EXTRACT CORVETTE MAGAZINE 1989

​

 

JACK ALDRED - ex 'Katoomba” writes:

''An Ode to 'Blue' Berry"

'

Remember Keith (Blue) Berry?   Of course I do    

​

I remember the day he came aboard as a young 0/D struggling with a kit bag and hammock almost too heavy for him. I remember him as a member of my gun's crew, eager to have a goat the enemy. Of our occasional ‘run-ashore' when we did reach civilization.

​

Then through the years when he met Lesley, his wife. They together raised five Australian children and adored their grandchildren. Even in adversity after a bout in Greenslopes Hospital with T.B., a hip replacement, a foot crushed at work, he always had a smile and a cheery word for everyone .

 

As the "Transport” committeeman for Queensland's National Re-union he did an excellent job.

HMAS "KATOOMBA' ship's re-union was to be at his home at Sherwood.

​

In early August it was discovered that he had been stricken with cancer.  The re-union must go on, come what may he said.   If he couldn't be there we were to have a 'beaut wake" he said .

​

On that day he was dressed in his suit, shirt and tie and, with a nursing sister from the Hospice, was conveyed by ambulance and placed on his bed. And so the thirty five ex sailors and wives who were at the Re-union, came in and said , 'G-day Blue' and , to themselves silently , "Good bye, Blue" .

​

After a couple of hours of joking and chatting , the ambulance returned him to the Hospice.   The last time I spoke to "Blue' he said that that day was one of the “Highlights” of his life.

 

Yes, I remember “Blue” Berry.           Vale Keith (Blue) Berry

​

​

​

​

EXTRACT CORVETTE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 1990

​

Jack Aldred (Black Jack) ex Katoomba tells us that he was one of the syndicate which established a pool of  25 pound  to buy one ticket in each lottery, ploughing back into the “kitty” all minor prizes until (of course) they won the first prize.

​

On this occasion, Katoomba anchored off Mios Woendi and all hands waited impatiently for the mail to come aboard and be sorted. At last Jack received his. Opening one bulky envelope he saw a letter in his father’s handwriting, a lottery ticket, a printed result slip, AND A BANK FORM, marked for his signature. ‘YOU BEAUTY’!! 

 

He could not think of no reason for a bank form, but to deposit his winnings. Too excited to read further, he shouted “We’ve won the lottery”!! Pandemonium on the mess deck! “What beaut runs-ashore we will have – Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney ……………. Everywhere!

​

Jack settled down to read his dad’s letter.  The family had moved and dad wanted to transfer Jack’s bank account to another branch. PANIC!!!  Jack grabbed the form.  It WAS a transfer application.  He scanned the result slip.  What had they won?? ………..NOTHING.

​

Deflated, embarrassed, he broke through the excitement on the mess deck with the truth….. Deathly silence…………then they descended upon him.  Struggling and kicking he was borne along the upper deck and hurled over the side.

​

Even as he flew through the air, he thought, in horror, of the hordes of sea snakes which crowded around the after gangway. Almost before he had time to get wet, he had frantically scramble back on board.

​

​