Meeting 26 November 2002
Winter is over, Highland and Speyside whiskies have replaced those from the Western Islands. Alas, I had forgotten that, as a personal tribute to the Queen Mother, we had downed the bottle of Dalwhinnie during the television programme of her funeral.
It has been a sad spring. The drought that surrounds the continent is like a besieging army slowly squeezing the life out of this beloved land of ours. The wicked atrocity of Bali in October (see picture) has saddened us all. Finally and just before I wrote this, we received news of the death of D. D. Lindsay. I think he was the last survivor from the staff who taught me. D. D. Lindsay taught us to appreciate literature, especially the works of Browning and Sean O'Casey. He was also responsible for introducing the performance of music to the school. Not a bad achievement, sir, to be affectionately remembered thus more than fifty years later.
We lunched, as usual, at the Royal Automobile Club, Sydney on Tuesday 26 November. An old friend, Craig (1939-1946), out from England, joined us. So too did a newcomer, Richard Moor (1955 - 1965). Richard recently retired form Sony, after 32 years in the electronic industry. He now deals in antiques and regularly commutes between England and Australia. Of the remaining six, Main has now decided to go back to work again; we all knew that retirement was not quite his thing. Cherry has returned from his Antarctic training course in New Zealand. Unfortunately, extraordinary foul weather curtailed the training. He is off to the Antarctic the day after our February meeting. He is hoping to find there milder weather than he encountered in New Zealand. In the meantime, he is to attend the OP Annual Dinner. We signed an Australian flag for him to take with him as a Christmas gift to the Club. Bond, one of our Associate Members, has re-appeared after some months' absence. He and Trilby have been in Cambodia. They have been together for 25 years. Therefore, when they decided to get married there, they simultaneously celebrated both their wedding and silver wedding.
Lest you think the opening too pessimistic, let me balance this report with three pleasant thoughts. First, one of the most beautiful Australian spring sights is the almost translucent yellow light just after sunrise. (See picture). Second and at the very moment I am writing this, the rain is pouring down; the first in nearly two months. Let us hope that this is the beginning of the end of this horrible drought. Third, Australia is doing well in the Perth Test - I appreciate that not all OP's regard the last as a reason for rejoicing.
The next four meetings are on Tuesday, February 18, May 20, August 12 and November 11 2003. The last date may be modified if there are OP's coming to the World Cup next spring. Those of you with flexible travel plans please make a note; we would love to see you. Gap year students and backpackers in Australia should not be deterred by the thought of an unsought expense; I am sure we can work something out.
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