Monthly Archives:May 2016

David Richardson came across this notice in the Obituary section of the Sydney Morning Herald.

GERGELY, Greta

Passed Away Peacefully on May 16, 2016 – Aged 84 years

Loving wife of Peter.

Devoted Mother and Mother-In-Law of Wolfgang & Inga and Reinhold & Jutta.

Adored Omi of Pablo, Sara, Friedolin and Svanja.

Dear sister of Heidi and Walter.

Universally loved and respected

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend a Celebration of Greta’s life:

Where:                East Chapel

Northern Suburbs Crematorium,

199 Delhi Road, North Ryde

When:                  10.30am Tuesday May 24 2016

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Cancer Council Australia. Envelopes will be available at the chapel.

May She Rest In Peace

Bill Brown’s son, Gerry, has advised of Bill’s passing on 13 May 2016. If you have any photos or words of Tribute to Bill that you would like to share with others via the OTVA web site, please send them to me for review and possible upload to the web site.  

I have only one William Brown on the books of the OTVA and could only find one Bill Brown and William Brown both of whom retired as CRS Supervisor (CRS 2) so I can only assume that he was the one and only. Bill Brown started with OTC on 9 April 1951 and retired in October 1985. From April 1979 Transit:

May He Rest In Peace  

Neil Yakalis and Wendy Volpatti organised an event at the FM Radio Station to which Ray devoted a lot of his time. The visit on Friday (Friday 8th April 2016) to their tiny Gladesville radio station went really well.

The 12 who visited were Ian Thomas, Robert Askew, Ian McDonald, Neil Yakalis, Wendy Volpatti, John Eades, Laurie McIllree, Greg Martyn, Ray Dowsett, Ray Alford, Ross Beaumont & Robert Brand. There are only 11 in the group photo as Robert Brand needed to leave early. After the visit the group had lunch at the nearby Gladesville RSL club.

Ray Volpatti’s contribution to 2RRR, both from the technical to the operator side, was appreciated by all who came in contact with him. Tributes recorded to be aired are from Robert Brand, Greg Martin, Ray Alford, John Eades & Wendy Volpatti.

The below photo is courtesy of John Eades.

On Friday 15th April 2016 Sabina’s 2RRR show, Jazz and Beyond, which happens on 88.5 FM Fridays, midday till 2pm, celebrated Ray’s involvement in 2RRR and included recordings of some of Ray’s shows as well as Tributes from Robert Brand, Greg Martin, Ray Alford, John Eades & Wendy Volpatti.

The main component of the Tribute to Ray was aired from 1:30pm to 2:00pm.

2RRR can be heard anywhere using an Android or Apple App.  http://2rrr.org.au/listen-online/

After 42 years’ working his way to the top of Australia’s most profitable public utility, Maltby, a career public servant was out on his ear.

Merry Christmas, George Maltby.

Below is a comment from one of our members:

It was interesting about the sacking of George Maltby.

The way we saw it was that George offered 2 years salary to the retrenched OTC workers. Bob Hawke who was PM at time refused as the guidelines for retrenchment in the Australian Public Service was 1 year and the government was retrenching a number of Australian government wharfies, if we got it he would have to pay them the same.

George pointed out that the OTC Act entitled OTC to fix the wages and guidelines therefore he was within his rights to offer two years, Hawke disagreed and got him sacked.

As far as I was concerned Hawke cost me 1 year’s wages. As I was 60 at the time I went out on the superannuation at a slightly reduced rate.

George Maltby was a very good General Manager who didn’t have the job very long. He was one of us having worked for OTC for many years.

Paul John Murphy (P J or Spongy) aged 58 passed away on 2^nd February 2016 at his flat, a result from a fall going upstairs to the bedroom where he was found deceased by a neighbour.

A Funeral Service was held on Friday 12^th February at 2.30pm at the Le Pine Chapel 1048 Whitehorse Road Box Hill Vic.

The service was well attended with about 120 Family/Relatives/Friends/Work Colleagues including 22 OTC/OTVA Members namely:

Ashley & Glynis Foote,

Rob & Trish Byrne with son Nick,

Paul S Murphy (no relation),

Harold Murphy (no relation),

Robert & Judith Hall,

Gary & Debbie Kelly,

Warren Marshall,

John Caulfield,

Geoffrey Whitmore,

Charlie Micallef,

Geoff & Jan Lynn,

Artie Koopman,

Angelo Scambiatterra,

Steve Llewellyn,

Michael Murray,

Anthony Mikulic.

Personal Tribute by close mate Rob Byrne of Paul’s great love of Tennis, Surfing, Football, (Essendon) Cricket, Cycling, Running, Camping, Hiking, Golf, Shooting, Fishing, Music, Motor Biking, and always enjoyed the Annual Wagga Wagga weekend.

Paul commenced at OTC in Lonsdale Street Melbourne about 1976 as C.A./ITO/SITO until redundancy in 1986/7 then went to ANZ Bank until made redundant again in about 2007/8.

Paul with former wife Heather had two sons Sam & Jack and were in attendance at the funeral.

SADLY A  LATE ADDITION TO THIS  STORY

Heather Jean  Murphy (now Cook) Paul’s former wife has passed away peacefully on 5/4/2016 born on 31/12/1957 aged  58 from cancer. Heather was born in Foster Victoria.

Heather loved her sport being a Foundation Member of the Melbourne Renegades Cricket Team and a passionate and devoted Member of the Western Bulldogs. A Memorial Service was held at the MCG Members Dining Room on Friday 15^th April at 12.30pm and was very well attended by several hundred family and friends. It was a fantastic celebration of Heathers life, love and achievements. Those attending from OTC were Ashley Foote, Trish & Rob Byrne and son Luke, Warren Marshall and daughter Lisa, P.S. Murphy, Harold Murphy, Keith & Jeanette Schafer, Janice & Geoff Lynn, Gary & Debbie Kelly and Lyn McKenzie.

BOTH WILL BE SADLY MISSED  R.I.P.

PAGE ERNEST BARROW

11.1.1927  –  27.3.2016

Page Ernest Barrow passed away peacefully at Wantirna aged 89 and suffered from Dementia. Loved husband of Iris and father of Greg, Ann Marie (Dec), Marianne, Brian, Ray & Karen and father-in-law to Pauline and Grandfather of five and loved brother of Gordon and sister-in-law Margaret.

The Funeral Service was held on the 4^th March 2016 at 10.00am at Tobin Bros. Season of Life Chapel 331 Maroondah Hwy. Ringwood.

About 41 attended including OTVA Members Robert & Judith Hall, Geoffrey Whitmore, Anthony Mikulic, John Walters & Gary Kelly.

Page and his brother Gordon were born in Newport Vic. and after schooling in the Footscray area he left at age 15 and commenced on 4.5.1942  with A.W.A. Beam Wireless as Circulation Clerk on a weekly salary of 23 shillings per week, in October 1942 Page was promoted to Telegraphist MOR. 1946 taken over by OTC  (Aust.)

1947 to 1953 attached to Facsimile Section. 1953 promoted to Circuit Control Officer on 936 Pounds per Annum.  About 1964 promoted to Supervisor MOR which later was re-designated to Shift Controller. On 16.1.1987 Page was made Redundant and Retired at age 60.  Page had a life-long interest in HAM RADIO VK3RP he conversed mainly by Morse Code which he very frequently made contact with a friend in Ireland and held an Amateur Radio Licence for many years.

Photo of Page attending the 25 year service awards supplied by OTVA Victorian President, Robert Hall.