Radschool

Newsletter

Vol 11

Page 9

Your Say!

Ted Washbrook from the West writes-  Hello all, reading the stories about Ron Lippman brought back some very funny memories and there is nothing you could say about him that could not be true, one of the most terrifying sights I ever saw was Ron in karate kit, coming over the partition of a room in Darwin with a MACHETE in his teeth, this would have been in 1975-76 and I still shudder.

Bill Bastion from near the ACT writes: I was on 14 Radio Technician (Air) course at Ballarat in late 56 through to about October 57 (I didn’t know you were that bloody old Bill - tb), and during that time I had the usual stint on guard duty which, among other things, involved patrolling the tarmac area. I can remember other blokes telling me that a nice warm place to have a little nap was underneath the canvas covers between the units of the GCA which was parked on the tarmac  Being a diligent Radtech in training I never took advantage of this of course but I can definitely remember it being there. Now come on Bill—a few of us knew you, remember….

Grahame Venn emailed us to say  G'day all,  Saw in the last newsletter that Ted Washbrook was looking for "Joe" Mercer (real name Graham Mercer). Last I heard (within the last 12 months) was that Joe and Paula were living up near Toowoomba and that Joe was working in Toowoomba.  Grahame supplied the address and contact number for Joe, and we’ve passed them onto Ted—thanks again Grahame.

Keith Kinch, who was with the 35Sqn mob to march through Brisbane last Anzac Day wrote in to say: “What a great day last Thursday was, don’t you think?  That would be the biggest and most enthusiastic crowd that I have seen in Brisbane. It was great to see all the blokes again, especially “Porky” (John Donohue)  who I haven’t seen since the days when we used to have one or two at the Richmond Boozer”.  We’re with you Keith—it was a great day—tb.

Jerry (the Flange) Lange called to say he was sorry to miss Anzac Day this year as he was looking forward to seeing all the blokes again, but he was working in Indonesia and couldn’t get home. He’ll reckons he’ll be there next year though. It’s funny what triggers the old memory, when the Flange called I instantly recalled sitting in the shade of a Caribou’s wing, on the tarmac in Port Moresby in 1968, greasing a wheel bearing — under the watchful eye of the Flange.

We heard from Grahame Hunt who was in the RAAF from 1965-1971. He asks “Would anyone know where I could contact Alan Wilson who was a Flg/Off EngRad back in the late sixties and was in Ubon in early 1968.  I would also like to contact anyone who worked as a Communications Operator at Ubon in February/March 1968 or any RAAF communicator who was attached to Exercise Ramasoon at this time and spent that time at RAAF Base Ubon not Yasothon.

Grahame said: “I was a Telsop and spent most of my time at Amberley, Butterworth and Opcom. I did a short stint in Ubon on exercise Ramasoon in February/March 1968 and I am currently fighting a battle with Veterans Affairs re. Qualifying Service. I was granted the AASM for Thailand and RAS badge for that stint in Ubon where I was also held back from return to Australia with the rest of the guys. We all ended up in Hospital with Mumps”.

Grahame’s problem is he and a small number of blokes spent time at RAAF Base Ubon, not Yasothon as Defence say they did. The RAAF are using this fact as an excuse for not granting him qualifying service. He needs to get in touch with people who were there and remember him.  Can any-one help!!

Another note from Keith Kinch—he writes: Did you know that there is a number for directory assistance that is FREE. It is 1223 (as opposed to 12 455 which is charged at 25 cents) and is exactly the same service. Apparently Telstra under Government law is supposed to provide a free operator service - hence the number 1223. They are trying to make as much money as possible with the number 12455. Interesting…...

Ron Johnston in the UK writes: The US Congress held an unprecedented hearing in the British Parliament at the end of June to take evidence from British sufferers of Gulf War Syndrome. The illness has affected 5,000 of the 52,000 British troops sent to the Gulf in 1990. A previous report refused to accept that the outbreak of disease was due to stress and psychological problems. They will now discuss medical findings about multiple vaccines, exposure to depleted uranium, organophosphates in pesticides and epidemiological studies of Gulf War Illness.