454-459 RAAF Squadrons Association

NEW -- See South Australia at the end of this page

Anzac Day - Sydney Australia - 2007

The following is a collection of photographs taken by members, associates,
friends and relatives on the 25th April 2007
This page will have additional information and photos added to it in the coming days and weeks.

It was a showery day in Sydney, there was a good turn out with 20 expected to march. The church bells tolled once again across town and it was good to be meeting old mates and sharing a hot tea before commencing our day together. Our thoughts were with those who couldn't make the trip to attend and absent comrades -

Lest We Forget

ANZAC DAY SYDNEY - 2007

The assembly point Elizabeth Street
(L-R) Steve Lysaght (his father -  Pilot - H. Lysaght - 454] brings the banner every year [thank you!],
here with A. Fitzsimons (459)

STEPPING OFF - THE MARCH 2007

L:R - Peter Ryan (John McKenzie's  nephew - 459) -- Trent Griffiths (grandson of Reg Nossiter - 459)
& Alex Owen (the late Sep Owen's grandson - 459)

 Alex Owen marched for the first time since the recent loss of his grandfather Sep Owen. 
Sep will be greatly missed by the Association.
 

Weather conditions were less than favourable on the day however
here we see the march steadfastly carrying on down King Street

Marching down King Street before turning right into Pitt street and left into Martin Place

We were honoured to see Tony Martin 459 (below) showing his great Aussie spirit
and getting on with the March!!

THE NEW SYDNEY ANZAC DAY REUNION VENUE

Commercial Travellers' Club

The members of 454 and 459 Squadrons and their guests were made very welcome at the Commercial Travellers' Club.  The Club made sure that the guests were well catered to and there were smiles all round.  The donation of free drinks and food from our benefactor Dick Caine proved to be a wonderful bonus in settling the Association members into their new reunion venue.

L-R:  John McKenzie (459 Squadron) & Jack Shipway (454 Squadron)
[454-459 Squadron's Association Committee Advisors - ]

L-R:  Jill Lord and Joan Gray
[daughter and wife of the late George Gray,
our highly regarded Chairman of the 454-459 Association for nearly twenty years -
who served  with 454 Squadron as Squadron Leader George Andrew Gray DFC)

Tanya Steigerwalt with her grandfather Patrick Unwin (459)
in the background left - Penny Griffiths the Hon. Secretary for the Association

Some of the following photos are awaiting final captioning
by the Administrator we apologise for this delay

Rick Capel and his daughter Emma were there to remember
Rick's Uncle Cam Stephen - 459 Sqn who died on the 2nd June 1942

Doug Hutchinson - 454 Squadron and his nephew Robert Cross

John McKenzie (459) with his nephew Peter Ryan

Russ Carter (454), Peter Spencer (459) and Alex Fitzsimons (459)

tba & Frank Cowan 454 Squadron

The following photos are of the Channel 10 TV interview with Angela Bishop

L-R:  John McKenzie (459), Jack Shipway (454) and interviewer Angela Bishop

<<<<>>>>

VICTORIA

We have heard from John Talbot (459) in Melbourne, there were only 5 members in Victoria who are scattered all around the place so there was no reunion this year.

<<<<>>>>

QUEENSLAND

Due to the very sad passing of Kev O'Brien's wife the day before Anzac Day, the Qld get together was post-poned until June.  The following photos are of the get together.

Harold 'Blue' Munce - 454 Sqn., Kev O'Brien - 454 Sqn. and Jim McGrath - 454 Sqn. (June 1, 2007)

We had out annual lunch yesterday. Roy was unable to come as
he wasn't well but the rest of us met as usual.

Blue Munce's wife (name tba) Jim McGrath and his wife Merle,
and Kev O'Brien surrounded by his girls (names tba) & Blue.
Brisbane - QLD

NEW -- SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 2007 ANZAC DAY MARCHERS

Bob Mitchell - 454 wrote the following about Adelaide's Anzac Day:

"We had a successful Anzac Day, good weather, good crowd, not many of us and lots more people watching along the road. I led the Middle East section ahead of the 3, 451, 458 and there were only the following in our group. 454 - Bill Noyce, Brian Ball and Max Coghlan and no 459, but Lindsay Broom of 223, Shandur and Jack Wells in his 'goofer'.  (photos below)

Then lunch at the Lochley's Hotel with 454 as above, plus Bill Kenwick and Allan Godfrey and our girls (12 all up). We missed Don Heath and send our very best regards to Jack Shipway.

We're having lots of fun with the 454 book and reactions have been very good.

Bob Mitchell (454) Leading the 2007 march
TV trucks just over the River Torrens Bridge.

South Australian Anzac Day March 2007

R-L: Middle East - Marc Coghlan - 454 (Tas), Brian Ball - 454,
Tach Wells in scooter who has been a regular for years,
Bill Noyce - 454, Lindsay Broom (ME - Baltimore Pilot 223 Sqdn of Shandur),
last one unknown.