Support
for every man and woman
By FLTLT Simon Paton
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Tony
Lyall at the recreation centre the Everyman’s organisation
provided at RAAF Base Tindal during Exercise Pitch Black
2004.
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Photo
by LAC Ben Dempster
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THE
Everyman’s Welfare Service has a rich heritage and has supported
operational deployments and exercises for more than 60 years.
It continued its association with the Air Force with a small presence
at RAAF Base Tindal during the recent Exercise Pitch Black 2004.
Married couple Tony and Margaret Lyall staffed the Everyman’s
Hut at Tindal during PB04. Tony began preparations in June last
year with the objective to provide a recreational centre that
offered “somewhere to go between shifts”.
He prepared a range of facilities, including computer support
to provide outside email access, a pool table, table tennis and
even a Play Station and TV games for the use of airmen and airwomen
during their deployment.
Everyman’s provided inexpensive soft drinks and Margaret even
baked Anzac biscuits. Everyman’s presence during PB04 maintains
an extraordinary record of service.
The organisation has supported deployed Australian personnel in
every theatre of war since World War II, excluding the current
campaign in Iraq.
The first Everyman’s Hut was set up at Bonegilla camp, near Albury,
to serve the Army in 1940. From these beginnings Everyman’s spread
rapidly to many locations around Australia, including an Everywomen’s
Hut at Bandiana, near Wodonga.
Tea rooms were also established in capital cities. The huts were
staffed by min-isters of religion, missionaries who had returned
to Australia due to the war, and countless civilian men and women
volunteers.
Everyman’s staff wore a military cut uniform, of a grey-pink colour,
and were given officer status by the local commanders.
Today Everyman’s Air Force supporters wear a uniform similar to
CWDs.
The name Everyman’s derives from the Biblical reference of Colossians
1:28 (“Jesus Christ we preach ... warning every man and teaching
every man in all wisdom”).
Everyman’s Huts try to offer a “home away from home” atmosphere
and provide friendly counsel and encouragement. Everyman’s will
continue to serve the ADF, both on exercises and on deployment
in the future.
For more information about Everyman’s services, visit www.everymans.org.au.
