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The Official Journal of The Odd Bods UK Association
(RAAF 1939-1945)
Reg. No. A0043500Y
www.theoddbods.org

NUMBERS DOWN AT ANNUAL SERVICE

Sunday 14 September was the usual cold, showery day for our Battle of Britain service at St Pauls Church, Canterbury. The hearts and the spirits of our Odd Bods congregation were warm, of course, but it was sad to see that our numbers are dwindling more and more. There were between 52 and 60 people present and not more than 30 were Odd Bods, in spite of our continuing pleas to all members to support this function.

This year marked the 47th time we have commemorated the event begun at Biggin Hill, and we were privileged to have The Venerable Archdeacon Stan Moss as our preacher for the occasion. As you know, Stan is an Odd Bod, a former bomber pilot and an ex-PoW of Stalag VIIIB at Lamsdorf, and he presented a forthright sermon about the wartime value of mateship, as compared to present-day selfishness.

We welcomed Group Captain Keith Brackenbury as our guest and Senior Officer. He is a Navigator and Commandant of the RAAF College at Point Cook. The lessons were read by our President, Walter Eacott (in lieu of Vice-President Don Ridgeway, who was unable to attend) and by our Treasurer, Keam Irving.

An able choir sang beautifully, accompanied by lusty playing on the organ, and we were welcomed after the service by the church ladies who had afternoon tea ready for us. A very moving day for those who could remember the stirring and fearful times in 1940, when "the few" defended Britain against the might of the Luftwaffe.

We will have to think carefully about continuing this tradition, as it seems not to suit the majority of our members. Perhaps it would be better if we combined with the RAF Association at its own commemoration, held at The Shrine within one week of ours, and always well-attended, with the inclusion of the RAAF Band and a wreath-laying ceremony.

Your views on this arrangement would be welcomed - please pass them on to the Secretary or to another committee member.

The Future of Point Cook

Great concern is being felt by the recent Government decision to sell Point Cook, except for a small "heritage" precinct which would include the RAAF Museum.

The Odd Bods Committee, on your behalf, has written to the Minister for Defence, the Prime Minister and to other Ministers, to protest strongly against this insensitive decision that ignores the heritage value of the whole former Base, home of the RAAF and the oldest continuing military airfield in the world. A sensible and perfectly viable proposition is before the Government to run the assets as a tourist area, and we had an optimistic expectation that it would be accepted. Point Cook Operations Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation chaired by our Patron, AVM Peter Scully, has the support of Local and State Governments, and they have expressed their preference for continued Commonwealth ownership under a lease arrangement to an organisation dedicated to retaining the heritage values of the site, and developing it in a sensitive way for the benefit of all Australians.

Any Odd Bods who feel strongly about this setback are invited to join in our campaign and write as individuals to Senator The Honourable Robert Hill, Minister for Defence, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, and to other politicians, especially their local Federal representatives.

DATES TO REMEMBER