One of my first field training experiences was at the ISCC located on the old Level 1 at Paddington. I was introduced to Paul Mulcahy, Pat Anderson and Eddie Tammes. Pat and Paul were nice people but I found Eddie to be a very cranky and angry person. I was later told that this was probably due to his Dutch heritage but I think that it was just Eddie being Eddie.

When I finished my training I spent 12 months in Head Office working in the Quality of Service Section under Ernie Wan and Graham Markey. QoS had a close linkage to ISCC as it produced some of the qualitative reporting used by QoS so my association became almost a daily one albeit over the phone. I had a great time working for Ernie who was a great boss. I also had the real pleasure of working with Roy Ranger. He was a great character and a really nice guy.

After 12 months I was anxious to get to a technical area with hands-on exposure to equipment. I wrote a number of letters requesting a transfer and was getting nowhere when Roy suggested that I ask Ron Flood. Floody was really accommodating and delegated the task to Lawrie Waller with instruction that I be sent to Broadway. Lawrie sent me to Paddington ITMC. In his mind I think that he thought it to be punishment as Broadway was the newer station with handpicked staff capable of understanding and adapting to the newer technology which may have been correct at that time. 5 years later Paddington had a new Ericsson AKE telephone exchange. Technology is never static.

I spent the next 17 years at Paddington and enjoyed every minute of it. What a great bunch of people and what a great experience for my first job!

I worked with ISCC and ITMC more closely than with teh other groups at Paddington.

Below is a picture taken by the Marketing Section for which Jim Hulme (ITMC) was asked to pose alongside Eddie.

Peter Bull

In yesterday’s SMH there was a Death Notice for John Bartlem HOPLEY (7.5.1925-9.11.15). John worked for OTC for over 20 years,firstly in the Methods Section and then in the Secretariat.He was a quiet and meticulous person whose work was always of a high standard.During WW2,he served in the RAF from 1943 to 1947.His last years were spent in a nursing home in the ACT.

David Richardson

Debra Flaherty, the daughter of William “Ern” Anthoney, has advised that Ernie Anthoney passed away last Saturday night from a massive stroke.

If any friends or colleagues of Ernie would like to attend his funeral it will be held on Friday 13th November at 11.45, St Catherine Laboure Catholic Church Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea NSW 2229.

A reception will be held at The Gymea Bowling Club, The Kingsway, Gymea, following the funeral.

Debra advised that Ernie valued his time in OTC and always enjoyed the Vets meetings where he had the opportunity to rekindle relationships and remember the good times that he enjoyed in OTC.

If you would like to send me a Tribute to Ernie I will publish it on the web site and pass it on to Debra and the rest of the family to help them remember their dad.

Attached is a photo supplied by Laurie McIlree that was taken in the telegraph work shop Spring St. Sydney around 1958. Laurie thinks that Ernie is the third from the right with other people who worked there at that time.

Vi passed away in Moe Victoria. Vi was cremated at the Bunurong Memorial Park Dandenong South.

Vi commenced with OTC on 1.8.1954 as a Telephonist and later as a Phono/Printer/Beam Operator then Overseer Printergrams until retirement/redundancy. Vi loved her Golf being a Member of the Moe Golf Club also a keen Bird Watcher, Reader, Gardener and Photographer. A great supporter of the OTC Netball Team in Melbourne so many years ago and always in attendance.

Vi was held in high esteem by her colleagues being in charge of the Telephonists section as a lady that stood no nonsense from male or female colleagues that needed to be kept in order, which Vi was an expert at.

Notice of her death was not published until after the event.

Joan passed away in the Linacre Hospital Hampton Victoria. Joan was cremated at Springvale Crematorium

Since Joan’s parents passed away many years ago Joan has lived with her sister Hazel and her late husband Vern in Hampton Vic.
Joan has had a few falls over the last few years, broken hip, and recently found she had a fractured leg and was ulcerated and put in the Linacre Hospital Hampton where she remained and passed away there.

Joan belonged to the Banjo Club Melbourne for many years. My dear friend and work colleague Joan I met the first day I started at OTC (A) in Queen Street Melbourne in February 1957 and it was a pleasure to have worked with Joan very closely for 28 years or more. On 22nd August I decided to ring Joan to see how she was going, shocked to find that Joan passed away 7 weeks ago and no notice in papers.

Joan was featured in the August 1988 TRANSIT Longest-serving member: Joan Miller Retires with the distinction of being the longest- serving staff member to retire from OTC, following 47 years in the business – beginning with AWA in 1941. George Maltby presented Joan with a Gold watch.

RIP Joan. (by Robert Hall)

Ferne passed away at the BUPA Coburg Vic. Beloved wife of Cyril (dec) Mother of David and Sue (dec) Mother-in-law to Rae and Grandmother to Shane, Rhiannon, Glen, Craig, Emma and Justin.
Funeral held at Joyce Chapel Fawkner Cemetery 10.15am Wed. 26th August 2015. 22 persons were in attendance including OTVA Robert & Judith Hall, Warren Marshall and Lynette McKenzie.
Joan was one of the girls working under Vi Harrison in the Printergram/Telephonists room

I was waiting for the tour guide at King Solomon’s Cave in northern Tassie on Saturday when I saw this bloke approaching at a rush so he could make the tour.

It was Ian Marshall from Eng Branch. To compound the connection, I’d bought Ian’s Land Rover from him a few years back.

Cheers,

Ron Beckett

Many thanks to Charlie Rudd for passing on this reference published in 2015.
https://www.dukeupress.edu/The-Undersea-Network

It makes interesting reading even to a person who did not have a lot to do with the introduction of undersea cables. The eBook costs $14.28 from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WO58MBI) which is an $80 saving to the actual printed book.

The reference covers the Pacific basin extensively with sections devoted to COMPAC and SEACOM. Co-axial cables with undersea repeaters are a child of the 1950’s, COMPAC was right up there with it.

The thing that Charlie found fascinating in the book is the coverage of the political machinations with USA generally and AT&T in particular trying to muscle in on COMPAC and how they were repulsed. Also the decision to use Hawaii instead of Fanning Is., the concessions that had to be made to the Americans.

If you have been involved in cables it is quite good reading. Enjoy!

Here are some pics from John’s 90th birthday celebrations, held at the Tweed Heads home of his son Mark.

The Tweed Valley sub branch of the OTVA presented  John with a suitably aged scotch, and some glasses which we promptly filled and toasted to  his continued good health.

Those of us present from Left  to Right are:

Gary Samuels, Bill Newman, Steve Marshall, Bill Daniels, John Toland, John Bennett, David Kidd, Bob Collins

cheers

John Bennett

Murwillumbah

Vernon Yen has advised that Kim Ayoub passed away on 10 August 2015 after a long illness. Kim’s wife, Hiatt, contacted him recently and passed on the sad news.

Our sincere condolences are extended to Kim’s family and friends.

May He Rest In Peace.