Thankyou Steve ,your kind words come from a lot of us.

_________________
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)

For the first time, we have the pleasure of posting a retraction. It would seem that news of Tim Collins' passing was premature.

I received the following email last night:

Name: Nicole Fitzgerald
Email Address: colie2000ad@hotmail.com

Message: my name is Nicole Fitzgerald, my grand father is EXWON COXN Timothy Collins. It has been rumoured he passed away which is very much a rumour. We have had it removed from the RAN website but when looking on google saw there were serval messages of people showing their respects on here. If you could please delete this and notify people that he is still very much alive and well. He suffered mild dehydration when at the march for the fleet review but that\'s all. Thank you

_________________

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!

That's good news. I wish I could have the same type of retractions for many others.

All the best Tim, hope you have many good years to come.

_________________
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 was the one that started the post here about Tim Collins having passed away.
I apologise to the family for any distress that may have resulted to them about my posting about Tim.

I was informed from another ex Apprentice. I will inform him that his story was not true.
again I apologise
Peter Sneddon

_________________
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

Mistakes happen Pete, don't beat yourself up about it. His family has taken it in their stride, as you can see from Nicole's follow up email:

Hi Chris,

Thank you. I understand things get miscommunicated the further along the grapevine they go, happens a lot.

The day he marched in the Navy fleet review he had pull out towards the end as he felt light headed. Not eating and drinking plus standing around for so long in the heat got a bit too much for him. Not to mention the weight in his medals on his jacket. There isn't much left of him these days and I think his uniform weighs more then him. But of course Pop will not look out of uniform when it comes to the Navy, that part of him hasn't changed.

He was taken to hospital just to make sure everything was ok but was allowed to go home after tests were clear. These days I'm lucky I can boss him around, in a round about way haha..

He had a big weekend also as We went in Sydney for the weekend to watch the Fleet Review and to the open day on the Sunday and he absolutely loved it, he got to go on HMAS Darwin, HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Sydney.

He is actually aware the rumour was
Going around as someone telephoned looking to speak to my Nan and he answered, the guy said I thought you'd died, his response was "as far as I know I'm still alive". Haha so it's all good. His mellowed in his old age.. Hahaha

Thank you again for removing it, I just thought if there were some of his mates out they might like to know his still alive and well, and contactable if they wanted to catch up with him.

Thank you again

Nicole

_________________

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!

I felt more embarrased that I had started the post when I was clearly misinformed.
I like her statement that Nicloe can now boss him around. Now thats a first.
cheers
peter

_________________
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

I have just read about Geoff 'Flash' Jordan"s passing, and am deeply saddened. I never met Geoff but helped him find some of his mates from the Arrow when another one of the crew was very ill. RIP Geoff.

I was in Brisbane last week for the funeral of a good mate, ex POFC Donny Tallon whom I commissioned Fremantle II with all those years ago. Donny passed away after losing his battle with lung cancer at the age of 56. RIP Donny.

_________________
Bruce Francis
R112774
JRTE 40TH Intake
July 72-June73
Ex WM,QMG,Bosun,Paid off Sept 93
Leeuwin,Cerberus x3, Lonsdale, Watson, Coonawarra(DNB), Harman.
Supply, Melbourne, Vampire, Attack, Ardent, Brisbane x2, Fremantle(Commissioning Crew), Sydney-FFG 03(Commissioning Crew), Hobart, Cessnock. Go the Mighty Magpies

Now that I'm fully awake, I'll post this in the correct topic…...

For those that remember Tim Collins, this was he at the IFR. Still got that hat.

_________________

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!

Still scares the bejeesus out of me!!!!!!!

Somewhat a shadow of his former self, but still has that steely gaze I reckon.

_________________
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.