MATTERS OF INTEREST

COLLINS, MR R.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:22): Thank you, Mr President—

The Hon. R.I. Lucas interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: I wish to talk about my mother-in-law's brother Ronald 'Dink' Collins who passed away peacefully on 12 November and who was one of the famous Rats of Tobruk. Ronald 'Dink' Collins was born in Ambleside (now Hahndorf) on 28 January 1919. He was the seventh of what became 11 children, having six brothers and four sisters to Florence and Arthur Collins. Ron's nickname came about through the mispronunciation of the word 'stinky' as a young child while talking to the local stationmaster. Ron's new nickname, Dink, was quickly taken up by the Gulnare community, which stayed with him throughout his school, working and Army years.

Dink attended the Gulnare Primary School, starting in 1924, and went through to year 8. He was described by his teachers as a 'determined little devil'. After leaving school, Dink worked as a farm labourer around the district. It was hard work, paying five bob a week. He gave his wages to his mum and she would give him sixpence 'for Saturday', and he had to bank the rest.

One Sunday night, sitting around the wireless with some mates they heard the news that World War II had been declared. The next morning they headed to Adelaide to enlist in the Air Force. Dink was rejected and told to come back later, but instead he went around the corner to the Army recruiting officer and was accepted immediately, enlisting on 29 June 1940. He was given three days to go home, pack his stuff and return for training.

Dink trained at Woodside with the 2/48^th Battalion and left with it from Port Adelaide on 18 November 1940 on the Stratheden. They disembarked at El Kantara, between Egypt and Syria, on 17 December. Dink became part of A Company, which fled to Tobruk, arriving at 4.45am on 10 April 1941, the day before the battle to defend Tobruk began.

It was during this battle that the Germans first referred to the diggers as 'rats living in holes', an epithet the Aussies proudly adopted as their own, naming themselves the Rats of Tobruk. They were told they would be there for two months and then be relieved. Those two months turned into 242 days, with 258 air raids during that time. During one such raid, Dink received a cracked pelvis and shell blast concussion. Sadly, two of his mates died in that incident.

I recall Dink talking about his time in the British military hospital in Cairo. (The Australian hospital was full at the time.) One day Dink and some of his mates received an invitation to a British officer's wife's tea party. The hospital matron put them on the tram to go the tea party, but the boys thought better of it and set off to explore some of Cairo. After a great day in Cairo, Dink and his mates returned that evening, only to be met by the matron and placed under armed guard.

As well as Tobruk, Dink also served in El Alamein, New Guinea and Tarakan. Dink was discharged on 10 October 1945. He was one of only 28 who served the full period of the war with the 2^nd/48^thBattalion. He received many medals, including the Polish Cross. Dink over the years enjoyed meeting with the remaining Rats for a reunion at the Woodside barracks. Sadly though, through lack of numbers, this no longer occurs.

After the war, Dink joined the PMG's department at Spalding and moved to Port Augusta, and finished his time at work at Streaky Bay, where he was the line inspector and his area went from Elliston across to the WA border. In 1987 he married Avis and they lived at Gulnare for three years before they moved to Whyalla. In January this year, sadly, Dink was diagnosed with bowel cancer; unfortunately it had spread throughout his body. My thoughts remain with Dink's wife Avis and the extended Collins family. Lest we forget.