[Derek the Pom]

Newby Pom.​

The Pommie' s Whinge

Walk tall in the sun the poster said,
But bent I walk my back burned red.
The sun beats down from a clear blue sky.
Oh, where is the rain? The fields are all dry.

You ask for a beer. There isn't a choice.
They give you a glass the outside's all ice.
It freezes your throat when you take a swill.
And the flavor it leaves makes you really feel ill.

You ask for another. The heat gives you a thirst.
But the second one tastes just as bad as the first.
So you try once again to get used to the stuff.
It sure makes you glad when you’ve had enough.

There's footy on telly on Saturday night.
They throw down a ball and the players all fight.
The crowd are cheering. It’s a goal 's what I hear.
The whole crowd rises up with one hand on their ear.

But out on the field the ball's still in play.
The crowd’s mobiles are tuned to a game far away.
And what kind of football is it where they say?
"A really beaut handpass. His second today".

Now when Aussies play cricket, oh what a disgrace.
They have white lines drawn all over the place.
The creams that they wear are a terrible sight.
They're all fancy colours. None are in white.

And the parties they hold are never right too.
The men all think they know how to cook barbeque.
The steak is like leather. It's black and it's tough.
There's burned bangers, hot salad. You can't eat the stuff.

Now you may ask why I'm still here today.
Why I don't pack up and just go away.
Back to the old Dart? Oh no bloody fear.
This is my home mate. I like it here.
DAO.

As you can tell by this jingle I wrote just after .(about two years) I got here from Pommie land. I am 90 and a bit years old. Only work two days most weeks. I find three days a bit tiring. I assist with restoring antique aircraft at the RAAF Heritage Centre at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland. A Widower, my beautiful wife died in my arms in 2017. e had only been married 65 years. They said it wouldn't last. Three days a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I go to the Baby Boomers session at Vibe Gym in Ipswich. with up to 20 odd , mostly female baby boomers.
I have three beautiful (I think) and considerate, daughters, who, with us, migrated to Aus. in September '71. They are all married with husbands now who have, or will be, retired by the end of next month. They, between them, produced 10 grand children, who have produced 23 great, grand children and 7 great, great, grand children. Three of my great grand children are part aboriginal heritage. Tomorrow I will watch one of the them play football (ARL) he is very good and gave me direct instructions to go watch him. He is 10 years old and maintains my lawns for me. His grand mother, my daughter, bought him a whipper snipper for his tenth birthday. It has a 90cc petrol motor.

 

[Xe]

Hi Derek!

Wow, this has got to be one of the most beautiful, heartfelt introductions I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful poem with us.

I am completely amazed by how active and vibrant you are at the young age of 90! I almost fell out my chair when I read the part that you still work. I'm assuming it's because you have a niche skill though. I really hope you are passing that on to younger generations.

Your family sounds absolutely wonderful - you are really blessed. I'm sorry to hear about your wife though, you are lucky to have had such a love-filled marriage for so many years.

I can tell that you will have fun interacting with our other members as you have such a lovely spirit. If you have any questions about the club, please feel free to ask at any time. Share lots of pictures and have fun!

 

[Derek the Pom]

Hi Derek!

Wow, this has got to be one of the most beautiful, heartfelt introductions I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful poem with us.

I am completely amazed by how active and vibrant you are at the young age of 90! I almost fell out my chair when I read the part that you still work. I'm assuming it's because you have a niche skill though. I really hope you are passing that on to younger generations.

Your family sounds absolutely wonderful - you are really blessed. I'm sorry to hear about your wife though, you are lucky to have had such a love-filled marriage for so many years.

I can tell that you will have fun interacting with our other members as you have such a lovely spirit. If you have any questions about the club, please feel free to ask at any time. Share lots of pictures and have fun!

 

[Derek the Pom]

Thanks Xe for those kind words. I am just a bloke really. doing a job I have a passion for at a very basic level. I work at the RAAF Historic Centre at RAAF Amberley Air base in Southern Queensland. How I got here is another story. I work in the Engine workshop. I have, over time, evolved into the keeper of the grit blasting and parts washing area. I worked in Non-Destructive Testing in the RAF and came to Australia to continue that career when I left the RAF, I was the RAAF NDI Officer for 18 years, and Metallurgist, off and on, for a couple of years. We are currently restoring a 1935 Avro Anson from the ground up. A DeHavilland Vampire of early vintage, a Wessex Helicopter and a Canadian Blitz Troup truck. All were active components of the RAAF.
A small poem I wrote for the Heritage Gazette

THE AVRO ANSON

There was a pile of twisted rusted metal in the corner of the shed.
“That was once an Avro Anson”. The Reserve RAAF WO-man said.
A bunch of mature volunteers who, most, have served their time.
Servicing Airforce aircraft, thus ensuring everything worked fine.
Gathered up all the pieces and considered what they’d best do
To put all those bits together, and then make it all, again, like new.

These elderly former mechanics got together and then thought,
They’d have to scratch their heads to recall all that they’d been taught.
On restoring ancient wooden aircraft, those umpteen long years ago.
Cos much water had passed 'neath the bridge, but they’d give it a go.
On Tuesdays and Thursday mornings, the Oldies all gather at the site
With a skill borne of RAAF training, and Pawal’s modelling, get it right.

Gradually those Anson parts return to where they should really be.
The centre section and the wheels, tailplane, and canopy.
In the engine bay the Sumpies back, as olden Black Hander fellers.
Restore the Cheetah engines and their fixed pitch propellers.
The B. T. H. magnetos and the Claudel Hobson carbies too,
Were cleaned and brightly polished, until they looked like new.

Up inside the cockpit the refurbished furnishings look neat.
New rudder pedals, polished stick, fully serviced pilot's seat.
The rumble seat is nicely stowed, lashed neatly to the wall.
All gauges Nev restored like new; we can now read them all.
The machine gun, all shiny black, installed inside its bay.
Is now a far more passive sight, than ’twas in its firing day.

When she’s restored at last to her finer glory, alas she will not fly.
But stand in the Heritage hangar admired by all who will pass by.
For those patrons who will visit her on the monthly open day,
The guides who helped restore her will tell of the role she’d play
In helping the Allies win the war that was fought by each forebear.
As did the other craft displayed that helped win “Victory in the Air”.
DAO.
Psst. I got my hands black just like I did polishing the carbies, like I did in 1952/3 in El Adem in Cyrenaica, on our Station Anson that we had to keep ready for Desert Rescue if needed.

 

[Sethia Soliman]

The Pommie' s Whinge

Walk tall in the sun the poster said,
But bent I walk my back burned red.
The sun beats down from a clear blue sky.
Oh, where is the rain? The fields are all dry.

You ask for a beer. There isn't a choice.
They give you a glass the outside's all ice.
It freezes your throat when you take a swill.
And the flavor it leaves makes you really feel ill.

You ask for another. The heat gives you a thirst.
But the second one tastes just as bad as the first.
So you try once again to get used to the stuff.
It sure makes you glad when you’ve had enough.

There's footy on telly on Saturday night.
They throw down a ball and the players all fight.
The crowd are cheering. It’s a goal 's what I hear.
The whole crowd rises up with one hand on their ear.

But out on the field the ball's still in play.
The crowd’s mobiles are tuned to a game far away.
And what kind of football is it where they say?
"A really beaut handpass. His second today".

Now when Aussies play cricket, oh what a disgrace.
They have white lines drawn all over the place.
The creams that they wear are a terrible sight.
They're all fancy colours. None are in white.

And the parties they hold are never right too.
The men all think they know how to cook barbeque.
The steak is like leather. It's black and it's tough.
There's burned bangers, hot salad. You can't eat the stuff.

Now you may ask why I'm still here today.
Why I don't pack up and just go away.
Back to the old Dart? Oh no bloody fear.
This is my home mate. I like it here.
DAO.

As you can tell by this jingle I wrote just after .(about two years) I got here from Pommie land. I am 90 and a bit years old. Only work two days most weeks. I find three days a bit tiring. I assist with restoring antique aircraft at the RAAF Heritage Centre at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland. A Widower, my beautiful wife died in my arms in 2017. e had only been married 65 years. They said it wouldn't last. Three days a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I go to the Baby Boomers session at Vibe Gym in Ipswich. with up to 20 odd , mostly female baby boomers.
I have three beautiful (I think) and considerate, daughters, who, with us, migrated to Aus. in September '71. They are all married with husbands now who have, or will be, retired by the end of next month. They, between them, produced 10 grand children, who have produced 23 great, grand children and 7 great, great, grand children. Three of my great grand children are part aboriginal heritage. Tomorrow I will watch one of the them play football (ARL) he is very good and gave me direct instructions to go watch him. He is 10 years old and maintains my lawns for me. His grand mother, my daughter, bought him a whipper snipper for his tenth birthday. It has a 90cc petrol motor.

Hello, @Derek the Pom ! Welcome to the forum! This introduction is WONDERFUL. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. We're thrilled to have you on here!

 

[Derek the Pom]

Hello, @Derek the Pom ! Welcome to the forum! This introduction is WONDERFUL. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. We're thrilled to have you on here!

Hi Sethia. What a delightful name. What is its origin? I am a 90 year old Great, Great , grandfather who has almost retired from work. I am the third boy in a family of four. I first started working at ten years of age delivering rations around the village of Tiptree in Essex in England, during the early war years. ( my oldest brother volunteered me for the job when the previous employee was conscripted into the army) The store owner fitted wooden blocks onto the pedals of the trade-bike so that I could reach them from the saddle, which he had mounted onto the crossbar. I worked Thursdays and Fridays after school and Saturdays mornings delivering and afternoons twice a month weighing sugar and loose tea into bags. I was paid the Princely sum of one shilling and sixpence, a relative fortune for a ten year old. At age 12 years our school was bombed by a Heinkel 111 and the kids in the play ground machine gunned, one lunch time in October 1943. Polish Spitfires from a nearby airfield, shot the bomber down, much to the delight of a group of us kids. When the school was repaired and we were allowed back for lessons we senior children, 12 to fourteen year old's, were addressed by a government official, and advised that evacuees from London, and the Midlands, were being boarded with families in the villages around and would need places in the school. "As an education is more essential for city boys, than country boys, the evacuees would take our places in the school senior classes and we boys were allocated to farms in the area. I was allocated to Glen Martin at Villa Farm in the End Way. Here myself and Bo Hull were employed at the princely wage of four pence an hour and worked a 48 hour week, During harvesting we were paid fourpence farthing an hour which was added to our annual one weeks pay wage which we enjoyed at Christmas with our Christmas holiday.
Winter work involved felling witch willows along the Essex and Suffolk waterways. These were used for making fruit baskets, or chips as, they were called colloquially, On one trip on a cold January morning in 1947 we stopped at the café on Dedham Gun Hill in Suffolk, ostensibly to thaw out, when I saw an add in the Daily Express, asking for boys between the ages of 15 and 17 years, to join the Royal Air Force in the New Boy Entrant Scheme and train as Aircraft Mechanics. The Pay on Enlistment was 10 shillings and sixpence a week 'All Found'. A veritable to a 15 year old boy in 1947. I tore out the advert and filled it in during the morning dockey break and posted it off at the Hadleigh Post office at lunch-time. Three weeks or so, later I received a response inviting me to obtain references from a notable person, my local doctor, the Head Master of a school I had attended, and the Police. These I obtained and posted off in the pre-paid buff envelope, I had not mentioned any of this to my parents. The last week in April I received a large buff envelope from the Air Ministry inviting me to attend an attestation at RAF Station North Weald on the eight of May. Excitedly I showed the invite to my Mother. The look on her face has lived with me all my life. "Ooh mate" she said "Do you think you have the brains to cope with all that training"?
My oldest brother, a Sergeant in the Middlesex Regiment, was on leave from the Suez Canal Zone. He took me on my first ever train ride to London Liverpool Street Station, where I met and assembled with about three hundred other like boys, where when fully assembled, were transported to the RAF Station at North Weald. As if in welcome, three Spitfires took off and flew directly over the assembled gathering of prospective Bratts.
More can follow if anyone is interested.