If you are in Sydney this coming Thursday please consider travelling to The Shire to celebrate this momentous occasion with the regular attendees of the South Sydney catchup at the Como Pleasure Grounds.

This south-side catchup has been going 9 years, how time flies? Some members may like to visit and ‘have a chat’.

The 9th Anniversary of the South-side Catch-up is at 9.30 this Thursday (15th October 2026) at Blackfish Cafe in Como Pleasure Grounds (Cremona Rd Como).

You’re welcome to join the regulars for a coffee and brunch.

Please RSVP. 

Keep well, Greg

Mobile 0407 07 9540

12 Vets attended and enjoyed the food, conversation and shared many memories of their individual and collective experiences working for OTC.

Left to Right: Ray Pow, Will Whyte, Scott Neylon, Robin Tuckfield, Trevor Housley, Jim Simpson

Left to Right: Dave Coutts, Mick Callaghan, Orm Butler, Greg Martyn, Peter Bull, Paul Scanlan

Dave Charrett spotted an obituary notice in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper published on Saturday 19/9/26

Greg Sachs was advised by Paul Dentskevich as follows:

It is with great sadness that I need to let you know that Bob quietly passed away yesterday morning.

He was comfortable, peaceful, and free from pain, and one of the trusted nursing staff was with him at the time.

As yet, we do not have any confirmed funeral arrangements, but we are looking towards the end of next week.

I am sorry to be the bearer of this news. I know that he had a great deal of affection and respect for all of his ex-OTC colleagues, and he greatly enjoyed the time you spent together.

Kindest regards

Paul

David Tresidder has passed on the sad news of the passing of his father, Jim, on 3rd September, 2026 of old age. He was 94.

David has attached two photos of Jim one from 1996 shortly after he left OTC and the other from the mid-1970s which might help people remember him.

Jim joined OTC in 1968 and was a Funds Manager in the Treasury Department. He worked at OTC for 25 years until retiring in 1992.

He married Sylvia Tresidder (nee Bardsley) in 1975 who was also working at OTC as a programmer. Sylvia passed away in 2022.

Family and friends are invited to attend a service in celebration of the life of Jim which will be held on 11th September, 2026.

For funeral details please contact Phil Tresidder on 0404 495 173 or David Tresidder on 0437 814 108.

Ian Briggs advised of Marty passing.

He had been staying in a new care centre near his daughter’s property in the south west of WA.

Davo Neyle has relayed the sad news of the passing of Darrell.

A very belated notification of the passing of Darrell Hegarty, ex OTC Training Officer, from the 70s and 80s.

By coincidence, a distant in-law relative of Darrell’s has started working for me recently at the Bega Repair Café.  Yesterday he started talking about this relative that died last year and his involvement in the navy.  The story sounded very familiar, and he confirmed it was in fact Darrell he was talking about, and Darrel had died in early 2025.  This chap’s wife is the executor of Darrell’s estate.  Darrell was a single man, and largely kept to himself in his later years, other than maintaining an alumni group for HMAS Perth, his ship when in the navy.  When Darrell died, they couldn’t access any of his computer files or his phone, so as a result, did not know who to contact to advise of Darrell’s passing.  I knew Darrell had moved into Bega but he hadn’t told me where too.  He wasn’t responding to my email or text messages, and his regular Christmas message failed to arrive, so I admit, I feared the worst.

Darrell had relocated and retired to Merimbula NSW in the 1990s, after discovering a cousin, that he’d never really had any dealings with in his life, lived there.  This woman became his only living relative.  Darrell had been managing a serious heart condition and diabetes since he was in his 60s, and eventually it caught up with him, and he moved into a retirement hospital in Bega.  Unfortunately, just three weeks later he fell and hit his head.  I gather it was downhill from there.  Darrell was 83 when he died.

Darrell had requested that his ashes be scattered at sea from a naval boat.  Because of his OAM, and service to HMAS Perth, it was decided to take that one step further.  His ashes were interred in a teak box, which in turn was placed in the bunk space that Darrell had used when serving on the HMAS Perth.  The ship has since been towed out to sea and scuttled, and now serves as a dive wreck.

Many of us who were trainees under Darrell’s watch remember him very fondly.  We even had a touch football team at North Sydney Tech College called “Darrell’s Demons”.  I can recall many a Friday night, having a session at the Bomb Shelter, then escorting Darrell home on the train to ensure he woke up to get off at Toongabbie Station.  Darrell told us there were quite a few times he found himself at the marshalling yards in Penrith after a big night out!

Below is a ‘selfie’ Davo took of Darrell and myself in November 2016.

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Ian McDonald has advised that Alan’s wife, Yvonne, has passed on the sad news of Alan’s passing yesterday (3/4/26) afternoon in Prince of Wales Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for respiratory problems

Yvonne and Alan’s family will be making funeral arrangements for later in the week at the earliest. The OTVA will be advised of the details of funeral arrangements as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Please advise if you would be attending a funeral in Sydney for Alan so that Yvonne can make the necessary arrangements to accommodate numbers.

Alan was a staunch supporter of OTC, its staff and the OTVA where served on the committee for more than 20 years.

Alan spent 20 years working in Engineering Branch (1962-1982) working in Lae (PNG), Spring Street, Martin Place and Paddington.

Alan then transitioned into a role in Sales & Marketing from 1982 to 1992 working primarily in Martin Place and then Elizabeth Street until his retirement.

Alan was selfless in his devotion to those with whom he worked. He was an excellent mentor to many young techs over the years helping them to establish career pathways that helped them to achieve excellent job opportunities both here in Australia and overseas.

Alan oversaw many successful Engineering Projects that delivered positive benefits to OTC’s revenue and reputation within the international communications community of people and companies.

Alan would have celebrated his 93^rd birthday within the next 2 to 3 weeks.

May He Rest In Peace.

Unfortunately the OTVA received late notice of the Service for Alan so the attendees from the OTVA of which I am aware were:

• Ian McDonald
• Laurie White and his partner, Noelene.

There was no funeral service but a Celebration of Alan’s life was held – Details below.

Date and time: 8 April 2026 at 2pm to 4pm

Venue:    Zetland Child and Family Health Centre

                 Ground floor hall, Tote Building. 

               100 Joynton Ave, Zetland NSW 2017

                 Corner of Austin Grove and Joynton Ave, Zetland

The photo below shows Yvonne Hennessy, Craig Hennessy and Grant Hennessy (back row)

Below is a photo of the venue and some of those who attended the Celebration of Alan’s life.

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Greg Martyn has passed on the sad news of Jan’s passing that he received from John via email.

I talked to John this morning and he told me that Jan had been fighting cancer since 2020. The medication that she had been taking since the initial diagnosis appeared to be working which was confirmed by the monthly blood tests and oncology results but in December 2025, they received the bad news that it had spread and that she had only a short time to live. She was home with the family at the time of her passing.

John is obviously saddened by his loss but has also been heartened by the number of people who have contacted him to express their condolences for his loss and to find out if he (John) is OK. The esteem in which Jan had been held through her life has made him realise what a wonderful person she was and that makes him feel grateful and appreciative.

Funeral services will commence at the Woronora South Side Chapel 01.00pm on 02 March 2026. John has asked that in lieu of flowers a donation to a cancer-related charity would be appreciated.

At the conclusion of this service people will be invited to attend a gathering at the Salvation Army Church, Bangor to celebrate her life. Tea and coffee, light refreshments will be available.

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MARTIN BECK Obituary

Published by Coffs Coast Advocate on Sep. 26, 2012.

BECK, MARTIN WILFRED
25th September, 2012, peacefully at own home, late of Sandy Beach. Dearly beloved husband of Dorothy, loving father & father-in-law of Mark (dec’d), Carol & John Elliott, adored grandfather of Tegen and James.
Aged 77 Years
“Martin’s Last Flight”
Relatives and friends were invited to attend Martin’s Funeral held in the Chapel of Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour on Friday, 28th September, 2012 at 3.00p.m.
Friends were invited to join the family in the Garden Lounge for light refreshments following the Service.
In lieu of floral tributes the family asked for donations to the Oncology Unit at Coffs Harbour Health Campus, a collection box was at the Chapel.

Ref:-https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/martin-beck-obituary?id=46116496

For context on the photo below see the comment from Gary Samuels (below)