It's my sad duty to let you all know of the passing of our dear friend, fellow 13th MOBI Intake (July '62) Tiffy, Victor Raymond Robert "Sharky" Ward, following
a protracted battle with cancer/ mesothelioma (and more recently, a broken back.) I received the following from Sharky's wife Kay this afternoon:


"I am very sad to tell you that my dear husband Robert died last night.

My daughters and I are heartbroken, at the same time relieved that his pain and illness have ended.

His responsiveness deteriorated though we think that he was listening to us. The doctors and nurses at the hospice increased his pain medication to make him as
comfortable as possible, and he left us at about 9.40pm last night. I was with him holding his hand.

My family are with me, and we are going through the necessary next steps today. We will be in touch when we have made arrangements for Robert's funeral.

Kay, and Jenna and Alana"


I sent the following off to Kay and the girls a few moments ago...

Oh, Kay, Jenna and Alana, I’m so sorry to hear such sad news…

Anticipating the inevitable doesn’t ease the pain of such a personal loss, please accept my sincere condolences…

You e-mail from yesterday prompted me to start fossicking through old boxes not opened in years, looking for that photo of
Sharky and me that we had taken on our very first weekend leave from HMAS Nirimba, when we climbed the south pylon
of the Sydney Harbour Bridge together, to e-mail to Sharky.

Who was to know how little time he had left… I didn’t manage to find it, but I will…

Please let me know of the funeral arrangements, I’ll try to get to Canberra to attend if I can…

My deepest sympathy to you all…

Rest on your oars, Sharky, your journey is done, another fellow MOBI taken too soon...

Photo of some of the 13th MOBI Intake mourners taken at the funeral of Stan Sheldon's first wife Lynne back in 2012.

L-R Victor Raymond Robert 'Sharky' Ward, Richard 'Dixie' Lee, Anthony 'Pa' Blakelock and Stan 'Moose' Sheldon.

_________________

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

Condolences to Sharkies family and friends. A really nice bloke taken from us.

Fair winds .........

Sad news, only served with him at "bone head college". Condolences to his family.
Fair winds and smooth seas Sharkey.

_________________
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.

Bye old buddy, Ellen and I will miss you greatly at our winter sojourns in Bowral.

Another of the "notorious" 13th Intake has been taken from us. This is a sad day, I am sitting here with tears in my eyes.

_________________

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.

Remember Sharky from Nirimba.

RIP

Condolences to his Family.

_________________
Trevor A Davies
R43007
Ex CPOETW3
18th Mobi Intake Jan 65
10th Jan 65 to Jan 77
Nirimba, Sydney, Vendetta, Melbourne, Waterhen, Cairns, Stalwart.

I never had the pleasure of serving with Sharky, but my condolences and sympathies to Kay and family.

RIP Sharky

_________________
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 can't say that I can remember ever meeting or serving with Sharky, but I am saddened to hear of his passing. At the same time though it is a relief for his family that his suffering has ended.

He did his country proud and we thank him for his service and commitment.
My condolences to his family and friends. RIP

I can only echo all of the condolences above.
RIP Sharkey

_________________
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.

_________________
David Charlton (Charlie)
R42659
Ex CPOMTL3
14th MOBI intake
Jan '63 - Jan '75
Nirimba,Melbourne, Parramatta, Cerberus, Penguin, Lonsdale, Tarangau, Penguin, Parramatta, Waterhen, Melbourne

Ned or Rick

Thank you both for assisting me with communicating with all of our friends. Arrangements have been made for Robert's funeral as follows. Can I ask you please forward the message below as well for me?

Thanks very much
Kay

------------

The funeral service to farewell and honour our dear husband and father, Robert Ward, has been arranged for:

Saturday, 25 February 2017 at 10:30am at
The Chapel of Norwood Park Crematorium,
65 Sandford Street Mitchell, ACT.

If you wish to share any thoughts, anecdotes, photos etc. to pay tribute to Robert/Sharky, an online memorial website has been created and can be accessed via this link:
http://www.heavenaddress.com/whiteladyf ... d/1627927/

Kay

_________________

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