SCHOOL DAYS

EVERY DAY WAS A 15 MINUTE WALK TO ST FRANCIS XAVIERS PRIMARY SCHOOL,WHERE THE ST JOSEPH NUNS TAUGHT US THE 3 Rs FOR 4 YEARS
I CANNOT RECALL SCHOOL DAYS EXCEPT COMMING HOME EARLY ON V J DAY TO A STREET PARTY AND WATCHING THE SEARCHLIGHTS LIGHT THE SKY,FROM OUR FAMILY BOMB SHELTER ,WHICH WE SHARED WITH 2 OTHER NEIGHBOURS ,THE NIGHT THE JAPS SHELLED BONDI SUBURBS

NEXT WAS TRAIN TRIPS TO MARIST BROTHERS HIGH KOGARAH ,DOWN THE HILL,UP THE HILL TO SCHOOL,THE LARGEST DAY SCHOOL IN STATE AT THAT TIME 986 PUPILS,MY CLASSES AVERAGED 63 PUPILS .I WAS THERE FROM 4TH CLASS PRIMARY TILL INTERMEDIATE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL ,TOTAL OF 6 YEARS WHEN I LEFT SCHOOL WITH
N S W INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATE.
DURING MY LAST YEAR I WAS IN THE SCHOOL ARMY CADETS.AND REPRESENTED THE UNIT IN THE QUEENS RIFLE SHOOT.WE EVEN HAD A RANGE IN THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.

WE USED .22 BORES IN .303 STOCKS
PHOTO OF CLASS.LOOKING FRONT ROW LEFT

my pest control life

when we operated marys snack bar ,opposite the red brick hotel,in annerley rd brisbane,i had to hire a pest company.i was impressed,as i hadnt observed the work before.next morning,we went early to clean the bodies out before opening.what a surprise.thousands of the little buggers
.
when we sold out..what do i try next???..the agent,next door who did the deal also was pest controlling.terry took me on ,showed me what to do,gave me a hand tank and some dieldrin,(boy,did it knock them,but smell),some clients and off i went in my vauxhal cresta car,$6 a house for cockroaches.
i read books and with experience working gained the knowledge required

SUNCHINE COAST
I STARTED BUNDILLA PEST CONTROL,WORKING FROM HOME,MY SECRETARY CAME EVERY DAY,BY NOW WE HAD TO BE LICENCED BY QUEENSLAND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.MY NUMBER WAS 0673
I STARTED SPRAYING SLABS FOR TERMITES,( in my ford F100)BEFORE THE CONCRETE WAS POURED ,WITH ONE CLIENT CHARGING 40 CENTS A SQUARE METRE,2 YEARS LATER I HAD 200 CLIENTS,DOING 6 TO 8 SLABS DAILY ,5 DAYS A WEEK WHEN I SOLD. WITHIN 2 MONTHS PAUL KEATING GAVE US THE RECESSION WE HAD TO HAVE,AND THE NEW OWNER DROPPED TO 1 A WEEK
I WAS INTO SPEC BUILDING WITH ONE OF MY BUILDERS,BUT THAT STOPPED WITH KEATINGS RECESSION,SO I REGISTERED BUNDILLA PEST CONTROL AND BODY CORPORATE PAST CONTROL ,BACK TO THE COCKROACHES AGAIN,WORKING FROM THE BOOT OF MY MERCEDES BENZE CAR
COUPLE YEARS LATER I SOLD AGAIN
DURING MY BUNDILLA PRETREAT DAYS I FORMED AN WAS SECRETARY OF THE FIRST BODY OF PEST CONTROLLERS IN AUSTRALIA,,,S C I P A ...
SUNSHINE COAST INDEPENDENT PEST OPERATORS ASSOCIATION

AT THAT TIME THERE WERE ONLY 6 INDEPENDENT AND 2 MAJOR FIRMS ON THE COAST
TODAY PESTIES TAKE UP HALF THE PHONE BOOK
MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH GUEST SPEAKERS WERE HELD AND AN ANNUAL B B Q ,WITH LADIES. AT THE ANNUAL WE INVITED QLD HEALTH DEPT TO COME AS GUEST SPEAKER AND BLOOD TESTS WERE TAKEN,TO MONITOR CKEMICALS .AN AUSTRALIAB FIRST

MY SOUTH EAST ASIA TRAVELS

BEFORE TRAVELLING TO SE ASIA ,OVER THE YEARS I VISITED PHILIPPINES,FIJI.NEW ZEALAND.NORFOLK ISLAND INDONESIA,SINGAPORE.
SINCE THEN MALAYSIA,THAILAND.LAOS,VIETNAM,CAMBODIA WHERE I WRITE THIS BLOG FROM
THE CHEAPEST TO LIVE CAMBODIA
PHOTOS
MY THAI LADY NUANNANG,WHOM I MET IN LANGKAWI IN 2009
CAPT WONG MY MALAYSIAN FRIEND.WONG DRIVES HELOCOPTERS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA TO OIL RIGS FROM CUCHAI ON EAST COAST MALAYSIA,LOOKING AT RIGHT ,WITH HIS BROTHERS IN LAWS,OUR RENTED HOUSE,TICO 3 CYLINDER CAR.NUANNANG WITH FRIENDS BABY,WE HAD THIS FISH FOR DINNER,PHIN AND FAMILY AT WAT

CAMPERVANING AROUND AUSTRALIA

ONE OF MY AMBITIONS WAS TO SEE AUSTRALIA ON LAND
MY FIRST 2 YEAR VENTURE WAS IN A NISSAN KING CAB WITH EXTENDED WHEEL BASE AND LAZY AXEL ON REAR,ATTATCHED WAS ALUMINIUM CAMPER
I THREW MY DOG IN AND OFF WE WENT AROUND AUSTRALIA,UP THE QUEENSLAND COAST.OVER THE RANGE ,UP TO DARWIN,DOWN THE CENTRE,TO MELBOURNE,OVER BASS STRAIT TO TASMANIA,AROUND THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND,MY FAVOURITE PLACE,EXCEPT FOR COLD WINTER,BACK TO THE BIG ISLAND OVER TO WEST VIA NULLABOUR PLAINS ,UP TO BROOME,PLAY WITH DOLPHINS AT MONKEY MIA,BACK TO FREEMANTLE THROUGH THE OUTBACK TO BUNDABERG. I MOVED BACK INTO MY HOUSE,SOLD THE CAMPER AND SETTLED FOR 2 YRS ,WHEN I WAS INVITED TO JOIN THE LOCAL DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
TWO YEARS WAS ENOUGH,I HAD ITCHY FEET AGAIN.BOUGHT AN OLS TOYOTA COASTER BUS ,DID IT UP AND WENT OFF AGAIN WITH MY DOG HEADING NORTH
THIS TIME I GAVE THE WEST A MISS,SETTLED IN THE CARAVAN PARK AT PT LINCOLN,IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA,WATCHING T V,I HAD A MOBILE SATELLITE DISH.THIS OLD GUY WAS SAYING HOW EXPENSIVE IT WAS TO LIVE IN AUST FOR PENSIONERS.HE WAS GOING OVERSEAS....GOOD SAYS ME....SO WILL TREV
NEXT DAY I GAVE THE CARAVAN I HAD JUST FINISHED MODERNISING TO HARRY,THE OLD GUY NEXT DOOR,THREW THE DOG IN THE COASTER AND HEADED TO BUNDABERG
SOLD THE MERCEDES,ALL THE FURNITURE,LET THE HOUSE AND FLEW TO MALAYSIA
TO START MY SE ASIA ADVENTURE

SORRY NO PICS AS WHEN I ARRIVED IN LANGKAWI,ON FIRST NIGHT IN RENTED CONDO,I WAS CLEANED OUT OF EVERYTHING I HAD COMPUTER,WITH PICS OF TRIP AROUND AUST,MONEY.PASSPORT,CAMERA..T

HE WHOLE BLOODY LOT

REGIONAL DISABILITY COUNCIL

WHEN MINISTER FOR DISABILITIES IN QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT HON WARREN PITT MP CREATED 10 REGIONAL COUNCILS EACH COMPRISING 10 VOLUNTEERS SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT

I WAS A MEMBER OF WIDE BAY COUNCIL

WE CONDUCTED PUBLIC MEETINGS IN TOWNS WITHIN OUR AREA ,DIDCOVERING PROBLEMS AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

WE DID NOT TAKE UP INDIVIDUAL CASES

THE ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCE WAS HELD WITH GREAT MOTOVATIONAL SPEAKERS AND EXPERTS IN THE DISABILITY SECTOR GIVING EXCELLENT TALKS,WORKSHOPS ETC

THE COUNCILS WERE A VERY VALUABLE ASSET TO GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
I HAD TO RESIGN WHEN I MOVED TO SE ASIA

THE BLIGH GOVERNMENT DESTROYED THE COUNCILS,AS IT DID WITH OTHER GOVT ASSETTS

PICTURE
ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCE
WIDE BAY MEMBERS WITH STATE CHAIRMAN,WHO WAS VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND HAD A LOVELY GUIDE DOG

MA AND PA RULE, this is for yachties m.o.b drill

IN MY CRUISING DAYS,HAVING A SUNDOWNER ,OR TWO ETC I USUALLY RAISED THE QUESTION OF MAN OVERBOARD RECOVERY DRILL(most boats were 2 person crew).
I WAITED PATIENTLY AS THE WILLIAMSON TURN WAS DETAILED (ITS TEXT BOOK DRILL)
THEN I WOULD EXPLAIN THE MA AND PA RULE ( a yank devised it)
AND WATCH FACES CHANGE IN WONDER,AS ITS SO SIMPLE

WHEN A CREW GOES OVERBOARD
FREE THE AUTO HELM
TURN THE YACHT INTO THE WIND
WHEN THE HEADSAIL BACKS ,
TURN YOUR RUDDER OPPOSITE WAY

THE YACHT WILL NOW STOP

IF THIS ACTION IS CARRIED OUT FAST,THE YACHT PROBABLY HAS TRAVELLED 2 BOAT LENGTHS

NOW DEPLOY YOUR LIFE LINE TO THE PERSON IN WATER AND HAUL ONBOARD,OR MOST CREW CAN SWIM 2 BOAT LENGTHS

PRESSING MOB ON GPS,NOTING COURSE,DOING A WILLIAMSON TURN,ADJUSTING SAILS,TRYING TO OBSERVE THE MOB,IN PANIC SITUATIONS,.....IS NOT ON

WHEN I HAD CREW.....THE FIRST THING I TAUGHT THEM WAS......MA AND PA
AFTER ALL IT COULD BE ME ONE DAY IN THE WATER

ENJOY YOUR CRUISING WITH PEACE OF MIND

UNRELATED

MY PEST CONTROL VEHICLE AT TIN CAN BAY

MY HOUSE IN TIN CAN BAY.SOLD ON MY RETURN FROM OVERSEAS SAILING AND PURCHASED CURRENT HOUSE IN BUNDABERG

PEST CONTROL FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

I WAS THE FIRST EVER LICENCED PEST MANAGER TO SERVICE ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER COMMUNITIES IN FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND ( F N Q )
FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS I WOULD FLY TO BAMAGA IN MY FRIENDS 6 SEAT LIGHT PLANE RAY WOULD THEN WORK BESIDE ME AND WE SPLIT THE NETT AFTER USUALLY 5 WEEKS 7 DAYS SLOG,SPRAYING USUALLY 25 HOUSES EACH DAY FOR COCKROACHES,SPIDERS ANTS,AND SOME TERMITE TREATMENTS
THE STORIES I COULD TELL WOULD TAKE DAYS.
I MADE MANY FRIENDS AMONG THE LOCALS.

THE SECOND YEAR I SAILED UP IN ROSA M AND TOOK SOME KIDS OUT FOR A DAY SAIL
PHOTOS
RAY AND TREV WITH A MORNINGS CATCH IN THE JACKI JACKI RIVER AMONGST THE CROCS
YO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS,I ALWAYS LIKE DRESSING UP
SOME OF THE KIDS ON ROSA M WITH CAPTAIN TREVOR

EARLY TRIPS WE HIRED THIS HOLDEN CAR TO GET US AROUND TO WORK

LATER I PURCHASED THIS ECONOVAN ON THURSDAY ISLAND AND SHIPPED IT TO BAMAGA AS I FINISHED A 5 MONTH CONTRACT WITH A LOCAL ISLANDER COMMITTEE,KERIBA KAZIL , WHEN I CONDUCTED A NEED SURVEY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE TORRES STRAITS. I FLEW TO EVERY INHABITED ISLAND TO INTERVIEW ALL PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY,AND LOCAL COUNCIL,TO DECIDE WHAT SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED FOR THEM BY COMMONWEALTH HEALTH.
GOOD PAY,GOOD PROJECT,GREAT RESULTS FOR THE PEOPLE.
I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT
NOTE THE RED DUST AS A ROAD ALL OVER,EXCEPT MAIN STREET

SAILING BLUESWIFT IN INDONESIA DARWIN TO AMBON AND BEYOND

YACHTIES USE THE RACE AS A WAY INTO INDONESIA WITHOUT MASSIVE PAPERWORK,THE YACHT CLUB DOES IT FOR US
5 CREW WITH ME ,3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS,NON STOP,TO ARRIVE 2ND LAST AT 2 AM,AFTER SPENDING ADDITIONAL 10500 DOLLARS TO GET BLUESWIFT TO CAT ONE SAFETY TO ENTER.AFTER COMPULSORY 5 DAYS FOR PAPERWORK WE ALL WENT ON OUR DIFFERENT PASSAGES.

IM NOW DOWN TO 1 CREW AS WE SAIL THROUGH INDONESIA,STOPPING OVERNIGHT AT SMALL VILLAGES,AVOIDING LARGE CITIES,IM SAILING IN COMPANY WITH
2 YACHTS SIMILAR SIZE,FOR SAFETY
VISITING KALIMANTAN TO PLAY WITH THE ORANS
BALI TO MONKEY FOREST VILLAGE
RINCA ISLAND TO SEE KO
MODO DRAGONS IN THE WILD

I WOULD FIND THE LOCAL SCHOOL IN SMALL VILLAGES,ASK THE ENGLISH TEACHER IF HE WOULD LIKE ME TO COME TOMORROW AND TALK ENGLISH TO THE CLASS,WHAT A TIME I HAD WITH THE KIDS,AS OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBOUR THEY WERE FACINATED WITH AUSTRALIA THEY KNEW WORDS BUT COULDNT PUT A SENTENCE TOGETHER....PITY

PHOTOS
WHICH ONE IS MONKEY
NOTE THE GOATEE BEARD
MY LOCAL FOOTBALL FANS
BALI UBID MONKEY VILLAGE

I HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES

AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEER COASTGUARD

LIKING TO ASSIST PEOPLE AND MY LOVE OF WATERCRAFT ,I SPENT NEARLY 25 YEARS ,AS I MOVED ABOUT ,IN 3 A.V.C.G FLOTILLAS
I FINISHED WITH RATING OF COXWAIN...DRIVING THE RESCUE BOAT
ON CALL 24/7,GOING OUT AT ALL HOURS OF DAY AND NIGHT... COMMING HOME TO GO TO WORK,AFTER A HARROWING NIGHT RESCUE WAS ALL THE GO .
RAISING FUNDS TO KEEP THE FLOTALLA OPERATING,SAFETY CHECKS ON BOATS,RESCUING STUPID BOATIES ,PUBLIC EDUCATION ON WATER SAFETY,ATTENDING CLASSES FOR UPGRADING RATINGS,TRAINING EXERCISES WITH WATER POLICE,QLD GOVT MARINE BOATS,OTHER AVCG FLOTILLAS

....AND YOU HAD TO BUY YOUR UNIFORM AND PAY ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP.
I WAS ELECTED STAFF OFFICER FOR 1 YEAR DURING THIS SERVICE
A,V,C,G HAVE NO AUTHORITY AND WE HAD TO PUT UP WITH ABUSE AND NO THANK YOU SOMETIMES.WE COULDNT EVEN CHARGE COSTS AFTER A RESCUE

PICTS
MY FAVOURITE SKIPPER IN TIN CAN BAY FLOTILLA WASHING DOWN AFTER RESCUE
JOHN GATES ( J G )
TOWING A PROFESSIONAL SPANNER CRAB BOAT OVER THE WIDE BAY BAR

MY BOAT FLEET

IVE ALWAYS LOVED THE WATER AND BEING ON THE WATER IN BOATS.
COUNTING AND TRYING TO REMEMBER I RECON IVE OWNED 2 TINNIES,1 FIBREGLAS 18 FT SWIFTCRAFT DESIGN......BLUE COLOUR....HENCE THE NAME BLUESWIFT

ROSA M 52 FT OVERALL STEEL SAILING KETCH ,MY FIRST SAIL BOAT,WHICH I SWAPPED MY BATCHELOR PAD FOR ON THE SUNSHINE COAST , AND WENT SAILING UP AND DOWN THE QUEENSLAND COAST AND TWICE TO THURSDAY ISLAND, SOLD HER IN TIN CAN BAY.
NOW IM BOATLESS AND FRIGHTENED,SO THE SEARCH COMMENCES...ON THE GOLD COAST,AFTER STARTING IN MACKAY AND WORKING DOWN ..I FOUND.. LOVESHACK
A 36 FT FIBREGLASS ,CHALLENGER AUSTRALIAN DESIGN SLOOP,OWNER BUILT ON GOLD COAST ALONGSIDE 2 OTHERS,WHOM I EVENTUALLY RAN INTO THE SKIPPERS AFLOAT. I SAILED HER AFTER CHANGING NAME AND EVENTUALLY GETTING AUSTRALIAN REGISTRATION TO PHUKET,KOH SAMUI,EAST COAST OF MALAYSIA,THROUGH INDONESIA,BALI KALIMANTAN ,SINGAPORE ETC.
DEPARTING IN THE 1998 DARWIN TO AMBON RACE ,I CAME 2ND LAST,AS IM A CRUISER NOT A RACER

MOST OF MY SAILING WAS SOLO IN BOTH YACHTS.
I SOLD HER AT KAWANA ON SUNSHINE COAST
AND EVENTUALLY BOUGHT A TRAILER SAILER ,WHEN IN BUNDABERG

IM NOW BOATLESS, OCCASIONALLY I GET THE SORROWS THINKING ABOUT 17 YEARS AFLOAT ,THEN I TELL MYSELF ,...TOO BLOODY OLD,HEALTH PROBLEMS OVERWEIGHT

PICS ROSA M AT MARINA TIN CAN BAY.BORO BONITO, TWIN KEEL KETCH

BLUE SWIFT UNDER SAIL AT TIN CAN BAY ,I SAILED HER OVERSEAS

...ENJOY THE LAND TREV

THE GAME FISHING LIFE

I BECAME INTERESTED IN GAME FISHING WHEN PEST CONTROLLING ON THE SUNSHINE COAST
I WAS HON SECRETARY OF LOCAL A.N.S.A CLUB FOR A YEAR
FORMED THE HAPPY MOMENTS FISHING CLUB
FOUNDER SECT OF SUNSHINE COAST GAME FISHING CLUB
DURING THIS TIME I WAS RUNNING A ALUMINIUM 12 FT, TWIN OUTBOARDS ,SPECIALLY RIGGED OUT FOR GAME FISHING
PHOTOS
COMMING HOME AFTER A DISASTEROUS
NON CATCH DAY,TROLLING A FEATHER LURE,I HOOKED UP TO A LITTLE RAT 31.5 KLO BLACK MARLIN,A CLUB RECORD ON 10 KG LINE.
UNFORTUNATELY IT RAMMED THE STEEL HULL OF THE CHARTER BOAT AND DIED.
A SHORT 14 MIN FIGHT

THIS WAS MY FIRST KILL,BUT SECOND MARLIN CAUGHT.THE FIRST WAS AT INNERSFAIL,AFTER THE COMP HAD FINISHED, CONVENTION ALLOWS THE ANGLER TO KILL HIS FIRST CATCH,ID HAD MY FUN,I WON....I BEAT THE FISH,SO I TAGGED AND RELEASED HIM

THIS ONE WE TOOK 3 FIBREGLASS MOULDS,IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER ,IN THE CARPORT,AFTER 4 DAYS,THE SMELL.... AS WE REMOVED THE PLASTER.1 MOULD IS IN BAR AT VILLA NOOSA HOTEL,I HUNG MINE ON WALL IN LOUNGEROOM TILL I SOLD LAST CHRISTMAS AT GARAGE SALE IN BUNDABERG
THE LARGE PHOTO APPEARED IN SUNSHINE COAST DAILY NEWSPAPER, AFTER HALF A BOTTLE OF SCOTCH WAS CONSUMED
OTHER IS FIGHTING THE MARLIN

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY QUEENSLAND

I BECAME INTERESTED IN M.S WHEN MY LATE BROTHER DAVID WAS DIAGNOSED
I JOINED THE COMMITTEE,NEXT YEAR ELECTED STATE PRESIDENT.EVENTUALLY I WAS APPOINTED FIRST EVER FULL TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
DURING THIS DEVELOPING PERIOD I WAS A MEMBER OF MANY DISABILITY COMMITTEES IN BRISBANE
MY 6 YEARS SAW THE SOCIETY DEVELOP

AND GROW WITH A 41 BED NURSING HOME,THE LARGEST MULTI DIAGNOSTIC NUEROLOGICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE IN SOUTHERN HEMESPHERE,A HOLIDAY HOME ON GOLD COAST,CLINIC IN TOWNSVILLE,THRIFT SHOPS ,140 STAFF QLD WIDE.

DURING THE EARLY 70s APEX CLUBS AUST WIDE ADOPTED M S AS THEIR NATIONAL PROJECT.THIS ALLOWED THE SOCIETY TO BUILD A SEPARATE REHAB CENTRE ATTATCHED TO GRANSTON LODGE NURSING HOME,A HEATED INDOOR THERAPY POOL,DAY CARE CENTRE

QUEEN ELIZABETH AWARDED ME A MEDAL FOR MY COMMUNTY SERVICES WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE MID 70s.

I WAS ELECTED THE FIRST HON SECT OF THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY OF AYSTRALIA,A NATIONAL BODY OF ALL STATE M S SOCIETIES

PHOTOS.
OPENING OF NEW REHAB CENTRE BY HON MINISTER SENATOR MARGARET GUILFOIL
THEN STATE PRESIDENT MICK DOLLY,SENATOR GUILFOIL AND ME
MONEY RAISING AT STATE APEX CONFERENCE QLD , I STILL HAD BLACK HAIR IN THOSE DAYS
HOSTING A NATIONAL M.S CONFERENCE AT GRANSTON LODGE BRISBANE,...IN A KAFTAN !!!

THE QUEENS UNIFORM..... 6 YEARS

MY ARMY DAYS WERE IN ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY (fd branch on the ww11, 25 pounder field guns)
SIR WILLIAM SLIM ,WHEN GOV GEN OF AUST,SIGNED MY COMMISSION LETTERS PATENT ....AS LIEUTENANT.
I SERVED IN 14 FD REGT,HQ RAA 2 DIV AND 23 FD REGT
I SPECIALISED IN INSTRUCTION
during my time ,the army went through 2 reorganisations
WHEN I JOINED WE WERE ORGANISED AS IN WW2
THE FIRST CHANGE WAS TO T E, TROPICAL ESTABLISHMENT,BUT THAT DIDNT WORK TOO WELL ,SO P.T...PENTROPIC DIVISION WAS ESTABLISHED,REDUCING THE BATTERIES IN THE REGIMENTS FROM 3 TO 2 ,BUT INCREASING TROOPS TO 6 GUNS FROM 4 ,SO WE STILL HAD 24 GUNS PER REGIMENT,BUT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO SUPPORT FORWARD TROOPS UBIQUE...OUR MOTTO...EVERYWHERE
PHOTOS

WEDDING TO MARY MCMILLAN
DRIVERS COURSE FOR WW2 GUN TRACTORS
SOME OF MY REGIMENTAL COMMAND POST STAFF,AS EXERCISE ADJUTANT,ON FIELD FIRING EXERCISES
14 FD REGT OFFICERS GROUP PHOTO
A CREW FROM 14 FD REGT FIRING QUEENS BIRTHDAY SALUTE IN SYDNEY BOTANICAL GARDENS

CIVIL DEFENCE LOCAL CONTROLLER ROCKDALE

IN THE 50s,WE WERE IN THE COLD WAR ERA
MAJOR GENERAL IVAN DOUGHERTY AND THE LOCAL ROCKDALE COUNCIL APPOINTED ME ,IN A VOLUNTARY POSITION,LOCAL CONTROLLER 11.2 SQUARE MILES AND 65,000 SOULS
MY RESPONSIBILITIES WERE TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS,DEFINE LOCAL WARDEN PATROL AREAS,ORGANISE FIRST AID CLASSES,INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO CONSTRUCT A BOMB SHELTER,ORGANISE RESCUE TRAINING TEAMS,PLAN FOR EVACUATION TO COOTAMUNDRA,OUR DESIGNATED AREA ,SHOULD THE BOMB GO OFF ON SYDNEY.
WE ACTUALLY DID A MINI TRIAL ONE LONG WEEKEND DRIVING THERE AND BEING PROCESSED BY THE COOTAMUNDRA GROUP,PASSING THROUGH BLUE MOUNTAINS GROUP WHO PROVIDED FOOD,FIRST AID,WELFARE FACILITIES (en route)
MY FIRST EVER AEROPLANE FLIGHT WAS COURTESEY OF N S W GOVT TO FLY TO MT MACEDON CIVIL DEFENCE TRAINING SCHOOL(the old Country club,staffed by ex army instructers) FOR A LOCAL CONTROLLERS COURSE
PHOTO IM BACK RIGHT AS VIEWING

EARLY DAYS

I ORGANISED 2 SOCIAL TENNIS CLUBS TUES NIGHT AND WINTER SUNDAY AFTERNOON SUMMER TIME WAS SWIMTIME,EVEN WITH MY SKIPPERS HAT (boatless) THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR 1938 WILLIES ,I PURCHASED FOR 50 POUNDS FROM MY GRANDFATHER,INCIDENTALLY THIS VEHICLE DELIVERED ME HOME FROM HOSPITAL.OBSERVE THE SNOW ,THIS WAS A LONG WEEKEND TRIP WITH 2 CO WORKERS.PHOTO TAKEN CROSSING BROWN MOUNTAIN,OUTSIDE CANBERRA,I RECON I WAS ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD