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Bob & Shirley’s ‘Yetaboon’
Pilgrimage [Reporter: Gerry PECK; Photographer: Margaret
PECK; ‘Ead ‘Itter: George
MILLIE] Day One -
Arrival Friday 16th April Maggie,
my long-suffering wife and treasured companion of some 44 years duration, has
shared my pleasure in enjoying the company of Bob Langley, of intake 52B and
his wife Shirley. Once again, the quiet chambers of “Yetaboon”
echo to the banter and bonhomie that seems to surface whenever we are
privileged to entertain members of our special fraternity. Early
in the morning we set out to meet Bob and Shirley at Brisbane Airport
International Terminal. The day had dawned fine and slightly overcast and as
per usual, when fronting up for guests, we set off with what we hoped was
ample time to spare. Our precautions were quickly justified, as the traffic
was quite heavy that morning. In fact our arrival on the mezzanine floor of
the main arrivals foyer coincided with the announcement that the flight we
were meeting was just touching down somewhat earlier than scheduled.
Passengers from three prior flights were still in the throes of being
re-united with baggage, so it was some 35 minutes after landing that the
first passengers of Flight 131 began to clear the quarantined customs area
and emerge from the exit into the arms of the gathered friends and relatives.
Large numbers of Asian tourists, mainly from Any
anxieties I held about not recognizing Bob, whom I had last seen some 45
years previously, were dispelled by the sight of his still familiar face as
he and Shirley came through the doorway into the organised chaos around us. Recognition was instant and mutual,
although I will confess to wearing a hand-embroidered AAS badge on my Polo
shirt just in case the dreaded AAS bromide had failed to safeguard his
eyesight. A quick handshake, kiss and cuddle and then I turned to greet
Shirley, who had never met Maggie and me before. We soon made her feel
welcome and the memories began to clamour for release
as Bob and I started to regale each other with: “Do you remember …?” We then
made our way out to the car park wherein we had stashed the family rickshaw.
Gerry PECK with Bob & Shirley LANGLEY
at Bob
and Shirley, as expected, were quite tired after the 26-hours flight that
they had endured. So we drove them back to our place via the Once
the cleansed and refreshed guests rejoined us, a guided tour of house and
gardens was undertaken, then, after a light meal and a glass or two of ale
was broached, we entered into a sort of feeding frenzy about what had
happened to various mutual acquaintances over the years that had elapsed
since last we shared a beer together. Roy Dusty
Ashman (42C) joined us for an hour or so, entertaining us with his anecdotes
of an earlier AAS during the WWII years. Maggie and Shirley hit it off right
away, with Shirley immediately displaying willingness to muck-in and help with
meal preparation and so on. Shirley came across as a real good sort with a
no-nonsense personality that immediately struck a chord with Maggie, a clear
indication that this was going to be a terrific get together for all of us. Murphy’s
Law doing what it does best, the only fly in the ointment for me was, having
to take time-out to help sort out my daughter’s car after it had developed an
engine problem. With both Bob and Shirley feeling quite drained by the
after-effects of the long flight, we made no attempt to do other than let
them relax and catch their breath for the rest of the day. Day Two – Saturday 17th April Maggie
had a wedding to attend. Our daughter Kathleen’s best friend was making an
honest man of her long-time beau, Kathleen was Matron of Honour, and Maggie had made the bouquets and buttonholes for the
wedding party. Thanks to Bob and Shirley’s presence I was able to ‘bludge’
out of going to the ritual being performed by a civil celebrant in the garden
of the bride’s grandmother whose home abuts a National Park, with pristine
landscape surrounding the property. I took
Bob and Shirley on a ‘look-and-see’ tour of parts of our local area,
including a quick visit to meet Kathleen and her husband Travis, ending up at
a regional shopping mall which fascinated them both. They bought some bits
and pieces and made enquiries about booking a (1,500 kilometres) flight down to Canberra (Australian Capital Territory),
so that they could take a couple of days to go and visit with Bob’s cousin
who lives in nearby Queanbeyan (New South Wales). We popped home for some
lunch and worked out with each other the best time for them to take the trip
down to With
Maggie away for the wedding I took Bob, Shirley and our other son Douglas
along to the family’s favourite Chinese ‘noshery’
where we again met up with Gregory, Tammy and baby Caitlyn. We had a really
pleasant self-serve, all-you-can-eat meal which, as ex-Brats, Bob and I got
stuck into like thoroughbreds! Postscript Later
that evening, in keeping with the dreaded Murphy’s Law, a speeding driver
‘lost it’ as he raced along the dual carriageway past ‘Peckingham
Palace’. His front wheels struck the median strip,
his car was hurled into the air, literally flew across the other lanes and
smashed a glancing blow into the side of Greg and Tammy’s home. It demolished
a tree on the neighbour’s property before taking out the ‘Colourbond’
fencing and pergola at the side of Gregory’s and Tammy’s place. Their dog was
pinned against the gate into the side section of garden but escaped with
bruises. The side of the house has cracks running through the brickwork from
ground to eaves and the repairs will cost in the region of $100,000 to
restore it to pristine condition. Nobody, aside from the dog, was injured,
and one must be grateful for that. Still, it is difficult to feel charitably
disposed towards an idiot like that who had been reported for ‘hooning’ and
doing ‘doughnuts’ earlier that day. Bob couldn’t believe the trouble that we
were going to in order to provide him with live entertainment!
Day Three –
‘Underwater World’ Sunday 18th April We
took off towards the
Bob & Gerry at Underwater World – two
‘Ancient Sharks’ We
scoffed an ice cream as we meandered through the various shops lining this
edifice and Shirley made a few purchases. There is a boat trip that takes in
the canals that bisect the area adjacent to the river, with the skipper
giving out some very entertaining anecdotes about the rich and famous who
have set up their very palatial homes in this beautiful setting. The boat
actually emerges briefly into the open ocean (Coral Sea) at the mouth of the
Gerry, Shirley & Bob aboard the boat
plying the canals and We set
off for home at 16.00 hrs, deciding to try and get to the lookout point for
the
Shirley, Margaret, & Bob outside the
‘Ettamogah Pub’
Bob enjoying a cold one On Monday we had to send the
Published: April 2004
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