Only one RSL life membership is granted per 1000 members, so you can well say that a recipient is a man in a thousand.

State president of the RSL Mr R.S. Maher, made this comment at the monthly meeting of the Port Macquarie Sub-branch in presenting a gold life membership to the town's "most distinguished citizen", ex-mayor and alderman Arthur Leslie Crisp, MBE.

Culmination of the presentation ceremony was a high point of deserved public recognition of a long life of service to ex-servicemen and to the town.

In spontaneous enthusiasm and eager adulation, the packed auditorium rose simultaneously to accord the guest of the evening musical honours and three rafter-ringing cheers.

Tributes to his work and influence in Port Macquarie and the inspiration he has provided were numerous. Over 120 ex-servicemen of his home town and 28 representing eight visiting sub- branches joined to provide a record attendance for the occasion.

The presentation ceremony began with the reading of the citation covering Mr. Crisp's 51 years in the RSL.

CWA goes Indonesian

The Mid North Coast group of the Country Women's Association held an International Day at the Port Macquarie RSL Club on Thursday, with the theme Indonesia.

The RSL auditorium was ablaze with the colour of flags, posters and artefacts from Indonesia, and to set the morning off on the right note, the Wingham CWA branch sang the Indonesian anthem.

In opening the international day, Ald Adams stressed the importance of Australia having a friendly relationship with Indonesia.

The Republic of Indonesia is the sixth largest country in the world in population and its total land area is almost 736,500 square miles, the mayor said.

Guest speaker, Mrs. Handley, who had travelled from Trundle with her husband for the function, said the holding of international days on a group level was a new idea, and one she encouraged.

She said the Mid-North Coast group had been very successful, having won trophy awards on two occasions and finishing second on another.

She pointed out that Indonesia had very close ties to Australia, and in prehistoric times they were joined.

Shower block

A public meeting at Lighthouse Beach on Friday drew more than forty people to decide on a location for the proposed amenities block at Lighthouse Beach.

Deputy mayor Ald Boardman chaired the meeting. Council health inspector Mr. de la Rue had submitted plans to the municipal council meeting last week, for a two-storey structure, comprising showers and toilets on the ground floor and a caretaker's flat on the upper floor.

This was estimated to cost $10,000, however, many Lighthouse residents were concerned that a two-storey building would be too imposing.

Real estate agent Mr. Roger Dulhunty stressed the importance of the building being designed to blend in with its surroundings.

After much discussion and an inspection of the various sites, the meeting recommended to council the amenities block be constructed one third of the way between the Lighthouse Point and the rocks.