National NEWSLETTER - Web Edition

September 2006

 Page 2
 

Phil Doddridge - President HKVAHKVA President Report – Phil Doddridge

Greetings from the sunny Gaspe. Summer is almost gone, and it went so fast that I can hardly believe it is almost over. Another year, more changes, life goes on.

GRANBY,2006

Once again Lucette and Marcel organized and directed a reunion that was interesting and enjoyable in every respect. The parade, the business meetings, the laying of the wreaths and poppies were done in an efficient and fitting manner.

We were honoured by the presence of visitors from Western Canada: Bill Doull with wife and daughter, Pat Maltman, Alice Slovinsky and her sister and Murray Doull.

The party at the “Cabane a Sucre” was, as usual, something to experience, western theme, with music and line dancing, and the fabulous French Canadian cuisine.
There were twelve HK Vets in attendance: Ossie Clark in a wheel chair, Pat Poirier, who had to leave after the first day, Bob Olscamp who left his nursing home in Campbellton to be there. Then there were Paul Dallain, Austin Batley, Eric Batley, Flash Clayton, Bruce Cadoret, Dempsey Syvret, Bill Doull, all the way from BC, John Levitt, 91 years old, and Phil Doddridge.

From the latest report there are 142 of us left of the 1975 that sailed from Vancouver in October 1941.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

In my report in the April edition of WASURERU NAI, I mentioned the award presented by VAC, called The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. I listed the names of HK Vets who had received the award, but omitted a very important name, that of Roger Cyr. Cliff Chadderton has also received it.

I am now happy to report that Derrill Henderson and Nancy Hamer-Strahl have been nominated to receive the award. Congratulations to both of them! They have both contributed to the well-being of Hong Kong Veterans in their own ways. This award will in some measure repay them for their dedicated service to us. There are many other members of the HKVCA who have served faithfully and well, any and all of whom deserves recognition for their dedication to the cause.

MARITIMES GASPESIAN

Again this year Neil Darrah and his group will be hosting the annual get-together in Florenceville, New Brunswick. The event will take place on September 8 and 9. Bob Barter and I plan to attend.

MAJOR JOHN REID MEDICAL CLINIC

As every Hong Kong Vet knows, Major (then Captain) Reid, served with selfless dedication in Hong Kong and Japan.

There is now the possibility that a new medical clinic to be built in Ottawa will be named in his honour. This possibility has our unequivocal support, and with Derrill’s letter writing skills we have dispatched a letter to the commanding officer of the Canadian Forces Health Services Centre, expressing our support of the proposal. If you have stories to tell about Major Reid, please forward them to Carol or Derrill.

Ed Shayler

As I was preparing this bit to send to Carol, I received a most welcome call from Ed, and we had a very interesting and warm chat. Although I hadn’t known him before that, I became acquainted with Ed in Victoria in 2003, and we have kept in touch ever since. We shared a fabulous trip to Hong Kong in the autumn of 2005, where I came to appreciate him for the warm and sensitive human being that he is. Although advancing age will not allow us to get together many more times, I count him among the best of my Hong Kong Buddies. As we say in Quebec, Salue, Ed, bonne chance.

That’s all for this time, friends. Be good to each other and may God Bless.