David Solomon has passed on the news of the passing of Chris Collisson.

Chris joined OTC in 1971.

When I first met him he was working in the Paddington ARM Telephone Exchange. He was a fun-loving character who always made us laugh and on our toes for any of his practical jokes. Another thing that I remember is that he had a phenomenal ability to consume food.

Within a few years of me meeting him he moved to Carnarvon and as with most of those who travelled west with OTC I do not recall him ever coming back.

His ex-wife, Ruth Mary McCready, passed on the sad news to David and others via the ex-OTC Facebook web site.

No details of a the cause of his passing and a funeral service are currently available. I will forward those details on if they become available.

Photo of Chris, Garry Chapple and John Robinson below provided by Kevan Bourke

The above photo was taken outside of the Paddington Cable Terminal building, 363 Oxford Street Paddington at the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing in 2019:

Some OTVA Members may recall, Dagmar Perumal (former wife of Peru, now deceased) who was first employed in OTC’s Drawing Office in Spring Street, Sydney (circa 1961 where I & other OTVA Members first met her some 62 years ago) following her arrival from Germany as a then 21-year-old immigrant.

Dagmar attended a few OTVA Sydney luncheons where Jim Simpson recalls she had a great time reminiscing with those attendees whose memories dated back to those halcyon days when OTC was first headquartered in Spring Street, Sydney post formation in 1946.

Dagmar passed away yesterday, 9^th Sept 2023 aged 83 following a long battle against ovarian cancer at the Palliative Care Unit, Concord Hospital.

Dagmar’s funeral service will take place at 11am on Saturday 16^th Sept 2023 at St Christophorus German speaking Church, 112 Edwin Street North, Croydon 2132.

Jim Simpson will be attending her funeral, representing both OTC(A) & also Five Dock Rotary where Jim renewed his acquaintance with her some 58 years later, thanks to Rotary & local Ashfield Bunnings BBQ fund raiser activities in support of her local church & choir group at nearby Croydon, NSW.

Dagmar is succeeded by 3-children, Usha, Stephan & Navesh & 6 grand-children.  Dagmar came to live at nearby Lilyfield in the early 1990’s.  Jim maintained a long friendship with Dagmar & her family, some of whom (grandkids) play in the same Net-ball competition as do his grandchildren.

May She Rest In Peace

Bruce Boler has passed on the sad news of the passing of our close friend Marion McCormack on 22^nd July.    Marion will be remembered by many folks as a popular secretary within Engineering Branch.

In later years, Marion moved to Adelaide to be close to family and passed after a long illness.

Please see the below snip from the SMH.

McCORMACK

Marion Therese

Passed away peacefully on 22nd July 2023 at Laurel Hospice Adelaide after a long illness. Aged 70 years

Loving daughter of Willian and Eileen (both deceased)

Beloved sister of ‘Bill’ to Trish, Paul, Pete, Mark (deceased) and Mick.

Much loved Aunty to Julia, Ben, Matt, Adam, Phil, Mark, Carla, Clare, Hugh and Ange.

Garry Dunn has provided the sad news of Michael’s unexpected passing.

Michael was known to one and all in Engineering simply as ‘BOX’.

The details of Michael’s ‘Celebration of Life’ service are below in the post from his wife Julie. I am sure it would be a comfort to the family to have some of his old work mates attend the service.

Graham Hanigan passed along the sad news of the passing of Colin Coles yesterday (6 June).

Graham has no other details, but will pass them on when they become available.

Peter Burgess provided the below photo of Col who was a good mate of his way back during training days etc. Peter has spoken to Col’s wife on Col’s mobile number. She promised to send him detail of the funeral but she’s obviously in shock at this time.

Peter recalls that Col trained as  TRTO in DCA Training School at Waverton in NSW and that he was an avid Ham Radio guy..  Call sign  VK2ZZU

After he finished his training, Col spent quite a while in Carnarvon Earth Station and later on in his career he worked in Police Radio.

You will be updated as information is passed on.

Below is a photo of Col with his wife, Andrea, in better days:

Jules Corben has passed on the sad news of Darryl’s passing yesterday 6 June 2023. I extend my condolences to his wife (Andrea), his teenage son (Christopher) and his many friends and extended family members. Our prayers are with them all during this very sad time. Below is a better photo taken in Optus OCS, level 33 North Sydney in April 2007 (or thereabouts).

Darryl’s funeral has been booked for next Wednesday the 28^th of June 2023 at 1:00 pm AEST at the Woronora Cemetery Chapel (121 Linden St, Sutherland NSW 2232) with a gravesite service at about 2:15 pm followed by a gathering (at everyone’s own cost) at The Royal Hotel, 45 East Parade, Sutherland at around 2:30pm for anyone who wants to share stories and memories of Darryl.

May He Rest In Peace.

Robert Hall has passed on the sad news of the passing of Geoffrey Gordon Whitmore on Sunday 28^th May 2023 aged 97 at the Doncaster Nursing Home.

Geoff worked in MOR and in the Facsimile section and retired as Shift Controller.

Funeral Service to be held at Tobin Brothers Reflections of Life Chapel, 816 Doncaster Road Doncaster, on Tuesday 6^TH June 2023, commencing at 2.00 PM   A private cremation will follow.

For those unable to attend in person, this service will be live streamed. To view the Webcast check the Tobin Brothers Doncaster Website (https://tobinbrothers.com.au/doncaster/).

Please add your tributes and memories for the family to enjoy using the “Upload Your Memories” button.

Geoff’s Daughter Sue Heinicke   0407227120    email  sueheinicke@gmail.com

May He Rest In Peace

Col Sainty’s son Dan advised me today that Col had passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on 19th Sept 2022. I haven’t seen any notices from yourself so I assume you are unaware of this and so many of the vets may also be unaware.

Col and his wife Julie had been living in Rutherglen for the last ten years. Following his passing Julie has moved into a nursing home in Nowra near Dan. They have another son Ben.

I lost contact with Col for a while but re-established contact about 5 years ago and visited him at Rutherglen. I understand Col was very active and respected within the Rutherglen community, involving himself in community events and fund raising.

In recent years Tweed vets Jeff Thwaites and Gary Samuels also visited Col and Julie in Rutherglen and both Col and Julie came up here to meet other Tweed vets who had worked with him.

To refresh the memory of the vets, Col started with OTC in SOR and moved to the BWY ISTC when the Hasler T202 telex exchange was commissioned and he was PTO of the BWY CNCC before he resigned.

Col was very popular and had many friends in OTC who I am sure have countless fond memories of him.

I have attached a photo of Col celebrating his 70th birthday at his favourite watering hole, the Star Rutherglen Hotel, where they have a memorial plaque mounted in his honour.

May he rest in peace.

Bob Collins

Raoul had worked most of his OTC technical career with the OTC Maritime Engineering group then later with Telstra Mobile Satellite and Radio Services. Raoul installed/commissioned most of the Auto Seaphone radio sites around Australia and after moving with his family from Sydney to Brisbane (Brisbane Radio) he worked with Mike Elliott on the ICO satellite facility at Ningi. With the demise of ICO he resigned from Telstra and worked in the mining industry. A work related road accident in the Tanamai NT forced him into early retirement.

Raoul was born in 1960.

The service for Raoul will be at the Buderim Crematorium at 1PM on Monday 17 April 2023.

Buderim Crematorium & Memorial Gardens

Mooloolaba Rd, Buderim, Qld 4556

The service will also be live streamed by Premier Funeral Group, Buderim

May He Rest In Peace

Neil Yakalis has advised of the passing of Bruce Hardiman who was employed by Ray Hookway & worked at La Perouse & then Doonside until it closed in 1997. After a long illness Bruce died at home aged 79 years.

Neil received the sad new from Bruce’s wife, Haydee.

Bruce’s funeral is to be held at the Penrith Presbyterian Church located at 9 Doonmore Street, Penrith NSW on Friday 3th March at 10am.

May he rest in Peace