PS our house is now on the market for our move to Vantage apartments in November.

and a follow up from Ian today:

The Vantage apartments are being built and expected completion is late Oct with move in date of mid November. The best place to find the development is to Google Vantage Gold Coast and go to the website.  Our apartment is a G type on the 8th floor.

This website is completely apolitical and non-political, so this post is simply to share information, not to make a political point.

The photograph below is from a letter box flyer. The local member on the left is Jeremy Hanson, who was the leader of the Liberals in the ACT Legislative Assembly before the last election. Why I ask is it my fault is that he was my Adjutant (briefly) in 1988, when he was a newly-graduated Lieutenant. He wasn’t with me long before moving on to Regimental duty in a squadron, but I think the experience was enough for him to transfer to RAInf, where he had a very good career.

Interestingly, Guilia’s husband was also an Army officer, an Engineer I think.

Nothing else to say, is there?

The June 2020 Update from theAustralian Defence Force Retirees Association Inc. may  be viewed by clicking here.

Chris Jones has sent through some photos in a Word document which I have quickly extracted without any attempt at improvement (and by that I mean the photography, not the content!). I’ll get to that shortly, but here’s a preview, with captions (edited) from Jabber.

Aged 17, pretending to be happy as a 4^th Class Cadet at the RMC Duntroon. 1969.

With Blackie just before a foggy Queen’s Birthday Parade in 1969.

With Roger Simmons (NZ) prior to ‘Camp Training’ 1970.

1st X1 soccer team 1970 prior to Jabber being banned for life for breaking the jaw of an opposing team player in the local competition.  (He is in middle row, second from left, between ‘Blue Boy’ and ‘Gibbo’.  ‘Chi the Thai’ is bottom row, third from the left.  Nik is second from the left.  Dave Leyshon is middle back row.))

The ‘Big Day’, Graduation December 1972, receiving the B.A.(mil) degree from the Dean.

Thanks to Peter McCann for this photo, which has been lifted from our FB page. I can identify, left to right, John Barwick, Ian Cleaver, Pat Donovan, Peter McCann, Daryl Poole, mystery man, and Bob Shaw.  But who is that relaxed gentleman with smoke in one hand and beer in the other? Don?

I assume, given the presence of John Barwick, that this was in 1969.

And wearing ties at the Kingo????

Callo recently celebrated his 70th birthday in great style…as you would expect.

Well, almost great style.

But the best present of all has just arrived, in Ian’s own words:

“Today at my chemo I found out that all of my cancer markers have now returned to normal. Yeehaa. Only the markers for liver function/damage remain abnormal. These will now slowly return to normal as the liver regenerates with treatment. Good news indeed.  

Sad news just in from Bill Houston, via Garry Downs, of the death of Daryl Patch from the class of 1969. His wife Maureen was an Army Nurse, who died in 2018.  From that Class, he follows, in order:

• John Wheeler (SVN)
• Noel Trevor
• John Marane

(I’m adding a little personal note here, as I was looked after by Maureen at RMC Medical Centre during my ARes service. She was delightful – and forthright – and we talked of Daryl – another of the Class of 1969 who was, to me, a good guy. For a little more on Maureen, see https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/S01629/)

Our thoughts and prayers are with Paddy Ryan and all of his family at this sad time.

Peter Jenke has advised that the memorial service, which he observed via zoom, was warming and heartfelt as the family acknowledged her contribution to their lives.

Message just in:

“Very happy to advise good news. Results of CAT scan proved that all cancers have shrunk significantly. Oncologist said “progress was remarkable” after only 3 months chemo. Ian is almost back to normal and although chemo will continue fortnightly for the foreseeable future l am happy as currently Ian has no major side effects. Thank you for all your ongoing support it is very much appreciated. Happy to say this is our last fortnightly report unless things change. Ian and Barb”