Booked on Anzac Day !
by Greg Martin
For many years now , the annual Anzac Day service conducted by Richmond Club involves not only speeches , prayers , singing of the National Anthem , playing of the Last Post and The Rouse and the laying of wreaths , but the presenting of books . These books are then distributed to school libraries throughout the district .
Your writer had much delight in presenting , on behalf of all members of the Hawkesbury Independent crew , a prized copy of Ray Parkin ’ s war classic , Into the Smother . The book , first published in 1963 , is a journal of Ray Parkin ’ s time as a prisoner of war of the Japanese , working on the construction of the Burma-Thailand railway under horrific conditions in 1942-43 .
Into the Smother is the second book in a trilogy of Parkin ’ s wartime experiences , splitting Out of the Smoke and the Sword and the Blossom .
Richmond Club chairman , Geoff Luscombe , was much appreciative of the book . “ This will make inspirational reading to all who have the pleasure of turning its pages ,” Geoff said .
Ray Parkin was born on November 6 , 1910 and went to his maker on June 19 , 2005 . He was born in
Melbourne , the youngest of three children and developed an early interest in ships which resulted in him joining the
sea scouts . Ray also became interested in art and drawing ( especially the drawing of ships ), and after leaving school at 14 , he took a job at an
engraving firm .
In 1928 , aged 18 , he joined the
Royal Australian Navy and rose through the ranks to become a
chief petty officer . In 1939 , he became a crew member aboard the newly commissioned light cruiser ,
HMAS Perth , which was sunk by Japanese action in the Sunda Strait on March 1 ,
1942 . Ray and nine other survivors spent 11 hours in the sea before being washed ashore on a small island .
They found a steel lifeboat , rigged a sail , and began an arduous voyage through enemy infested waters back to Australia .
The sailors covered 800km over 16 days and reached the Japaneseoccupied
Tjilatjap on the south coast of Java where the Dutch authorities , mindful of their own safety , handed them over to Japanese troops .
In November , 1942 , Parkin was among the “ Dunlop 1000 ”, a group of prisoners under the leadership of inspirational Australian army surgeon ,
Lieutenant Colonel Ernest “ Weary ” Dunlop , who were sent to
In March 1944 , Ray was among a group of prisoners selected to be shipped to Japan to work in an underground coal mine in the village of
Ohama on the southern island of Okinawa where he remained until the Japanese surrender in August , 1945 .
Back in Melbourne and reunited with his wife and children , he went to work as a tally clerk on the wharves where he remained until retiring in 1975 . He began writing about his experiences during the war and the first book in his trilogy , Out of the Smoke was published in 1960 followed by Into the Smother ( 1963 ), and The Sword and the Blossom ( 1968 ). Interestingly , Ray said the reason Australians survived better than other nationalities in the work camps was not that they helped each other and were mates .
“ The best thing you can do for anyone else in a situation like that is to be completely self-reliant ,” Ray said .
Bede Polding College school captain , Ciara Murphy , and Richmond Club chairman , Geoff Luscombe , were thrilled with the presentation at the club ’ s Anzac Day service of Ray Parkin ’ s Into the Smother .
( inset ) Ray Parkin .
New BMX track pips skate park
Residents have chosen the construction of a BMX pump track in Bligh Park over a new skate park facility .
More than 900 community submissions were received by council during the consultation , with 60 per cent of residents voting for mountain bikes over skating – with a Bligh Park location winning over a South Windsor venue .
Community members were invited to have their say on whether they would prefer a new skate park or BMX pump track , and whether they wanted it built in Bligh Park or South Windsor . Sixty per cent of residents opted for the chosen activity and location .
Hawkesbury Mayor Patrick Conolly was excited by the level of community participation .
“ To have over 900 submissions from residents of Bligh Park and South Windsor shows just how much the community wants better spaces for our kids to safely ride their bikes , scooters and skateboards .”
Council will now commence designing a pump track and work with residents to select a favourable site .
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 144 // MAY 2022 9