Western Link - Vol 2 No 5 October 2009 - Province 20 Catenians of ...

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUCAPTAIN PAT….PATRICK ARMSTRONG DARLING RANGE CIRCLEPatrick Mark Armstrong was born in the seaport of Hull, England on 31stAugust 1931. An elementary education (State School) was interruptedfor about 9 months as the U.K. Prepared for World War 2... No air-raidshelters for schools, Pat loved every minute of it. Because of nightlybombings he was evacuated to the countryside (Lincolnshire) for 10months.A bit of an adventure really for a 10 year old boy. He always wanted tofollow a sea career... At age 13 years he sat for and won a scholarshipto the Boulevard Nautical College, completing a full three yearcourse. Syllabus covered was : Navigation and Nautical Astronomy,Trigonometry (Plane and Spherical), Signaling, Chartwork, Meteorology,Practical Seamanship, Plus the usual Science, Maths etc...In 1947 on gaining a “Passing Out” (leaving) Certificate, he successfullyapplied for apprenticeship with Watts-Watts Shipping Company and.joined ship SS. Beaconsfield at age 16 with rank of junior apprentice. Ayear later, indentures were cancelled by mutual consent as parents andfamily migrated to Australia. Pat had no say in the matter... Mum was notgoing to leave him behind...January 1949 saw him back at sea, this time as a Junior OrdinarySeaman. The end of 1949 saw him as an ‘A.B’ working for severalShipping companies. Attempts to sign on ships bound for Australiawere frustrated... In those days seamen were inclined to “Jump ship”in Australian ports... Having a home address in Australia was a bit ofa giveaway. November 1951 he was back in Australia, per deliveryof a ship to Singapore and subsequently signed on a Norwegian shipto Brisbane. Norwegian crews could be signed off in many ports ofthe world. Pat signed off in Brisbane, boarding rail services to Albany,to eventually rejoin his family. Years at sea opened his eyes. If a manwanted to marry, he was best in a shore occupation. He worked for a yearin the Public Works Dept. They were building Port facilities at Albany.Employed in the Survey Dept, in addition to land surveys, this alsoinvolved marine soundings and launch work. The launch work was likea paid holiday. Sad to say, the State Govt. ran out of funds...In 1956 he met Mary the love of his life, a child migrant from Ireland.Mary was a Nurse at the Albany District Hospital. They were goingsteady, but were parted for six months when she went to work inMelbourne. She was there for the 1956 Olympics, returning to Albany tobe Bridesmaid at her friend’s wedding. Pat and Mary married in 1958.Together they had six children, and now have fourteen grand-childrenand one great grand-child. The family will soon be increased by anothertwo grand-children.Pat was the second Mate with Cheynes Beach Whaling Co. Albany.In 1959 came ashore and commenced at Thomas Borthwick and SonsAlbany Meat Works. Steady promotions saw him as Shipping Managerthen on to Works Manager, the position he held for 9 years beforetransferring to Perth to work for Westfarmers Meatworks at Linley Valley.The year 1978 saw him back at sea. This time in the Oil Explorationindustry. After serving one year as First Mate he became Ship’s Captain.He remained in this industry until 1996, retiring at age 65...Milestones: 1991 saw him become a Convert. A regular churchgoer formany, many, years, family and friends assumed that he was Catholicall along. He joined the Catenian Association about 1998 and wasPresident Darling Range 2006 / 2007 He and Mary attended the CatenianCentenerary 2008 in Manchester. U.K. Whilst in Albany he was akeen yachtsman and successfully raced Sharpies, Soling and built andraced his own Attunga Class 2008. Catamaran. Mary and Pat renewedtheir wedding vows at their 40 th Anniversary and celebrated their 50 thAnniversary recently…. Still going strong…Arranged by Bro John Van BeekANOTHER BRIGHT IDEAThis is a notice that appears in the Mandurah Parish Bulletin nowand again, courtesy of Bro. Kevin Hefron. Perhaps other circlesmight give this a try…C OF MANDURAH Circle TAKE A BOW ESPECIALLYBRO. KEVIN HEFRON AND TEAM, FOR SUPPORTINGOUR YOUTHNOTICE TO CIRCLE PRESIDENTSMay I prevail on you Bros. President, to appoint an official circle scribe ( some already have one) to ensure that your circle getsits fair share of space in Western Link…Please have your Secretary E mail me and advise the name of our choice…I will be mostgrateful….Brendan McGurk Editor2 October 2009 Western Link
EDITORIALIt is a great worry to me as a long standing member of theCatenian Association and I am sure it is, to many conscientiousCatenians that we seem to have lost our way, especially amongmany rank and file members. Many seem to have got into thehabit of going along to circle meetings to enjoy a bit of a chatand a good meal then do not give it any thought until the nextoccasion. They never offer to get involved in advancing theAssociation by volunteering to take up a Council office, attendingsocial functions (apart from an occasional ladies’ night) visitingbrothers in difficulty or need, or just to give their company toanother brother who may be old, ill or lonelyIt is a spiritually based Body and it calls for sacrifice and effort ifit is to be relevant in the communityWe promised to do these things when we were inducted, but weseem to have departed from such important matters of principle.As a result we are growing old and not replacing our memberswith men who can carry on the proud tradition that has beenestablished over 30 years in Province 20 and over 100 yearsoverall.It is apparent that many members have taken office in the pastand feel they ‘have done their bit’. Under normal circumstancesthis would be OK, but now that we have at least 3 circles in direneed of support and action, if they are to survive as part of theAssociation then steps have to be taken NOW to save such aparlous situation. We have many past Provincial Presidents andCouncilors who are eminently qualified to hold circle officeagain.We have a number of numerically strong circles, but theabovementioned negatives still prevail.It is said that ‘When the going gets tough- the tough get going’and it is now that we need some of those brothers who have agenuine love of the Catenian Association and have the will todo something that will rectify the position. Such brothers wouldneed to become joint members of the weaker circles and includedis our mother circle; the City of Perth in that mix, to take officeand set out to increase numbers and bring them up to a reasonablestrength.If this is not taken up, then it is only a matter of time when ourorganization will become irrelevant and what a great shame,albeit a crime, that would be.Is it too much to ask? I do not think so! It can be done if we havemen who will step up and be counted…we have had them in thepast, and there is no reason why we cannot have them for thefuture.Prov. President David Boyle’s theme this year isMEMBERSHIP...Let us make it happen.WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT ?THE PASSING OF A GOOD FRIEND OF AVON VALLEY CIRCLESheila Kirby is the sister of our deceased Brother Pat Kirby(29/8/97) and as Pat was a single man, she was his “lady” inattending Circle events.On Pat’s death, Sheila who recently turned 86, has been a constantfriend of the Circle, we regarded her as a widow and hence one ofour ladies we care for.I delivered the eulogy at the Requiem, making mention of thefollowing facts:-.Sheila was born Moora 1923, her family coming to Northamin 1926. She was schooled at St Anthony’s and St Josephs inNortham then at 18 yrs entered Holy orders, teaching with StJoseph Nuns at Fremantle, North Fremantle, Beaconsfield,Albany and Mt Barker. After 20 yrs teaching Sheila decided on achange of vocation and went nursing for 5 yrs. Then with othersiblings (she was 1 of 8) all leaving home either for employmentof marriage, Sheila decided in 1965 she was the one to comehome and mind the ageing parents. She obtained a secretarialposition with the S.E.C. (now Western Power) and soon becamethe P.A. to the Regional manager, a position she filled withdistinction and decorum for 16 yrs.Her father died in 1975 aged 84, while her mother lasted until1991 (aged 101). Brother Pat had come home after retiring fromthe Crown Solicitors Dept (Comwlth) in 1987 and assisted withMother’s care, as well as being a founding member of AvonValley Circle (20/2/1988).Pat became ill in 1996 and was hospitalised in 1987 and passedaway in S J of G Hospt. Subiaco ( two weeks after his circleBrother, Laurie McKenzie).It was only in the last 18 months that ill health, arthritis and ailingheart, prevented Sheila attending Circle and Province functions.She was an ardent fan of the English visiting party events andannual Prov. Mass/Lunch at O’Neills, Henley Brook.She was a guardian angel, a truly compassionate person, aninspiration to us and ever enthusiastic supporter of Catenianbrotherhood.She prayed secretly for the recovery of health of children andothers, including me, which was only revealed after the recoverywas affected. Children and pets have been named after her bypeople so affected.Sadly Sheila suffered a mini stroke/heart attack on Boxing Day2008 and was admitted to RPH for 2 weeks then transferred to anursing home in Northam on 8 January where she passed away,after another stroke, on Saturday 30 May.Farewell ‘Sister’ you will always be remembered….RIPBRIAN WEBB, SECTY AVON VALLEY(Bro Pat Kirby donated the cost of the Parish hall inNortham, used by the local Catenian brothers for meetingsand functions. Editor)CARPET COURT12 Elliott Street, MidvaleFor all floor coverings, contact Rocco andintroduce yourself as a CatenianTel: 9274 2323Member Swan ValleyOctober 2009 Western Link 3
Page 1: Name:WESTERNLINKNewsletter of the C
Page 5 and 6: ROSARYBEADSAPPEALSome months ago Re
Page 7 and 8: City of Perth CircleBusselton Weeke
Page 9 and 10: DON’T RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME!!A s
Page 11 and 12: THE COMO CIRCLECOLLECTIONSUPPORTING
Page 14 and 15: PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS AT
Page 16 and 17: VALE DONALD D. CARR1926 - 2009.Bro
Page 18 and 19: CANNING CIRCLE HAPPENINGS:+ Bro. Je
Page 20: Car RallyLIWARA CIRCLE IN ACTIONBy

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