Peter Martyn organised a zoom catch-up for NSW Classmates – and, hearing of this, the ACT Chapter gatecrashed, followed shortly thereafter by the VIC Chapter! In all, 21 attended – can you name them? A congenial session, with only the occasional technical hitch when several tried to speak at once. Perhaps we need some refreshing on our R/T procedure?

A recording of the session is at this link: not sure how long it stays alive.

I received a long email from Kev Loughrey today which contained some useful thoughts on bowel cancer, prostate cancer and heart conditions. It was too long to replicate here, so I’ve copied into the pdf document hereunder:

Many thanks Kev.

Our NSW classmates connect via a WhatsApp group called KLINK RMC 68-72. More very sad news was posted yesterday that Larry Park has been informed by his doctors of cancer in his liver and other parts of his body. No further treatment is possible.

Larry is being supported by classmates from 1968 and 1969 – mates for ever. All our thoughts are with Larry, Janice and family.

Unit 4062, 21 Ross StreetBenowa Qld 4217

Advice from Sommerville Funerals is that the capacity of their venue is 90: overflow can attend outside.

They have also advised that the funeral will be streamed – a link to the broadcast is on its way, and will be posted on the blog and on Facebook.

Kev Loughrey has passed on the invitation below, suggesting that it may be of interest to members of the class. The invitation is a screen shot, so the booking link is here: Click Here

Just to remind of the site’s website policy – this is not in any way an endorsement of the assessments: the information is offered for anyone who might wish to hear a range views on a topical but vexed and complex subject.

email from Kym McMillan:

Hi guys,

I was able to escape Canberra last week and coincided a visit to Queensland with the Qld Classmates lunch on the Gold Coast. A great day, and it got me thinking it was about time we also got together again here in Canberra. John McNamara said he’d be in town later this month, so that gave me a target date. Plus it would also be a pre-Xmas gathering.

I therefore propose that we meet for lunch on Monday 30 Nov. John Mc suggested a nostalgia return to the Kingo, and I’ve just confirmed with them that they can take a group that day. So that’s the deal – the Kingo at 12.30 on the 30^th! The Kingo is still offering the ‘cook your own steak’ deal, or the usual pub menu of pastas, salads, burgers etc.

Hope you can join us, so please let me know. I need to confirm numbers the week before.

All the best,

Kym

PS – if you can think of anyone I’ve missed, or any other visitors we might have, please pass on the details and let me know.

Kym MacMillan

M:  0418 295511

Now the challenge: can anyone from Canberra match the Brisbane crew and go the extra mile to stay on into dinner?

Good Evening,

I hope this email finds you well in what has been a tough year for many members of the Society―as it has been for many Australians.

The Society’s second Newsletter of the year is now available. This edition starts with a recollection of Spanish Flu at Duntroon a century ago and at p. 21 the CO of RMC-D, LtCol Rob Ryan reports on the College’s response to COVID-19.  Al Murray (1982) writes of Mess Life 1979-1982 (p.2); Sue Morton (daughter of the CO CSC  1959-1962) provides a kid’s perspective  of life at Duntroon (p.6); Bruce Bond (RMC 1962) recalls Shaggy Ridge (p. 9); and Peter Neuhaus (RMC 1975) reports on the efforts of the Adelaide Branch of the Society to remediate the impact of the bushfires on Kangaroo Island (p. 20).

This issue also acknowledges the passing of Hal Oxley (RMC 1937) at the age of 103, and two remarkable women, Di Lobb (WRAAC OCS 1952) and June Healy (WRAAC OCS 1960), a Fellow of the Society.

The Society has recently had a pure silk RMC tie made by Dege & Skinner of Savile Row. The first order of 100 ties sold out quickly. Now restocked, you can buy one on-line for $75.     

Please consider sharing this email with class mates and like minded friends. 

If you would like to contribute an article for the next edition,  please let me know.

Chris Appleton
Convenor
central@dunsoc.com

Wow what a great two days in my treatment.  Yesterday at 6.30 am I checked into Pindara Private Hospital here on the Gold Coast.  After registration etc I was in a Star Wars like operating theatre with 2 Surgeons, an anaesthetist and 7 technicians plus nurses.  My SIRT procedure had begun. This day was day 2 following  a full dress rehearsal a fortnight earlier.  This dress rehearsal discovered and blocked leaks in my liver and placed stents in the hepatic artery pathway to allow better/easier access. All this to ensure the beads lodged only in the liver tumours.  It also mapped out the plan for lodging beads in the tumours via the artery. 
Just Google ‘SIRT’ for full details of the procedure.  It places millions of radioactive beads directly in the tumours in my liver via a tube inserted in my groin.  This is only possible because nearly all tumours grow in the blood flow of the hepatic artery.  
4.5 hours later I returned to the ward to lay flat on my back for 4 hours with regular groin inspections and blood pressure checks.  After a good night’s sleep and discharge from hospital I was off to a Gamma Ray Camera scan to make sure the beads were in the right place.  They were and the Surgeon was very pleased.  So was I.  
Now for the rough bit.  In about 48 hours they advise I will experience extreme tiredness for about 2 weeks.  I have had no nausea or pain and the Surgeon says they are now unlikely being 24 hours since treatment. In short I am extremely confident of the future.  
Full strength Chemo starts again in a fortnight after effectively a 5 week break for the SIRT procedure. I will have now blood tests fortnightly to monitor progress with a scan at 8 weeks to see the actual shrinkage achieved. The full affects of SIRT will be evident in 2-3 months. I am super confident of a very good outcome.  
Regards to you all and many thanks to the many of you who have contacted me over this rollercoaster journey.  Your calls and visits are much appreciated I can assure you and give me a huge boost.  Mates forever. Callo