Readers will learn with deep regret of the passing of the late Life President of the Vaucluse Amateur Sailing Association and founder of the wonderful little Vee-Jay, which has found its way into almost every navigable waterway in the Commonwealth, and much further a field as well Sil, who served with the A.I.F. in the 1914-1918 War, always displayed the happy knack of interesting himself in those things which help towards a better community spirit and the well-being of those less fortunately placed in life. The wide circle of those from every walk of life who feel it a privilege to have numbered themselves amongst his friends is testimony of the far-spread appreciation of his sincerity in everything he undertook. Way back at the time when his unit found themselves aboard ship bound for service somewhere overseas, he originated the idea of publishing a weekly paper embodying the doings of his unit. This paper was published without interruption-more often than not a single typewritten sheet-right throughout the period of service of this unit, and was finally abandoned only upon his return to Australia. The effect upon the morale of men living under the hellish conditions of war of such an effort cannot be over-estimated. Every edition of this paper, "The Yandoo," is preserved in the Mitchell Library to-day.

Sil was an indefatigable worker for legacy, and never lost interest or diminished his efforts in its work of caring for and helping on the children whose fathers were lost to them in war.

He was interested in outdoor sport, acknowledged as an authority on all matters relating to fishing and shooting. Small boat sailing always held his attention.

In 1931 he conceived the possibility of designing a small one-design sailing boat, to become the training medium by which youngsters could prepare themselves for later entry into clubs sailing larger types of craft and so generally improve the standard of sailing and seamanship in those clubs.

So we saw the first Vee-Jay. We would not recognise her as such to-day, but after experiments with this boat the following year, 1932 marked the appearance of the Vee-Jay, which has remained unaltered since. Its success was instantaneous, and clubs sailing this little ship sprang up throughout Australia. In 1936 it was evident that yacht and sailing clubs could not absorb the number of youths debarred at 18 years of age from further sailing a Vee-Jay. In order to ensure a continuance of the sport to these, Sil again called some of his friends together and evolved the design of the Vee-Ess, to be sailed by skippers of 18 years or over. Here again, because of his insistence upon ease of construction, simplicity, rigid standardisation and low cost, success was immediate, and one club was racing these boats in the first season. Others followed, and in 1937 Sil initiated the first move to form an association to further the interests and encourage inter-club activity amongst both these classes of boats.

The late Mr. Sil Rohu, chairman of the Vaucluse Amateur Sailing Association (left), and Mr. K J. Harrison, M.H.R., at the opening of the Vaucluse Branch Club-house, on October 28, 1939, seen unveiling the flag.

The Vee-Jay and Vee-Ess, the numerous clubs in which they are sailed, the thousands of lads and young men whose sportsmanship, keenness and initiative have been developed because of their participation in the sport, are a memorial to the foresight and doggedness of this one man.

Sil has set sail on another journey. Let us not mourn his passing, but rather express our gratitude for having known him during his stay amongst us.