Payment.  The update called for final payments to cover the Drinks and/or Dinner to be made by 28 October. The total cost is $130 per head for the dinner, and $30 per head for the drinks – a total of $160 per head if you are attending both.  

Please note that many of you have made an earlier deposit, so we are only asking for whatever is outstanding to cover the cost of the events you wish to attend.

Dietary Requirements. We have not previously asked for dietary requirements for you or your partner. The menu may change but currently the offering is as follows:

Entrée

Prawn and Avacado Salad or 

Pork Belly with Pumpkin Puree, Cous Cous & jus

Main course

Chicken Stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach, Celeriac Mash, Dutch Carrots and Mushroom Sauce or 

Grilled Angus Steak, Field Mushrooms, Lentils, Baby Carrot and Red Wine jus

Dessert

Crème Brulee, Caramel Popcorn, Cookie Dust and Cream or 

Pavlova, Berry Compote and Passionfruit Coulis

Please advise if there are any gluten free, vegan, vegetarian or other requirements so that we can advise the hotel and arrange alternatives.

Glassware. A batch of the stemless wine glasses have arrived – intact – in Canberra and will be distributed from there for Canberra-based classmates. The glassware for Sydney and Brisbane classmates should be there soon if not already arrived.

I will hold glasses for out of town or overseas classmates.

RMC Museum. At my earlier meeting with a museum staff member I understood that a copy of your personal file could be made available to you. I am unable, as I understand it, to collect on your behalf. I will check back and confirm this.

I obtained a copy of mine several years ago by writing to the College.

Tom, Pat and their wives Margo and Sharon will meet at the Araluen Hotel midday on Thurs 08 Dec ’22 for lunch at 1230 Hrs followed by drinks and coffee. We will go in one car departing Canberra at 1030 on 08 Dec and return to Canberra by 1800hrs same day.

Classmates, family and friends are very welcome to join us. 

Some relevant comments;

• Araluen Hotel Webpage. Put Araluen Hotel, Araluen NSW into your web browser. Looking at the Araluen Hotel webpage (the Hotel now sometimes called the Araluen Valley Hotel), looks the same as it did 50 years ago. (This is not a criticism, just a comment). The webpage is worth a glance to get a general idea of the Hotel today. It would appear to be a good place to have a meal and a beer or three.
• Driving Canberra (RMC Duntroon) to Araluen (via Braidwood) is approx. 115 km and takes about one and a half hours each way. The road is bitumen all the way with a pretty steep descent into Araluen (from Canberra). (Numerous roads from Araluen to other places such as Moruya are dirt).
• Opening hours. The hotel opens midday Wed to Sun (inclusive). Lunches are from 12 to 2pm and Dinner 6 to 8pm. The Hotel is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Norm is the Hotel Manager (02) 4846 4023. I rang Norm the other day and said that a number of us were looking at coming to the Hotel on 8 Dec. Norm said that he has put 12 of us ‘in the book’ for lunch but said that bookings are ‘first in best dressed’ and required a 50 % deposit (which I think mainly referred to accommodation bookings). He said that due to a constantly changing Menu, he couldn’t send one now but could nearer the date.
• Accommodation. 10 rooms being a mix of single, double and family. A free continental breakfast is provided to all lodgers. Book ASAP if required.

Sooooo, we’d love anyone interested to join us for lunch at Araluen Hotel on Thurs 08 Dec noting the following;

• Transport to and from the Araluen Hotel is own means, 
• Accommodation if required is a personal responsibility (please ring Norm on 02-4846 4023), and finally, if coming please
• Contact Pat Cullinan (details below) by 31 Oct 2022. As Tom is overseas and I am in Canberra, I’m acting as the Araluen POC. In November, I will do final checks with Norm, discuss pooling of vehicles if applicable and send out Menus etc. 

If only Tom and I from the Class are there, we won’t sulk, but rather, we will raise a glass to all those who were here in the pub with us 50 years ago. 

Regards to all,

Pat.

patrick.cullinan@yahoo.com.au

0457 888 707.

A message from Kevin Hindle’s daughter Georgia, says in part: “I would like to extend an invitation to whoever from his class would like to attend his wake which will take place later this year either in the end of November or the beginning of December.” I will post further details as they come to hand. 

Sad news – Kevin passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening.

Kevin’s daughter Georgia has reported that “…as of yesterday, Dad is no longer responsive or can talk. He can however hear, if people were interested to come by I would want them to understand the circumstances fully as it is very confronting to see him this way.

Thank you for getting in touch, it has been so lovely to hear of everyone’s fond memories of dad.

He actually started a Youtube channel only a couple of months ago and that was when he was at his best and not longer after his diagnosis, he was attempting to fit in as many things as possible into his suddenly shortening time frame. It might bring a laugh or impress some of your cohort if you were interested. It is also the most accurate version of dad I can think of. If you would like to share it or were interested in having a look yourself, the name of his channel is Ukelele Trubadour.”

If you open it up you might think you’ve got to the wrong page – but it is definitely Kevin – as we knew him!

Kevin’s daughter Georgia Tompson has advised that he was diagnosed with cancer 12 weeks ago – he was without any symptoms whatsoever. She states that he may have only days left.

The type of cancer is not stated but I am pretty sure it is bowel: Georgia urges “please make sure everyone is getting their regular health checks. So sad to know this could have been avoided with an earlier routine colonoscopy.”

Attached is a summary of the orders for memorabilia received so far. If your name is NOTon the list, please let me know as soon as possible if you’d like to order the stemless glasses or a cap – rmcclassof1972@gmail.com

If your name is on the list, please check your order and please confirm at the same email address as above. In particular, check your CSC Number carefully – we strive for accuracy but sometimes gremlins strike!

The plan is to have glasses delivered to Canberra and Sydney for distribution. The quantities ordered from other locations don’t, unfortunately, warrant the extra freight cost. We’ll try to work out a way to get them to you before the reunion.

As we are well over the 100 order mark for the lowest per item cost for glasses, it is likely that the cost per glass will be less than the $8 quoted, but that won’t be confirmed until after I’ve placed the order.