Meet & Greets

To All -: A pleasant afternoon was had at the Granville RSL with the addition of a number of new faces. Sadly a number of regulars didn't 'front' which if they had would've possibly made it our largest gathering ever !!

Be it so, a total of 16 illustrious greenies gathered with apologies from 10 others.

Those present ( see pics ) were -:

Bill Shaw, John Martin ( from Coffs Harbour ), Bob Sell, Pete McGurk, Arthur ( Twitch ) Hawkins ( from Toogoolawah ), Stuart Harding, Peter Maher, Bruce Bowmaker, Ted Schloithe, Bruce Richens, Alan Ford, Bill Doyle, Alan ( Buck) Ryan, Matt Hozl, John McMillan, Alan ( Jock ) McLeod.

Thank you all for company !!

Pete McGurk.

PS: Our thoughts go with 'Twitch' Hawkins who is about to have chemo for lung cancer -- result of 20 years before the mast no doubt in asbestos "country" as we all endured during whatever period we served in pussers !

	John Martin, Maca McMillan, Pete Maher, Ted Schloithe
Stuart harding, Bob Sell, Bill Shaw, John Martin
	Matt Hozl, Alan Ford, Bruce Richens, Bruce Bowmaker
Arthur ( Twitch ) Hawkins, Alan ( Buck ) Ryan, Matt Hozl, Bill Doyle
	Ted Schloithe, John McMillan, McGurky, Buck Ryan

WA - Rosie O'Grady's

A good day with 13 Greenie's turning up varying in age from Kev Gleeson (Hobart 1) down to - ME??

Those rocking up were:

Les Lever, Peter Dales, Pete Bradley, Andy Keay, Ron Clement, Gary Bowater, Ron Rowe, Tony Cuming, Peter Bailey, Keith Varley, Ron Jackson, Kev Gleeson, Mel Smales

Also later in the day Susan Vanderwal wife of the late Dutchy (Filip) Vanderwal, and her son Joel, stopped in with some interesting photo's of a younger Dutchy. She was pleased to meet some of the fellows that Dutchy had spoken of.

Appologies were received from:

John Stockings, Harry Hills, Colin Benporath, Denis Coombe, Brian ‘Bunghole’ Williams, Norm Noack, Ross Jennings, Doug Stewart, Tom (Dutchy) van der Togt, Kevin Haynes, Clive Plumber, Don Duncan, Roy Jewelly

Regards

Mel

	L to R Les Lever; Ron Jackson; Peter Bradley; Kev Gleeson
L to R Gary Bowater; Andy Keay Keith Varley
	L to R Peter Bailey; Gary Bowater
L to R Kev Gleeson; Mel Smales; Peter Bailey
	L to R Ron Rowe; Peter Dales; Ron Clement
L to R Joel Roberts and Susan Vanderwal

A record equalling 47 Greenies took the time to get together for 3 hours and tell lies at the November SA Meet & Greet held at the Port Adelaide Naval Association.

Those in attendance...Frank Belcher, Wally Birch, Gazza Blake, John Bolton, Gene Boron, Trev Brown, John Bushell, Mick Cain, Bob Chandler, Jock Colligan, Roy Collins, Orm Cooper, Mauri Davey, Kim Daw, Chris Egan, Mike Fisher, Doug Haskings, Darkie Henwood, Norm Holden, Bill Hollas, Jeff Howlett, Rock Hudson, Ray Kemp, Bob King, Gary Lang, Magoo Magor, Trev McKerlie, Terry Merrit, Graham Mills, Terry Norman, Michael Parker, Ian Peterson, John Phillips, Pottsy Potterat, Chris Rowe, Geoff Salkeld, John Saywell, Phil Shephard, Ian Short, Mini Shuttleworth, Spotty Spotswood, Gordon Stringer, Bill Swan, Alan Tassel, Sam Trigge, Jack Van Eyck plus a visitor from Qld - Brian Germain.

Readers will have to work out for themselves who’s who in the attached photo from the names above. It was too hard to try and get names and positions in the photo on the day.

In addition we received emailed apologies from another 26 Greenies. These included…Ron Beaumont, John Bannister, Dave Betts, Geoff Cann, Peter Downs-Wooley, Ray Elliot, Alan Fletcher, Steve Fribbens, Gary Gosden, Andrew Harrison, Trevor Hill, Rod Huppatz, Bob Kearvell, Tony Larkin, Tony Mackereth, Bert Newell, Paul Normandale, Ron Passek, Blue Reidy, Bob Reidy, Pat Ryan, Greg Smith, David Turnbull, Graham Watson, Mike Witcher and Andrew Zeppel.

One notable absentee was the Duty Battery EM. Our resident photographer (Bob King) was having difficulty with the batteries in his flash and kept us kneeling on the floor for what seemed like at least 2 hours while he tried to sort it out. With an average age of somewhere in the area of (say) 30+, this wasn’t a fun exercise!!!

Our regular long trekker, Trev McKerlie, made his usual 500km round trip to be with us and we also welcomed a first timer in Frank “Hairy” Belcher who also made a 500km round trip from Laura to join us. Both will be there again in May! Thanks guys.

I know “Hairy” Belcher enjoyed himself because he regaled us with many a story of the time that he and Gene Boron shared a house together in Melbourne. You’ll need to ask Geno about the time that he entered the wrong house on his return from a big night out. It was a case of right street, wrong house AND wrong bed!

Many thanks to those who made the effort to be there on the day, and I know we’ll another big turn out in May. See you all then.

Queensland - The Irish Club

Those who attended were:

Chris McKay, Dennis Clem, Tony Isaac, Damian Petrie, John Marsh, Jim Palmer, Ray Maskell, Brian Joyce, Col McGregor, Tony Gerding, Phil (Blue) Collins, Roger Dewar, John Swan,Rudi Bianchi, William Serisier, Mick Hamilton, Gabby Hayes, Ken Smith and Bob Laxton.

Attendees that I have listed are ; Jim Little, Bob Henson, Leo Farrelly, Greg and Margaret Nason, Ron Jemeson, Alex McGowan, Rex and Pauline Pusser, Roger Stewart and another chap who came late! Unfortunately, no photos were taken on the day.

You were right about the venue - it is central and is a bus terminal point, Future M&Gs will be held there.

Best Regards

Roger

Victoria - Stella Maris Seafarer Centre

This was our most successful M & G yet with 23 in attendance as well as 24 apologies, still not the attendance of SA members.

I was fortunate to spend the November 2006 M & G with South Australians PG members and the May 2007 M & G in the land of the long white cloud, I would like to thank Bob Farr for standing in for me on both occasions. Members caught up with their colleagues and the news of what has happened since they last met, several vowed to bring other colleagues to the next M & G. Everone felt Bob Farr should be awarded a cuff rate for “smallie eats” Chef as he was in charge of catering.

Apologies were received from: - Glen Smith, Collin Green, Steve Willoughby, Bob Snell, Chris McConville, Peter Elton, Michael Lynch, Bernd Rottinger, Tom Albrecht, Steve Dunstone, Ron Heenan, Neil Weller, Norm Hindle, Laurie Williams, Fred Slavin, Dennis Campbell, Graham Pollock, Jim Roles, Ray Fryer, Peter Barnes, Gordon Knight, Geoff Lowe and Neil Irving-Dusting.

To those that were on the sick list, we wish them a speedy recovery and look forward to their company at future M & G’s.

Members keenly snapped up the new caps.

Ian Benier

Back row: - (L to R) Herman Munnink, Ray Lawrence, Ray Drake, Charlie Chambers, Dutchy Andrews (Verheyen),David Southwall, Geoffrey Threlfall, Tim Attril, Peter Simons, Michael Lewis, Chris Hakkennes, Herb Sunderland & Ian Benier.

Front row: - (L to R) Bob Farr, Paul Payne, Les Bennet, Pete Repschlager, Brums Bermingham, John Van’T Hoff, Alan Theobald, Lou Evans, John Owens & Joe Bauman.

MAY 2007 . . . .

SA - Port Adelaide NAA Rooms

Although numbers were down a little on previous Meet & Greets, 32 Ex-Greenies mustered at the Port Adelaide Naval Association club rooms for the May M & G and had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. The really pleasing thing was that we had 8 first timers attend, and they'll all be back in November.

Those in attendance included Wally Birch, Darryl Blackeby, John Bolton, Gene Boron, Mick Cain, Terry Cain, Kim Daw, Ian Eglinton, Mike Fisher, Alan Fletcher, Doug Haskings, Darkie Henwood, Bob King, Gary Lang, Mal Magor, Bob McLean, Graham Mills, Paul Normandale, Mick Parker, Ian Peterson, Dave Potterat, Bob Reidy, Chris Rowe, Pat Ryan, Ian Short, Spotty Spotswood, Gordon Stringer, Bill Swan, Alan Tassel, Tink Tancock, John Trigge and Paul Wiliams.

The "What tha..?" moment of the day was when a group of elderly gents from a Nursing Home out on a bus ride came into the club for some refreshment. Their volunteer driver turned out to be one Alan Newell (ex POEP) who had no idea that the website or the M & G's existed. He was soon talking up a storm and telling lies with the best of us.

There were also 20 apologies received form Brian Alstrom, Ron Beaumont, Trev Brow, John Bushell, Jock Colligan, Ray Elliot, Steve Fribbins, Norm Holden, Zed Huppatz, Bob Kearvell, Ray Kemp, Tony Mackereth, Trev McKerlie, Terry Norman, Mini Shuttleworth, Paul Smithers, Jack Van Eyck, Graham Watson, Mike Witcher and Zep Zeppel.

The best excuse for non-attendance came from our perennial traveller Trev McKerlie. Trev regularly makes a 300km round trip to join us, however this time the rains came in big and Trev was up to his arm pits in "farmer stuff". See you next time Trev.

The weakest excuse for non-attendance was from Graham Watson who reckons he couldn't pull himself away from Sweden where he is working with SAAB, for the day to join us. See you back here soon, Doc!

All in all an enjoyable day and with 32 attendees and 20 apologies almost half of the SA mailing list acknowledged the day and it augurs well for future M & G's.

The following URL will link you to a web-site that has all the photos of the day taken by our resident in-house photographer Bob King. Thanks Bob.

http://news.webshots.com/album/559099711wntKQx

John Bolton

NSW - Granville RSL

LtoR: Doug Wallace, Doug Ryan, Waldo Walton, Bill Shaw, Peter Maher, Tony DiBetta, Peter McGurk & Ian Hyde

WA - Rosie O'Grady's

The WA Greenies met at our now usual watering hole- Rosie O’Grady’s in downtown Fremantle. Kick off time was 1300 (One o’clock for those who have short term memory). We again eclipsed all prior records for attendance with 14 rocking up.

The beer was cold the company was warm and we all managed to relive the deeds of our youth. A good time had by all.

QLD - Brisbane Irish Club

VIC - Stella Maris Club

The Victorian Greenies met at the Stella Maris Club, this was formerly the Mission to Seamen. We had 16 starters, including a few visitors. Terry Norman from South Aust joined us and Geoff Lowe brought a few mates. Several coldies were sunk and a few hot pies and sausage rolls eaten. A thoroughly enjoyable time was had by those present, hopefully Ian Benier will be finished gallivanting around the world for our next meeting.

Those present were Geoff Richardson, Paul Payne, Ray Fryer, Ron Lippold, Lee Robinson, Geoff Lowe, Bob Farr, Colin Barr, Ray Lawrence, Mark Needham, Terry Norman, Norm Hindle, Alan Theobald, John Van't Hoff, Bernie Rottinger and Kevin Wallace.

It was really good to see Ray back on deck after a visit by the big 'C',and the photo is his handiwork.