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In Memory of:

Dave McDonell.

Although not an ex RAAF bloke, Dave, known widely as DCA Dave, was well known to a lot of the RAAF’s aviators.

Between the years 1965 to 1972, along with more than 800,000 other young 20 year old men, Dave had to register for National Service. In 1968 his marble was drawn from the barrel and he was conscripted into the Army for 2 years. After his rookies, he was sent to the now closed Balcombe Army Base in Victoria where he was trained in Signals before being posted to 139 Sigs Sqn at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera (Bris).

After discharge from the Army, as he’d been in the Air Cadets while at school, he applied to join the RAAF as aircrew, but an old football injury caused him to fail the medical so he instead joined DCA as a Flight Service Officer. We ran into Dave initially back in the middle 1970’s when he too was posted to Madang in PNG.

Madang was (and probably still is) a boatman’s paradise and not long after arriving, Dave bought a half cabin cruiser with a 135HP Evinrude and became the unofficial welcoming committee for visiting RAAF transport crews. Whenever a Caribou and/or Herc arrived in Madang, Dave would have the crews out on the water enjoying the wonderful harbour with its numerous coral islands and he could often be seen with someone out the back of the boat on skis or over the side with a fishing rod or he would have them on one of the island’s beaches enjoying a barby. He was a very generous bloke and never seemed to get ruffled, I knew him for many years and never once saw him angry. During his time in PNG he formed some close and enduring friends among the visiting RAAF blokes.

After PNG, Dave was posted back to Brisbane, then on to Cairns then after DCA, he returned to Brisbane and formed his own photography company and specialised in converting VHS video tapes into digital format.

Some years back Dave was diagnosed with diabetes and in December 2014 he felt that things didn’t “feel” quite right so it was off to the doc for a check-up only to be told he had incurable Pancreatic Cancer. He commenced chemo treatment but found it far too debilitating so to enjoy the short time he knew he had left, he dropped the chemo.

Dave died on the 30^th June and a ceremony was held for him at the Centenary Memorial Gardens in Sumner (SW Brisbane) on the 8^th July. He was only 67 years old!

Farewell mate!!

Dave Michael Moss.

John Richards advises that Dave Moss, who was an L Group tailor at various bases and who was very well known by RAAF communicators, passed away on the 1^st July. He was bestowed an Honorary TELEG many years ago and attended many Comms Reunions. His wife Val found him lying on the floor, by the side of the bed and although an ambulance was called, he couldn’t be revived.

Dave had recently spent seven weeks in hospital with pneumonia and other complications and a couple of weeks after release from hospital he developed shingles and was in a lot of pain

His funeral was held on Tuesday the 14th July 2015 in Queanbeyan.

Ron Furze.

Kevin Kirk advises that Ron Furze, an Electrical Fitter who was on 11 Appy at Wagga (1957-59) died suddenly on Saturday the 11^th July.  After graduation, Ron served at numerous Bases before being commissioned as an Armament Office in 1978.

Ron had been battling cancer for several months and had been living in Goodwin Village at Ainslie, ACT for some time where had been regularly visited by a bunch of his old mates. He is pictured below after attending an Anzac Day ceremony in 2013.

Ron’s  funeral service was held on Wednesday 15^th July in Mitchell, ACT.

Graeme Monkhouse.

Dick Tracey advises the passing of Graeme Monkhouse who died early on the 13^th July. Graeme was on 14 Appy at Wagga (Tulips). Graeme was well known by the Melbourne fraternity as the treasurer of the Melbourne Apprentice Reunion Committee where he served for a considerable number of years. He will be sorely missed.

His funeral service was held on Friday the 17^th July at the Epping RSL

Eric Traise.

Laurie Lindsay advises the passing of Eric Traise who died on Monday 13^th July after a long battle with cancer. Eric joined the RAAF in 1965 as a member of No 11 Engineering Course at Diploma Cadet Squadron. He graduated as a radio officer in 1968. In 2007, after leaving the RAAF and returning to Canberra from Queensland, he joined the Tuggeranong Community Council and served on the council for many years as a general member, treasurer and was elected president in 2013 and, despite his illness, he stood and was re-elected for a second term in September 2014. He also served as chairman of Canberra Airport's Community Aviation Consultative Group.

Noel Thompson.

Ros Ken says;  “With all the turmoil going on at the moment, I received the sad news advising that Noel Thompson, Elec Fitter from No 6 (Pansies), passed away in June.  Sorry, no further details.

George Kleinig.

RG Thompson has advised that he spoke to Arlene Kleinig and she informed him that her husband, George Kleinig, had passed away in October 2013. George was on No 6 Telsop Course at Ballarat back in 1955/6 and completed 25 years of service.  Arlene said that George had battled Diabetes for 40 years and, towards the end, contracted cancer of the kidneys.

RG said: “I served with George at Frognall after his return from Washington in the 60's. He was a good mate who loved a beer and a good poker game. I am very sorry that we did not receive notification of his passing before today”.

Air Commodore Geoff Michael AO OBE AFC.

Ron Glew advises that Geoff Michael passed away on the 17th July 2015. Air Commodore Michael was a pilot with Bomber Command in WWII; he was the Commanding Officer of 10 Maritime Squadron; Officer Commanding RAAF Base Richmond; President of the RAAF Association NSW and President of the Hawkesbury Shire Council. His funeral was held in Windsor, NSW on Friday the 24^th of July.

Charlie Duncan.

Noel Thompson advised that Charlie Duncan, Engine Fitter from the 11th Apprentice Intake, passed away peacefully at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane on the 15^th July. He was diagnosed with a melanoma 12 months ago, but his family did not think it would have this impact so quickly. In accordance with Charlie’s wishes, there was a graveside service at the Tallegalla Cemetery, Rosewood-Marburg Road, Tallegalla, QLD on Monday, 20 July.

David “Bushy” Trimble.

Rob Wilson advises the sad news of the passing of an ex-appy from the 4th Intake ‘Dewdrops’. David ‘Bushy’ Trimble died in Greenslopes Hospital, Brisbane, on Thursday 30th July. His funeral service was held on Tuesday 11 Aug at the Great Southern Memorial Park in CARBROOK.

Paul William Goodwin, Wing Commander (Ret'd)

We received notice from Arthur Rennick that Paul Goodwin, late of Tura Beach and formerly of Canberra, died on the 8^th august 2015, aged 69 years. Paul's funeral and RSL service was held in the Clavering Park Crematorium, Wolumla, on Friday, 14 August 2015 at 11:00am.

Paul, who was born in King Island (Tas) in August 1946, was a navigator with 2 Sqn and 37 Sqn and spent from April 1968 to April 1969 in Phan Rang with 2 Sqn then made many return trips with 37 Sqn in the E model Herc in the years 1969 and 1970

Pauline Bartram.

We received the following from Don Mazlin, he says:  “Soon after Bart died (31^st May 2013) it became obvious that Pauline Bartram was in the early stages of dementia. The family (especially Carolyn) cared for their mother for as long as practical but last year she was admitted into a nursing home but her mental decline continued. When I last saw her a few months ago I don't think she knew me except maybe when we were leaving. On Tuesday, 25^th August, she suffered a stroke from which she never recovered.

All who knew Bart and Pauline should regard her passing as a blessing as she was lost without him and her state of mind was a constant concern for their extended family”.

Rick Monk

We have been informed of the passing of Rick Monk who died on Tuesday (8^th Sept) after a long illness. He was buried in Gympie on Friday the18th sept. Rick was a Teleg and was on 88 Teleg back in 1968.

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