Dennis and Janet Woodford

Getting to Know:
Dennis and Janet Woodford

I have said it before, but it bears repeating, that I am often struck by the careers of many of our members who have come from rather humble beginnings. Dennis Woodford is no exception.

He was born in Melbourne, Australia. His father, a WWII veteran, worked for the Wool Commission and qualified for a soldier’s settlement at Bobinawarrah East, a speck on the map southeast of Wangaratta in the Great Dividing Range area. This was Ned Kelly country and several of his artifacts have been found there at Bobinawarrah, not far from Glenrowan, Kelly’s last stand.

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Matt Sutton

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Getting to Know:
Matt Sutton

Matt Sutton

Matthew was born in the Sydney suburb of Cronulla – famous for its beaches – and took all his schooling there. He started in on-air radio broadcasting and moved around a lot, working in Goulburn, Dubbo, the Gold Coast, Hobart, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast, and 3 ½ years in Brisbane at B105 FM.

About three years ago, he backpacked by car across Canada and became infatuated with the country. In London, Ontario, he worked in a bar for six months. Continue reading →

Geoff and Marian Ashworth

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Getting to Know:
Geoff and Marian Ashworth

As reported in last month’s issue of the Yarn, our Australia Day and Waitangi Day celebration was well attended by more than 40 members and friends. Geoff and Marian were among them, and signed up as new members of the Club.

Geoff was born in Perth, WA, and the family farmed at York, just east of Perth. He went to school there from primary to junior high. They then moved to Bunbury, south of Perth, to complete high school. He joined the Main Roads Department (Perth) as a cadet draftsman and was with them for 25 years, including three years at Port Hedland (a major iron ore port facility in the Pilbara region of north west WA) Continue reading →

Yarn March 2014

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The 2014 issue of The Southern Yarn is now available for you to download.

Inside you will find some fascinating stories of early aviation history down under, an interview with The Ashworths as well Murray Burt’s collection of Commonwealth news (anyone want to buy property in Kiribati?) and our regular sections.

Go to the Yarn page, or use this direct link to the PDF.

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Commonwealth Day

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How will you be celebrating Commonwealth Day?

It is on Monday, March 10th this year.

Read about it here on Wikipedia, where the following information was gleaned:

Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March, and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey, normally attended by HM Queen Elizabeth II,Head of the Commonwealth, with the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth High Commissionersin London. The Queen delivers an address to the Commonwealth, broadcast throughout the world

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