MERV SMITH

Sadly our friend Merv has lost his battle. He passed away this morning, on Christmas Eve. He'd turned 65 not that long ago.

Merv had been in hospital for some time. Leukemia (have I spelt it right?) was what they'd diagnosed. Well, he seemed to have beaten that, but there were other issues that kept him confined.

Our mate Merv will be sadly missed. What a blessing that he is no longer in pain or discomfort.

Fancy his lovely wife Helen fell and broke her arm - I think just this last week. She has had a lot on her shoulders for quite some time. There'll certainly be some adjusting to do.

Funeral is scheduled for Thursday 30 December 2010 at 3:15 pm at Macquarie Park. Fay and I will certainly try and make it.

A sad day. I really feel for you Helen. I'm so glad I knew Merv. First met him in Wagga in early 1963 I guess...47 years ago. The boy from Coolamon.

GOOD NEWS and SOME NOT SO GOOD NEWS

Think this is Chris Giddy's wedding recently. I can recognise the marriage celebrant on the left - Rob Hughes. Heard it was a ripper of a show. Congrats to all.

Marion (mother of the bride) looked fantastic. (This is an earlier photo of Marion taken at Orange in October.)

Merv Smith is still in hospital. Infections seem to be his biggest concern and they seem pretty hard to shake. So he's loaded up with antibiotics to combat the buggers. The good news is the leukaemia (is that spelt right Helen?) isn't a major prob at the moment - thank goodness for that. Merv has appreciated the messages he's received from rank and file folk. This too is an earlier photo of Merv.

Jim Smart got a doc's report this week that didn't thrill him. He's gonna have to return to hospital for some more surgery as they attempt to get rid of more of those bad cells. We pass on our best wishes to Jan and Jim as they tackle this latest set back.

SCHOOLS VISITED - JOB DONE

Grahame taught here in 1968-69 before he and Fay (Bailey) Keast headed for 4 years in Canada. This is part of Orange Public School. Grahame decided to ride to all the schools where he'd taught overt the years. He'd already ridden to Niemur, Cooma, Mittagong and Heckenberg. Now he had the northern section to cover.

Where the bloody hell is Goodooga? was a well-known question. Well, check out the NSW-QLD border. Look where the straight bit meets the bendy bit. Now it's about an inch along on the straight bit. Got it? Near Lightning Ridge. In fact food and accommodation is at the Ridge. Here is Grahame with Rowan Mason who was in first class when Grahame was teaching there. He now has an important financial admin job at the school.
Grahame averaged about 90 km per day, with his wife Fay driving behind as his support. He rode alone mostly, but had company on two of the eight days of riding.

Orana Heights PS was where Grahame finished his teaching career. He was principal there from 1998-2003. Fay taught at Dubbo Public.

Dave Reid (WWTC 1959-60) and his wife Irene, looked after Grahame and Fay before they headed off on their last day - Cowra to Koorawatha.

Here is Jean Pigeon (now what's her maiden name??) with the Keasts when they arrived at Koorawatha, at the end of their journey. Jean graduated from WWTC in 1965.

You can't take the teacher out of an old Wagga boy eh?

Koorawatha.... the end of a journey. 1,060 km in May and then 678 km in October, visiting schools where he'd taught. Visiting by bike. Praise the Lord.

A FEW MISSING

Pity we didn't have Merv, Wrighty, Dougie, Van, Lynn L, Gerd, Bill S, Rob as well as their partners and Mavis and Ethel! Just think how much fun we'd have had then!

Sorry that Nola and Dino couldn't make it because Nola has busted her arm (humerus). Thinking of her as she heads to specialist on Tuesday!!! Fancy having to wait that long.

Here is GK getting close and personal with the waitress! (Just beat Dave G to it!) This is Ella (above). She was one of GK's bright little buttons at Orana Heights in Dubbo some years ago. No, she's not a replacement for Fay!!

Here Jock thanks Russ on behalf of all of us and gives him a wee drop from the O'Brien winery! (Thanks O'B also.)

Good to see Tom and Anne also. Somebody looks awfully happy that she has just finished up. There's no stopping them now.

*

2011 and beyond

***** Lake Macquarie early 2011 - mark your calendars. Dates coming.

***** Let me know if you are contemplating joining Hughes, Keasts, Smarts, Wrights and Fitpatricks on their Qld vantrip in August 2011. Phone 0411 386 814.

***** 2014 will give us a chance to celebrate 50 years since grad!!! Wagga Wagga?????

COLLAMBIENCE AT ORANGE

A heap of collambience was in abundance as the gang gathered on the Orange weekend, 1, 2 & 3 October. Giles, O'Briens, Fitzpatricks, Warfields, Grants, Keasts, Marion, Judy J and Sue. Apologies from Forsythes..... last minute hiccup.... but..... (thanks for sponsoring the Keasts Dino!)

Judy initiated the gathering occasion and venue. Russ stepped into the breach and organised the "events".

Here Bernie chats with Lyn G who was fresh from her daughter's wedding in France earlier this year. Bernie has just announced the birth of #8 grandchild.

Can you recognise - Barry Robbo, Fay, Jan and Jim Smart (on left)? GK, Beth Robbo, Dale and Pix on the right. Dining at Cudmirrah earlier in the week. No, they weren't in Orange!!

Dave Giles chats with Russ Warfie about something in depth.

Good mates Fay and Jock.

What can I say? Sue and Marion!!! Enough said.

The mafia was in attendance also. Just don't cross these blokes, OK? Talking of mafia, I believe McKibbins due tonight!

JERSEY BOYS

A top show! Rob, Julianne, Bernie, Janice, Fay and I had a great time and really enjoyed the superb production of the story of Frankie Valli and the FOUR SEASONS. Sorry you couldn't make it.

Some folk even got dressed up a bit!!!

Some people never even got an invite, or it's in the mail!!!

Some blokes were on poultry duty and had to collect the eggs! You can't be everywhere as they say. (Janet and Graham Wright.)

AUGUST REPORT

Some folk do something constructive to pass away the hours. Beth Robertson (married to Barry Robertson - "Stumpy" WWTC 62-63) just rode from Townsville to Darwin and then to Broome with a Bike for Bibles group! Over 4,000 km. Barry went as a roadie! They finished Thursday 12 August.

Judy James (WWTC 64-65) has been busy attending a conference in North America, so she decided to pop across and visit Bill Keast (WWTC 1960-61) at Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.

You might as well take in the sights while you're on the island eh Judy?

That's what Jan and Jim Smart thought too. They were doing a "parenting course" - visiting daughter Jenny and family in Seattle - so they thought they might as well check out Vancouver Island too. Here they are with ..... who else but Bill Keast!

It's really quite thoughtless of Jim and Jan because Fay and Grahame usually call in to Bomaderry for a cuppa when they go to Nowra town for shopping!!! We couldn't find their "hidden" key!

ON BORDER OF POSITIVE TERRITORY

After 7 weeks in hospital Merv was released recently "into the care of the lovely Helen!" (Editor's liberty.) He must've been pretty well-behaved to be allowed home I reckon.

These photos were taken at O'Briens up in the Hunter, and Marion's at Kenthurst. A number of WWTC folk were able to slip into the hospital (and more importantly, slip out!) to catch up with Merv while he was confined to barracks. So, they're trying to bombard Merv's system to get ride of the bad stuff, and maybe help him produce red and white blood cells and platelets (how am I doin' Merv?) Guess that's Leukaemia for you! (Did I spell L correctly?) Below is Helen's make on the situation...

Hello Everyone again,

I just glanced at the last update and it was only two weeks ago and yet I feel a month has passed. It must be the hospital atmosphere: time passes slowly there and I do not know how Merv managed to spend seven weeks there without cracking.

However, Merv was given his liberty last Thursday afternoon and he has survived my cooking. Some evenings I haven’t been sure whether I would survive it myself. Had a long visit to the hospital on Monday for a check in the Outpatients’ Haematology Unit and we were once again impressed with their efficiency and the scope of their outreach. Merv escaped a transfusion as he had produced enough red cells and platelets but his white cells were a bit on the low side. To cut a long raving short, his doctor said that she was ‘encouraged’ by the blood results but she has booked him in to hospital again on the 15th August for another four to five weeks for another round of chemo to kill off any stray blasts. The intensity of the chemo will be determined around that time.

I am fascinated with the use of the word ‘encouraged’, it floats around my head in a nebulous cloud. On the one hand it has a positive connotation but there is no definition to it. So we, too, are ‘encouraged’ and very happy that he is not still without any resistance to infection which was what the results were indicating at first on Monday. After another few blood slides and examinations, she was able to tell us that he was on the border of positive territory but she didn’t think it would be wise to catch the ferry into town to go to the Dendy. Damn!!!!

Thank goodness for the outdoors and little drives and the Herald puzzle page or we would be stark, raving mad. Many thanks for all your good wishes, look what they have produced!

With love from us both,

Helen

We wish Merv and Helen all the best as they battle this scene.

KENTHURST BASH II

Yes, I know it's hard to imagine that these... grown adults.... for want of a better description, have shaped the future of the nation! Not saying too much at the moment you say! Well.... here are Bernie and Janice.... still some life left in the old dog! Has to go in to hospital shortly for a hip op.

Rob and Tom seem to be enjoying the festivities for sure. We're hoping for a litter out of Tom's hat. If you're interested in a pup, drop me a line. First in best dressed!

Seeing we are also celebrating FOURTH OF JULY, we did some square dancing. Yep.... I think we're mostly over 60!! We were pleased there was no need for an ambulance call after all the hectic activities. Go Jock and Anne!

Lynn (with lovely hairpiece) and Sue get into the action. No rest for the wicked they say. The endorphins were really going for it for sure!!! A very happy bunch.

A couple of cow girls chat with Fay over lunch.

Van tries his hand at photography. Why shouldn't he, he's had a crack at just about everything else!

And then Mabel and Ethel joined us. Straight from Hawaii where they'd been holidaying after their super pay out. Didn't they have fun! So too did Graham and Gerd.

Trust Jock to be in the middle of everything. Mavis and Ethel are sure looking their age don't you think?

KENTHURST BASH I

Marion takes a break and has brekky as the weekend warms up. About 25 scheduled to be at the Kenthurst Bash this year. Thanks heaps Marion.

Two of the heavyweights - Graeme O'Brien and Denis Forsythe - relaxing early in the morning. Bit chilly in July!

Graeme, Julianne, Suzie and Nola at the brekky table.

This lass was definitely 1963-64 vintage. Can you recognise her? (You had to be there actually!)

Bernie and Sue enjoy some brekky.

Marion, Fay and Janice have a bit of a yack as they catch up on the goss. One of these ladies slept very well last night. Can you work out which one?