MCC War Veterans Luncheon
Wednesday May 1, 2013
Our guest this month was Ross McMullin. Perhaps previously best known in military circles for his biography on World War One General Pompey Elliott, Ross is a historian and biographer whose main interests are Australian history, politics, and sport. We are most fortunate that Ross's fascination with World War One, indeed his powerful conviction that the Great War was the most significant event in the twentieth century, has resulted in such insightful chronicling of some of the people of those times for future generations.
Having researched the Great War in the National Library archives and other sources for years in preparing his 718 page biography on Pompey Elliott, Ross could be forgiven for moving on to one of his other historical interests. And he did. Only to be drawn back to World War One.
It is perhaps most fortunate that Pompey Elliott survived the War because had he not done so one wonders if his biography would have been written. More importantly, where (if at all) would our speaker have found the inspiration to research and write about some of the 60,000 men who were not as fortunate as Pompey and now lie in foreign lands. Thankfully, Farewell Dear People: Biographies of Australia's Lost Generation has been born out of that inspiration.
We were privileged to have Ross outline the lives of the ten Australians he chose for inclusion in this book which was awarded the Manning Clark House National Cultural Award in 2012. There is not the space or time to do justice to his presentation or his book here but perhaps some snippets may whet the surfer's appetite and give some insight into why the loss of so many talented young lives from a developing countries population of less than five million resulted in 'a lost generation'.
Gordon Clunes McKay Mathison graduated from Melbourne University in 1905. He was an internationally regarded researcher into the physiology of respiration and went to London in 1908 to continue his work at St. Mary's Hospital and later at University College Hospital. In 1913 he was appointed sub-director of pathology at the Melbourne University and was nominated as the first director of the nascent Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia's first pathological research institute.. When war broke out he enlisted in the A.I.F, was commissioned Captain and posted to 2nd Field Ambulance. He landed at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. and died of wounds on 18th May.
Tom Elliott entered the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1912 and in December 1914 was posted to the 7th Light Horse and left for Egypt. He saw action in Gallipoli and then in 1916 he met Pompey Elliott who he impressed as a raw but talented officer. He was soon promoted Major and from the end of May 1916 acted as 2IC of 60th Battalion. Such was Pompey's high regard for his young namesake that he had him posted out of 60th Battalion before the battle of Fromelles, which he (Pompey) feared was to be a disaster. Ultimately, though, Tom lead the second line of 60th Battalion on the fateful day and lost his life.
Ross McMullin had the group of over two hundred enthralled with these and eight other stories which included those of three MCC members, a member of Mawson's 1911 Antarctic expedition and even a Carlton footballer!
Truly, a presentation to remember.
Image: Author and historian Ross McMullin displays his gift of VC winners with John Murrihy Vice Chairman of the Group.
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MCC War Veterans Luncheon 
Wednesday March 20, 2013
Our guest this month was Ron Clarke MBE, a great Australian athlete, businessman, community leader, author and patron and supporter of many sporting endeavours from the Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games to the Melbourne and Gold Coast marathons.
Father of the year in 1983 and National Seniors Council Senior Australian of the Year in 2000 he still found time to be mayor of the gold coast city council from 2004 until last year.
He matriculated from Melbourne High School in 1953 and as a junior set world bests for the mile and two mile in 1955. Many here would remember him lighting the Olympic flame at the 1956 Olympic games only a hundred or so (yards back then) from the Members' Dining Room.
Altogether he held 17 official world track records between 1963 and 1972 when Swede Lasse Viren set a new mark for the 10,000 m. He was the first athlete to break 13 minutes for the three mile and 28 minutes for the 10,000 metres. At one stage he held every world record from two miles to 20 kilometres. His record in that distance band even surpassed that of Paavo Nurmi, who set four of his world times between 1500 and 2000 metres..
The respect with which he was held by his athletic peers might best be understood by considering his visit to Czechoslovakia in 1966 at the invitation of the great distance runner Emil Zatopek who set Olympic records winning the 5000 and 10,000 m and the marathon at the 1952 Helsinki games.
Melbourne's Zatopek 10,000 race was first run in 1961 having been established by Victorian Marathon Club members - great coach Percy Cerutty, together with Les Perry and Bob Prentice who met Zatopek at the 1952 Olympics. Ron won the first two Zatopeks unspectacularly, however, in the 1963 event he set his first world records for six miles and 10,000 m.
At the end of his Czechoslovakia visit, he was driven to the airport and as they parted, Zatopek pressed a small box into his hand with the words: “not out of friendship but because you deserve it.” The gift went unopened until the plane was airborne when Zatopek's 1952 10,000 m Olympic gold medal was revealed, freshly engraved with Ron Clarke's name and that day's date.
Ron's entertaining and informative address covered many of the highlights of his career as an athlete and gave us a rare insight into the operation of world athletics at the elite level. Following his address President Paul Sheahan conducted a Parkinson style interview which rounded off a most successful luncheon.
Image: Helen Clarke, Ilse Murrihy, Ron Clarke, John Murrihy (Vice Chairman), John Cullen (Secretary).
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MCC War Veterans Luncheon
Wednesday October 10, 2012
WWII Pacific Coast Watchers Remembered
The October War Veterans' Group luncheon saw 316 members and guests enthralled as guest speaker Patrick Lindsay related his research into his book 'The Coast Watchers: The Men Behind Enemy Lines Who Saved the Pacific'. A noted non-fiction author with a flair for military history, Patrick's works include 'The Spirit of Kokoda', 'The Spirit of Gallipoli' and 'Cosgrove - Portrait of a Leader'.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941 which saw them sweep unchecked through the Pacific, many serving in the area were either unable or unwilling to withdraw in front of the Japanese forces and found themselves behind enemy lines. Aided by loyal islanders they watched - and they warned. These were the Coast Watchers.
Their vigilance in watching and reporting Japanese aircraft and shipping movements provided vital warning time to the Allies allowing them to prepare for airstrikes and more importantly to prepare defence plans which took a significant toll on the enemy. The wireless equipment of the day required up to ten men to transport and the support of the local natives was vital to enable frequent relocations of their jungle hideouts to avoid discovery, an essential element in avoiding inevitable execution at the hands of the Japanese if they were captured.
It was not only their early warning and intelligence operations that provided essential support to the Allies. Numerous allied airmen and sailors who were seen to be in distress by the Coast Watchers were rescued and assisted with safe passage. Who knows what the course of history might have been if John F. Kennedy Jnr had not been rescued by an Australian Coast Watcher?
Image: Chairman Frank Web makes a presentation to guest speaker Patrick Lindsay.
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MCC War Veterans June Luncheon
Wednesday June 8, 2011 
The MCC War Veterans Group held their second lunch for the year in the Members Dining Room having outgrown the capacity of the Long Room.
The group’s luncheons are proving to be extremely popular and more than 250 members and guests attended this one, the second largest attendance since the group was formed.
Guest speaker Mr Dave Sabben MG provided the group with an entertaining address detailing his experiences in Vietnam including an informative and fascinating presentation on the Battle of Long Tan.
Mr Sabben MG was conscripted in 1965, a first intake national serviceman under Australia’s National Service Scheme and posted to sixth Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in 1966 as a Platoon Commander.
He commanded the twelth Platoon, Delta Company at the Battle of Long Tan, August 18, 1966. He has also been awarded the Medal for Gallantry.
The last luncheon for the year will be held on Wednesday October 12 in the Members Dining Room.
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General Cosgrove salutes War Vets
Wednesday June 23, 2010
One of Australia’s most recognised and respected military leaders, General Peter Cosgrove AC MC, took to the stage at the MCC War Veterans Group lunch on June 23 and he didn’t disappoint.
The 2001 Australian of the Year and former Defence Force chief addressed more than 300 members and their guests in the Olympic Room on a range of topics, including the role our troops are now playing in Afghanistan, his plans to walk the Kokoda Track and a family link to Richmond Football Club.
“My uncle, Billy Cosgrove, played for Richmond and served the RAAF in World War II,” General Cosgrove boasted proudly, adding that Billy was killed in action in New Guinea in 1943.
Showing his loyalty to the Tigers, Billy was known to decorate his planes with the Richmond logo and the slogan "Eat 'em alive".
"Bill always put the tiger's head on the nose of his aeroplanes - and 'Eat 'em alive' was under the tiger's head,” said General Cosgrove. “Jack Dyer would have loved it.”
The list of the general's achievements is impressive, but his service in East Timor made him an instantly recognisable figure to most Australians. In 1999, as Commander of the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, he assumed command of the International Forces in East Timor (INTERFET) until the force was withdrawn in February 2000.
On his return to Australia after this successful mission, he was appointed Chief of Army. In July 2002 General Cosgrove assumed the profile position of Chief of the Defence Force, a position he held until July 2005.
At the luncheon, General Cosgrove spoke of his admiration for the 99 Australians who died at The Lost Battlefield at Eora Creek in 1942. It is now hoped those soldiers listed as Missing Presumed Killed in Action will be identified and returned home for burial.
Cosgrove, who visited the site in May this year with a Channel 7 television crew, described this particular event as a “tremendously Australian part of World War II history.”
His next challenge, though, is to walk the famous 96-kilometre Kokoda Track in October, a task he admits will be formidable for a man of his burly stature.
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MCC War Veterans October Lunch
The MCC War Veterans Group held their final luncheon for the year in the Long Room this afternoon. More than 180 members and guests were entertained by a key note address from The Honourable Alan Griffin MP - Federal Member for Bruce and Minister for Veterans Affairs (pictured right).
Introduced by War Veterans committee member, Frank Webb, Mr Griffin provided and articulate and entertaining address on his parliamentary experiences including some of the more lighter moments he has encountered in public life. He also provided some general policy thoughts on veterans affairs that were well received by the gathering.
War Veterans Chairman, Les Shelley, offered a vote of thanks to the Minister before he scurried off to 
catch a flight back to Canberra for a late afternoon cabinet meeting! MCC committee member, Ted Yencken, also addressed the luncheon having recently been appointed the committee liaison for the War Veterans Group taking over from Peter Mitchell who assumes responsibility for the Golf Section and Long Room Wine and Food Society.
The first luncheon for 2010 will be held in the Long Room on Wednesday February 24 and further details about this function will be advised to members in due course.