Special guests on the day were, Graeme Fixter who was Leongatha Jaycees Past President and Gippsland Regional President

He spoke of his memories in Jaycees with the spirited rivalry between Warragul and Leongatha Chapters at many regional events. A highlight was the Cricket match between the Chapters with Brian Hopkins and Graeme Fixter as apposing Captains and wicket keepers.

He related the experience of attending the National convention in Canberra with Brian Hopkins and Kevin Dale

Alan McQueen, inaugural president of Korumburra and then a member of Fish Creek Jaycees spoke of his involvement 

Kevin then invited Mavis Gallienne to relate an emotional connection with the second world war. Her uncle was a pilot who was shot down over Holland in the second World War. Up until about 15 years ago that was all the news they had about her Uncle. Then contact was made by a group of Dutch people who were tracking down relatives of her Uncle. It turned out the plane that her Uncle was flying was returning from a mission and was badly damaged by flack and was about to crash. Instead of bailing out in a housing area on the outskirts of Amsterdam, they crash landed in a small field next to the housing area. The locals realised they had made a personal choice to prevent the plane landing amongst the houses. Every year since then this Dutch group has paid tribute for the personal sacrifice of the crew.

A few years ago the Dutch group came to Australia to visit the home town of her Uncle and met up with his Australian relatives. It was quite moving to hear Mavis’s account of the story. 

Kevin Dale