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?

THANKS ROB

On a beautiful day in March, Rob Hughes (WWTC 1963-64) performed the marriage ceremony for our son Jeremy and his lovely new bride Julia. It was a top day and a fitting top event to help them celebrate the occasion. (Jeremy's parents also graduated in 1964 from Wagga Teachers College.)

In the photo. Fay, Jeremy, Julia, Rob, Grahame.

Rob makes an excellent marriage celebrant.

The venue was absolutely tops! I can recommend it. We could have a lot of fun there!

It was situated at Lilyvale in the Royal National Park, Sydney. Between Waterfall and Stanwell Tops. There are 2 houses on the property, with plenty of room inside and out. Accommodates about 24 people in beds, but room for caravans, avans and Winnies also.

Yeah, the grounds are great. That's the main house above. Verandahs on 3 sides!!!

This is the 2nd house. It's just been recently renovated and done very nicely. Roomy, airy and modern.

A great verandah all along the front. And around the right hand corner as we're looking at it.

The down side.... I haven't booked the place as yet!!! Maybe we'll chat about it in July at Kenthurst. Not in the loop, email me at keasty446 at gmail dot com

BIKE RIDE COMING UP

In May, Beth Robertson (wife of Barry Robbo), Graham Brown and myself will be cycling (a Bike for Bibles ride) from Niemur (don't worry if you've never heard of that) to Deni, Jerilderie, Lockhart, Wagga, Tumut, Cooma, Canberra, Goulburn, Mittagong, Heckenberg (that's near Liverpool.... don't worry if you haven't heard of that either!)

Our support crew will be Margaret Brown, Fay Keast and Barry Robbo. The trip is about 1,100 km. - 13 - 25 May. Really looking forward to it, providing I can get the body on track and recommence training. Currently I have a crook wrist and can't ride. Beth is out there in training.... good girl!! Barry is also training (as you can see.)

If you'd like to sponsor one of us, contact Grahame (or one of the others) - 0411 386 814 or email keasty446@gmail.com - ta.

Unfortunately this bloke doesn't look like he'll be able to join us for this ride. Maybe some other time.