MOBILAND have lost an original. Ron Vass, who joined in the first NIRIMBA intake passed away last Tuesday. Ron was a very much liked individual among those early MOBIs. Last Saturday he played Bowls with Brian Swan, term mates together, however on Tuesday morning he was quite unwell and his son called an ambulance to convey Ron to hospital where Ron had a heart attack and passed away.

I understand that Ron will have a small family cremation, and a ceremony to celebrate his life will be held at a date to be advised.

RIP Ron - you will be missed by many

Bob Mummery

Ron's Vietnam service included:

! x Trip to Saigon in HMAS Quiberon in 1963.

_________________
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).

Whilst I can't recall ever crossing paths with Ron, it's always very sad to learn of the passing of one of our earliest pioneers... VALE Ron, rest on your oars, 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

I served with Ron at Plats, a good hand, condolences to his family.

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

I never served with Ron but it sad to see another of the early brothers cross the bar. Condolences to his family. RIP Ron may you have 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.

I found this comprehensive overview on Ron's Naval career posted on Facebook, written by Tony Vine, posted to the Stokers' Facebook page by Ross Dino Dinning...

"From Tony Vine

Vale: CPOMTP4SM RONALD JAMES VASS R42007

The SAA is saddened to advise of the passing of long standing NSW SAA member Ron Vass. Ron was born in Kingsford Sydney in November 1939 and was working as a labourer when he became a member of the first intake of Naval Apprentices at HMAS Nirimba in July 1956. He had the distinction of being MOBI #7.

Ron graduated from Nirimba in July 1960 as a ERA 4th Class, posting to the Q Class Frigate HMAS Quickmatch. Between leaving Nirimba in 1960 and mid 1963 he served on Quickmatch, the sloop HMAS Swan, HMAS Quiberon and HMAS Sydney, during which time he was promoted to ERA 2nd Class (PO). IN 1963 Ron was one the earliest volunteers for submarines and in December of that year he travelled to the UK to undertake submarine training at HMS Dolphin. In all a quarter of Ron’s graduating class at Nirimba would qualify as submariners, almost certainly a record for any Nirimba intake.

Between1964 and late 1967 Ron served with the Royal Navy. He qualified as a submariner on the Porpoise Class submarine HMS Narwhal before training and qualifying as a periscope maintainer. He was almost certainly the first RAN rating to do so. Ron returned to Australia in 1967 where he served as an operational relief on the T Class submarine HMS Trump. In 1969 Ron was posted to HMAS Oxley for six months. He would serve on Oxley a second time between 1973 and 1975 as her Chief ERA.

Ron Vass passed away suddenly on Tuesday the 9th of September 2025. A private cremation will be held, with a celebration of Ron’s life to be held at a date to be advised.

The SAA extends its condolences to Ron’s extended family and friends."

_________________

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