John Morrison has passed on the sad news of the passing of Bill Martin.
A little bad news to report, Bill Martin passed away 6am 17th March, he was 89.
He worked for the PMG prior to joining the ranks of OTC and worked in the S.O.R from 1961-1989
He played Rugby League and Cricket way back in the 60’s when O.T.C was a great place to work !!
Bill had been in poor health since having a stroke some years ago. He was in St George Hospital suffering from U.T.I. and some blood problems and then caught Covid.
He is survived by his wife Dawn and sons Stephen and David.
There will be no funeral as such, probably a memorial afternoon celebration of life sometime in the future. John will advise when this is known.
Regards,
John M.
4 Comments
I remember Bill Martin from my time in SOR from 78 to 84. If my memory serves me correctly, he was a SITO, Senior International Telecommunication Officer (Senior Telegraphist).
I remember him as part of the golf crew along with others there. Might have also been part of the gang that drank at the Surrey Hotel and the Australia Tavern.
A genuine nice guy.
May He Rest In Peace
Ben Talman
My very first day I started, January 1970, I sat behind Bill. He got me on the right track by encouraging (i.e. politely requesting) me to call him Bill, not “Mr Martin”
Vale to a real gentleman
May He Rest In Peace
Stephen Myers
So sorry to hear about Bill’s passing.
I played in the OTC cricket team that won the comp back in the sixties. I was wicket keeper and kept to Bill on many occasions, he was a great bowler and person. We also played against the Melbourne mob at Wagga for many memorable victories.
I knew a lot of the boys in SOR back in the day and Bill’s good mates John Morrison, who gave us this sad news and Dave Cowie, another terrific cricketer.
Would be pleased to know if a memorial is planned as a couple of us still living mates would like to attend.
Advised Mick Wilden who as you all remember as the long serving Paymaster at OTC and Telstra and another good mate of Bill, John and Dave.
RIP
Regards
Allan McPherson
I remember Bill Martin very well.
I joined SOR as a circuit assistant in 1963 and worked with Bill at different grades all his time with OTC.
When I got promoted to supervisor he appealed against me and lost. Not long after that he took redundancy.
His last position was traffic controller one grade below supervisor.
RIP BILL.
Joe Dingli.