An email from Bob Mummery informs me that ex Chippy, ex Chippy Officer, ex Engineer Officer, Tom Davies, has passed over from asbestosis.



From: Bob Mummery <bandi@iinet.net.au>
Sent: Sunday, 8 March 2020 11:53 AM
To: Bob Mummery <bandi@iinet.net.au>
Subject: VALE - LCDR THOS G DAVIES RAN Rtd - MOBI - JULY 64 INTAKE

It is with much sadness that I pass on the unfortunate passing of Tom Davies, another loss to family, friends, members of MOBILAND and the wider Navy community.

Tom had been suffering from asbestosis for some time and it was thought he may have been on the improve. Sadly he collapsed this morning at 7AM Sunday 8 March, at his home in Tweed Heads.

Tom was a character with many fine stories and experiences that made him a one-off. Qualifying from NIRIMBA as a Shipwright he moved on through postings and later became a Shipwright Officer. Soon after there was a call for Shipwright Officers to qualify as Marine Engineer Officers. Tom took that challenge and later, in his usual self-deprecating manner, termed himself a “Cross Threaded Turd Burglar”. That was Tom!!

About 1984 Tom relived me as O-I-C of the Fleet Intermediate Maintenance Activity KUTTABUL based in Garden Island Dockyard. As was the custom, I escorted Tom around the Dockyard introducing him to all the workshop foreman and superintendents with whom we had regular contact. On our way back to the FIMA workshop Tom asked the question of, “Where are all the characters that helped us through our careers?” Referring to the likes of Fahey, McCorriston, McNamara, McCracken and many other notables. I thought that Tom was getting somewhat maudlin, so I put my arm around him and said, “They are all gone now Tom and you are the one taking their place!” His answer was, “Bullshit!” But it is true, Tom was one of life’s characters and we will all remember him for that.

RIP Thos. G Davies, we will remember you.

Bob Mummery

_________________
Bob Moult
R42629
Ex-CPOMTH
13th MOBI Intake
1962 to 1982
Nirimba, Sydney, Melbourne, Tarangau, Penguin, Albatross Kuttabul, Harman, Hobart, Platypus, Duchess, Brisbane, Moreton

Vale Tom. May your final journey be on calm seas.

_________________

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!

Another Chippy gone. Farewell Tom.

_________________

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.

I only had brief meetings with Tom, but still sad to hear of his passing.

RIP Tom

_________________
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).

Good bloke and friend, farewell, calm seas and following winds.

_________________
Greg Eade
R43098
Ex-CPOMTH4
19th MOBI Intake
July 65-July 85
Nirimba, Sydney, Perth, Stalwart, Harman(Navy Office), Melbourne, Harman, Torrens, Nirimba, Harman.

Life is so much funnier when you have a dirty mind...

Vale Tom. Farewell.

_________________
Steve Shepherd
R43062
Ex-CPOMTH3
18th MOBI Intake
Jan 65 to Jan 78
Nirimba,Sydney,Vampire,Tarangau,Albatross, Stalwart,Creswell.

Sad to hear. Knew Tom from Nirimba and served with him in Stalwart. He was quite a character and will be fondly remembered. Condolences to his family.
Vale Tom RIP, fair winds and following seas.

_________________
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.

Sorry to hear of Toms passing.
RIP old friend.

_________________
Mick Thompson
R43153
Ex-LT
19th Mobi intake
July 65 to Mar 92
23 years (20 out for 3 then signed on for another 3) paid off '92
Nirimba, Sydney, Anzac, PBF Cairns x 2, Watehen, Stalwart x 2, NSC Kuttabul, Vampire, Penguin and finally Nirimba.

Bugga!! Also knew Tom from our Nirimba days. Not overly well but that doesn't matter.
RIP Tom. Condolences to the family.

_________________
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.

I remember Tom most recently, in his post-RAN vocation of Marine Surveyor, when he rendered his services to us by surveying The MOBI Yacht 'Nirimba' in Qld., prior to our purchase of same...

Rest on your oars, Tom, your journey's done, another MOBI/ Chippy taken 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