Sunday 30th April
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Monday 1st May
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Saturday 6th May
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Monday 8th May
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Monday 15th May
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Note: Meeting Times
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Springfield House 6:30 for 7:00pm
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Zoom Meeting 7:15 for 7:30pm
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Pool A Peter, Tony C & Bob D.
Pool B Tony M & Edwina Pool C Max, Carol & Robyn |
Pool D John C & Lucy-Jade
Pool E Colin S & Anne S Pool F Sue & Michael |
Pool G Colin B & David
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by Jim Brown |
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I wandered thru a country town ‘cos I had time to spare,
And went into an antique shop to see what was in there. Old Bikes and pumps and kero lamps, but hidden by it all, A photo of a soldier boy – an Anzac on the Wall. ‘The Anzac have a name? ‘ I asked. The old man answered ‘No, . The ones who could have told me mate, have passed on long ago. The old man kept on talking and, according to his tale, The photo was unwanted junk bought from a clearance sale. ‘I asked around, ‘ the old man said, ‘but no one knows his face, He’s been on that wall twenty years, deserves a better place. For someone must have loved him so, it seems a shame somehow.’ I nodded in agreement and then said, ‘I’ll take him now.’ My nameless digger’s photo, well it was a sorry sight A cracked glass pane and a broken frame – I had to make it right To prise the photo from its frame I took care just in case, ‘Cause only sticky paper held the cardboard back in place. I peeled away the faded screed and much to my surprise, Two letters and a telegram appeared before my eyes The first reveals my Anzac’s name, and regiment of course John Mathew Francis Stuart – of Australia’s own Light Horse. This letter written from the front, my interest now was keen This note was dated August seventh 1917 ‘Dear Mum, I’m at Khalasa Springs not far from the Red Sea They say it’s in the Bible – looks like Billabong to me. ‘My Kathy wrote I’m in her prayers she’s still my bride to be I just cant wait to see you both you’re all the world to me And Mum you’ll soon meet Bluey, last month they shipped him out I told him to call on you when he’s up and about.’ ‘That bluey is a larrikin, and we all thought it funny He lobbed a Turkish hand grenade into the Co’s dunny. I told you how he dragged me wounded in from no man’s land He stopped the bleeding closed the wound with only his bare hand.’ ‘Then he copped it at the front from some stray shrapnel blast It was my turn to drag him in and I thought he wouldn’t last He woke up in hospital, and nearly lost his mind Cause out there on the battlefield he’d left one leg behind.’ ‘He’s been in a bad way mum, he knows he’ll ride no more Like me he loves a horse’s back he was a champ before. So Please Mum can you take him in, he’s been like my brother Raised in a Queensland orphanage he’ s never known a mother.’ But Struth, I miss Australia mum, and in my mind each day I am a mountain cattleman on high plains far away I’m mustering white-faced cattle, with no camel’s hump in sight And I waltz my Matilda by a campfire every night I wonder who rides Billy, I heard the pub burnt down I’ll always love you and please say hooroo to all in town’. The second letter I could see was in a lady’s hand An answer to her soldier son there in a foreign land Her copperplate was perfect, the pages neat and clean It bore the date November 3rd 1917. ‘T’was hard enough to lose your Dad, without you at the war I’d hoped you would be home by now – each day I miss you more’ ‘Your Kathy calls around a lot since you have been away To share with me her hopes and dreams about your wedding day And Bluey has arrived – and what a godsend he has been We talked and laughed for days about the things you’ve done and seen’ ‘He really is a comfort, and works hard around the farm, I read the same hope in his eyes that you won’t come to harm. Mc Connell’s kids rode Billy, but suddenly that changed We had a violent lightning storm, and it was really strange.’ ‘Last Wednesday just on midnight, not a single cloud in sight It raged for several minutes, it gave us all a fright It really spooked your Billy – and he screamed and bucked and reared And then he rushed the sliprail fence, which by a foot he cleared’ ‘They brought him back next afternoon, but something’s changed I fear It’s like the day you brought him home, for no one can get near Remember when you caught him with his black and flowing mane? Now Horse breakers fear the beast that only you can tame, ‘ ‘That’s why we need you home son’ – then the flow of ink went dry- This letter was unfinished, and I couldn’t work out why. Until I started reading the letter number three A yellow telegram delivered news of tragedy Her son killed in action – oh – what pain that must have been The Same date as her letter – 3rd November 17 This letter which was never sent, became then one of three She sealed behind the photo’s face – the face she longed to see. And John’s home town’s old timers -children when he went to war Would say no greater cattleman had left the town before. They knew his widowed mother well – and with respect did tell How when she lost her only boy she lost her mind as well. She could not face the awful truth, to strangers she would speak ‘My Johnny’s at the war you know, he’s coming home next week.’ They all remembered Bluey he stayed on to the end A younger man with wooden leg became her closest friend And he would go and find her when she wandered old and weak And always softly say ‘yes dear – John will be home next week.’ Then when she died Bluey moved on, to Queensland some did say I tried to find out where he went, but dont know to this day And Kathy never wed – a lonely spinster some found odd She wouldn’t set foot in a church – she’d turned her back on God John’s mother left no will I learned on my detective trail This explains my photo’s journey, that clearance sale So I continued digging cause I wanted to know more I found John’s name with thousands in the records of the war His last ride proved his courage – a ride you will acclaim The Light Horse Charge at Beersheba of everlasting fame That last day in October back in 1917 At 4pm our brave boys fell – that sad fact I did glean That’s when John’s life was sacrificed, the record’s crystal clear But 4pm in Beersheba is midnight over here……. So as John’s gallant sprit rose to cross the great divide Were lightning bolts back home a signal from the other side? Is that why Billy bolted and went racing as in pain? Because he’d never feel his master on his back again? Was it coincidental? same time – same day – same date? Some proof of numerology, or just a quirk of fate? I think it’s more than that, you know, as I’ve heard wiser men, Acknowledge there are many things that go beyond our ken Where craggy peaks guard secrets neath dark skies torn asunder Where hoofbeats are companions to the rolling waves of thunder Where lightning cracks like 303’s and ricochets again Where howling moaning gusts of wind sound just like dying men Some Mountain cattlemen have sworn on lonely alpine track They’ve glimpsed a huge black stallion – Light Horseman on his back. Yes Sceptics say, it’s swirling clouds just forming apparitions Oh no, my friend you can’t dismiss all this as superstition The desert of Beersheba – or windswept Aussie range John Stuart rides forever there – Now I don’t find that strange. Now some gaze at this photo, and they often question me And I tell them a small white lie, and say he’s family. ‘You must be proud of him.’ they say – I tell them, one and all, That’s why he takes the pride of place – my Anzac on the Wall. Many Thanks to Jim for this article
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If you are looking for a new group to join/volunteer with, come check out a showcase of the wide variety of community groups in the Hills!
A welcoming environment to showcase the wide variety of community groups that are active in The Hills. If you are looking for a new group to join or volunteer with, join us at Community Connect - and visit the stalls of local groups, chat to their members and learn more about them. Thanks to a Community Grant supported of The Hills Shire Council, we are able to run this event free-of-charge. Sunday 30 April Open to the public 11AM - 3PM Harvey Lowe Pavillion, Castle Hill Showground A sausage sizzle and coffee will be available for purchase. A COVID-safe plan will be in place, with social distancing, hand sanitiser, etc. Join us and reconnect with your community! For Full details see: Community Connect 2023 Tickets, Sun 30/04/2023 at 11:00 am | Eventbrite |
The Hills Domestic Violence Fundraiser
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Hello from the Rotary Club of North Ryde, Just a reminder of our eFun Run starting on the 30th April. We would love you to support us by joining in or sponsoring one of our members. Youth Mental Health is an ongoing issue but COVID has certainly made things worse. It's a challenge in so many ways and, in a situation very dear to my heart, it manifests itself particularly in schools. Best regards Bob Selinger Secretary The Rotary Club of North Ryde |
Wine & Cheese Night |
Friday May 12 |
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dis/CONNECTing with your TEEN
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May 10 |
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The Hills Domestic Violence Prevention Network is proud to present a thought provoking forum for parents of high school aged young people.
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Are You a Centurion?
Please consider renewing your Centurion membership, or if not already a member, why not make this the year to become a Centurion!!!
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To read a digital version of our favourite magazine, click below
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Don't need:
Must have:
If you would like to come along as a guest to see what it is all about just call either: - Carol Russell (0418 431 157) or President Janelle (0412 064 336) Club Details: Rotary Club of West Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook meets every other Monday for Dinner at Springfield House Arrive 6:30pm Start 7:00pm End 9:00pm 245 New Line Rd Dural NSW 2128 Australia Welcome to call Carol or Janelle to get log on details and join us on Zoom instead |
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MeetingsThe Club alternates meetings:
Generally, one "Face to Face" one Monday and a Zoom meeting the next Monday. Face to Face Meet at The Vicar Arrive 6:30pm, Start 7:00pm, End 9:00pm 271 New Line Rd Dural NSW 2128 Australia Zoom Arrive 7:15pm Start 7:30pm End 8:30pm |
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