I have been informed that Connie (one of our original members) has crossed the bar on the 11th of August, and that his funeral will be held on 18th August.

I am unsure of Connie's illness and where the funeral will be held, but I'm sure that will be updated by those in the know.

Bruce was a good guy and was happy to sledge MOBI's just as much as we sledged the Gunnery Branch and we all took it in our stride as brothers in arms do. He served on a significant number of ships and patrol boats and was commissioning crew for two of those.

I'm sorry to see him cross the bar, and I wish him soft, warm breezes and a kindly following sea as he takes his final posting. My sincerest condolences to his family and friend in this time of grief.

_________________

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!

Further to what Chris said, Bruce's funeral be at the Chapel of Norwood Park Crematorium, Sandford Street, Mitchell, ACT on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, Commencing at 1500. It will be followed by a wake at Gungahlin Lakes Club.

I first met Bruce in Darwin when he was an ABWM on one of the A-boats, when they did away with the WM rate, he transitioned to the QMG branch and later to the Bosun Mates rating.

Once for Divisions at Coonawarra, he trained the guard, of which I was to be the Sergeant of the Guard, we had some fun doing it, of course me being a greenie managed to stuff it up a bit, but he had a good laugh later over a couple of beers.

A great mate and he will be sorely missed.

_________________
Ray Lawrence (Boris)
R95904
Ex-POETC3
18th JRTE Rhodes
Dec 1966 - Dec 1986
Leeuwin, Diamantina, Cerberusx4, Harmanx4, Waterhen, Barricade, Lae, Tarangau, Melbourne, Buccaneer, Coonawarrax3, Stuart, Swan, Adroit, Perth, Vampire.

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Farewell Connie, you were a great member of Skilled Hands.
Fair seas and gentle winds matey.

_________________

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 never met Bruce face to face, but enjoyed his banter via the Skilled Hands forums.

My condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Bruce, your watch is done.

_________________
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).

I'm with you BC.

_________________
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.

RIP Connie

Safe passage and fair winds on your last journey

_________________
Charlie (Chuckles) Britt JP TPI
Welfare Pensions Officer
R95712
Ex-LME(D) LSMTP2
17th Intake JR's, 23rd MOBI Intake .
Oct 66 - Nov 74
Leeuwin, Nirimba, Cerberus, Stalwart, Cerberus, Waterhen, Penguin, Carpentaria, Dolphin, Penguin, Sydney, Albatross, Leeuwin, Acute, Leeuwin, Cerberus, Stalwart, Waterhen, Attack, Leeuwin, DEE.

Sad loss!!
Served with Connie in Darwin on the A boats (Attack and Ardent). Great guy and a pleasure to have known.
Will be sadly missed, and a loss to the "magpie army".
Condolences to Lea and the family.
Vale Connie RIP, may you have fair winds and following sea on your journey.

_________________
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.

Sadly, it was only a couple of weeks ago that Connie rang me to request that I complete his AFL/ NRL Footy Tipsters Selections with the default 'MOBI Dick Picks' 'til further notice
as he confided that he had been told he had been given a terminal prognosis on his health, expected to be a matter of months, and asked that I keep it to myself for now, and that he'd eventually
post something himself to let everyone know his dire situation. Hence his sudden passing came as quite a shock to me...

Connie tapped me on the shoulder and introduced himself to me at the 'Frisco', at the start of one of our last Annual RAN Skilled Hands Sydney Rocks Xmas Pub Crawl Smokies, and I invited him
to join us, but he was there with a group of his friends and graciously declined.

That was the only time we actually met face to face, but through his long-term participation in our AFL and NRL Footy Tipsters' Boards we spoke occasionally throughout the Footy Seasons...

Always friendly, a totally likeable bloke, as many of you who knew him well have already attested... He will be sadly missed...

Rest on your oars, Bruce 'Connie' Francis, your journey is done... VALE - 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