It is my sad duty to inform our brethren that CPOMTH3 Russell Charles Grant R65221 crossed the bar on the 2nd June 2023. I am unaware what took Russ from us or his funeral arrangements at this time.

Russ and I did the Advanced Welding Course together in '76 (or '77) and we had some absolutely great times during the course. He also lived in Cairns and we saw each other infrequently - usually at ANZAC Days or similar gatherings, and his very dry sense of humour amongst all the usual sailor ribaldry kept everone amused.

Russ will be sadly missed, amongst all the other Chippies we have lost over the years.

Vale, Russ Grant.

_________________

Chris O'Keefe
R43136
Ex WO Chippy
19th MOBI Intake
July 65 to July 85
HMAS Nirimba X 4 -Penguin-Sydney-Queenborough - Creswell - Moreton - Stalwart - Platypus - Coonawarra Reconstruction Team 76 - Platypus - Hobart - Cerberus - FHQ - Coonawarra.

Anyone can be ordinary. Shipwrights choose to be extraordinary!

I remember Russ at Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus in 1966 when we were DET's although I never served with Russ at sea.
RIP Russ

_________________
Peter Ferris
R65102
Ex-WOMTP5
Direct Entry
Mar 1966 to July 1987
Cerberus X 3,Waterhen x 4,Supply, Gull,Ibis, Paluma, Lonsdale, Flinders x 2,Curlew, Snipe, Carpentaria, Nirimba, Adelaide, FHQ (DEE)

A true gentleman... I served with Russell on a few occasions, from memory, HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Tarangau... VALE Russ, you'll be sadly missed by many... Rest In Peace...

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane

The name definitely rings a bell with me. I know we didn't serve together at sea, but we may have distantly served together at Nirimba as instructors or at Kuttabul at FIMA or FHQ.

Sorry to hear of his passing and condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Russ

_________________
Brian Carney
R43371
Ex-WOMTP5
22nd Mobi Intake
Jan 67 - Jan 89
RANATE, Sydney, Swan, Creswell, Stalwart (FMU), Cerberus, Derwent, Nirimba, Parramatta, Nirimba, FHQ (FMMO).

Smooth seas and fair winds old buddy, another great shipmate gone.

_________________

John Kelly (WEBMASTER)
R42620
Ex-WOMTH
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'83
Nirimba x3 - Rushcutter - Sydney x2 (Carrier) - Melbourne (Carrier) - Penguin - Kuttabul - Creswell x3 - Stalwart x2 - Brisbane.

RIP Russ
I did recruit school with Russ and later on in our service we crossed paths many times

A DENS also like me the MOBI's friends
Till we meet again Mate
Viv

_________________
Viv MacLeod
R65148
Morran(March 66)
ME(D)-DENS-WOMTH4
1966 to 1986
Cerberus,Duchess,Waterhen,Hawk,Nirimba, Melbourne,Torrens,Perth, Leeuwin,Stalwart,Stirling,Kutabul

Hi Viv, it appears you, me and Russ all joined Pussers at the same time, early 1966.

_________________
Peter Ferris
R65102
Ex-WOMTP5
Direct Entry
Mar 1966 to July 1987
Cerberus X 3,Waterhen x 4,Supply, Gull,Ibis, Paluma, Lonsdale, Flinders x 2,Curlew, Snipe, Carpentaria, Nirimba, Adelaide, FHQ (DEE)

Russell's signature block on our website, (he chose the username 'Frank95',) was as follows:

Russell Grant.
R65221
Ex-CPOMTH.
Jul 1966 to Jan 1967. DENS Course.
1966 to 1986.
Cerberus x 4, Nirimba x 2, Sydney, Leeuwin, Melbourne x 2, Kuttabul x 2, Stalwart x 2, Tarangau x 2, Anzac, Coonawarra, Derwent, Watson, Warratah, Adelaide.


He only posted twice, once on the passing of WOMTH John 'Wedgehead' Wray, and the following, earlier, when Russ first joined us, back on Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 just 3 weeks after we created the website.


"I checked the Gun Plot site yesterday and found that all Shipwright references had disappeared into the ether.

The Gun plot administrator pointed me to this site and today I found that some of us are still alive and well, afterall.

A very professional site you have produced, Rick and Ned.

It is pleasing to see serving and retired sailors keeping in touch and maintaining friendships.

I paid off after 20 Years and moved to Cairns, been here ever since. I promised myself that I would never again suffer a southern winter.

Where have all the DENS gone?

Chris O'keefe, you owe me beers.

Regards,

Russell."


I feel he visited the site fairly regularly, last visiting us a few months ago, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at 12:41 pm...

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane

Hi Peter Yes we did March 66 Moran division I was a Rct ME I changed over to DENS in 1969 I served on the war wooden vessels HMAS Hawk as a ABME(D)
Cheers
Viv

_________________
Viv MacLeod
R65148
Morran(March 66)
ME(D)-DENS-WOMTH4
1966 to 1986
Cerberus,Duchess,Waterhen,Hawk,Nirimba, Melbourne,Torrens,Perth, Leeuwin,Stalwart,Stirling,Kutabul