Fred Kannard has passed on the sad news that Ken Theaker passed away yesterday at his home in Wahroonga.
Margaret Noonan has supplied the details of Ken’s funeral service:
WHEN: 29th Dec at 10.30am
WHERE: Camella Chapel,
Macquarie Park Cemetery & Crematorium
Plassey Rd, North Ryde.
After the service there will be light refreshments in the associated Wallumatta Function Centre.
Margaret Noonan worked with Ken Theaker, Morrie O’Connor, John Hibbard and others at OTC/Telstra
5 Comments
I knew Ken well when I worked in OTC in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
He was a genuinely nice guy.
Best Regards,
Len Dooley
Sad news.
Ken was such a delightful human being
Rose Senn
KENNETH THEAKER: 1943-2025
Ken was one of the first people that I met in OTC(A), way back on 4th August, 1964.
From that the very first day ,there was a bond between us, that lasted all these years, and as we found out on that day, by coincidence we had both gone to the same school ( Marist Brothers Kogarah) at different times in the 1960’s.
Ken and I worked in the Finance and Accounting Divisions of OTC, in different sections for approximately 25 years, and became life long friends even after we both had left Telstra in or around 1999.
Ken was a wonderful person always easy to get along with all the staff. He was gentle, kind and always willing to help with any work problems that may have occurred.
He was methodical in his accounting work and had a saying when undertaking any such task by saying ” Accuracy is the Key Note”. This always cracked a smile on his face whenever I always repeated it to him, during the commencement of any audit assignment, or indeed any work assignment that we undertook together!!
In 1985, Ken suffered a major heart attack from which he took a long time to recover, but he eventually came back to work and gradually got back to his old self.
Everyone in OTC, who knew Ken respected him for his wonderful nature and being a true gentleman.
To me Ken was a lifelong friend and, after we both retired, our friendship continued with regular contact through our involvement with the” Vets” and telephone contacts to hear of our respective family news, and greet each other for our birthdays and for the annual festive seasons celebrations.
Ken loved watching cricket especially the international series, and was also like me, a keen NRL Dragon fan!
Ken was also a regular visitor to the annual long weekend in January, cricket match at Wagga, between the Sydney office OTC staff and Melbourne office OTC staff.
During our time in OTC, Ken and I also work on the supervising committee for The OTC Credit Union, also for approximately 20 plus years. In conjunction, with that involvement during those same years, both of us also volunteered our auditing services to the OTC Veterans Association and are still conducting those same duties to this present day!
In June 2013, the Veterans Association unanimously endorsed Ken and my nomination for Life membership an honor that both of us accepted with pride.
Ken would have celebrated his 83rd birthday in early 2026.
I, and we all, who knew Ken, have lost a truly wonderful special person and he will be missed
GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
RIP……… OLD MATE
From
Tony Farrugia
Ken and I joined OTC on the same day.
We were assigned to CRS Accounts.
After a year of this I said – “this is not for me” and went down and met with the employment officer, Tom Hughes.
And, thank goodness I was selected along with Dennis Grant and other extremely fortunate teenagers to be Trainee Technicians at the DCA Technician’s Training School Marrickville.
And the rest is history.
Dave Stimson
I’m so sorry to hear this news of Ken Theaker’s passing.
I knew both he and Bob Emanuel in my Elisabeth St days and they both were great support for someone just starting out.at OTC.
Please pass on my condolences to their families.
Eric Green