Ned passed away late last night (Sunday 2 December 2018) at home surrounded by members of his family.

He had lost his fight with cancer that he had been waging since we first found out about it in May 2018.

The below photo is of Ned taken at our 2014 XMAS Social Function at the Bowlers Club in York St, Sydney.

A small funeral service will be held with close family and friends in attendance.

Ned’s wife, Carmen, has advised that if anyone would like to send flowers and/or letters of condolence they can be sent to:

610 Barranjoey Road, Avalon Beach NSW 2107

The family would be most grateful to receive tributes from any of Col’s ex-OTC friends and work colleagues.

Carmen, Ashley and Stephanie would like to invite you to join them from 3 pm Thursday 13^th December 2018 to celebrate and farewell Colin (Ned) Kelly.

The family will hold the celebration of Ned’s life at his favourite sailing spot, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club located at 16 Mitala St, Newport NSW 2106.

The family asks those who will attend to avoid suits and dark colours to match Ned’s colourful personality.

The parking will be tight as it is a sailing day. Those who are driving can drop off at the club but will probably need to park in the car park in Crystal St and walk up to the club. See map attached below.

If you would like to send me a tribute to Col that you would like to share with the wider group please email me at president@otva.com and will circulate it via email. Also indicate if you would not like that tribute to be uploaded to the OTVA web site for sharing with Ned’s family.

Regards

Peter Bull

Below photo supplied by Kevan Bourke.

This photo was taken in Centennial Park in 2004 when we had a reunion  to celebrate 30^th year’s on from our first meeting.

Present were Ray Pow, Kevan Bourke, Colin Kelly, John Smith, Harley Vague and John Robinson at the rear, Mark Roberts and Bruce Mayberry at the front.

It is with sadness that I wish to advise that Doug Peter passed away at his Melbourne home on Sunday, 21st October after a short battle with esophageal cancer.

 Doug worked at OTC for more than 20 years & left on the day of the merger with Telecom. For a number of years he held the position of Manager Human Resource Planning & was responsible for providing data which helped OTC decide on the number of staff it would require into the future. 

 After leaving OTC Doug managed a lucerne  property at Mudgee. Doug was originally from regional Victoria & settled in Melbourne when he retired.

 Doug was a good athlete & ran in the first few City to Surf races. He was a member of the OTC Space Racers running group & mostly ran with his good mate Ray Baty. On occasions Ray would run from our city office to his home in St Ives & Doug would run home to Eastwood.

 I have always kept in touch with Doug & would see him every few months. I will miss him very much.

 Regards

Fred Kannard

Grace (formerly known as) Anne commenced work at O.T.C. (A) in the Phonograms/Printergrams Section in  Lonsdale Street Melbourne and also at Collins Gate Counter Office in Collins Street Melbourne  in 1971 and retiring at age 64 in 1982. Anne previously worked at the PMG for a number of years.

A party for Anne was celebrated on Sunday 28^th October 2018 at her daughter Jill and son-in-law John Caulfield’s home. John was also a former OTC  Commercial Branch employee.

There were about 30 in attendance Anne’s 3 daughters and son and extended family and OTVA members Robert & Judith Hall, Gary & Debbie Kelly.

Anne received  commendations from the Queen, Governor-General of Australia Sir Peter Cosgrove,  Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison MP , Jenny Macklin MP and many cards & gifts from friends  and family.

Anne is very insistent about her independence and still lives at home with the assistance of Home Welfare and family members.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNE

(from Robert Hall)

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Brian was well liked and respected by all of those who knew him.

We lose another of the great OTC characters.

Details of Brian’s Funeral Service:

WHERE:                       Simplicity Funeral Parlor in Woy Woy

WHEN:                        9.30am on Monday 29 October.

Brian retired from OTC on 13^th May 1988

This photo is  of Hazel Collister Brian & wife Pat -barbecue at Brian residence Forestville NSW in January 2000

This photo was extracted from Sep 1986 Transit on the occasion of Joe Collister’s retirement.

If you have any better photos that I can upload to the OTVA web site please email them to me.

John Barker has advised of the passing of Michael Debenham. Mike’s ex-wife, Louise, had passed on the sad news to John for relay to his ex-OTC friends and colleagues.

Funeral Service details:

WHEN:             10 am Thursday 11 October 2018,
WHERE:           Tobin Brothers Funerals, Sunbury, Melbourne, VIC.

I knew Mike when he was in the OTC training School from the late 70s until he was appointed to Manager Norfolk Island in 1993 where we remained for 3 years after which he travelled to Scoresby to take on the Manager role there.

Mike was a true gentleman. He was liked by all who knew him and as far as I am aware was well respected amongst the technical ranks in OTC.

He and Steve Corrigan were a pigeon pair when it came to many of the training courses that I attended where they were the instructors. Mike had the training knowledge and Steve had the technical knowledge. They complimented each other very well and I am sure that each learned from the other over time making them a very effective team.

May He Rest In Peace

WHERE:  Red Room, Level 1, Club York (99OnYork), 99 York Street, Sydney

Those present enjoyed the vast array of food that was available along with a beverage or two.

There was lively conversation and many stories from our experiences in bygone years. There were a lot of laughs and a lot of memories of ex-OTC persons both living and passed on.

Many thanks to those who attended and made the luncheon so enjoyable.

ATTENDED

1. Allan Hennessy
2. Bob Anderson
3. David (Dave) Coutts
4. David (Dave) Scott
5. David Waterhouse
6. Dean Veverka
7. Greg Martyn
8. Jim Simpson
9. Mick Callaghan
10. Neville Hainke
11. Orm Butler
12. Peter Bull
13. Robin Tuckfield
14. Steve Percossi
15. Tom Barker
16. Will Whyte
17. Special Guest Appearance from John Currie

12 hardy individuals ventured out to the Carss Park Cafe in Sydney’s southern suburbs for the monthly catch-up organised by Greg Martyn.

They met at the Cafe at 9:30am and had a most enjoyable time laughing and recalling their younger days working for OTC and the antics that they and others got up to during those years.

Robin, Greg and Mick then ventured off to the OTVA Spring Reunion in York St, Sydney for more fun and frivolity.

It is with much sadness that I pass on the news that Graham has passed away

Graham had been living at home with his family. His brother, Brian, told me in June 2018 that Graham was not well due to his battle with myeloma (bone marrow cancer) which had developed into amyloidosis and his prospects were not good at that time. He was undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments to help him fight it.

Graham was transported to the Palliative Care Unit within Liverpool Hospital last night where he passed away at 2:00 am this morning. I believe that he was only about 60.

We pass on our sincere condolences to Brian and the rest of Graham’s family. May He Rest In Peace.

The below photos of Graham is from a 1994 Transit:

Elgin Brown passed away last week and her Memorial service was held Thursday 16 August 2018 at the RSL Village at Narrabeen.

It is 3 years since Lou passed away and Elgin was almost 92 years old.

It was a very nice service with words from her niece, Peggy, and nephew, John, and me as one of her oldest friends.

Regards

Keith McCredden