Last night, Saturday 16th August 2008, Peter Cottam let go all lines and crossed the bar for his final time. His wife Desley was with him at the time.

Pete fought a hard battle against cancer over a short couple of months, but as happens so often in these circumstances, he was not victorious this time.

Pete was no stranger to this fight, having lost his first wife to the same malady shortly after the birth of his daughter Christie in the mid 70's. (Interestingly, he always called her Polly, and I never knew her real name until the mid 80's.) And his assistance to Christie's son Elijah in his fight against a similar disease is well documented on this site.

Farewell, my friend. You take with you the knowledge that you were loved by all you knew. Likewise, thank you for the privilege of being your mate for 30 years.

I am reminded of one of George S. Patton's quotes, where he said: "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the loss of such men. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived!"

Essentially right, but Pete's passing still leaves an empty space in my soul.

Vale, Peter Cottam. May you always have gentle breezes, fair skies, and a following sea wherever you go.

And save me a spot on the upper deck for when I get there.

_________________

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!

Well said CJ,

RIP "Lumpy"

_________________
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).

Farewell Lumpy, whilst I met you only once, through SeeJay and your presence on the site we all feel we've known you forever...

Rest on your oars brother, your journey's done...

My sincere condolences for all those who's lives you've touched....

_________________

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

Peter, thank you for keeping us informed. The sentiments expressed by Chris & yourself are shared by many people. The 4th intake of LEEUWIN JR's in particular have been keeping each other informed as to Pete's deteriorating condition.
Yes, we have all lost a good mate, the world has lost a good man, & more importantly Desley & family have lost a good husband & father.
Let's keep them in our prayers....Vic Boreham.

_________________
Peter Maher
R59705
Ex-POETP3*
Joined Feb 63 Cerberus
Feb 1963 to Feb 1978
Cerberus Sydney, Watson, Commissioned Brisbane, Melbourne and Kimbla

My deepest condolences to Peter's family and friends,although he has gone from your lives ,he obviously left his mark.Take strength in the knowledge that only his physical prescence has gone but his spirit will never leave you.

Vale "Lumpy",fair winds and a following sea.

Bob Moult

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Bob Moult
R42629
Ex-CPOMTH
13th MOBI Intake
1962 to 1982
Nirimba, Sydney, Melbourne, Tarangau, Penguin, Albatross Kuttabul, Harman, Hobart, Platypus, Duchess, Brisbane, Moreton

Rest in peace Pete, my thoughts are with you.

Your popularity was astounding, many people are very sad today.

_________________

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.

The wind became a gentle breeze
The seas abated
The bar was smooth
Farewell Lumpy and God's speed

_________________
Jak Cuttle
R42531
Ex-CPOMTH
12th MOBI Intake
Jan '62 - Jan '82
Nirimba, Sydney & Melbourne, (flattops, not the later plastic fantastics) Kuttabul, (FMP & FIMA) Rushcutter (HMAS and RANTAU), Waterhen, Co-dock-PNO, Stalwart-FMU, Platypus, not necessarily in that order and some two/three times. Nirimba Jan '82 to close-civ instr, training dev, closure staff '93

Very sad to hear of Peters passing, he has gone on ahead of us and yet he lives on in each of us.

_________________
Ray Lawrence (Boris)
R95904
Ex-POETC3
18th JRTE Rhodes
Dec 1966 - Dec 1986
Leeuwin, Diamantina, Cerberusx4, Harmanx4, Waterhen, Barricade, Lae, Tarangau, Melbourne, Buccaneer, Coonawarrax3, Stuart, Swan, Adroit, Perth, Vampire.

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Pete

You can rest easy now, we have the watch.

When you are in that big CIC in the sky and you get a call for fire, a fire mission from Hell, go ahead and take it as that will be me in trouble again and I'll need a good Aussie RP to bail me out again.
Remember to cancel danger close and fire for effect.

Psalm 23, Mariner's Version by Captain J. H. Rogers

The Lord is my Pilot; I shall not drift.
He leadeth me across the dark waters
And steereth me in the deep channels.

He keepeth my Log and guideth me by the star of holiness
for His Name's sake.

Yea, though I sail amid the thunders and tempests of life,
I shall dread no danger, For Thou art with me;

Thy love and Thy care, they shelter me.
Thou preparest a harbor before me in the homeland of eternity;

Thou anointest the waves with oil, and my ship rideth calmly,

Surely sunlight and starlight

Shall favor me all the days of my voyaging,
And I will rest in the port of my Lord forever.


Vale "Lumpy",fair winds and a following sea.

_________________
Wayne Johnson
(B149415)
OSC(SW) RET (RADARMAN)
Joined the Navy Jan 6, 1970, retired Jan 31, 1994
USS Trenton LPD-14, Hermitage LSD-34, Shreveport LPD-12, Saipan LHA-2, COMPHRIBRON-4 staff embarked in the Guam LPH 2, Saipan LHA-2, Nashville LPD-13, and Wasp LHD-1

Farewell Lumpy,

Another brother gone too soon. :cry: :cry:

Condolences to Desley and the rest of your family, including our other Brother, SeeJay.

_________________
Steve Johns
R110510
Ex POETS
31st MOBI Intake
July 71 to July 81
Nirimba, Kuttabul, WRE, Kuttabul, WRE, Kuttabul, Parramatta, WRE, Yarra, Stalwart, Derwent.
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