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

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

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:

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.

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.

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 20^th December 2017 at 11:00am at Leura Gardens Cemetery Chapel in the Blue Mountains.

A pre-Christmas social gathering was organised by Greg Martyn and Ross Smith on Thursday 14 December 2017. I was my birthday but unfortunately I was in Melbourne and unable to join the “boys”.

Those present were:

Robin Tuckfield, Ross Smith, Greg Martyn, Bill Jolly, Mick Callaghan, John Eades and Darryl Steer.

Phil Hiscox has provided us this morning with the sad news of the passing of another of our OTC fraternity.

I worked with Neil at Paddington in the mid-1980s till when I left OTC to join Optus in 1992.

Neil worked in the INMC on Level 7 at Paddington in those years but had worked in many areas in OTC throughout his career.

He was a gentle man who was well liked and respected by all who knew him.

May He Rest in Peace

Peter Tuckwell has advised of the passing of yet another of our fraternity that has been taken from us at the relatively early age of 62.

Sadly, Kim passed away last night by his bed. Peter was contacted by Mark Hopkins, Kim’s brother. Kim had been living on his brother’s farm at Candelo on the south coast of NSW for the past few years. Kim had diabetes and his brother thinks this may have been a contributing factor.

The Funeral Service will probably be held in Sydney but the details are not yet known. Once Mark provides the details they will be communicated to you all.