Page 60 – 61 / 1941 – 42
Left Hand Page
‘The Chunkel’ (draft), ‘Balance of Life’ (cont.) by C.Nussbaum
Continued from page 58-59
BALANCE OF LIFE (CONTINUED)
[…] idealist, are inherent in the psyche even of primitive people. Then there is the eternal love between parents and children, between man and wife, and loyalty between friends.
There are diseases, of course, but they are fought and prevented by many means; most pains can be stilled; the infantile death-rate diminishes and longevity is obtained up to seventy years. The history of mankind is a continuous chain of discoveries and improvements, a fertile creative process in art, science and technique. Wars are decreasing in number and extent [and duration], and civilians are not longer sold as slaves. The thirst for beauty and social justice penetrates into the layers of society… I believe the optimist is right.
Make a balance of life. Add the number of hours and days of suffering and illness and hatred and fighting. Against these put the many hours and days of ease and delight, in our home, food, sport, business, holidays, religion and art; add to these the deep happiness of the love you received in your youth and the love you are able to share in your adult life. Then you will agree with me that the good is richer and fuller than the evil, that sorrow is surpassed by happiness. If this be not correct in the life every individual then it is certainly true of the life of the multitude as a whole.
It is necessary for every man to be fully conscious of this power to enrich himself with the abundance of good in the world. Life is stronger than death. Death is losing its sovereignty over many domains and LIfe is conquering them all. Man with his thirst for happiness and life, shuns the darkness and pushes forward indefatigably towards the light.
Will you see how powerful individuals are? Look at the guiding influence of five inspired men amongst a passive thousand!
It is like the old adage tells us: In a dark and sombre cavern, someone lights a candle, and behold all these masses of impenetrable darkness retreat; the power of darkness is broken.
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Right Hand Page
‘Personality Parade: Major Fagan’ by Jack Wood
AND ‘Get a Load of This!’ by Bernard Campion
PERSONALITY PARADE NUMBER 1 MAJOR FAGAN
Kevin Fagan, the charming and popular and seemingly tireless surgeon of Sime Road P.O.W. Camp was born in Tasmania thirty-five years ago. Went to live in Sydney at an early age where he was educated at St. Ignatius College, being “dux” there for two years, and then at Sydney University, qualifying as a doctor at the age of twenty-three. He then spent a year at the Prince Alfred Hospital followed by a year at the Coast Hospital and next a year at the Women’s Hospital, all in Sydney. In 1935 he returned to Tasmania where he was for three years at the Royal Hobart Hospital as deputy superintendent.
The next twelve months of his career he spent in England and America. In America he passed most of his time in New York, and while in England was at the Middlesex Hospital in London. He was about to take his F.R.C.S. when war broke out and he returned to Australia, once more going to the Coast Hospital in Sydney where he was Senior Fellow in Surgery in the post graduate division. At the end of 1940 he joined the Australian Army Medical Corps, and was posted to the 10 A.E.H. which left Australia in February 1941 and on arrival in Malaya was stationed at Malacca, After capitulation Kevin Fagan was surgeon at Roberts Hospital before going up-country to Thailand where he did marvelous work with “H” Force and was the idol of every officer and man. He performed over 1,000 operations in Thailand and has almost reached the 300 mark in Sime Road.
He is a married man with a daughter seven years old. His favourite game is tennis, at which he is quite an expert; also plays golf, likes fishing and reads a lot. He hopes to go back to the Coast Hospital after the war. The very best of luck to him! J.W.
GET A LOAD OF THIS!
HENRY ECOMA who throws more into one suggestive hip-wriggle than can be extracted from a “Razzle” anthology, looks like dominating the female firmament in future “Barn” revels – blackouts and incoming drafts permitting. Like Caesar, it may be said of Henry – or should we say Henrietta? – that ‘He came, he saw, and he Conga’d.” ,,,, Haven’t heard Capt. Lloyd’s ‘Laughter in Law’ talks yet, but judging buy the volume