I found a post from Sue Harms on the Retired RAN Personnel page on Facebook tonight, bearing some sad news as follows:

Posted by: Ken Brazier Snr > to Submarines Association Australia (posted 6 hours ago)

My old mate Dave Luck passed away today - all mates and submariners should charge your glasses at 12 noon tomorrow... (Victoria time please.)

...................................................................... We can do that... Vale Dave, R.I.P. ...........................................................

Whilst he never posted here, Dave was a member of RAN Skilled Hands since Wed. Apr. 28, 2004, last visiting our website at 11:44 am on Fri. Jan. 18, 2008...

Importantly, Dave was a Pioneer of RANATE, being a member of the FIRST MOBI Intake of July 1956... We will always regret the passing of one of our Pioneers...

Dave's Signature Block on RAN SH reads:

David Luck
R42026
Ex WOETSSM
1st MOBI intake
July 1956 to July1976

HMAS Nirimba, HMAS Cerberus, HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Barcoo, HMAS Cerberus, HMS Dolphin, HMS Grampus, HMAS Onslow, HMAS Platypus.

After paying off, went into Hospital Maintenance, Westmead, Auburn District, Royal Canberra, Woden Valley, The Canberra Hospital.

VALE: Rest on your oars, Dave, your journey's done... R.I.P.

_________________

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

Another gone to soon. Vale Dave, never met you or served with you, but the path you carved is well remembered by those that followed.

Vale Dave, rest on your oars. May smooth sea and following winds accompany you.

_________________
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 agree Rick and Pony, the guys that pioneered Nirimba did it tough and established a legacy. When an early termer, especially one of the first fifty passes away it is indeed a sad day.

Rest in peace Dave, you fulfilled an important roll in all Nirimba apprentices lives.

_________________

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.

Must agree with all the above comments. I'm another who never had the chance to serve with Dave, but it is still sad to lose a pioneer MOBI.

RIP Dave

_________________
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).

Cannot help but echo all of the above!
RIP Dave.

_________________
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.

Vale Dave.RIP

_________________
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)