Twenty Years Since This Article Was Published. These Three Gentlemen were intrinsic in setting up The Odd Bods.

ODD BODS MARCH TOGETHER

Herald Sun April 22nd 1999

COMMENT:

Rex19 April 2019 at 11:12

My father Francis George Haw was an Odd Bod. Couldn't wait for Australia to get its act together and went to Canada to take part in what I think was called the Empire Training Scheme. He ended up as a WO2 rear gunner in a Wellington bomber. Took part in the defence of Malta and finished his operational duties when his Wellington crashed in Libya in 1942. He was the only survivor and suffered horrific injuries including a broken back. He ended up at Sale Air Base in Victoria as an air gunnery instructor until the war ended.After the war he married my mum, but was forced to spend many years back in hospital trying to fully recover from plane crash injuries. He studied law while in hospital and later became a practising barrister and solicitor, mostly in Melbourne.

Assistant Editor21 April 2019 at 19:13

Thanks Rex. Really appreciate you sharing the story of your father. Although my father was lucky to come back without injury, the stories he did tell in his later life were obviously forever playing on his mind. We are lucky to have had these men as role models and we will all try to ensure that the next generations never forget the sacrifice that was made for our freedom.

20/4/2019 17:15 Thanks for your story Rex. My Father also suffered back injuries when his Mitchell B-25 crash landed. Not as serious as a broken back however. Some tough times. - Greg Smith

Stirring ANZAC Speech By RAAF Veteran

Friends of the Odd Bods member, Gabrielle Hogan, gave us a heads up on a recent article in Sydney Newspapers about RAAF Pilot Eric Barton and it is one of his ANZAC Day speeches that particularly caught her attention.
Eric Barton flew as a Lancaster pilot with No 186 Squadron Royal Air Force RAF between October 1944 and March 1945. He was part of the Pathfinders, the target-marking squadrons in RAF Bomber Command.
In a speech at the Cronulla RSL Anzac Dawn Service in 2013 he delivered a powerful message. He told the crowd: 

"You don’t need to wear a uniform to be an Anzac; you need to treasure and fight for our laws, our individual right of free speech. Don’t waste your freedom. Don’t be a ‘she’ll-be-right-mate’ Australian; be an Anzac Australian like your oldies. They didn’t say ‘she’ll be right, mate'. They made sure it would be right by doing, and in many cases by giving their lives to make sure it would be right mate.”

Eric Barton passed away in February 2019. The link to the full article can be found here - Eric Barton WW2 Pathfinder - "the best of the best".

Tom Rossiter - Peter Scully Interview

AVM Peter Scully (Rtd.) has given us kind permission to publish his wonderful interviews with WWII Airmen and we have just uploaded his account by Odd Bod Tom Rossiter.
Peter's interviews are remarkable for the insight into veterans thoughts and experiences during wartime. 
You will find more of Peter's interviews and other stories of Odd Bods listed in the side panel.

Communications From Members

Behind the scenes at Friends Of The Odd Bods there is plenty of communication going on as you can imagine.

Our annual invitation to the ANZAC March usually brings a flurry of emails and members like Bryan Wilcockson from Selby in the UK like to join the spirit of the invitation even if distance might be a problem -

“Navigator to Pilot”
“Roger that, march from Selby to Melbourne definitely a ‘do-able’ on ANZAC day. Request permission to march one abreast (it’s not that I’m a ‘Billy-No-Mates’ just struggling to find another ‘Odd-Bod’ in Selby)
Riverwalk Amora Hotel not found. Suggest rendezvous at Melbourne Arms  53°52′04″N 000°50′19″W”

Bryan

One year we will have to get Bryan over for the March or maybe take up his offer of a reunion at the Melbourne Arms.

Another correspondent is Gabrielle Hogan, widow of Odd Bod Harl Hogan, who writes the most wonderfully descriptive emails. Gabrielle will be attending the Palm Beach ANZAC March up in Sydney this year and she wishes us every success with our march while "thinking of all who served their country, and so many of those who did, losing their lives,  in the wars."
Check out the article about RAAF Pilot Eric Barton and his resounding ANZAC Day speech which Gabrielle alerted us to.

A big thank you to all who have communicated over recent weeks and our thoughts go out to those who for various reasons, can't make it on ANZAC Day.

ANZAC Day Invitation - Thursday 25th April 2019

Dear Friends,

          Anzac Day is not far away and we are pleased to send you an invitation to this year’s Anzac Day reunion which is being held at the same location as last year’s successful event -  The Riverwalk Amora Hotel on the banks of the Yarra in Richmond.

          There have been some changes to the arrangements for the ANZAC march. You will find details for the day on the invitation form (see ANZAC Day 2019 tab above) and we ask you to complete the details as soon as possible particularly so that we can prepare transport arrangements. Arrangements like car transport in the march, bus transport to the reunion and luncheon bookings, need to be organised well in advance.

          Invitation forms have been sent out via email, hard copy for those without email addresses, and can also be accessed by clicking on the ANZAC Day 2019 tab at the top of this page.

           In addition you will find details of the Wesley College ANZAC Day Commemoration Service on Friday 26th April below.

          

          We look forward to seeing you on Anzac Day and in the meantime if you have any queries please direct them to Peter Randell (0410271941), Gary Elliott (0418523974), Greg Smith (0406222020),  or Michael Rossiter (0418324383).

Best Wishes

Bruce

Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd)

President

FRIENDS OF THE ODD BODS ASSOCIATION INC. - 2019

Addendum:

Wesley College ANZAC Day Campus Commemoration Service.

Friday 26^th April 2019

-        Glen Waverley Campus

-        Friday 26^th April – 11:10am in the Prest Quad.

-        Morning tea before the service at 10:30am in the Alexander Room in the Senior School.

-        Reserved parking will be available next to the Coates Pavilion.

-        Includes presentation of the G.V.Smith award to the year 10 student who has written the best essay about the ANZAC spirit.

-        All Friends of the Odd Bods Association members are invited.

-        RSVP to Peter Randell peter.randell5@gmail.com

Dambuster Fred Sutherland Passes Away

Dambuster Fred Sutherland died on Monday 21 January, at the age of 95. He was one of the only two survivors of the men who flew on the Dams Raid in May 1943. Sutherland was the front gunner in the aircraft piloted by Les Knight, which dropped the 'bouncing bomb' which broke the Eder Dam.

A comprehensive story including interviews with family and friends can be found on the Dambusters Blog (click to go to the blog).

Mosquito Takes To NZ Skies After $10m Refit

Movie "Lancaster Skies"

The movie "Lancaster Skies" has now been released and DVDs are available for those interested. Details are available by going to this link - Lancaster Skies Website

In the meantime you can click on the picture below for the latest official trailer.




And If you want to hear those glorious engines one more time here is a link to an instragram post with a video of a Lancaster flying low overhead - Lancaster Makes a Noise. 
(Thanks to Michael Rossiter for these links)

Biblical Explanation of Life Cycles...

There is a long tradition of publishing humorous stories in Odd Bods publications and here is one that the likes of Walter Eacott would have surely deemed appropriate to tickle our fancy. Thanks to Peter Randell for the story.

On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said, "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?

And God said that it was good.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said, "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span."

The monkey said, "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?"

And God again said that it was good.

On the third day, God created the cow and said, "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said "That's kind of hard to want me to live for sixty years.

How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"

And God agreed it was good.

On the fourth day, God created humans and said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."

But the human said, "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So that is why for our first twenty years, we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years, we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years, we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

 Life has now been explained to you. There is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I'm doing it as a public service. If you are looking for me I will be on the front porch.

Raphael Sponsor Reports - Supporting Disadvantaged Children.

Friends of the Odd Bods support three children at the Raphael Ryder Cheshire centre in India and here are the latest reports on Asma, Sarthak and Abbas.

The Friends contribute to the upkeep of these children from Association funds and a number of members supplement with additional contributions.

Remembrance Day At Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital

Friends of the Odd Bods attended the service held on Friday 9th November at the Austin Hospital/Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and rekindled our strong association with this site. 

An Odd Bods plaque is located in the memorial gardens of the hospital while the old Odd Bods banner is proudly displayed in the foyer. Links to Odd Bods co-founder and past Secretary, George Smith and past President, Walter Eacott ,can be found on the walls.

Current President, Bruce Waxman, and Treasurer, Gary Elliott, attended this years service and we thank them for these photos.

Artistic Tribute On Remembrance Day

The end of WW1 is celebrated on Remembrance Day 11th November in many ways including the Friends of the Odd Bods participation in a service at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital last Friday.

But an English artist has created a display in a Slimbridge Churchyard that has emotions running around the globe for its stunning portrayal of soldiers standing at their graves. The life-size figures of 11 men have been placed in Slimbridge churchyard in Gloucestershire. 

Friends Contribute To Ryder Cheshire Organisation

Friends of the Odd Bods continue a long association with Ryder Cheshire and their excellent support work in third world countries. Our latest donation of $750 comes from Association funds and specific contributions from members.

Link to Ryder Cheshire website.

A Great Lancaster Photo

Thanks to Michael Rossiter for this shot.

Annual Subscriptions Now Due

Dear Friends,

It is time for Friends Of The Odd Bods Inc. to attend to its financial needs and collect subscriptions for the year 2018.

At the last committee meeting, the Association decided to leave its Annual Subscription at $25.00.  Cost increases in some areas of operation have been partially offset by the gradual transition from hard copy newsletters to emails and the consequent savings in printing and postage.

As previously announced, we have dispensed with subscriptions for former veteran members of the Odd Bods (UK) Association who have been automatically transferred to Friends Of The Odd Bods Association as have widows of members.

Please complete the subscription form (click here) and send your fee at the earliest opportunity so that we can continue the work of Pressing On... Remembering.

It would be appreciated if you could complete payment by 19th October 2018.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd)

President

FRIENDS OF THE ODD BODS ASSOCIATION INC.
1/10/2018

Members with an email address will have received this advice via email.

Bomber Command Winter Get Together

Spitfire (2018) A New Documentary

A new documentary on the legendary Spitfire is receiving acclaim for its combination of modern and historical footage as well as the interviews with veterans. Click on the photo for a view of the official trailer.


We thought that one of the online comments about the trailer deserved repeating -

"If the Spitfire was a woman, she'd be Miss World - it's that beautiful!"

Thanks to Michael Rossiter for the link.

Some Other WWII Aircraft

One of our members commented recently that some of our famous WWII aircraft just don't get enough exposure so here are a few shots to help redress the balance.

Short Stirling

Handley Page Halifax MK111

Mitchell B-25

Vickers Wellington

Any others you would like us to show?

Bomber Command Commemorative Service 2018

Jack Bell, Robyn Bell, Jan Dimmick, and Gerald & Faye McPherson were among attendees at this year’s commemorative service at the Shrine.

The Aircraft shown in the top graphic is a Short Stirling 1 of No149 (East India) Squadron RAF at Mildenhall, Suffolk, England circa 1942. A posthumous Victoria Cross was awarded to Flight Sergeant R.H.Middleton, RAAF for his part on a raid by 149 Squadron Stirlings on the night of 28^th-29^th November 1942.

New Movie - Lancaster Skies

Michael Rossiter has sent us this link to a trailer for an upcoming movie that will likely interest all members.