Hi Elph, Hope you are well ? List of major issues: • 2009 kidney tumor . Half of left kidney taken out by key hole surgery( there are issues with this procedure); • 2011 Whipple OP to remove pancreatic tumor. Note . Only alive because of CT scans after kidney OP picked up issue early; . 2011 Whipple scare hernia – fixed; • 2017 Groin hernia – fixed; • 2018 Heart Attack – 1 stent inserted; • 2018 Type 3C Diabetes diagnosis ( from Whipple OP); • 2019 two separate stomach bleeding issues ( 6 x sacks of blood transfused) Result of taking aspirin after heart attack. • Gastroscopy & Colonoscopy every year since . Happy to talk to anyone about issues. Advice to all , have regular checks and take action ASAP. Regards Gerry
A few of us were chatting at the last catch-up in Brisbane, about the possibility of having a class get-together ahead of the suggested plan to gather in NZ in December 2027. My thought was that, at this stage of our life journey, a 5 year gap between class gatherings is too large and I agreed to run an idea up the flag pole. So here it is!
I suggest that we gather in two years from now in August 2025 (two and a half years from our 50th)
This could be anywhere but as a suggestion, I propose Coffs Harbour. Coffs is half way between Sydney and Brisbane, it has an airport, better weather than many other places where classmates live, particularly in the winter months. Coffs is also a relaxed sort of a place and would fit nicely with the concept of a relaxed, informal catch up of like-minded souls.
I have attached a link to Pacific Bay Resort, a possible venue at Coffs; but others may have a better location and/or better venue in mind.
Details will develop as we gather momentum but we don’t have to stick to weekends at this stage of life so we could gather on a Tuesday and finish on the Thursday for example. Individuals may want to link in a weekend either side. Maybe we do a Long Lunch instead of a dinner, or both. This venue has a golf course as well which may be of interest to some classmates.
I’m prepared to organise the event with a bit of support on the admin side. The basis for the event – low key, everyone is welcome, relaxed and informal gathering. A few side events could be arranged and I’ll look for interested parties to help co-ordinate them.
Please let me know the level of interest by either leaving a reply in the window below, or by sending an email to rmcclassof1972@gmail.com
At the reunion in December, a number of classmates put their names down to receive a copy of their cadet record.
I can confirm from the Army Museum at Duntroon, that anyone who wishes to receive a copy of their records must apply using the procedure which can be seen by going to Anecdotes menu and scrolling down to the link under Your Cadet Record.
I also forgot to acknowledge Jim Campbell’s (Class of ’71) diligence in following this up – many thanks Jim.
Some of us may have an inclination to have a look at our cadet records. Defence now has a procedure to enable that to happen and a summary unofficial document has been put together by WO1 Peter Brown from the Army Museum Duntroon.
The document can be viewed on the website by going to the Anecdotes menu and scrolling down to the Your Cadet Record paragraph.
Please note that if you have previously asked for your records, say at the reunion last year, you will need to complete the procedure from scratch.
This does not appear to be a fully fledged, official Defence procedure so please don’t try and pick holes in the procedure itself. Instead, give it a go and let your classmates know how you got on.
A keen follower of our site from the class of 1973 has brought it to my attention that some of their class think that this photo is not 1972 but actually 1973!
My first response was surprise because to me I’d always thought it was WO Foster out the front . But now I’m not so sure – there was another Drill Sgt who stood with a slight bend.
The list is available by going to the Men’s Health menu and clicking on the link towards the bottom of the page.
If you have provided your ailments, please take a look and check the details are correct – mistakes can happen!
And a final word – if you haven’t provided your ailments it doesn’t stop you contacting anyone who has – it’s our site and the better informed we are, the less chance there could be of having a negative experience.
Good to see a healthy response to the idea of a men’s health focus for the website. Let’s go ahead and see where it leads us. Just as a simple example of the benefit of sharing information – I am aware of someone recently recommending to a fellow classmate, that if he goes ahead to have a prostate biopsy, he should insist upon doing it under a general anaesthetic! Sounds like bloody good advice to me.
A couple of points in response to questions:
The page will be password protected;
Even if you don’t contribute your ailments does not mean you can’t make use of the information. Remember, we are all in this together so if you haven’t shared your ailments and something comes up in the future, don’t feel that you can’t reach out to anyone on the list.
The aim is not to see who has the longest list of ailments – I wish the only thing I’d ever had was an ingrown toenail – I’d be delighted to share the info.
So feel free to email your ailments to rmcclassof1972@gmail.com and I’ll add you to the table.
Here’s the list of ailments – if you have a further suggestion please email me.
I’ve put apage on the website with a proposal for using the website to share our medical issues and experiences as a means to help others who may encounter a similar issue.
Please read it and let us all know your thoughts. If there are enough who oppose it , it’s dead in the water. Otherwise, we can pursue it – if it works we keep it going but if not we could terminate it at any time.
Back in the day, many people of our parent’s vintage were very comfortable in their view of the world.
The war was over, the country seemed to prospering and there was plenty of technological changes coming out of the USA. Everyone seemed to be getting on with living and raising families.
What was very clear in people’s minds was what their roles in society were – to work and earn a living, to make a home and to raise children. Included in this was the clear understanding of what a housewife was . . . . . as best illustrated below.
The traditional mid century housewife
But little did our families know that within the Army there was a quiet revolution going on. The Army knew best; the Army would decide who did what and more importantly what they were to be referred to as. Roles were redefined, and old norms were no longer the case.
RMC Class of 1972 