The Northern Rivers sub branch would like to welcome any OTVA members travelling up this way the opportunity to have lunch and of course and a few beers with us. We meet every Wednesday in the restaurant from  1200pm until about 4pm at the Riverview Hotel 267 Tweed Valley Way Murwillumbah.

 Those present this week [25th June] were [from left to right]  John Bennett, Gary Samuels, Bill Newman, Steve Marshall, John Toland, Bob Collins, Dave Kidd,     Alan West [not present].

Should  you need to stay over, a double room will cost $60 at the hotel.

From Rob McAulay:

It is my sad duty to advise that Darrel Savage passed away last night, 16th June 2014.

Darrel was a Professional Engineer with OTC before moving on to chase sheep around on a small farm near Mudgee. When that got too difficult for him, he returned to the Central Coast of NSW where a number of his family had moved. Only a few years ago I learned that he had been moved from his lovely home to a Nursing Home as he was not well. It was there that he passed away. Robyn and I spent many lovely mornings having “naughty” cakes and coffee in the garden adjoining his humble abode. We are deeply saddened at losing him as, we are sure, will be his scattered family.

It is very saddening that such a lovely man left us so lonely.

The Funeral Service will be this Friday 19th June in the Rose Room at Palmdale Crematorium (near Ourimbah) at 9AM. Afterwards arrangements are not finalised but most likely at Ourimbah RSL.

There will be a formal advice of the Funeral in Daily Telegraph dated 18 June 2014.

This is a photo of Darrel Savage taken on 3rd July 2013 – almost 12 month before his death.

I think the OTC info regarding his service and its conclusion in 1987 is valuable. We were always uncertain about his age as he had given another age a little while ago but 82 is consistent with more recent discussions. I hope at least a small few of his former colleagues are able to attend his service.

Rob.

From Bob Emanuel:

Few would remember Jane Hodson, former OTC tech and TO who spent her two-three years with OTC mainly in Perth.

Her passing was noted in a large but warm obituary in today’s Sydney Morning Herald print edition and online.

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries/jane-hodson-helped-guide-the-voice-of-central-australian-aborigines-20140516-zreqw.html

The SMH obit mentioned her time in Telecom, where she did her training but not that she joined OTC with another 24 qualified techs in a large batch of recruitment into OTC in the late 1980s when expansion was the name of the game. Wally Sakaluk was in the same intake.

Hoddy and I got on like a house on fire. I’d just been dumped after a long term relationship and wasn’t into another one quickly so we had a ball together. Both of us moved to Perth for the first DMS300 installation in Australia and didn’t we have a ball. She came from Perth, had two girlfriends living there and family and so I got to see a side of WA that few OTC folks would have – some of the best music I’ve ever heard, great bushwalks and picnic spots and a great array of people. I was the only straight guy in that group.

Jane, ever the restless soul, quit and went to Europe and came back after 6 months – we offered her old  job back but she wanted to work in television and moved to Darwin, which led to her joining the CLC as described in the obituary. I wrote her only reference for the Darwin job, was contacted by them and helped kick off her media career. I moved back to Paddo and that’s when we lost contact.

I am so glad to see she did so well.

Cheers,

Bob E

From Peter Grove:

Helen Mirzoian (ex-OTC Public Relations and Transit editor) passed away peacefully on Sunday 27^th April after losing a long battle against brain cancer. 

She was a good lady who passed away far too young.

Now there’s one more angel in heaven.  May she rest in peace.

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Ray Volpatti (ex-Paddington ITMC).

Ray’s wife, Wendy, rang Laurie McIllree on the morning of April 16 to inform him of teh sad news. Ray went into Hospital last week for an operation and died of complications. Ray had only advised a few close friends that he was going into hospital.

 I worked with Ray in the Paddington ITMC from the late-1970s to the early-1990s before I resigned from AOTC to join Optus. Ray was always a very laid-back type of operator who had a good relationship with his peers and subordinates. He had a lot of knowledge & expertise that he was always willing to share with us younger blokes coming through the ranks.

We extend our condolences to his wife Wendy, son Matthew and the rest of his family. There is no doubt that he will be sadly missed by friends and family alike.

May He Rest In Peace

Funeral Service:

10.30am

Thursday 24th April

All Hallows Church,

Halley Street, Five Docks NSW.

 In attendance at the funeral were:

Jim Simpson; Peter Bull; Lawrie McIlree; Chris & John Vossen; Evelyn & Greg Martyn; Maria & Ray Alford; Brian Travis; Ross Smith; George Woloszuk; Orm Butler; Robin Tuckfield; Carl Viglianti; Geoff Whale & his twin brother; Jim Stevens; and a colleague, Tony.

Neil Yakalis organised a trip to the ABC Radio & TV Studios on Tuesday 8th April 2014. The ABC is located in Harris Street at Central near the UTS building.

The ABC radio & TV studio outing went well today with a total of 18 going. They were Neil & Jeanette Yakalis, Robert Askew, George Woloszuk, Ray Alford, Ray Hookway, David Charrett, Robin Tuckfield, Ross Beaumont, Jim Simpson, Bruce Hardiman, Wayne & Noeline Clauson. Plus friends of Wayne Clauson Paul & Mavis Williams. Also neighbours of mine John & Gloria Dartnell & an old school friend Ray Dowsett. John Dartnell worked as a tech for 37 years in the ABC studios at Gore Hill & Ray Dowsett is a retired Qantas aircraft mechanic.

After the one & a half hour guided tour seven of us stayed for lunch in the ABC cafeteria.

Here are a few photos we were permitted to take whilst on the tour.

Fropm Robert Hall, President VIC Branch of the OTVA:

It is with much regret to advise you of the passing of Peter Edwin Dennis on 29^th March 2014 aged 78.

 Requiem Mass for the Repose of the Soul will be offered at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church 

 37 Dolphin Street Aspendale Vic. On FRIDAY APRIL 4^TH AT 11.00AM

 Private Cremation will follow.

 KINGSTON FUNERALS   03 9585 2822

 Peter is survived by his wife Edwina (Teddy) & his children Philip, Marita, Annemarie and Joe and their families

Coutesy of Noel Sutherland:

http://www.submarinecablemap.com/

From Joan Warby Cassin:

Today on my way out to Bents Basin with the kids I stumbled upon a familiar site, the distinctive OTC Gate Monument which made me realise that I was driving past OTC Bringelly.

I was instantly transported back to my early years (maybe I was 10) where I remember going to the Xmas party or fireworks night out there. I lived at OTC Doonside and I loved the Bringelly site as I think they had a pool there. I had a smile on my face from ear to ear while telling my kids (kids aged 11 and 14yrs – I am now 35yrs) all about the memories and what us OTC kids got to experience growing up, the freedoms of open spaces, the “gated” community, cattle grids (had to explain those), bonfire/cracker night, the feeling of being at home even though you were at another site, all of it was magical.

Takes me back, and when I look at the semi-ghostly site now, I see past the long grass and empty land, and I can still see it for what it was in the hey day, same with the Doonside site, forever the same in my heart and the way I look on the properties…….

Hasler Exchange

Message Relay Switching Centre (MRSC)