John Burdinat advised:

Bob Heron passed away on 23rd December after a long period of complex illnesses.

He had prostate cancer over 10 years ago, metastasis melanoma (spelling?) on chest, lots of radiation treatment, CIDP in the legs, a couple of strokes, bladder stones and was in great pain in his legs and feet, unable to walk unassisted.

He eventually succumbed to the cancers after having an early Christmas dinner with wife Glennis and the children and grandchildren at Hervey Bay where they lived for the past few years.

Bob’s daughter Nicky circulated the funeral notices but possibly missed advising some of Bob’s friends as it appears OTC Vets were not informed.

I spoke with Glennis this morning and she was quite surprised that a lot of Bob’s friends had not been in contact, now she knows why.

Glennis’s phone number is  0437757751 if people want to pass on their condolences.

Scattering of ashes notice. 

Bob is now in his favourite fishing spots on the Clarence river.

Sad to report to you that our  Colleague  Charlie Micallef passed away at 5am this morning 7.2.2024.

He was very peaceful. Charlie was 84 years old.

Charlie worked in Melbourne Operating Room (MOR). Charlie commenced at OTC (A)  Queen Street Melbourne in December 1957 in MOR moving through the ranks over the years resigning in 1985 as SITO/Facsimile Operator at Lonsdale Street Melbourne. Charlie’s father Joe also worked OTC as a Storeman from  1957-1967.  Charlie was a former Past President of OTVA Melbourne in 2017.

Charlie worked at Armaguard for 46 years retiring in 2015. Charlie and his wife Josie in retirement travelled extensively around the world taking many photos which Charlie shared on Facebook.  Charlie’s wife Josie also worked at OTC  in Phonograms for a few years.

Late last year Charlie was diagnosed with a tumour in  his pancreas.

Our sincere sympathy and condolences to Josie and Loving Family and Friends of Charlie on a Life  Well Lived.  RIP.

Regards Robert Hall

The Funeral for the late Carmelo (Charlie) Joseph Micallef 27^th July 1939 – 7^th February 2024 age 84 was held at Tobin Brothers Funerals Berwick Vic. On Tuesday 13^th February at 2pm.  Attended by about 90 Family, Friends, with former Armaguard Colleagues, OTC(A) / OTVA Veterans namely :  Yashmin Beaumont, John Caulfield, Ashley Foote, Paul. S. Murphy, Harold Murphy, Robert and Judith Hall who both spoke of Charlie as a Colleague and friend of 60 plus years.

Tony Farrugia has received advice from Leigh Tyler’s wife, Beryl, that Leigh had passed away on 27 March 2023.

Leigh had not been well for a few years and was being cared in a nursing home. He passed away after a short illness in Bankstown Hospital.

Tony believes that Leigh worked in Engineering Branch transitioning to Operations before joining R&D. In a Transit magazine Leigh was listed as OTC’s R&D Business Manager in 1992.

Tony had worked with Leigh for a few years, and he was a wonderful person to know and work with. May he RIP.

If you knew Leigh and would like to pass a Tribute on to the family via the OTVA web site or via private email please send the tribute to me and I will pass it on through Tony.

May He Rest In Peace.

In attendance were:

Allan Hennessy; Ben McGee; Bill Breeze; Bill Davey; Brian Travis; Carl Viglianti; Col Jones; Dave Coutts; Dean Veverka; Dennis Grant; Gary Beaton; George Woloszuk; Greg Martyn;

Ian McDonald; Jim Simpson; John Eades; Kevin O’Brien; Lex Vipond; Mal Carson; Neil Yakalis; Neville Hainke; Orm Butler; Peter Bull; Robert Brand; Robert Lewis; Robin Tuckfield;

Ross Smith; Tom Barker

Those present were reminded of those who had passed away over the past 12 months and the contributions that they may have had on our lives during and after our years in OTC.

The conversations started immediately people arrived to find out who was who (as some of us have aged more than others). For example: Neville Hainke and Dean Veverka still have their boyish good looks and age does not seem to have harmed them at all. Although Dean told us that he had some crippling back pain while on a working trip to SE Asia on his way to a conference in Europe that necessitated a quick trip home for urgent surgery but he is much better now. Bill Davey and Ray Pow too do not seem to have aged much at least to the point that I was easily able to recognize them.

Those present were happy to see that Tom Barker and Allan Hennessy were not hampered by mobility or health issues and were able to join the social gathering. They both appeared to be well and in good spirits.  Their attendance and contribution to the collective memories and stories was much appreciated by all in attendance.

Stories were told and memories relived as those in attendance recalled their experiences in their OTC years. Much laughter ensued as someone related a particularly interesting or controversial event that had happened OR when someone recalled a ‘remember when (person) did (what)” story that was considered memorable either due to its level of excellence or its larrikinism.

Unfortunately the venue could have been better. We had booked 3 tables of 10 in the Red Room on Level 1 but unfortunately the other booking in the Red Room did not want to share and we were moved at the last minute to the Bistro area which was a bit loud and distracting. Peter Bull extended his apology on behalf of the Committee to those in attendance and promised to do better next year. The Function Manager of Club York and the Bistro Manager also apologized but the situation was apparently unavoidable due to the sensitivity of some of the topics being discussed in the Red Room by the other group which had larger numbers than the OTVA. Having said that, the food was very good as was the service by the wait staff. The general noise of our conversations and occasional raucous laughter may have caused some other patrons to move giving us more room in which to spread out which was welcomed by the majority.

All those in attendance appeared to thoroughly enjoying the event and conversation with many still being there talking well after 3:30pm.

Thanks to Robin Tuckfield who provided name tags to facilitate in those awkward moments when you cannot recall a person’s name.

Thanks to Orm Butler and John Eades for taking the below photos:

Mary Betts obituary appeared in the Herald today, sourced from the Telegraph, London.

Here’s a link that may work for folk to read about her. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-telegraph-saturday/20230916/282175065718549

There were stories in past Newsletters about codebreakers in the WWII and Mary was one of the WRENs, (in the UK) who performed the work.

Thanks to Trevor Clay for passing on the sad news from Bob’s daughter, Cathy, of the passing of big Bob Pearson on 12 September

My Dad (Bob) passed away on Tuesday (12th Sept). Although we knew he was having ongoing heart issues he went downhill very quickly and passed due to heart failure.

He just had his 73rd birthday on the 2nd of September.

Dad and mum(Pam) both appreciated the friendship of OTC Vets, so I know you will be feeling this loss too. Sending love from our family to yours.

We will be holding a funeral service for Dad on Friday 22nd September 10am here in Adelaide at Harrison’s funerals Port Rd Queenstown, but the service will also be live-streamed (post Covid norm) for family and friends. I will send through the link and code for this when I receive them.

Much love Cathy Jackson

David Solomon has passed on the news of the passing of Chris Collisson.

Chris joined OTC in 1971.

When I first met him he was working in the Paddington ARM Telephone Exchange. He was a fun-loving character who always made us laugh and on our toes for any of his practical jokes. Another thing that I remember is that he had a phenomenal ability to consume food.

Within a few years of me meeting him he moved to Carnarvon and as with most of those who travelled west with OTC I do not recall him ever coming back.

His ex-wife, Ruth Mary McCready, passed on the sad news to David and others via the ex-OTC Facebook web site.

No details of a the cause of his passing and a funeral service are currently available. I will forward those details on if they become available.

Photo of Chris, Garry Chapple and John Robinson below provided by Kevan Bourke

The above photo was taken outside of the Paddington Cable Terminal building, 363 Oxford Street Paddington at the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing in 2019:

Some OTVA Members may recall, Dagmar Perumal (former wife of Peru, now deceased) who was first employed in OTC’s Drawing Office in Spring Street, Sydney (circa 1961 where I & other OTVA Members first met her some 62 years ago) following her arrival from Germany as a then 21-year-old immigrant.

Dagmar attended a few OTVA Sydney luncheons where Jim Simpson recalls she had a great time reminiscing with those attendees whose memories dated back to those halcyon days when OTC was first headquartered in Spring Street, Sydney post formation in 1946.

Dagmar passed away yesterday, 9^th Sept 2023 aged 83 following a long battle against ovarian cancer at the Palliative Care Unit, Concord Hospital.

Dagmar’s funeral service will take place at 11am on Saturday 16^th Sept 2023 at St Christophorus German speaking Church, 112 Edwin Street North, Croydon 2132.

Jim Simpson will be attending her funeral, representing both OTC(A) & also Five Dock Rotary where Jim renewed his acquaintance with her some 58 years later, thanks to Rotary & local Ashfield Bunnings BBQ fund raiser activities in support of her local church & choir group at nearby Croydon, NSW.

Dagmar is succeeded by 3-children, Usha, Stephan & Navesh & 6 grand-children.  Dagmar came to live at nearby Lilyfield in the early 1990’s.  Jim maintained a long friendship with Dagmar & her family, some of whom (grandkids) play in the same Net-ball competition as do his grandchildren.

May She Rest In Peace

Bruce Boler has passed on the sad news of the passing of our close friend Marion McCormack on 22^nd July.    Marion will be remembered by many folks as a popular secretary within Engineering Branch.

In later years, Marion moved to Adelaide to be close to family and passed after a long illness.

Please see the below snip from the SMH.

McCORMACK

Marion Therese

Passed away peacefully on 22nd July 2023 at Laurel Hospice Adelaide after a long illness. Aged 70 years

Loving daughter of Willian and Eileen (both deceased)

Beloved sister of ‘Bill’ to Trish, Paul, Pete, Mark (deceased) and Mick.

Much loved Aunty to Julia, Ben, Matt, Adam, Phil, Mark, Carla, Clare, Hugh and Ange.

Garry Dunn has provided the sad news of Michael’s unexpected passing.

Michael was known to one and all in Engineering simply as ‘BOX’.

The details of Michael’s ‘Celebration of Life’ service are below in the post from his wife Julie. I am sure it would be a comfort to the family to have some of his old work mates attend the service.