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OTVA Newsletter – February 2018

09 Mar 18
Peter Bull
No Comments

What is left of the OTC Bringelly HF Radio Station Site

09 Mar 18
Peter Bull
No Comments

I took a run out along Badgery’s Creek Rd a couple of weeks back to see if I could find Bringelly HF Rx.

I had previously done a Google Maps search and found this:  https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.9165863,150.7355267,739m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

It had to be the station site – who else would make a sealed road into a paddock.  I think it’s pretty obvious the U was where the staff cottages were.

Street View shows the old entry brickwork as was used at Doonside: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.9167736,150.7304006,3a,24.9y,29.64h,93.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szHK703kDdJ1QL8nZjuR59g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I stopped and took a few pics:

Cheers

Ron Beckett

VK2OTC

Ken Howe – Passed Away 5 March 2018 – Aged in his early 80s

08 Mar 18
Peter Bull
2 comments

Ken has been battling cancer but it finally won.

His family (wife Jan, previously Secretary to W G Gosewinckel, etc, ) is arranging a private funeral service.

He was in OTC Construction especially Satellite Earth Stations for many years and worked with Jim Robertson and Phil Humphries; all radio specialists.

Ken designed and supervised the construction of  the Moree,  Carnarvon and Ceduna satellite earth stations.

When he retired orm OTC he was probably Class 5 Engineer or above in the old terminology.

OTC Bringelly – What does the site look like in 2018?

05 Feb 18
Peter Bull
2 comments

I took a run out along Badgery’s Creek Rd a couple of weeks back to see if I could find Bringelly HF Rx.

I had previously done a Google Maps search and found this:  https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.9165863,150.7355267,739m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

It had to be the station site – who else would make a sealed road into a paddock.  I think it’s pretty obvious the U was where the staff cottages were.

Street View shows the old entry brickwork as was used at Doonside: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.9167736,150.7304006,3a,24.9y,29.64h,93.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szHK703kDdJ1QL8nZjuR59g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I stopped and took a few pics:

Cheers

Ron Beckett

VK2OTC

 

 

Brian Woods – On the Improve

28 Dec 17
Peter Bull
No Comments

I phoned Brian Woods a couple of days ago, for the first time in a few years and was happy to find that he is still with us but he appears to be quite frail and he and Jill have been in a nursing home in Woy Woy for about a year.  I said that I was contemplating visiting Sydney next year,  at the suggestion of John Eades and Brian was very keen for me to visit him.  I just hope that he will still be with us if I do get over there.

Brian called for me yesterday morning but I couldn’t take the call but I called him back just now and had another chat but he had to cut that short due to nurses.  One name that came up a couple of times was Ron Beckett.

Brian is a magic bloke.  He caught up with me several years ago when he and Jill passed through Carnarvon.  He interviewed my for my traineeship in 1969 and I was amazed to discover later that my four mates and I were picked from 190 applicants in Western Australia,  and we all passed at the end. He must have known his stuff.

Regards, Les Bateman

Noel Chapman – 80 Years Young

28 Dec 17
Peter Bull
No Comments

On Christmas Day 25 December 2017 Noel Chapman turned 80 years of age.

Congratulations on achieving this milestone.

I provide a few photos for Noel and other to reminisce those days in OTC.

From the 1972 Transits:

 

 

OTVA Newsletter – December 2017

21 Dec 17
Peter Bull
No Comments

Engineers Lunch – 19 December 2017

21 Dec 17
Peter Bull
No Comments

Each year a group of Engineers get together at the Oaks Hotel at Neutral Bay in Sydney to renew mateships and  remember events and people that made their years in OTC so memorable.

Bob Lions has provided the below photos taken at the event.

 

The Latest Pictures from Cairns Cable Station

21 Dec 17
Peter Bull
No Comments

Laurie McIlree’s daughter visited teh site on 27 November 2017 and took the below photos. It is a shame that the site has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair.

Eric Cockle – Passed Away 9 December 2017 – Aged 93 Years

18 Dec 17
Peter Bull
2 comments

Allan McPherson has advised of the passing of ERIC COCKLE on probably Saturday 9 December 2017.

Eric finished his over 40 year employment in OTC at the level of Senior Accountant. I do not recall having the pleasure of meeting Eric personally but have been told that he was a very nice person who was well liked and respected by his many friends and colleagues. He apparently enjoyed a good game of bowls.

If you would like to share a tribute or a photo of Eric with the wider group please email me.

The funeral service will be held for Eric on Wednesday 20th December 2017 at 11:00am at Leura Gardens Cemetery Chapel in the Blue Mountains.