I have received the following via Greg McTernan:

Gents,

I just had a call from Lari O'Neil advising that his younger brother LINDSAY O'NEIL passed away from a heart attack on 27th August. Lindsay's funeral will be held at the Toowoomba Crematorium this coming Friday 05 September 2014.

Lindsay joined HMAS Nirimba in January 1964 as an Aircraft Artificer Apprentice and served with 851 and 816 Squadrons at Albatross and onboard Melbourne II with Grumman 'Trackers'. My fondest memory of Lindsay was when he had to change a Tracker main door rubber seal on night watch. He walked to the other end of H Hangar and swapped a door off an 816 Squadron aeroplane, trouble was the next day it was very obvious because it was painted two-pack polyurethane high gloss and our 851 Squadron aircraft were still had a flat acrylic finish.

Lindsay paid-off in the 1980's as a CPOATA3 and retired to a property in the Darling Downs area. Please pass this sad news amongst your respective networks.

Regards,
Terry.

TERENCE HETHERINGTON
MANAGER
FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM

It is believed Lindsay's funeral will be held this Friday, and details will be promulgated when advised.

Vale Lindsay, may you have clear skies and calm seas on your continuing journey.

_________________

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 joined Nirimba with Lindsay in January 64 and we shared our first 6 months in Hut 72. His brother Larry had a meet and greet with us when he visited us one night (along with others) and subsequently "invited" us to join him on the strip.

Lindsay disappointingly was one of those that couldn't make it to our 50th reunion in Nuriootpa in March this year and many remarked and were disappointed that he was unable to be there.

In our early years at Nirimba we spent many (too many) days enjoying a beer or several and having fun, as we did and, frequenting the bar at the Town Hall (amongst others).

Personally I was very sorry that Lindsay didn't make our to our reunion as I hadn't seen him for some time and as we get older these moments are important to all of us, as you can't replace them.

Lindsay was a great mate, as we all are, and I remember him well as as larrikin who loved his boxing, a beer and life!!

Vale Lindsay, RIP.

Fair winds and smooths seas my friend.

_________________
Mike (Pony) Moore
O42860
Ex-LT GLEN(ME)
16th MOBI intake
Jan 64 - Jul 88.
Anzac, Nirimba, Stalwart, Moresby, Creswell, Waterhen, Penguin, Vampire, GMGID (PJP), Coonawarra, Attack, Ardent, Cook, Kuttabull, Cerberus.

May your walls know joy; May every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility.

I believe I met Lindsay at the 50th Reunion in Canberra...

Nice bloke, and if I remember correctly, he was living in Port Moresby, PNG at the time... VALE Lindsay, taken much too young...!

_________________

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

Vale Lindsay, another one of the family gone.

_________________
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).

I am pretty sure I knew Lindsay, however if I am getting him mixed up with someone else it is still sad to see another of the brotherhood taken so soon.
Vale Lindsay

_________________
Graeme 'Smiley' Rhodes
R94714
Ex-CPOMTP(D)5
Jan'65 Leeuwin Intake (10th) - Jan'66 Nirimba Intake (20th)
Jan'65 to Mar '88
Leeuwin, Nirimba, Stalwart, Samarai, Lae, Penguin, Curlew, Buccaneer, Navy Office, Barbette, Cairns, RANTTU (based in Port Moresby), Stirling, Bunbury.