Received the following sad news via PM from Bruce 'Connie' Francis...

Hi Rick,

Have just seen a post on the HMAS Sydney IV Commissioning Crew page.

Message as follows from Paul Hubbard

All,
It is with deep regret that I have to report the Passing of WOMTP Sig Bruhn.
Yesterday (posted Saturday 1 December) Two men died after a microlight aircraft crash in Woodville.
As you all know Sig was good mates with Gary Ballhause, Gary contacted me just now with the sad news.
Sig was a true gentleman and a great bloke. He will be missed.

Connie.

Webmaster's Footnote:
I'm afraid I didn't know/ never served with Sig, so elaboration/ expansion of this 'In Memorium' notice by those who did is invited/ welcome... R.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

Very sad, I served with Sig in The Ferry. A great bloke, and he will be sadly missed.

RIP Sig

_________________
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 have just received a call from Sig's daughter Kirsty informing me of Sigs passing. Poor Kirsty is heartbroken at the loss of her Dad who she absolutely idolised, as did Sig with Kirsty.

We have just lost another of our absolute gentlemen. I for one have never heard anyone say a bad word about Sig ever, such was his standing in the Mobi community.

Sig was the passenger in the ultralight aircraft that went down in the Hunter Valley yesterday, and as Kirsty said to me, that was what he absolutely loved - flying.

Vale Sig, it was a bloody privilege to have known you and to have served with you. May you now be with your beloved Judy, who preceded you some years ago and left another vast gap in our lives. Two beautiful souls together. Of course, few of you would know that Sig and Judy lost their son Andrew to Cyclone Tracy back in 74. It would seem that the worst of trials are placed upon the best of people.

May you have fair skies, a following sea, and much laughter old son, you deserve it.

_________________

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!

This just received from Bob Mummery...

Very sad news as another of our MOBI family passes on.

Gary Ballhaus has advised that Sig Bruhn was killed in an ultralight light plane crash yesterday in Woodville near Maitland NSW. Sig, qualified with a Private Pilot’s licence, was doing what he loved. Details of the crash are in the ABC News website.

For those who remember Sig, a graduating member of the January 1965 Intake at HMAS NIRIMBA, his life provided him some great hi-lights as well as some tragic lows. Notably, he was the commissioning WOMTP in HMAS SYDNEY (4), assisted with the team that delivered HMAS DIAMANTINA to the Queensland Maritime Museum and, among other key positions, was a senior manager in the Fleet Maintenance system. He unfortunately lost his wife, Judy, to brain cancer about 12 years ago. He had already suffered the loss of his eldest child, Andrew, during Cyclone Tracy. Sig is survived by Glenn, Kirsty and Adam, and a number grandchildren.

Peter Beard, a long standing friend of Sig’s, summed up his feelings for Siggy as, “A sad time, one of nature’s Gentlemen, and a damn fine Tiff.”

Bob Mummery

_________________

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

Another one to cross the bar. Fair winds Sig.

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

So sad to hear of Sig’s passing, as others have said, ‘one of nature’s gentlemen’. Vale Siggy, it was good to know you.

_________________
Mick Thompson
R43153
Ex-LT
19th Mobi intake
July 65 to Mar 92
23 years (20 out for 3 then signed on for another 3) paid off '92
Nirimba, Sydney, Anzac, PBF Cairns x 2, Watehen, Stalwart x 2, NSC Kuttabul, Vampire, Penguin and finally Nirimba.

Didn't serve with Sig other than Nirimba and didn't know him well but everyone I know who did know him or served with him always spoke very highly of him. Another of our brothers taken far too soon.
RIP Sig, fair winds, following seas and a clear sky.

_________________
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.

RIP Sig

So long between drinks, a gentle man through and through

And still remember the Sad Events of Cyclone Tracy

To all his family, condolences and know that he is never forgotten

_________________
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.

Another fine bloke from our intake gone too early. We are sad to see you go and in such circumstances Siggy, you are one of nature's gentlemen and you will be sadly missed.

RIP mate

Norm Noack

_________________
Norm Noack
R43049
Ex-WOETW4
18th MOBI Intake
Jan 65 to Jan 86
HMAS Nirimba (4yrs), HMAS Hobart (5yrs), RANTAU (2yrs), HMAS Stalwart (2yrs), HMAS Perth (2yrs), HMAS Stirling (2yrs), Navy Office (3yrs), HMAS Stirling (1yr). Civilian Engineering and construction (24yrs), Pensioner since 2010.

Always sad to hear of such things. Only new Sig as a 'nodding' acquaintance when at Nirimba but do remember him as a gentle non-abrasive guy.
It would seem he put up with a great deal in this life so RIP Sig. Fair winds and smooth seas on your journey.

_________________
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.