Chris... Don't know where you got this following script from! A concern I haven't as yet expressed to ANYONE is the terminology "WIA MEMBERS" I always thought it was to honour Radio Amateurs... As in the PM's first //graph. Somehow it becomes WIA Members later .. I don't have obviously the minutes from 1946/7 of the Federal AGM BUT when reported in AR Journal back then the words WIA didn't appear !! Subject: Fw: RD article - Sept AR Copy for your information. Regards, > > Prime Minister's opening address > > Fifty five years after hostilities ceased in the South West Pacific it is > indeed an honour to present this address to commemorate the sacrifice of > amateur radio operators who gave their lives in World War II. > > When war and invasion threatened Australia between 1939 and 1945 members of > the Wireless Institute of Australia offered their service and their special > skills to the nation. > > Before the war many had been part of the RAAF Wireless Reserve and these men > moved into the wartime air force as wireless operators with the RAAF in > Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific. > > Twenty six names are listed on the Wireless Institute of Australia's Roll of > Honour as having lost their lives to the war and 15 of these men died whilst > serving with the RAAF. > > Typical here were men like Flight Lieutenant Paul Paterson, who was killed > while in action at Rabaul in January 1942, as the enemy struck south into > New Guinea, and Flight Sergeant Russell Allen, who died in the skies over > Germany in April 1944. > > But it was not only the air force which found a use for the special radio > skills fostered by the Wireless Institute. Norman Gunter was the Radio > Officer on the Australian Steamship Company's SS Kowarra when, on the night > of 24 April 1943, the ship was torpedoed and sunk as she carried a cargo of > sugar from Bowen to Brisbane. Gunter was one of the many who went down with > the ship. > > Of those military units which served in New Guinea and the islands, one that > was highly regarded for its particularly hazardous and vital work behind > enemy lines was 'M' Special Unit - the coastwatchers. Lieutenant David Laws > was one such coastwatcher who, whilst serving in May 1943 as a radio > technician, was killed when he accompanied a group observing enemy activity > on the coast east of Madang. > > We honour each of these men as we honour others who lost their lives to the > war through their service in radio. > > They are part of a proud Australian military tradition that has never sought > to impose its will upon the world but only to defend what is right - a > tradition I have honoured as far way at Anzac Cove and the Somme; and as > close by as with Australian troops in East Timor. > > We remember, too, the service of amateur radio operators at times of natural > disaster - the bushfires of Black Friday and Ash Wednesday as well as > through the winds of Cyclone Tracy. > > I am pleased to acknowledge your continued efforts and recognise your work > throughout Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. > > In this vein I declare open the Remembrance Day Contest for 2000. > > ----- > > Remembrance Day Contest Honor Roll of > WIA members who paid the supreme sacrifice > > Royal Australian Navy > > J.E. Mann VK3IE > A.H.G. Rippon VK6GR > > Australian Military Forces > > C.D. Roberts VK2JV > J.D. Morris VK3DQ > J. McCandlish VK3HN > S.W. Jones VK3SF > D.A. Laws VK4DR > J.G. Phillips VK5BW > K.S. Anderson VK6KS > > Royal Australian Air Force > > F.W.S. Easton VK2BQ > V.J.E. Jarvis VK2VJ > W. Abbott VK2YK > G.C. Curle VK2AJB > T. Stephens VK3GO > M.D. Orr VK3OR > J.F. Colthrop VK3PL > J.A. Burrage VK3UW > J.E. Snadden VK3VE > F.J. Starr VK4FS > R. Allen VK4PR > C.A. Ives VK5AF > B. James VK5BL > J.E. Goddard VK6JG > P.P. Paterson VK6PP > > Merchant Marine > > N.E. Gunter VK3NG > R.P. Veall VK3PV > > "They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. > Age will not weary them nor the years condemn. > At the going down of the sun and in the morning > We will remember them." > >