Notes
While reading the Obituary of our late member Air Commodore Phil Opas OBE QC, Bill Abromwich, a sprightly ‘youngster’ of 88, had a clear memory from 1942 rekindled. The group of 200 RAAF men, including Bill, standing on parade in Townsville, Qld, were addressed by a young Flight Lieutenant Phillip Opas, who was at that time Embarkation Officer. Flanked by two hefty airmen he bellowed: “You are a rotten bunch of ‘so-and-sos’.You pinched my revolver and you are all under arrest!” “Townsville was a staging point for departing to the islands and was a real ‘wild west’ town full of Aussies and Yanks,” recalls Bill. And, it must be said, “more dangerous than a combat zone. Finally we got rounded up to board the RAAF ship “WINETKA” which was loaded with bombs and other stuff.” Many years after the war, Bill met up with Phillip Opas and recalled that ‘incident’ in 1942. Phillip’s reply was “Correct.” Horne Island, situated at the top of Australia, was a hellish place, and everyone there walked around showing the evidence of having been bitten by some of the scores of mosquitos. “During my stay on Horne Island I ferried supplies from island to island, servicing aircraft and was a jack-of-all-trades” says Bill. “There was no way of getting off that island unless you were dead. I was also part of a crew of 400 on a ship for five weeks which ferried petrol in drums and bombs to Milne Bay.” Bill continues, “after 14 months on the island, I got friendly with the Adjutant. There was an opening to re-muster for PTI – Physical Training Instructor – which suited me as I was interested in sports. Sent to Point Cook in Victoria, I became a PTI and then to Somers for nearly six months; followed by pre-flight training. There were two postings: to Warburton Rehabilitation Centre and RAAF Base, Richmond, NSW.I chose the latter which meant I was to undergo a complete parachute course in six weeks. I made seven jumps towards the end of the war. The intended part of my duties – not just to train commandoes and Z Force personnel and saboteurs to drop behind enemy lines, but also doctors who were dropped into POW camps to give medical aid to the prisoners of the Japanese.” “As well as RAAF Richmond, we conducted training near Cairns, Qld. As far as my memory serves me, no other Jewish serviceman was involved in the same work as me, for which I was suitable because of my background as a Phys Ed teacher for nearly 40 years, training AJAX-MACCABI, and running classes for children as well as businessmen.” Bill concludes his story by admitting that his mental and physical well-being is due to his lifelong interest in keeping fit and helping others to achieve this. POSTSCRIPT. Bill was in Sydney waiting for a train when a siren sounded. It was the day a Japanese submarine came into Sydney Harbour.
John Monash (Monasch) born
in Melbourne, Australia on 27 June 1865, the son of
German Polish Jewish migrants, can be researched in any
military history encyclopaedia or in fact by just
‘Googling’ his name on the internet. His history
and list of achievements are long and far too many to detail
in this brief summary. However, might I say that reading his
history is well worth the effort and I can assure you that
his deeds will amaze you. I have found that the deeds are
better labelled on more than one man and in more than one
lifetime.
An
announcement was made in the weeks leading up to the
Centenary of ANZAC by Judy Landau, President VAJEX Aust.
She stated that it gave her great delight to announce
that VAJEX Aust (Victorian Association of Jewish Ex
& Servicemen & Women Australia Inc) has
successfully raised the required funds to build a new
Victorian Jewish Memorial after the style of the
historic Memorial located in the Jewish section of the
Melbourne General Cemetery. After an extensive two year
process, Judy has single-handedly sought letters of
support, raised the funds, and obtained approval from
the City of Port Phillip.