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.

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.

Had a great reunion with the ex – Brisbane Radio VIB mob at Bribie Island on Sunday. Stayed for nearly 5 hours and got sunburnt!

Left to Right:

Gareth Evans, Ross Dennis, Peter Hewitson, Kim Warren, Duncan Dadswell, Robyn Downey, Bob Perkins, Steve Fraser,

Kneeling: Chris Joseph, Dean Fernandez

Missing from the photo:

Kirpal Singh who had gone to get his wife.

Our wives/partners were there but didn’t get in on the photo shoot.

Peter Hewitson

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.

Col Kelly had lunch with the group in mid November 2012 at the Surf Club overlooking Kirra Beach.

Those guys are certainly enjoying their lifestyle.  Mick Wood was not feeling the best and didn’t make it.  Unfortunately there was too much back light and the photos that I took didn’t turn out.  If anyone is planning a trip to the Gold Coast, they should pop in for a beer or ten.

The guys are there most Wednesdays for lunch but once a month when there is trivia at the club on Wednesday night they have lunch at Kirra Beach on the Thursday.

If you want to catch up a call or email beforehand to Bob Collins (k9paradise@bigpond.com), Bill Newman (02 6672 1701, bilmo747@hotmail.com) or John Bennett (johnwbennett1@hotmail.com) would be a good idea.

The below photo was supplied by John Bennett:

[ from left to right]  Bob Collins, Gary Samuels, John Toland, Bill Newman, Col Kelly  [visiting]  Dave Kidd, John Bennett taking the pic.

From Peter Bull:

50 of our members attended and enjoyed a sumptuous meal and a lot of banter and camaraderie. A good time was had by all.

A total of 18 turned up for this outing. Our volunteer tram driver was Bill Jolly.  After morning tea Bill drove us out to the Royal National Park in the RAAF tram 2001. Then we visited the huge museum containing historical trams. A highlight here was the prison van that Darcy Dugan broke out through the roof from on route to Long Bay Gaol in 1946. Then Bill gave us another tram ride on the Watsons Bay 675 tram. The weather was good with no rain & we enjoyed our lunch at the Sutherland United Services Club.

Present were Neil & Jeanette Yakalis, Ray & Wendy Volpatti, Bob Dentskevich, Ian McDonald, Trevor Thatcher, Bruce Hardiman, Lindsay Harradine, Ray Hookway, Allan Hennessy, Ross Beaumont, Wayne & Noeline Clauson with granddaughter Isabelle, Ray Alford & my neighbours Ken & Pam Edwards. It was great to see the ladies join us & enjoy the days outing.

Regards,

Neil Yakalis

 From Peter Bull:

I have received several reports that the poor weather was the only negative to a thoroughly enjoyable day. Those who attended are looking forward to Neil’s next outing.

From Neil Yakalis:

Total of 18 turned up & the day was voted a success despite the windy rain we had to go through to get back to Albion Park station.

From from a very small start a few years ago it appears to be now up & running once I handed over advertising to you through the Vets emails.

Rob Askew had  a group photo taken of us all standing on the staircase up to the restored “Connie”. This is the only flying one in the world & took 16,000 hours to restore. It is the museums “pride of the fleet” & was the only aircraft we were allowed to board.

Attending the aircraft museum were:

Neil Yakalis, wife Jeanette & son Paul

John & Janet Eades

Dave McIntosh

Ross Beaumont

Robert Askew

Bryan & Jennifer Collath

Bruce Hardiman

Ray Hookway

Ron Lukin

2 of Neil’s neighbours with their wives &

an ex school mate who is a retired Qantas mechanic

Regards,

Neil Yakalis, 98050749, 0414 228516

Reunion at the Rosella Picnic Area, Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside  – Sunday 11 March 2012

A big ‘thank you’ goes out to Maree Giddins who organised the day.

Maree arrived before 10am to secure the site for us. Had the weather not been

favourable we would have been even more grateful to Maree for her choice of venue.

 As it was the weather gods were on our side and the day was warm and sunny with a

slight breeze to keep us cool as we related many stories of our experiences in OTC and/or

Reach featuring many of the members of those with whom we enjoy fantastic memories.

 Many I had not seen for more than 20 years and it was good to see that we have not lost our collective enthusiasm and great personality that helped to make OTC and Reach the great place that we all remember.

 Thank to Tim Jenson for taking the photos. The complete set of photos can be viewed at the following web site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vk2bt/show/

Paul Black (ex-DCA) organised a reunion of a few of his mates from his training days. Unfortunately Bill Black, ex-DCA Training School instructor, could not make it due to his frail condition but was in the thoughts and minds of those present who regaled him as the best teacher that they had ever experienced. 

Dave Stimson (ex-OTC) and Denis Grant (ex-OTC) both gave their opinions of the superior level of training and guidance that were given to school leavers through cadetships, traineeships and apprenticeships in the 60s and 70s by organisations like OTC. There was no doubt amongst those in attendance that the level of knowledge and expertise demonstrated by OTC/DCA trained personnel was amongst the best in the world.

The reunion took place  at midday, 1^stFloor, Fairmont Restaurant,  Occidental Hotel, 43 York Street, Sydney (adjoining the AWA building).

See if you can name the attendees.