THE SAGA OF THE UNNATAINABLE GOLD ENDS HERE WITHOUT A WHIMPER OR RESPONSE FROM ANY GOVT BODY.

LEAST OF ALL I EXPECTED SOME RESPONSE FROM THE PERSONS WHO MAY HAVE BENEFITTED BY THE OFFER OF THE VETERANS (AUS)MEDICAL BENEFITS GOLD CARD

So it seems you only have your selves to blame, that, my platitudes have fallen on the deaf ears of the cheats in Canberra.

Oct 4, I received a letter from people who described themseles as an offshoot of the (RSL)Returned Servicemans League. I was offered tickets for the chance to win a posh house in Queensland(Fat Chance) at $5-00 a pop. The benefits from this lottery going to Australian ex Servicemen, like legacy etc. As a British ex service man who fought for Australia during WW2, and not a gold card recipient, I wrote in reply to their letter telling them where to stuff their begging letter, why in heavens name should I be considered unworthy of recognition, yet be expected to pay the beer and poker machine expenses of some of the fit and healthy and some younger gold card recipients I know, who frequent my local clubs and pubs. Don't they get enough?
My main request is for the more senior members of ex Brit/Aus war vets to be afforded medical assistance (Gold card standard) when in dire need, not as a god given right.

Oct 6, Today I recieved a letter from a 83 year old former member of the British Pacific Fleet, there will be some editing, by me.

"When we arrived home behind the front door was your book, which by the way I havent had a chance to read yet,lt was nice of you to send it. It was a pleasure to meet Rose and yourself if only for a short time.1 found Sydney,swarming with japanese, it was just like being in Tokyo. We went to the Anzac Club and also to a new R.S.L.Club to me they were like Casino's hundred's of slot machines, nothing like our exservice club.s. We had a nice day out at Manly which we both liked, we also went on a trip to the blue mountains and the rain forest which went well. We had a good night out on the river boat show cruise, and that was full of Japanese.Over all we enjoyed Sydney, and it was nice to visit Australia. But overall most of our party thought we were made far more welcome in Singapore than Australia. We had a garden party at the high commissioner's house the band of the ghurka regiment was playing music for us. In the evening a memorial stone was was unveiled at the old British Naval base, in memory of Force Z, The HM Ships Prince of Wales and Repulse, and the East Indies and British Pacific Fleet's 1941-1945. The H.M.S.York was along side and the ship's company mixed with us, plenty of beer and wine; which were freebees, unlike the Garden Island fiasco. which in comparison was a shambles to say the least. Good job Rosemary Bowyer was there to save the day with the Whiskey Boat. You didn't meet Shirley my wife, she had an accident before we came away, we were at a service station on the motorvay having a cup of coffee,, on our way from Torquay, when the girl collecting the empties dropped a cup and it broke and cut her foot she went to hospital, and it was found she had severed a tendon and she had to have an operation, it hasn't healed properly and she has no control over her toe, and it drops under her foot, at the moment she will have to have another operation and we have a compensation case on going. + I have put my films in but I haven't had them back yet. I have enclosed a photo of Shirley and myself taken in june this year while we were on holiday in Montenegro. It took us about four days to get over the jet lag, and we both finished with heavy cold's from the air conditioning, Our next big parade is Trafalgar day which we celebrate every year, Every one on parade gets a tot of pussers and a pint of beer. We also have the Welsh Regiment on parade with us and they bring along the Goat, every one keep's feeding him carrots dipped in rum, at the end of the day he has to be carried home. Not much more to say at the moment, will keep in touch as you can imagine you'r book will do the rounds in the Navy club - Billy McGill