A Farewell to those with whom we served...

BC · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2022 9:55 pm

Bob,

I went to Oatlands, Tasmania for Tony’s funeral on Friday.

About 40 people attended, I would guess, no ex Navy other than myself. Steve Hills and his wife did the eulogy and played some of Tony’s favourite music.

Tony’s niece Jan also spoke. She looked after Tony for many years, delivering meals to him etc. The minister and his wife were good friends of Tony.

I had driven from Hobart that morning and went to the Ex Servicemen and Womens Club which is part of the Bowls Club. I thought the memorial service was to be there at 11 am. I was informed that it was at the Anglican Church so drove there.

During the 5 minute drive, I was listening to the radio and they played “ Proud Mary”, the Creedence song from which HMAS Brisbane got her name. Was an amazing coincidence as both Tony and I were on the ship in 1971.

The song was played when we broke away from an underway replenishment, hence Brisbane got her name.

After the service, I told the story of the coincidence to a group of people, including the minister and his wife and how the song Proud Mary and the Brisbane were associated.
I concluded by saying, “ Tony’s only been up there for a few days and appears to have taken charge….”

The vicar saw the humorous side of it.

Long way to go for a funeral but was worth the trip

Best Regards

Peter Hall
Hall Contracting Pty Ltd
0408 712 634.

BC · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2022 10:36 am

Ex CPOCK David George “Speed” DWYER R62631

Good afternoon, Marty – indeed a sad day – as I said when in Melbourne recently, I did not know Speed personally but have noted the tremendous work he did for your Association and the veterans community in general. He cannot be replaced.

I will let our members know.

Best Regards and take care
Brian Yeo
The SEC
HMAS SYDNEY Association
LEST WE FORGET

From Marty;

With a heavy heart I advise that Dave “Speed” DWYER R62631 crossed the Bar at 1122 yesterday (27th Dec).

It is with great sadness that I advise that our once Bulletproof Speed was placed in palliative care at Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne a few days ago.

Speed had Prostate Cancer in 2016 and although in remission he has steadily slid downhill since.

Approximately 6 months ago he contacted COVID from a function he organised at the Frankston Naval Memorial Club for the South Vietnamese Community that the HMAS SYDNEY Association have aligned with over the years.

It now seems that this exposure resulted in numerous other ailments too involved to mention. The final diagnosis last week after exhaustive tests since he was admitted to Hospital on 20th November indicates that he has encephalitis of the brain which may be the result of an immune system disorder.

Speed has been the Powerhouse behind the success of the HMAS SYDNEY Association here in Melbourne since it was formed in the mid eighties. He has held a position on the Executive continuously since 1985 and the most demanding job of Secretary for 22 years. He is a Life Member of the Association and in 2016 was awarded an OAM for service to Veterans.

His work did not end there and the many Committees he has been involved in over the years are too numerous to mention. Currently he is the Navy Marshal for the Anzac Day Parade in Melbourne, co-ordinator of the annual Cooks reunion, Marketing Manager for any Navy related items via the HMAS SYDNEY Association, presenter of awards at Recruit School Graduations, Liaison Officer with 3 Navy Cadet units for annual presentation/awards, co-ordinator of HMAS SYDNEY 2 Memorial Services at the Shrine and the list goes on and on and on.

I have had the honour to be involved with Speed for the past 59 years and in fact we joined from the same suburb in Melbourne. Speed had a combined active career in the RAN/RANR for over 30 years and only stopped doing regular RANR service when HMAS LONSDALE was de-commissioned in 1991. The Reservists were then transferred to HMAS CERBERUS and regular work petered out a few years later but he was still on the books until the then retirement age of 55. In fact he put his hand up for regular work later when the retirement age for Reservists was extended until age 60. However his wife Beryl became quite sick in about 1998 and this prevented him returning to a full time position, doing what he did with passion. Regulating and organising recalcitrant Cooks. He had a heart bigger than himself, but took no Prisoners. Gobby, grubby little Cooks were quickly hauled into line.

He has been an absolute Champion of the Navy and a dedicated Family man.

What more can I say?

Best wishes to all of our Classmates of November 1963.

Marty GROGAN R62643
0417 377 764

There would be a lot of MOBIs/Mechs/Stokers who would have had contact with "Speed", at least 3 times a day, on The Ferry. I would have been one of those who served with him during the Ferry runs in 70/71. In more recent years, I would do phone orders and mail orders for memorabilia from Speed's Clothing Store in the HMAS Sydney Website.

Always helpful to satisfy your needs. - BC

David's Vietnam service included:

1 x Escort trip to trip to Vung Tau onboard HMAS ANZAC in 1968.

8 x Vung Tau trips onboard HMAS SYDNEY in 1970/71.

My condolences to his family and to his vast network of shipmates.

RIP "Speed" your watch is done. :salute1:

Seejay · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2022 12:51 pm

I never knew Spped either, but his name is synonymous with Navy Vietnam Veterans and the HMAS Sydney Association.

Sad to see him pass on, but such a legacy left due to his efforts!

Vale, Speed. Fair winds and a following sea. :yes:

piquet · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2022 4:21 pm

Speed was a loudmouth of the very best kind.

I was on Sydney for the trips he did in 1971. Can't say I remember him from those trips but I can and do remember him as the March Commander for the VLASVA at every Anzac Day March.
He could and did put Gunnery jack to shame with keeping us in line!

RIP Speed you done you ship mates proud over the years.

BC · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2022 3:30 pm

I have been advised by Marty Grogan that the funeral service for Victorian HMAS SYDNEY Association Member David (Speed) Dwyer will be held as follows:-

Sirius Chapel
Bunurong Memorial Park
790 Frankston-Dandenong Road
Dandenong, Vic, 3175
1430 Friday 6JAN23

Medals to be worn.

Live streaming details to follow.

Brian
The Secretary
LEST WE FORGET

BC · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2023 8:51 pm

Members,

For those who are unable to attend David "Speed" Dwyer's funeral, here is the link to the Livestream.

https://smct.org.au/view/786148848

BC · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:14 am

Sadly another tradesman has left us.

VALE CHIEF NAVAL SHIPWRIGHT RONALD JOHN EVANS Rtd

Viv MacLeod has advised:

We received a call from April Evans yesterday to say that her husband Ron had passed away on Friday.

Ron was diagnosed with cancer last June and it progressively got worse

Ron was a Chief Naval Shipwright I served with him at HMAS Leeuwin in the seventies and later when I was at HMAS Stirling. He was our civilian cleaner at the slipway and workshop

He was a very good boss and who had great skills. I will advise you of the funeral arrangements when known.

RIP Ron

Viv

And later added;

Hi Bob
Ron was a Direct Entry Naval Shipwright (DENS). I believe he was a bridge builder and that's why he undertook bigger projects like re-building the complete coach house on NOCWA SDV. At Leeuwin we had a bunch of MOBIS and DENS Wayne Cooper , Ron Carlson , Geoffrey Palm , Bernie Morris and John Butlle LT on the other side of the fence Ron Evans, Mick Luscombe, John Sullivan, Darkie Halsey and Me - what a team.

Cheers Viv,

The MOBIS Friend

Ron's Vietnam service was an Escort Trip to Vung Tau in HMAS Derwent in 1966.

BC · **Posted:** Thu May 18, 2023 6:47 pm

VALE - WOETP DAVID MAURICE HANNAFORD, R63715 RAN RTD

Dear All,

Please be advised that former Warrant Officer David Hannaford passed away yesterday 17 May following a prolonged illness.

David had been an active member of some ex service groups here in Western Australia and was particularly well known to the group, “Ye Olde Merriment of Mutineers”, that attempted to get the former USN Minesweeper “MV Kalbarri” later known as “MV PAX” running as a floating Mens’ Shed. YOMM eventually morphed into working a little on the 1606 replica Dutch sailing ship “Duyfken” and the steam paddle wheeler “SS Decoy” before realising that age was beating the group and YOMM is now a monthly lunchtime group. David enjoyed the lunchtime gatherings until health problems and COVID prevented his attendance.

Funeral details will be advised when known.

Our sympathies go out to David’s wife and family

Bob Mummery

David's Vietnam Service consisted of:

1 x Vung Tau Trip in HMAS Sydney in May 1965

! x Gun Line Deployment in HMAS Brisbane in 1969.

BC · **Posted:** Tue May 23, 2023 6:56 am

For those who may wish and be able to attend David Hannaford’s funeral, please see attached. Medals are requested to be worn.

Bob Mummery

BC · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2023 6:24 am

I think this is appropriate for this topic. Margaret Hudson was the mother of Stephen Hudson (dec), a Chippy from the Jan 67 Intake.

Margaret Hudson, was Mum to many MOBI’s from our term at Nirimba. But there were other MOBI shipmates of Steve's later in the fleet, that would continue to frequent the Hudson household in Ulladulla. After their Pusser careers, many always kept in contact with “Mum”, always dropping in whenever they were passing by.

Others may remember Margaret from spending time with her, and Maddie, at some of our reunions.

I only briefly knew Margaret, a vibrant lady who could read a MOBI like a book, but still loved them anyway. - BC

RIP Margaret, an angel to many and will be sadly missed by everyone.

:salute1:

Here are the earlier notifications:

1967 MOBI'S

It is with much sadness I email you with the passing of Mum Hudson. She has been a part of mine and so many others lives in some way or another for 56 years.

Mum has been a mother to generations of Naval members since we first met Steve (Hurby) Hudson in 67. Like so many of you, Sue and I, my children and grandchildren have been welcomed by the wafting odours of fresh baked scones when ever arriving at Deering St Ulladulla.

Our memories will forever be good ones of our visits and of her attendance at so many of our Reunions.

Raise a glass to Mum tonight.

Yours Aye
Cluesy

Morning Sue & Gary just letting you know, our dearest little Margy passed away peacefully on Monday night with so much love in the room, she battled on for 4 days until she heard her grandchildren and she passed within 10min….. 96 years young our little pocket rocket. Sorry to msg you but I’m a bit of a bubbling mess.

I will send more details when I find out a date, there will be no funeral (as mum disliked them) but a celebration, as she love to party, and Mum will be with us in her beautiful purple urn . Sue and I were wandering if you could let all of mums boys know. We are ok just sad, our mumma was the best mum. We know she would be very happy fussing over her boy atm and Stephen will be looking after her. Sending love and hugs, and I will ring you when I can.

A Farewell to those with whom we served...

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