CONTACT 34 NMBVAA Inc.

Queensland and Brisbane Branch

Newsletter August 2017

DISCLAIMER: The views

and/or content in this News do

not necessarily reflect the views

of the Association or that of

State or National Executives,

Delegates and/or Committee.

NATIONAL MALAYA & BORNEO VETERANS

ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA Inc.

Queensland State and Brisbane Branch PO Box 86 WYNNUM 4178 QLD

President: R. A. Edwards. Secretary: L. J. Edwards

Phone: (07) 3396 6705 Fax: (07) 3396 6705 Mobile: 0408 431 590 Email: robertedwards14@bigpond.com

The NMBVAA was officially established in Australia in 1995 and is a self-funded, non-profit association which uses only unpaid

volunteers.

Patron: Lt Col Brian Avery (Retd)

Mates Helping Mates

Our Association is open to anyone who has served in Malaya, Borneo, Singapore

and Brunei at any time, along with their spouse and family members.

We are an All Services Association with members from the Army, Navy, Air

Force, Police, Planters, Teachers, as well as overseas military members.

We meet once a month, usually on the 4th Tuesday, for a short meeting to let all

members catch up on what’s been happening with the Association, and then we

have a social luncheon together.

The NMBVAA (Inc.) is Australia wide, and is the only NMBVAA (Inc.) that is

affiliated with the International NMBVA with members in England, New Zealand,

Canada, Germany, Ireland, and South Africa.

Proudly printed by the office of Ross Vasta MP for Bonner.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 29/7/2017

It is my sad duty to inform our members of the passing of our beloved Assoc member Marj Hayes O.A.M.

She touched the hearts of all who met her and left a gap that will be hard to fill.

On Tuesday the 1st of August at the Salvation Army Hall at 107 Akonna Street at 1100 we will say our goodbyes to Marj.

Dress for our members: Caps, coat and medals.

We still have a few members who have forgotten to pay their subs that are due

on the 1st January each year.

If there are any changes of contact details please inform Laraine on 33966705.

Please take good care of each other,

Allen

The Malaya and Borneo Commemoration Day, 31 August 2017 is not far away. This

year the 31st falls on a Thursday. Please let Laraine know if you will be at the

Gallipoli Barracks, Royal Australian Regimental Walk, for the Service. This will be

followed by a light luncheon provided by the NMBVAA Qld and Brisbane Branch.

The funeral of Mrs Hayes OAM will be held at 11am on Tuesday 1st August at the Salvation Army Hall,

107 Akonna Street, Wynnum.

NMBVAA Qld and Brisbane Branch members are requested to attend. Dress: Cap, Coat and medals.

The family request no flowers, donations instead to the Salvation Army.

For those wishing to contact the family her son is Glen Gillard of 28 Hay Street, Mitchelton 4053.

VALE MRS MARJORY HAYES OAM

The President and Members of the NMBVAA Queensland and Brisbane Branch wish to extend their sincere condolences to the family of

Mrs Marjory Hayes OAM Marjory was a great supporter of our organisation and will be sadly missed by

our members. RIP Marjory

Mrs Marjory Hayes OAM (Centre with wreath)

This photograph was taken at the inaugural Malaya and Borneo Commemoration Day, 31 August 2011.

NATIONAL MALAYA & BORNEO VETERANS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA Inc.

QLD and Brisbane Branch P.O. Box 86 WYNNUM 4178 QLD

President: R.A. Edwards Secretary/Treasurer. L.J. Edwards Phone: 3396 6705 Email: robertedwards14@bigpond.com

Mobile: 0408 431 590 The NMBVAA was officially established in Australia in 1995 and is a self-funding,

non-profit association which uses only unpaid volunteers.

Qld and Bris Patron Lieutenant Colonel Brian Avery (ret) w.nmbvaa.org.au

COURAGE MATESHIP PRIDE.

©

© ©

Voting at AGM for 2017/2018, on the 22nd August 2017.

President: Allen Edwards Yes / No

Vice Pres: David Brewer Yes / No

Secretary: Laraine Edwards Yes / No

2ic Secretary: Betty Brewer Yes / No

Memorabilia: Laraine Edwards Yes / No

Membership: Allen Edwards Yes/ No

Merchandise: David Brewer Yes / No

Treasurer: Laraine Edwards Yes / No

Comms. Officer: Peter Anderson Yes / No

P & W Officer: RonVirgen O.A.M. Yes / No

Editor Peter Anderson Committee: To be called for at a later date. Any persons wishing to stand for any position please advise Laraine asap.

Venue: Wynnum R.S.L., time 1100am. Please return voting slip to: (Marked VOTING SLIP) Secretary/Treasurer N.M.&B.V.A.A.inc Po Box 86 Wynnum QLD 4178 R.S.V.P.By the 18/8/2017. No names of voters are to go onto voting slips. Votes counted on the day.

PresidentAllen Edwards NM.&B.V.A.A.inc

Queensland & Brisbane Branch Mates Helping Mates

“Lest We Forget” “BONO ANIMO ESTE” “Andai Nya Kita Terlupa” (Be of Good Courage)

Thursday, 31 August 2017

Malaya and Borneo Commemoration Day Service

Held at the NATIONAL MEMORIAL WALK Chapel, Enoggera.

Indonesian Confrontation 51st Anniversary

Malaysian Emergency 57th

Anniversary

This year commemoration of the above events will be held on Thursday, 31 August.

The Service will be held, once again, at the RAR Memorial Walk at Enoggera. Following

the Service a BBQ luncheon will be provided.

Please remember, if you are travelling by car, drivers will need to provide their name,

the names of their passengers and their car registration number to Allen (07 3396 6705)

as soon as possible so names may be submitted to Security at the Enoggera Army Base

gate to enable ease of access to the base.

Please also have some form of identification at hand in case it is required.

PARKING DIRECTIONS The entrance to the Enoggera Army Base is at the end of LLoyd Street, Enoggera. After passing through the Main Gate where you will be met by Security, continue on until the first roundabout. Take the first street on the left. Follow this until reaching the 9RAR National Memorial Walk. Continue past the Chapel. Parking is available in a number of areas on the right.

ANZAC DAY 2017. Mr David Brewer Leads the NMBVAA Qld and Bris, group.

Nurses head for Malaya

List of Venues/Meeting/Dates for the 2018season.

The venue for most of our meetings will be the Wynnum R.S.L. located in Tingal

Road on the 4th Tuesday of the month, Starting times 1100am.

February27th.

March 27th

April 25th. (Anzac Day (luncheon at New Farm Bowls Club).No meeting.

May 22nd

June 26th.

July 24th.

August 28th. (Luncheon/meeting and A.G.M.)

August 31st. (Malaya and Borneo Vets Commemoration Day.)

September 25th.

October 23rd.

November 11th. (Remembrance Day.)

November 27th.

December 15th. (Christmas Party).

Bus trips to be planned. Please give suggestions to David.

Signed and dated Allen Edwards….27/7/17

AIRCRAFT SUPER- CARRIER USS RONALD REGAN visited Brisbane this week.

A LETTER’S LEGACY by Paul Sherman

(My father, Pat, saw the explosion…….from the front verandah of our house at…….Newmarket……”-

extract from a letter by “Mike” in Queensland RSL News, Summer, 2009, concerning the torpedo

strike on the hospital ship CENTAUR off Moreton Island, May 14, 1943.)

1. 4. An oldie now, then barely two For I was then a blue-eyed boy

our letter-writer Mike brings back on Maranoa’s war-proof plain

his daddy’s pre-dawn skyscape view when headlines in the Western Star

of flames that flared from sub’s attack. proclaimed the Centaur’s final pain.

No buildings then to bar the eye In Roma’s convent, under the Cross

that traced far-east the fatal glow we prayed for those in ocean laid.

of fireball that flared the sky Hope’s symbol hung half-mast in loss

above the ship’s dread undertow. – the Red Cross flag, its trust betrayed.

Old dates grow dim through dust-deep years Now when I find your letter, Mike

but wounds re-bleed with memory. Your dad’s sad sight ignites my fear.

Mike’s words renew my boyhood’s tears Old fellows grapple grief alike

as Centaur scars my inland sea. Who both were young when war groped near.

This Newsletter will be published quarterly by the NM&BVAA Inc.

Committee Members for Queensland State and Brisbane Sub-Branch

of the NM&BVAA Inc. are as follows:

President: Allen Edwards 07 3396 6705 Secretary: Laraine Edwards 07 3396 6705

Assistant Secretary: Betty Brewer Vice President: David Brewer

Treasurer: Laraine Edwards Memberships: Allen Edwards

Memorabilia: Laraine Edwards Communications Officer: Peter Anderson 0413 354 479

Pensions & Welfare: Ron Virgen OAM 07 3267 0249 Editor: Peter Anderson 0413 354 479

(Assisted by Dell Shears RFD 0475 521 415) Correspondence: The Secretary, PO Box 86,

Wynnum, Qld. 4178

Australian Hospital Ship (AHS) Centaur was a hospital ship which

was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of

Queensland, Australia, on 14 May 1943. Of the 332 medical

personnel and civilian crew aboard, 268 died, including 63 of the 65

army personnel. Wikipedia

Each year the Lutwyche Church of England has a Service in

memory of those who were lost in the sinking of the Centaur