RAAF School Reunion
Newcastle
April 2003
Message Board

31/7/03
Sorry I couldn't get to this one, have been checking out the pictures and comments and truly regret I didn't quit my job and get down to Newcastle but will be in Brisbane and Penang with bells on. Did anyone get an address, e-mail or phone number for Zetus (David Connell)? He gave Cass Campbell an adddress which turned out to be incorrect either Zetus is hiding from his past or he doesn't know where he lives, from memory I'd pick curtain number 2.
PS Gidday to anyone who may remember me.
Barney McMahon
1972-1974

15/6/03
I was not at the reunion only just heard about web site. Saw a picture of Joanne Swanson and if anyone can give me her contact number or email I would appreceiate it.
Thanks
Michael Conlon
1973-1975

17/5/03
Absolutely overwelming time..can't thank cynthia enough..along with all others involved in making this event a reality..can't help but feel that this is the beginning of something really big..as the web-site grows so will the reunions, I have found the whole experience such food for the soul...like finding our family again..we have a common bond that brings us together again..thank you so very much for making this happen...
Julie Adamik (Hallam)
1971-1973

15/5/03
Dear friends,
Very sorry I missed the Newcastle reunion would have enjoyed it very much.
Especially would have liked to catch up with old classmates Ross White and John Ryan. Send me a message guys. I live and work here in Newcastle at St Francis Xavier College Hamilton. I have been back to Penang on 4 occasions the latest in 2002. Look forward to hearing from anyone that remembers our days in Penang.
Robert (BOB) Riddell
Email: robert.riddell@mn.catholic.edu.au
1966-1968

8/5/03
Thankyou very much to the organisers, especially Cynthia, Fran and Sam. I had a great time, as I am sure we all did and look forward to being able to attend others. As Trish said, due to our parents being in the RAAF we moved too quickly to make life long friends so it was good to catch up with those few who are...cya
Shane Browning
1973-1974

7/5/03
Thanks Sam for all your efforts and Cynthia the website is great and continues to get better with each reunion. It was so good to catch up with everyone. No-one has really changed too much apart from Gail Brown's memories of her days, like not letting the boys sit in the back row of the bus!! Reliving a Joey's dance was fun but getting together the next day at the brewery with the girls was great, remembering lots, and finding out lots more, was enlightening.
Looking forward to the Brisbane reunion.
Merryle Filkin
(1972-1974)

6/5/03
I've always yearned to be reunited with my friends from RSP days but thought it woulld have been an impossible dream. Thanks to Cynthia and the wonders of modern technology we have been able to find each other again and come together to celebrate those unforgettable years of our youth. My heartfelt thanks to my brother Sam who had the enthusiam and drive to organise the reunion along with all his helpers; Jackie, Frances, Mark, Ross, Gail and anyone else who helped make the day such a success. I had a fantastic time re-aquainting myself with all my school friends I remembered and even the ones I'd forgotten about. But sadly as everyone has pointed out it was all over as quickly as it had started. Never mind we have the Brisbane reunion on in less than a year which we can all look forward to. I hope to see you all there
Chris Hays
(1971-1973)

4/5/03
Can't thank Sam, Cynthia, Mark and partners enough for all their hard work, in what was a fantastic celebration of friendship and fun.

When I saw my old friends (most of which I haven't seen in 28 years), it was like I'd left them yesterday. We just fell right back into our fiendships and had such a great time. It was all too short though, so to all those at the reunion and especially those who had breakfast, morning tea & lunch at the Brewery on Sunday, hope we catch up again soon. We really were very lucky to have spent our time in such a great atmospere with such incredible people.

Thanks again to all those who helped organise this great event, you are truly wonderful people.
Hope to catch up with friends who couldn't be at Newcastle, in Brisbane next year.
Darlene Crouch (Darlene Head)
(1972-1975)

4/5/03
To Sam, Fran and everyone who was involved - great effort! Wish I could afford to go to the Melbourne reunion. However, am looking forward to the Brisbane one -- like Gail, I am contacting and encouraging as many people as I know to go - particularly after the wonderful time everyone had at Newcastle.

We were very privileged and lucky to spend our time in Penang and RSP. It still amazes me at the comments people make about actually ENJOYING their time at school, let alone 30 years later still having such vivid (and thankfully) happy memories. There was a comment made on the night that our stories would make a great book. Cynthia, you have set up a wonderful prologue through the website -- maybe contributions with photos from anyone interested might be the way to go? Any comments on interest can be emailed to me at cathymd@tpg.com.au (especially if you have journalistic experience/writing skills)!!

Although none of us probably realised it at the time, the 70's and 80's were a great time to grown up in. You know -- when the hardest thing you had to decide was whether you still liked "rock" or secretly loved "disco".

Once again, take a bow all of you! Looking forward to receiving the photo CD, Mark!! Well done..

2/5/03
"Age shall not weary them", Heard that before! that is the truth. Boy can you guys party, some memories don't fade with age they get bolder and become tall tales.

To Cynthia and Sam, thankyou for your vision and creativity, without it we the descendants of RAAF School would be wandering around aimlessly wondering "what if".

Linda and I had a ball and look forward to seeing you all again soon.
I was very happy that I could help out in a small way and if the other planned reunions learn from this one they will be an event not to miss.
Take care all my special friends.
Regards,
John Ryan
(1968-1970)

2/5/03
Congratulations to the organising commitee for a job well done. My wife Lisa and I had a great time. We were all able to relive and share parts of our youth with those we knew back then (what a buz). We hope to see you at the big one in 2005, if not before. Keep up the great work Cynthia.

Regards
Wayne Ryan
(1968-1970)

2/5/03
A very big thank you to Sam and the organizers for a great night. Thank you Cynthia for the web site to enable us to get in touch with everyone. Sam's praise of your efforts was echoed by all.

It was great to catch up and relive past exploits, some that had been forgotten, others etched in the grey matter. I hope we can do it all again soon.
Lee Thompson
(1969-1970)

1/5/03
Boy, what can I say, I haven't been able to get the smile off my face. What a truly memorable experience the Newcastle reunion was. I know other people have said it before but I am just another one that classes my time at RAAF School Penang as the best years of my life. It was just the greatest buzz seeing all the kids again. In my eyes it was as if nothing had changed.

Thanks so much to Cynthia for the absolutely mind blowing web-site, also thanks to all who organised the reunion, I can't wait for the next one in Brisbane, I have already been on the phone telling as many people I can all about it. Once again thanks for the memories, and to those poor boys that I wouldn't let sit at the back of the school bus I am truly sorry. If I had have know it was going to cause so much grief for you later in life I certainly would not have done it. (Ha ha ha.)
Gail McBean (Brown)
(1972-1974)

30/4/03
Firstly I would like to thank all those involved in the organising of the reunion for their time and effort they put in to make it happen.

I personally had a great time catching up with old friends swapping some old Penang tales and adventures.

A special thank you goes to Cynthia whose efforts in putting together this web site have made these reunions possible.
Ross White
(1968-1969)

30/4/03
I would personally like to thank you Cynthia, Sam and Mark and all your partners for the enormous effort you all put into this event. I was especially impressed by all your partners dedication and inputs since they didnt know us, yet helped Cynthia, Sam and Marks dreams come to fruition, I'd call that true love! I've never had the opportunity to attend a school reunion as I only spent one year at my next school after Penang, and I cant say I'd remember more than 3 people. Thanks again guys, keep up the effort, its very much appreciated!
Trish Khalil (Pat Lucas)
(1972-1974)

30/4/03
What a wonderful weekend!

Sam - a special thank you once again to you for all your efforts and especially for coming up with the idea of having a reunion in Newcastle in the first place. Also to Jackie, Frances, Toni Brown, Gail Filkin, John Ryan and Deanne Miller and everyone else involved in making the reunion a success, including Mark Cummings for his icebreaker game and photography expertise. It was a truly memorable occasion and I know everyone who attended will agree with me.

I'd like to once again thank Sam for his kind words to me at the reunion dinner and everyone present for the lovely card and their ongoing support and encouragement with the website. I felt truly honoured.
Cynthia Matuschka
(1968-1970)