Page 7 - Bayswater Gardens Newsletter Spring 2018

7 BAYSWATER NEWS, SPRING 2018

Happy Birthday

September
4 Sep Jean T.

23 Sep Patricia R.
25 Sep Francesca V.
26 Sep Elvira D.

30 Sep Jervis J.
October

1 Oct Jack F.

1 Oct Patricia W.

3 Oct Betty W.
13 Oct Maria V. Ronald Rhode
23 Oct Diana S.

24 Oct Marie M. Ronald has led an interesting life, with a father who served in the
Territorial Army in England and in the 1914-1918 war as a Sergeant
25 Oct Judith H.
Instructor, also as a Lance Corporal when he was injured in France. One
25 Oct Shirley G. would have thought his two sons would steer clear, but the dream to
serve had already been ingrained, and with a love of aircrafts Ronald
November was already thinking of how he could best serve before he even realised
2 Nov Charlotte L. it. Living through the Depression taught him to appreciate the smallest
of things, the sacrifices his parents made and the many blessings he had
7 Nov Gwendoline S. in life.
17 Nov Delore M. During his Primary School years Ronald sat for a Vocational Guidance
20 Nov Kenneth N. Test and was selected to go to a Special Opportunity School, later
described as the “State’s One Thousand Geniuses”. He decided that he
wanted to be a Doctor when he grew up, but as he puts it “the family
bank balance would never have allowed me to go to University, and with
my love of those flying machines, it probably saved the lives of a lot of
sick people.”
During his High School years Ronald joined the Army Cadets much to his
Mother’s dismay. Ronald gained a Book-keeping Certificate and then
studied Accountancy, Law and Auditing, before he finally applied for a
job with the Department of Government Transport. His love for aircrafts
still overshadowed everything and after a trip to see to an air show in

Mascot, Ronald decided he wanted to be a pilot, and joined in 1941. By
18 years of age he was ordered to report to Rushcutters Bay Recruiting
Centre and was consigned to Kingaroy. Ronald served well and made

many wonderful friendships and has amazing memories of his time in
the Air Force. Ronald has recently been awarded the French decoration
of “Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur” to recognise
his outstanding services.