “Have-a-Go”. You don’t
need to have any prior computer knowledge.
The internet kiosk will be open
Monday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday
from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
The computer with internet access is
FREE to use.
It is hoped a basic computer training course will be held in the RSL Sub-Branch early next year.
13
Darts and Snooker Championships - 2012
The Australian RSL Clubs’ Dart and Snooker Championships were held at the Morwell RSL Sub-Branch
on the weekend of the 20th
and 21st October. Once again this magnificent event was a huge success. 33
dart teams and 8 snooker teams ( approx 420 RSL Members ) competed on the weekend. These annual
championships are totally organized by our Manager Christine Hennessy with the help of Bill Slaney
from Bayswater. Bill designed a very
successful computer program for the scoring
of darts which worked brilliantly. Thanks to
the following people who helped make the
Championships a successful event:-
Bruce, Dennis and those who put up the
dartboards and set up of the hall. Morwell
RSL Sub-Branch staff who worked extremely
hard during this busy weekend. Thanks also
to the Morwell Allblacks team (most players
from Bega NSW) for dismantling the
dartboards and putting them back in storage.
Also thank you to Paul & Sharon Budge for
lending us their room dividers.
This year we had 3 groups (hat drawn) who
played off on Saturday to determine their
spot in each division for Sunday’s play. Bill Slaney and Christine Hennessy control the event
“180” Statistics - There were 24, 180's thrown. (They were all thrown by males this year).
Highest Score – Male (apart from a 180), – 177 thrown by Warwick Roberts.
Highest Score – Female (apart from a 180), – 174 thrown by Sheila Doll.
Highest Peg – Male – 152 thrown by John Webber.
Highest Peg – Female – 116 thrown by Veronica Wilson.
25th
Australian RSL Clubs’ Snooker Championships - 2012
Christine Hennessy would like to thank Alf Shingles for his help with the snooker over the weekend. The
snooker comp ran very smoothly over the weekend with 8 teams competing.
1st – Waverley 2nd – Dandenong 1 3rd – Rye
Highest Break - was won by Darryl Tippet of Rye RSL with a break of 58.
Thanks to the following businesses who sponsored this year’s event:- Gordon Mann Dart Supplies,
R. J. Low Builders, Monacellars, Aygee Gippsland, Valley Court Laundrette, Valley Lighthouse,
J & A Quality Butchers, UniFour Cellars, J.O Miller Air-conditioning, Gourmet on Demand,
Robs Cleaning Services, G & D Smith Electrical Contractors and Morwell RSL Sub-Branch.
Our Sub-branch does not have the number of dartboards and supporting frames that are required to
conduct this large event, so we thank the Mid Gippy Dart League for the loan of their dart stands. Thanks
also to Gerry and Rhonda Van Dyke who are the proprietors of “Gippsland Furniture House” in
Commercial Road Morwell. Gerry and Rhonda kindly supplied their furniture van to transport dartboards
and frames to and from the RSL.
14
Donation of Scrap Books and DVDs
Joan Kennedy, the wife of Morwell RSL past President Tom Kennedy, recently donated several scrap
books and a boxed collection of 52 military DVD documentaries to our
Sub-Branch. Joan is a Life Member of the Women’s Auxiliary and was
its Secretary for many years.
Joan collected newspaper articles and other
documents during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Most of the articles relate to the Morwell
RSL Youth Club ( boxing, football and
Marching girls ) and the Women’s Auxiliary.
The DVD collection, titled “Weapons of War”
and the scrap books will be available for you
to peruse or borrow from our library.
Thanks to Joan for her generous donation. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LATROBE VALLEY TRAVEL
Latrobe Valley Travel is located at 4 Tarwin Street Morwell. The proprietor, May Sennett, is a member
of the Morwell RSL Sub-Branch and together with her experienced staff is able to assist you with your
entire travel requirements, from booking a hotel in Melbourne to your dream holiday overseas.
When planning your next holiday, visit Latrobe Valley Travel. They will organise all the details for you.
The Proprietor of Latrobe Valley Travel, May Sennett, together with her staff wish you all a
very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
They look forward to seeing you and also thank you for your ongoing support. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GIPPSLAND FURNITURE HOUSE
The proprietors, Gerry and Rhonda Van Dyke are
wonderful supporters of our Sub-Branch and its Members.
They not only sell furniture from their shop in
Commercial Road Morwell, they also have a factory in
Morwell and are able to manufacture furniture for you.
The shop has a huge range of furniture in stock and if they
can’t manufacture what you want, they also have access to
many other suppliers where they can order your special
requirements. FREE delivery in Morwell.
15
Veteran’s Dinner
This year’s Veterans’ Dinner held in October was again another successful evening. About 150 guests
attended and had an enjoyable evening. It was pleasing to see many new faces, both young and old at this
year’s dinner, especially those from other RSL Sub-Branches. The 3 course meal supplied by Mary, Theo
and staff was also enjoyed by everyone as was the members’ slideshow that was shown on the big screen.
This year’s dinner theme commemorated the Boer War, 1899 to 1902. Our guest speaker was Peter
Kemp, Journalist and Boer War Historian. Peter’s address gave us an insight of the Boer War, in
particular the vast distances and terrible conditions the men fought under.
During the evening the Morwell RSL Sub-
Branch’s President, Bruce Jeffrey, and
Women’s Auxiliary President, Mary
Gwynne, each presented Peter Kemp with a
donation of $500 for the National Boer War
Memorial which is proposed to be erected
along ANZAC Avenue in Canberra. The
proposed memorial was featured on the table
placemats.
Some of our special guests included the
Latrobe City Councillor Daryl White (whose
grandfather fought in the Boer War and was
the Morwell RSL’s first President), State
RSL Treasurer John Cullen OAM and State
RSL Vice President George Logan RFD.
Peter Kemp, Bruce Jeffrey and Mary Gwynne _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
All Welcome – Enquiries, Phone 5134 2455
Monday Afternoon
2 sessions of 15 games - $3.00 per book.
Ticket sales from 10-30am
Eyes Down at 12-00 noon
Rolling Jackpot
Prizes are subject to ticket sales
( Courtesy Bus Available ) – Tuesday Night
2 sessions of 15 games - $3.00 per book.
Ticket sales from 6-00pm
Eyes Down at 8-00pm
Rolling Jackpot
Prizes are subject to ticket sales _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Complete and Finished
Dictionaries have never been able to adequately explain the difference between COMPLETE and
FINISHED. However, some of the best linguists in the world recent attended a conference in England
and the delegates were asked to explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way
that is easy to understand. Some say there is no difference, but one delegate answered as follows:-
"When you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE. When you marry the wrong woman, you are
FINISHED. When the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!"
Information printed in this newsletter is either reprinted from other publications or is derived from other verbal or written
notes. While efforts are made to verify the information, the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or the
Sub Branch Committee and Management. Readers should not act or rely upon any matters or information contained or
implied by this newsletter without checking its accuracy. No responsibility or guarantee is given or implied for any action
taken by individuals or groups as a result of information contained within this newsletter and no liability will be accepted for
any loss resulting from such use. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DON’T FORGET – Mark your Calendar
Friday 14th
December, 2012 – Special Ham and Turkey Prize Draws in
the Members’ Lounge. Tickets $1.00 – Purchased at the Members’ Bar.
Friday 21st December, 2012 in the Members’ Lounge.
Special Free Christmas Prize Draws Linked to Meat Raffle Tickets.
The Victoria Cross Bistro will close at 8-00pm on both Christmas Eve
and New Year’s Eve ( Monday Evenings ). It is CLOSED on Boxing Day.
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY – 8-00pm, Monday 31st Dec, 2012.
with the band “YESTERYEAR” – Entry - $15.00 per head – Book Now.
Morwell RSL Sub-Branch – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday 27th
February, 2013 – 7-30pm in the Milne Bay Room. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Friday 8th
Feb is the closing date for articles to be included in the next newsletter, the March Edition.
