"For information about the 2013 Malaysian Pilgrimage dates...please go to the Tasmanian webpage by "clicking" the NMBVAA(Tas)Inc button above."             We thank you for your comradeship during 2012 and look forward to working with you during 2013, for the benefit of ALL members!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Position	Name	email	Phone	Branch	Address
President	Tony Farina	pfa.farina@gmail.com	(02)43404160	State	5 McCutchenSt Kariong 2250
V/President	Peter Huber	peterandelly@internode.on.net	(02)49426069	State	34 Burns St Redhead 2290
Secretary	Henrik Buba JP	rrshjb@bigpond.com	(02)49665987	State	3 Christie Rd Tarro 2322
Treasurer	Judith Lynch		(02)63524174	State	PO Box 167 Lithgow 2790
Media/Web	Andy Gallagher	2countryfo;k@gmail.com	0430954577	State	PO Box 77 Clarence Town 2321
President	John Mather		(02)43655919	Brisbane Waters	21 Windermere Dr Terrigal 2260
Secretary	Joyce Coleman			Brisbane Waters	33 Papala Ave Bateau Bay 2261
Treasurer	Geoff Turner		(02)43413347	Brisbane Waters	61 Hobart Ave Umina Beach 2257
President	Peter Huber	peterandelly@internode.on.net	(02)49426069	Newcastle and Districts	34 Burns St Redhead 2290
V/President	Philip Goldsworthy		(02)49659169	Newcastle and Districts	2/2 Marquis Close Valentine 2280
Secretary	Hendrik Buba	rrshjb@bigpond.com	(02)49665987	Newcastle and Districts	3 Christie Rd Tarro 2322
Treasurer	Vince Broady	vince.brody@gmail.com	(02)49828565	Newcastle and Districts	30 Bottle Brush Ave Medowie 2318

Date	Venue	Time
Wednesday 30th January 2013	Mayfield Diggers RSL	5.30pm
Wednesday 27th March 2013	Mayfield Diggers RSL	5.30pm
Wednesday 29th May 2013	Mayfield Diggers RSL	5.30pm
Wednesday 31st July 2013	Mayfield Diggers RSL	5.30pm
Wednesday 25th September 2013	Mayfield Diggers RSL	5.30pm
Wednesday 27th November 2013 - Xmas bash!	Mayfield Diggers RSL	5.30pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Position	Name	email	Phone	Branch	Address
President	David Kent	davkay26@bigpond.com	(07)54451987	State and Records	PO Box 36 Buderim Qld 4556
Secretary	Kaye Kent	davkay26@bigpond.com	(07)54451987	State and Records	PO Box 36 Buderim Qld 4556
Treasurer	Kevin Carter	kevjud@tadaust.org.au/td>	(07)54505653	State and Records	12/179 Ocean Dr Twin Waters Qld 4564
Public Officer	John Trott	johntrott@bigpond.com	(07)54771409	State and Records	5 Barrier Buderim Qld 4556
***
President	Brian (Jake) Waldron-Lamotte	bluedogs@lexinet.com.au	(07)54934028	Sunshine Coast	143/2 Melody Court Warana Qld 4571
Secretary	Ivor Rich	ivorj44@aapt.net.au	(07)54788712	Sunshine Coast	19 Starkey Rd Palmwoods Qld 4555
Treasurer	Ivor Rich	ivorj44@aapt.net.au	(07)54788712	Sunshine Coast	19 Starkey Rd Palmwoods Qld 4555
***
President	Brian McGee	bmcgee@tadaust.org.au	(07)54768542	Brisbane Central	19 Nandewar Dr Buderim Qld 4556
V/President	Fred Black	fmblack@optusnet.com.au	(07)3357 6178	Brisbane Central	76 Bowen Street Windsor Qld 4030
Secretary	Bob Watson	r_watson@optusnet.com.au	(07)3349 0970	Brisbane Central	40 Nevern Street, Macgregor Qld 4109
Treasurer	Erin Haines	peteranderin@bigpond.com	(07)3893 3371	Brisbane Central	33 St James Circuit, Heritage Park Qld

Lunch meetings for 2013!

We are now having our lunch meetings every MONTH!!!,
so please make a note in your diaries!

Date	Time	Venue
FEBRUARY: Wednesday 20th	11.00 - 12.00	Harlequin Jack, Softel Grand Central Hotel Lower level, Central Railway Station
MARCH: Wednesday 13th	MUST meet at 9,45am SHARP in front of Roma St Station,as ferry bookings SET IN STEEL. Let Fred Black know if you are going ASAP !	Bus trip to STRADBROKE ISLAND.
APRIL: Thursday 25th	ANZAC DAY march Brisbane City.(Information to follow)	Followed by lunch at Gilhooley Hotel 124 Albert Street cnr Charlotte Street.
MAY: Wednesday 16th		East's Leagues Club Main Ave Coorparoo.
JUNE: Wednesday 19th		Yeronga Services Club, cnr Fairfield Rd and Kadumba St Ph 38480796
JULY: Wednesday 17th		Transcontinental Hotel, 482 George St Brisbane. (Opposite Roma Street Station).

For further information about the lunches,

LUNCH COORDINATOR: George Wilson - Ph (07) 3423 8191 or Mobile: 0404630607
or Email: georgemargaret@Gmail.com
Normal lunch meeting is 11.30 - 12.00hrs with DRESS: Casual.

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  Read the 1st NMBVAA Newsletter dated 1995

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" November 2009

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" February 2010

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" May 2010      

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" August 2010  

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" November 2010  

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" February 2011  

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" August 2012  

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" November 2012  

  Read Qlds "Berita Newsletter" February 2013  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association (Tas) Inc.

    

Please click flag to go to
Tasmania's own website!

We are seeking new members.Ordinary membership is open to all ex-service personnel who served in Malaya, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Brunei, East Timor and areas which surround,
as well as, members of the Defence Forces of Australia, Britain armed forces of allied countries from WW2 through to the present day.
Associate membership will be given to wives and family members of Ordinary and service members. Please contact any of the Office-bearers listed below.

Tasmanian Executives
2013/2014

Position	Name	email	Phone	Branch	Address
President	Geoff O'Hara	gohara@tpg.com.au	03 6272 1225	State	22 Riverview Pde Rosetta Tas 7010
Vice President	Noni O'Hara	nonioh@hotmail.com	03 6272 1225	State	22 Riverview Pde Rosetta Tas 7010
Secretary	Ken McNeill	All correspondence to be forwarded to The Secretary of NMBVAATASINC U2/21 Scott St. Beauty Point Tas 7270	(03)6383 4677	State	U2/21 Scott St. Beauty Point Tas 7270
Treasurer	Eric Smith	smithy7292@aol.com	03 6344 7993	State	POBox 801 Launceston Tas 7250
Editor NMBVAATASINC Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Konfrontasi!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Sandakan!      

The Sandakan Death Marches were a series of forced marches from Sandakan to Ranau which resulted in the
deaths of more than 3,600 Indonesian civilian slave labourers and 2,400 Allied prisoners of war held captive
by the Empire of Japan during the Pacific campaign of World War II at prison camps in North Borneo.

By the end of the war, of all the prisoners who had been incarcerated at Sandakan and Ranau, only 6
Australians survived, all of whom had escaped. It is widely considered to be the single worst atrocity
suffered by Australian servicemen during the Second World War.

It is May 1945. Clad only in ragged loin-cloths, over 500 skeletal creatures, barely recognisable as human,
struggle to their feet at the Sandakan POW Compound, on Sabah's north-east coast. Three long years in
captivity, half of them on starvation rations and with little or no medical attention, have taken their toll.
The grimy, wasted bodies of these once fit and strapping Australian and British servicemen are covered
in sores and scabies, their filthy hair and beards matted and lice-infested.

Many are suffering from tropical ulcers, some so large that shin bones are clearly visible. Others,
bloated from beriberi, lumber along on sausage-like legs. They are bound for Ranau, a small village
on the flanks of Mt Kinabalu, South East Asia's highest peak, situated 250 kilometres away to the west,
in the rugged Borneo jungle interior.

All were members of a 2700-strong Allied contingent transferred to Sandakan by the Japanese in 1942-43,
following Singapore's fall. Their task? To construct a military airfield, using not much more than their
bare hands. For the first twelve months or so, conditions at Sandakan were tolerable. However, in mid
1943 the Japanese discovered that the POWs not only had a radio but were in league with a local
resistance organisation. The kempei-tai, or secret police, swooped. Arrests and transfers followed.
Discipline at Sandakan was tightened considerably and life became much more difficult for the
remaining 2,434 prisoners.

As the war ground on, conditions deteriorated. In late January 1945 the Japanese decided to
move 455 of the fittest prisoners to Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu) to act as coolie labourers -
only to halt them at Ranau, owing to Allied air activity on the west coast. At the end of May,
there was a second march from Sandakan and in mid-June a third, comprised of only 75 men.

As both sea and air were under the complete control of the Allies, a track had been cut through
the mountains, linking existing bridle-trails. Unaware that it was to be used by POWs, the local
headmen given the task of creating this track had deliberately routed it away from any habitation,
across the most inhospitable and difficult terrain possible.

There was no medical assistance and little food. Anyone who could not keep up was ‘disposed of'.
Despite this, about half the prisoners completed the march, only to die at Ranau from illness,
malnutrition and ill-treatment by their captors. Two Australians managed to escape in the early
stages of the second march with the help of villagers, and four more successfully escaped from
Ranau into the jungle, where they were cared for by local people.

Back at Sandakan, 200 prisoners unable undertake the second and third marches also died, bringing
the death toll there to about 1400. Of the 1000-odd prisoners who left on the death marches,
about half died in the attempt. The rest died at their destination.

The story of Sandakan and the death marches is one of the most tragic of World War Two.
It is also one of the most heroic. Despite appalling conditions, the prisoners never gave up.
Their heroism, their determination and their indomitable spirit are testimony to the strength
of the human spirit and an inspiration to all. Of the 2434 prisoners incarcerated at Sandakan,
1787 were Australian. The remaining 641 were British. The six Australians who escaped
were the sole survivors.

Acknowledgement is given to Tham Yan Kong for this brief overview of the Sandakan Death marches.
Thanks also to Lynette Silver, author of "Sandakan - A conspiracy of silence".

Newcastle Sub-Branch Sandakan Memorial Service 31st May 2009!

The Newcastle Sub-Branch of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association held its first
Sandakan memorial service on Sunday 31st May 2009, at the Sandakan Memorial located in
Maitland Park adjacent to the Maitland Railway Station.

The service was conducted by our State Chaplain, Eric Bell, with an address by the Maitland Mayor,
Cr Peter Blackmore. Tributes were laid at the Memorial, the 'Last Post' was sounded, and the service
concluded with the Odes of the RSL and NMBVAA being recited, followed with prayers by our Chaplain.

We were joined for the morning by our members from the Central Coast Sub-Branches,
and after the service, we retired to partake of a most wonderful BBQ,
cooked up by Frank and Renata.

We are all looking forward to an even bigger and better service next year.

Newcastle Sub-Branch Sandakan service 30th May 2010!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asbestos and Mesothelioma!

This advisory is offered as a service to our members because many of our Navy ships and other military equipment
came from the the United States, and many of our members MAY have served on or used such equipment.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are currently 25 million living
individuals who have served in the United States armed forces. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions
of these living Veterans were exposed to toxic asbestos-containing materials during their military
service. According to a revealing statistic, more than 30 percent of Personel beset with a terrible disease
called Mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos during military service.

What is Mesothelioma? It is a rapacious cancer that attacks the internal lining of the lungs, abdomen and heart.

Widely used in EVERY military branch, asbestos was highly regarded for its heat resistance and fireproofing capabilities.
In fact, asbestos was so valued that the military even mandated widespread usage before eventually phasing out
the material in the 1970's. Most military divisions utilized the caustic substance mainly for insulation purposes,
but more than 300 products containing asbestos were used by the military, primarily by the Navy from the 1930's
through to the 1970's. Every ship and shipyard built by the Navy before the mid-70's was fitted with numerous
asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos.com offers information on Mesothelioma and Veterans! as well as a complete list of occupations,
ships, and shipyards that could have put our Veterans at risk for developing a Mesothelioma desease.
Additionally, their Veterans Assistance Department offers extensive experience in filing VA claims and
can help any Veteran coping with Mesothelioma receive benefits from the VA system.