-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Gibson [mailto:pgibson6@...]
Sent: 26 October 2006 20:59
To: j.davidson@...
Cc: 277radar@yahoogroups.com; Terry Erbs; Stew Ogilvy; Rob Adamson; Rick
Horn; Richard Philipson; Mike Farley; Leigh Bennett; Lee Schluter; John
Harris; Ian Whillas; Graham Linnett; Graham Barnes; George Stanley; Eric
Mills; Don Cameron; Dennis Kearney; Dave Shivas; Dave Brandt; Darryl
Thom; Bryan Davies; Bob Nason; Bill Manchur; Barry Woods; Andrew Vizi;
Alan Woodman; David Tomai
Subject: Vale: Len Dawson (14 April 1923 - 26 October 2006 )


Greetings Jim,

It's Phil Gibson here (Late of Brisbane Admin - retired Aug'02), tis my very
melancholy duty to advise you of the death of my father in law Len Dawson
who was a retired Bureau Officer (retired I believe 1982 or thereabouts)from
the Brisbane Workshops when they were located in the industrial area at
Eagle Farm here in Brisbane town. Len died about 2.30pm AEST today in the
Mount Olivet Hospital following his transfer from Royal Brisbane on
Wednesday of last week. He was bright as a button right up to the last and
his mind was as sharp as a tack and he was still cracking his usual funnies
for us despite his dire health situation.

I thought it appropriate to let you know of Len's passing today (Thursday 26
October) as there are still some serving Tech Maintenance staff in the
Brisbane Regional Maintenance Centre who had worked with Len and would be
saddened to learn of his passing. Len was also the twin brother of another
Bureau Technical Officer in Stan Dawson (deceased) who was well known in the
Melbourne Office. Len participated in the "Frosterlies" group in Brisbane on
his annual visitations here when he was living in Melbourne, so advice to
this group would also be appreciated. I have taken the liberty of including
the Brisbane Foggies group as info addressee's in my CC line and also the
277 Group.

My first meeting with my intended father in law was in 1968 when I travelled
to Moree where he was working as an Obs/Radio at the Met Office there.
Subsequent to Moree he moved the family to Sydney and was resident in Castle
Hill and worked in the workshops or tech maintenance area that was situated
adjacent to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I recall when Len was living in
Sydney that he made quite a number of trips to Lord Howe Island on the then
Flying Boat service. One of his passions was photography a result of which
was the Bureau featuring a sunset photo Len had taken at Lord Howe in one of
the recent years Weather Calendars. Len had been living in Melbourne and
when his health took bad the family managed to talk him into relocating back
to Brisbane on the 11th February'06. In more recent times and right up to
his move back to Brisbane he maintained his interest in things of a
technical nature which was reflected in his participation with the 277 Radar
Group. A photo of Len was featured in the December'05 edition of the journal
of the Bureau "Weather News" (page 28) on the radar restoration of the 277.

Len's wishes were that he wanted no fuss made on his departure and there is
to be a very small private family only service to be held in the coming
week. We respect his wishes and advise any messages to his family may be
conveyed through me via this medium or alternately to his son David Dawson
at 220 Dohles Rocks Road Murrumba Downs 4503. Len 's wife Dawn is also
gravely ill at this time and his three children have coped well considering
the devastating turn of events for their parents. Len is survived by his
wife Dawn, his three children Dianne, David, Jill and nine grandchildren.

So if I may thank you in advance Jim and respectfully ask that you circulate
all or part of my advice to as many within the Bureau family as possible.
The last Bureau event that Len attended was a "Foggies" luncheon at the
Kedron Wavell Services Club in company with me around June this year.


My very best regards,

Phil Gibson




Phil & Dianne Gibson

07 5498 5654
0404 024 723



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