www.ran-skilledhands.net

Subject: Principal Chaplain, Right Reverend Monsignor Francis Lyons, AM, RAN
(RETD) [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]




Sad news...Tiger will no doubt continue his love of the AFL from on high!!



Good afternoon Sirs and Ma'ams,



It is with regret to advise that Monsignor "Tiger" Lyons passed away peacefully at St Joseph's Home, Northcote, Victoria yesterday, (just a few weeks short of his 90th birthday). He had been in care for some years.

His funeral Mass will be at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne on Thursday 8th September commencing at 1400. He will be buried in the Priest's Crypt at the Melbourne General Cemetery after the Mass concludes.

Mons. Lyons was appointed as a Chaplain in the RANR in February 1957 from St Columba's Church, Elwood and later transferred to the RAN on the 23rd June 1958. He served for twenty one years and retired from the RAN as a Principal Chaplain (RC). Mons. Lyons served in HMAS Lonsdale, Albatross, Nirimba, Cerberus, Penguin, Creswell, Kuttabul,Watson, Leeuwin, Melbourne, Sydney,Supply, Stalwart, Derwent , Queenborough as well as on the staffs of the Fleet Commander as the Fleet Chaplain and the Naval Support Commander as the Command Chaplain.



His Honours and Awards included being appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia, Vietnam Medal, Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp Vietnam, Australian Service Medal with Clasp FESR, Defence Force Service Medal and the National Medal.

When he retired from the RAN, he always retained a great interest in the Navy, its people and the wider Navy family.

Mons. Lyons had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary - as will be noted by the many fine gifts he left as memorials to those who had died during Service in the RAN which include this Marian theme. He was serving in MELBOURNE at the time of the Melbourne/Voyager collision.



respectfully



Brian Gorringe



CAPTAIN, RANR

Director Navy Senior Officer Management

Office of the Chief of Navy

R1-4-COO1

Russell Offices

CANBERRA ACT

Tel: 02 62652619

Fax: 02 62654790

G'day All,

Wiggy Watson (R49578) was a Steward on BRISBANE's 2nd tour & he passed away this week. His funeral will be on Friday at Kyogle.

Kerry Kerr

Here are some names, listed in the latest issue of Reveille, who have crossed the bar.

John "Spud" Murphy.

John was a Shipwright and did three trip to Vietnam on HMAS Jeparit. He was also a long time member of the Maroubra Sub-branch.

I assume, he was J.W. Murphy of the Jan 59 intake.


D.G. Howell, R43211, Jan 66 intake


R.H. Walton, R42395 EA, Jan 60 intake.

Rest your oars fellas.

D.G. Howell, R43211, Jan 66 intake

Rest your oars fellas.

I guess this would be "Chook" Howell.
Not a bad bloke at all. Sad to see so many go so young.

Just as a gentle reminder of precedence and protocol, (as this is RAN Skilled Hands,) we prefer to honour
Ex-Nirimba Apprentices, Instructors and Staff with a topic of their own, using the broader, more general topic
of 'A Farewell to those with whom we served...' for others we have served with...

If John 'Spud' Murphy was the 6th MOBI Intake of January '59 'Spud' Murphy, he was my Hut Senior in Hut 72
when I was a 'Sprog'... For some reason I thought he was a Tiffie... Rest in peace 'Spud'...

R. Walton I believe was a Chippie and was in the 8th MOBI Intake...

And as for Aircraft Tiffie D. Howell, the 20th MOBI Intake, that's definitely taking them too soon...!

We're sure working our way throught them pretty fast.. I'd better join the RSL so someone will notice when I'm gone...

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

It is with great sadness that I have to report the Crossing of the Bar of

POMTP Monte Francis Cavanagh.

Born 13APR50 - Died 20SEP11.

Monte passed away at home at Kingston Queensland.

He Joined HMAS Leeuwin January 1966 as a 14th Intake Junior Recruit.

Funeral arrangements will be advised when known.

Len Kingston-Kerr

I'm shocked to hear of Monte's passing. I didn't know him in the puss but come across him when at Country Bake Brisbane. He was a great guy, with a great work ethic.

RIP Monte

SUBJ: PASSING OF CAPT NORMAN BANKS, RAN
1. NAVY IS SADDENED TO HEAR OF THE PASSING OF CAPT NORMAN BANKS ON
FRI 02 DEC 11.
2. CAPT BANKS CAREER IN THE RAN SPANNED OVER 34 YEARS AS A PRINCIPAL
WARFARE OFFICER GUNNERY SPECIALIST. HIS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED
COMMAND OF HMAS ADELAIDE (DEPLOYMENTS TO OP SLIPPER AND OP
RELEX), EXCHANGE WITH THE ROYAL NAVY IN THE LATE 1980S WHERE HE
SERVED IN A TYPE 21 FRIGATE DEPLOYED ON ARMILLA PATROLS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST,GUNNERY OFFICER HMAS DARWIN WHERE HE LED THE FIRST BOARDINGS OF
IRAQI VESSELS DURING THE GULF WAR, USN EXCHANGE WITH 3RD FLEET (WHERE
HE WAS AWARDED A US NAVY COMMENDATION), J3 NORCOM, GRADUATE OF CDSS
AND CHIEF OF STAFF NAVY SYSTEMS COMMAND. CAPT BANKS ALSO SERVED WITH
US AND INTERNATIONAL FORCES AT TAMPA, FLORIDA, AS AN AUSTRALIAN NAVY
REPRESENTATIVE, DURING THE PLANNING PHASES OF OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM.
3. CAPT BANKS WAS A PASSIONATE COLLINGWOOD SUPPORTER, A POPULAR AND
HIGHLY RESPECTED OFFICER WHO WILL BE MISSED.
4. THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR CAPT BANKS WILL BE HELD AT 1200 ON FRI 09
DEC 11 IN THE ANZAC MEMORIAL CHAPEL OF ST PAUL, ROYAL MILITARY
COLLEGE DUNTROON.
5. REF A STATED DRESS WOULD BE S1. THIS WILL BE FOR THE OFFICIAL
PARTY ONLY. FOR ALL OTHER ATTENDEES DRESS IS TO BE S2. MOURNING
BRASSARDS ARE TO BE WORN.
6. IN LINE WITH CAPT BANKS FAMILY WISHES THERE SHOULD BE NO
FLOWERS BUT A DONATION CAN BE MADE TO THE AUSTRALIAN CANCER RESEARCH
FOUNDATION HTTPS://ACRF.SITE-TRUST.NET/CGI/DONATE.CGI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
7. ON BEHALF OF THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING AND THE BROADER NAVY FAMILY
SINCERE CONDOLENCES ARE EXTENDED TO CAPT BANKS FAMILY AT THIS
DIFFICULT TIME.

It is with deep regret that I advise of the passing of a Shipmate

R58330 ABQMG George M LEONHARDT, 67, Passed away 12th July, 2011.

George was part of the Commissioning Crew of HMAS BRISBANE and saw
Vietnam Service on HMAS SYDNEY.

May you always have Blue Skies and gentle breezes Shipmate.

Rest in Peace

Peter Maher
Secretary
HMAS BRISBANE Association

Members of the commissioning crew will be sad to hear that Mrs Jenny Rourke died on 29 November after a long illness. I attended her funeral on 5 December which was arranged by her sons Michael and Andrew. Bill is not travelling particularly well but was of course at the funeral.

Ron Calder

Couldn't let the week go by without a salute to gravel guts RSL legend Bruce Ruxton'spassing...

Remember the Ruxton Rap..?? Outspoken, unapologetically politically incorrect, a staunch
monarchist and proudly Australian, the shadow he cast will be sadly missed by an older generation...

Or perhaps the Normie Rowe vs Ron Casey Incident which Bruce was present at... I always
thought that if Normie hadn't got up and snuotted Ron Casey, then Bruce would have...!

'Bruce' was a regular guest favourite on 'Fast Foreward' on many occasions as well...

Rest on your rifle Bruce, your battles are all done... The RSL hasn't quite been the same since you left...