Laurie Passed away 29/04/2008 and is survived by his three Sons Shane (RAAF),Brad (RAN submariner) Matthew and daughter Mellisa, His Mum,two brothers and two sisters.
Laurie was an ex JR 1965 and Mobie from the 20th Intake January 1966.
He spent time on HMAS Melbourne prior to becoming a Submariner a service of which he spoke proudly of.
He will be fondly remembered by all who knew and served with him.
Farewell Mate

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Neville O'Connor
20th Mobi Intake
Jan 66 to 1978
Nirimba, Duchess, Derwent, Yarra, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Albatross.

I started my Navy life with Laurie (LJ Coops) at Nirimba in 1966 JAN.
Have many good memories of that time. He was a JR and showed us "new sprogs" the way and also many other enlightening practices of navy life. I still remember his wedding when he was still an apprentice attended by most of the ERA's in his term. Sorry to hear of another of our era has passed on. I was told of Laurie's possible death a few days ago by Harry Pearson and I passed it onto Smiley Rhodes a fellow JR of Laurie's.
RIP Laurie, smooth sea and fair winds .

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Barry Davis (BJ)
R43191
Ex-WOMTP
20th MOBI Intake
Jan66 to Jan'87
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Hobart - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Harman / Bels(HMAS Hobart x2) - HMAS Swan- HMAS Harman / NO - HMAS Torrens - HMAS Penguin - HMAS Harman / NO

Yep, I first met "Truck" at Leeuwin the summer of '65 (not too long ago!). His quaint way of pronouncing some words (EG 'baig' for bag etc) is something you don't forget in a hurry.
Played a mean game of hockey as I recall and will be largely remembered for his very layback personality.
A little known (possibly) fact is that he drove around Sydney etc for a number of years without a drivers license. Why?? He couldn't be bothered about it.
Good onyer Truck.
Fair seas old mate!!!

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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.

He sure was laid back. The only time I saw Truck crack a sad was in the tiffies workshop when the horizontal borer decided to chew up his job. In retaliation, he flung the counterweighted control board so hard, that it did a 360, came back around and collected him in the back of his swede. RIP Truckybabes...

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Jim Moon
R42956
Ex CPOMTP3SM
17th MOBI intake
July 64 to July 76
Nirimba, Duchess, HMS Dolphin, Plats, Onslow, Dunrutin Castle, Otway, Dunrutin, Ovens, Plats