I have just read on the HMAS Hobart facebook page that John 'Harry' Pearson has crossed the bar. Details to follow when known.

Vale Harry, you and Greg 'Possum' Glock always made life interesting on Hobart, and it's very saddening to see you both now gone on your final deployment.

_________________

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!

Yep, I just received a phone call telling me that Harry passed away last night. He had been battling dementia and mesothelioma for some time.



John Harry PEARSON R43233

Harry was a Tiffy and did a Gun Line tour of Vietnam in HMAS Hobart Mar-Oct 1970.

Harry was well respected in the engineering world as well as the rugby world.

Rest your oars Harry

_________________
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).

VALE Harry, rest on your oars, Matey, your journey's done... Another MOBI taken far too young...

_________________

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 remember Harry as a fairly quiet, amiable and slight bloke at the college of knowledge, who didn't play much rugby in his early days. His great rugby prowess was developed later in the fleet and was something he never lost.
Another good tiffy lost to early and that rugby team across the bar is growing in size and skill with a powerful scrum and lineout.
Vale Harry, RIP fair winds and smooth seas, you have left us with some great memories.

_________________
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.

Term-mate of mine!
Received the devastating news from BJ Davis yesterday afternoon. I knew Harry had been unwell for a while.
So so sad!
RIP old mate, rest on your oars.

_________________
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.

Further info on Harry is that he had both dementia and mesothelioma, sadly all too common afflictions for us sailors.

_________________

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 is being posted on behalf of Cliff Hobson.

_________________
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).

Its very reassuring knowing you're at the helm of our 'Farewell...' Topic BC...! BZ...



P.S., I just received the following via our internal e-mail from Cliff Hobson...

"Hi Rick,
Harry Pearson's rank was actually CPOMTP5 as he had done the Q Course."

Thanks Cliff, I've adjusted the Topic Header to reflect Harry's rank as CPOMTP5.

_________________

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