I have had news reach me today that Bruce Sloper has passed this day after a series of strokes.

Bruce Robert Sloper R42716, was an NS1 before going SD.

His Vietnam service consisted of:

1 x Escort trip to Vung Tau in HMAS Derwent in1969

4 x trips to Vung Tau in HMAS Sydney from Oct 1970 to Jun 1971.

Funeal details will be advised when they come to hand.

_________________

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!

Bruce was an NS1 on Sydney when I left Nirimba to join the VT Ferry. Worked with and for him in 1971/72.
RIP Bruce.

_________________
Peter Sneddon
R95971
Ex CPOMTH4
18th JR Intake
23rd MOBI Intake
Jan 67 to July 91
Leeuwin, Nirimba, Sydney, Perth, FMP-W, Stuart, Penguin/Ships Divers course, Stuart, Lonsdale, Melbourne, Kuttabul, Cerberus, Stuart, Swan, Nirimba/ Q course, Cerberus, CPSO-M

Vale Bruce. Smooth seas and following seas.

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

It's hard to believe that someone who lived life so fully should have it taken away from him so early...

R.I.P. Bruce, thanks for your service... My sincere condolences to Sharyn and family and the many friends you've left behind...

_________________

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

From Bill Ohl on Facebook: "The live stream link for Bruce's funeral will be on Tucker & Nankivell funeral directors website."


Try this link: https://www.tuckersfunerals.com.au/event/sloper-bruce/ for Bruce's funeral notice and further information...

The funeral notice on the Tucker & Nankivell website advises that Bruce's funeral/ livestreaming will be commencing at 2pm (QLD time,) on Friday 10 February 2023 and includes the live-stream link...

_________________

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

This afternoon I drove over to Peter and Helen Williamson's to watch the livestream (via Pete's laptop, hooked up to his TV,) of Bruce's funeral service which we all thought was handled with dignity, solemnity
and just a splash humour...
It was well attended, a reflection of Bruce's diverse community, RSL and Naval associations and friendships forged over his lifetime.

During the 'poppy service' we were able to spot a number of MOBIs, such as Geordie (and Marg) Moult, Bill Ohl, Stan (and Lyn) Sheldon, and we think maybe Mick (and Lyn) Bluhdorn, but couldn't be sure,
although we did observe a lot of medals, bald heads, MOBI ties, bulging bellies and the odd blazer, which fitted the era, many of whom/ which could well have been from Bruce's 14th MOBI Intake, a bit hard to
tell on the TV at that resolution, but perhaps Geordie Moult and/ or Bill Ohl could put more names to faces that Pete and I couldn't recognise...



A big thanks to Bill Ohl for alerting us to the livestream, which can still be viewed here...

_________________

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

Just got back from overseas and saw that "Slops" has gone to the big ship in the sky.

Farewell mate, we had some good times together on the Sydney.

_________________

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.