He may be weary, but WWII veteran Payten will not miss the Anzac Day parade in Sydney
Dick Payten OAM is looking forward to catching up with his old Army mates, swapping tales and swigging a couple of beers after this year’s Anzac Day march in the city.
The Express
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Express. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- All public primary schools to get before and after school care
- Local teen charged over loaded gun, $197,000 cash at home
Dick Payten OAM is looking forward to catching up with his old Army mates, swapping tales and swigging a couple of beers after this year’s Anzac Day march in the city.
The president of the 7th Division association recently celebrated his 98th birthday and will be wheeled in the parade by one of his 26 great grandchildren.
The Chester Hill local, a much loved resident at Advantaged Care at Georges Manor, has a sharp memory, specially when reminiscing about how he met his wife Mary, who passed away of cancer a few years ago.
He also recites several poems from memory, including the moving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels of the Kokoda Track, and gives presentations to several schools during the lead-up to Anzac Day.
“I have been taking part in the parade since it began and have not missed a single one though I didn’t expect to be here so long,” Mr Payten said.
“I have a lot of pride in the march, though it is very sad when you remember the special mates you had and have now gone.
“Those days it used to bring a tear to me.
“People at the march give you an grand reception and I appreciate them, it is a real pleasure for us to take part in the march, because of this.
“I am disappointed the march does not pass the Martin Place memorial anymore as that was special and the crowds cheered us.
“Yes I will enjoy a few beers after the parade and catch up the few remaining members of the division.”
Mr Payten, still sharp as a tack, had four children with his beloved Mary, and later on they had nine grandchildren
He uses the mobile phone, has many visitors and a disarming smile.
OUR DIGGERS IN COLOUR
A photo of a group of returned soldiers (c1919) at the Bankstown soldiers settlement, which was designed to provide land on preferential terms to repatriate servicemen who had fought overseas. The photo has been colourised using the ColuriseSG. Picture: Canterbury Bankstown Council library archives
Mr Payten, originally from Dubbo, joined the Australian Army in 1941, when he was 20 and served four and half years in different regions, including the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo.
“When Japan entered the war, the 7th Division was brought home to prepare to go to New Guinea and I had my 21st birthday when we landed in Adelaide on March 30, 1942,” he recalled.
“The Kokoda Track was the main battle in New Guinea where the 25th brigade raised the Australian flag on November 3, 1942.”
Speaking about his wife Mary (whom he married on February 12, 1944) Mr Payten has twinkle in his eye as he remembered failing to meet on more than one occasion.
“One of my friends wanted me to meet her and we planned to meet three times, and each time I didn’t turn up,” he smiled.
“I wasn’t interested at that time.
“But one day I had to go back to Dubbo and my friend had made contact with Mary to meet her and her sister.
“Our first meeting was a floppy handshake but we spent half an hour before my train left for Dubbo.
“We did not say we loved each other and all that but promised to keep in touch.
“In those days, when the train was about to leave, the station master traditionally walked up and down the platform telling the young people to make use of the opportunity and give each other a kiss and a cuddle, which we did.”
“I did not see her for a year but before I was sent to New Guinea, Mary and I were engaged and communication was so poor there, it took around two months to get mail.”
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels by Bert Beros
Kokoda Today
Many a mother in Australia when the busy day is done
Sends a prayer to the Almighty for the keeping of her son
Asking that an angel guide him and bring him safely back
Now we see those prayers are answered on the Owen Stanley Track.
For they haven’t any halos, only holes slashed in their ears
And their faces worked by tattoos with scratch pins in their hair
Bringing back the badly wounded just as steady as a horse
Using leaves to keep the rain off and as gentle as a nurse
Slow and careful in the bad places on the awful mountain track
They look upon their faces would make you think Christ was black
Not a move to hurt the wounded as they treat him like a saint
It’s a picture worth recording that an artist’s yet to paint
Many a lad will see his mother and husbands see their wives
Just because the fuzzy wuzzy carried them to save their lives
From mortar bombs and machine gun fire or chance surprise attacks
To the safety and the care of doctors at the bottom of the track
May the mothers of Australia when they offer up a prayer
Mention those impromptu angels with their fuzzy wuzzy hair.
ANZAC DAY ACTIVITIES
Anzac Day marches and
services will be held across Canterbury Bankstown on Thursday, April
25. Here’s a guide to what’s happening:
Bankstown RSL
7.30am: Service at Bankstown Cenotaph outside Bankstown Court House, followed by breakfast at the club.
Bass Hill RSL
5.30am: March starts, with service at 6am, followed by breakfast at the club.
Campsie RSL
6.45am: Marchers gather at cnr of Evaline and Beamish
streets. 7am: Service at Anzac Mall. 7.35am: March to Campsie RSL. 8am: Sub-branch event
at level one. Free sausage sizzle at Anzac Park. 8.20am: Schools
presentation at Anzac Park, entertainment by Inner West Community band.
Chester Hill-Carramar RSL Sub-Branch
6.30am: March to the service at Leicester St, Chester Hill.
6.45-7.15am: Service. 8am breakfast at the club, followed
by entertainment at 9am.
Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club
5.15am: Gather in front of Bert Crook Memorial. 5.30am: Dawn Service. 6.30am: Last Post breakfast. 7.30am: Press Pause festival screening.
Lakemba RSL Club
7am: March to the War Memorial at Lakemba station for the
service and wreath laying ceremony. The club provides breakfast for all who participated at its premises, 26 Quigg St.
Panania Diggers
4.30am: Service at cenotaph at Panania station, followed by
a breakfast at the club from 5am-8am, cost $5.
Revesby Workers Club
10.30am: March from Bankstown YMCA down Macarthur
Ave to Revesby Workers Club. 10.45am: Anzac Day Service at
cenotaph. Following the service, there will be a barbecue
outside the Tarro Ave entrance.
Riverwood Legion and Community Club (Club Rivers)
5.30am: Dawn service, Club Rivers Memorial (Littleton St). 9.15am: March starts at Belmore Rd. 9:30am: Main service, Club Rivers Memorial. 6pm,
Retreat service, Club Rivers Memorial.
$355m loss: NSW worst pokie hotspots
This is where NSW pokie players have lost more than $355 million in four months. Search and check our interactive table to see if it’s where you live and how your suburb compares.
Real estate agent’s mental health plea after awkward cocaine find
A Sydney real estate agent who was discovered hiding cocaine in his underpants while in police custody has had his matter dismissed on mental health grounds. Here’s the latest.