www.ran-skilledhands.net

I received the following from 1st MOBI Intake Chippy Tom Shaw (R42017) via the website e-mail this morning...

Message: Hi Rick

I have just been online and see you have not been informed of the recent passing away of Col Robbins.

Col and I were both chippies in the first intake at Nirimba and after leaving the service worked at Cockatoo on the refitting of submarines.

Col was very active in his local community especially driving patients to John Hunter hospital for chemo therapy a couple of times each week.

Cols funeral was held at Tea Gardens on 29th of May.

He was a father, grandfather,great grandfather and a great mate to have.
Col will be sadly missed.

Regards

Tom Shaw ....mobi 17

I thank Tom for bringing the sad news of Col's passing to our attention...

VALE Col, rest on your oars, you shouldn't have too much of a workload up there, Lord knows he's taken enough Chippies already...

Amen to all the above.

Unfortunately I didn't have the pleasure of serving with Col.

It's a sad day when one of our band of brothers moves on to "Nirimba in the sky", but even sadder when he is a member of the 1st intake. These guys were the pioneers and endured far harsher times than all of us, that followed in their footsteps.

Rest in peace Col.

I'd never met Col but he was a true pioneer.

RIP Col.

A few of the e-mails that are circulating regarding Col's passing, which I received from Wal Midgley tonight...

From: Brian Swan
To: Various
Subject: Col Robbins
Date: Sun, 30 May 2010 08:43:51 +1000

Dear Friends,

Jeanette and I attended Col's funeral at Tea Gardens yesterday along with some 200 friends, neighbours and family. It was a sad affair as Colin was a father, grand father and great grandfather. He was deeply imbedded in the local community and among the many charitable causes he was in, he transported cancer patients two or three times a week to John Hunter hospital for chemo therapy. It was on one of these many trips that he first felt ill; but even so he continued with his trip and only complained about not feeling well when he completed the journey and returned to Jenni.

He gave great service to the Navy, to the defence of this country, to the submarine community through his work at Co dock and to his local community. He well be sorely missed.

Kind regards

Brian Swan

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From: Tom Shaw
To: Ken Cook ; Jack Lennon
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 1:12 PM
Subject: Col Robbins

Jack and Ken

I have sent this message to all in my term.

can you inform all in your terms please.

Thanks

Tom

Hi Friends

I only arrived home last night from a long trip around Qld and NSW and find the very sad news of our mate Col Robins passing away.

I have no idea who already knows of this so am sending the emails I have to everybody.

John Carlin is also in hospital and not travelling so well .I am sure we all send our best regards and hope he can recover soon.

Cheers to all

TOM SHAW

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From: John Lennon
Sent: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 4:37 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:
Subject: Col Robbins

G'day boys,

sad news today, relayed from Paddles Shaw after hge retrurned from holiday and received message from Brian Swan (messages below). Sadly, Colin Robbins has just passed away, and his fiuneral has already been held. According to Tom, Sexy Carlin isn't very well either. As I said at the 2006 reunion in Canberra, I'll always remember Colin laughing at the slack party as they doubled back and forth, and Chief Stoker John Burrell halted the slack party, turned them into line and ordered, "Slack Party, laugh at Robbins!" Happier days, Col will be missed by many,

all the best, take care,

Johnboy

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From: Dennis Allnut
Sent: Friday, 4 June 2010 14:33
To: 'michael carter'; 'Wal Midgley'; Nix Rudling
Subject: FW: Col Robbins

For info and dist. as u feel fit.

Keep hangn in, all ...

dennis