Thomas Russell VASEY [11830] ^7388,7389

  General Notes:

The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954) Thu 30 Mar 1950 Page 7 MR. VASEY RETURNS
LATE FINAL EXTRA
MR. VASEY RETURNS
Mr. Russell Vasey, mate, and, at one stage, skipper of the Sydney yacht Estrellita, which last year sailed to the US, returned to Sydney today by the Swedish motorship Goonawarra.

The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) Thu 28 Sep 1967 Page 8 VOYAGER INQUIRY- 45th DAY Stevens 'drunk at party'
VOYAGER INQUIRY - 45th DAY
Stevens 'drunk at party'
SYDNEY, Wednesday. - A former Naval officer today supported Lieutenant Commander P. T. Cabban's allegation that Captain Duncan Stevens had been drunk at a ship's birthday dinner in his honour.

The former officer, Thomas Russell Vasey, told the Commission he was a former school friend of Cabban. The Commission is enquiring into allegations by Cabban, former first officer on Voyager, about Captain Stevens' drinking habits. Captain Stevens and 81 other men died when Voyager and the aircraft carrier Melbourne collided during night exercises off Jervis Bay on February 10, 1964.
Vasey, an airline clerk, now living in Pymble, said he had spent 16 days on Voyager doing a training course, in 1963. He told Mr Porter, junior counsel assisting Mr J. T. Hiatt, QC (for Cabban), that he had no recollection of Dr Tiller, the Voyager's former medical officer, telling Cabban that the captain had been sick. Mr Porter: "Did Tiller ever tell you that the captain would be all right if he left the grog alone?"
Vasey: "I cannot recall that".
To Mr Sinclair, junior counsel assisting Mr W. P. Ash, QC (for the Stevens Family), Vasey said he had not left the ward room of Voyager from the moment Captain Stevens entered the room for the party until he left.
Mr Sinclair: "You certainly noticed nothing unusual about the way the captain went to his seat at
the table?"
'Moved in an unsteady manner'
Vasey: "I said in my statement that I. concluded after the captain entered the ward room that he was drunk. My recollection is that he moved to the other side of the ward room in an unsteady manner, consistent with the way I saw him arrive".
Vasey said the captain had left the ward room immediately after Cabban had presented him with a cigarette lighter. He told Mr Sinclair that the captain had Jeft with Cabban.
Mr Sinclair: "So far as you could see he walked out quite all right?"
Vasey: "No. He was assisted by Cabban. Cabban went out beside him. I don't recall whether he was holding the captain's elbow, but I was left with the impression that he assisted the captain out".
Vasey told the Commission chairman. Sir Stanley Burhury, that he had a clear recollection of Captain Stevens being on his hands and knees when he entered the ward room.
"I have quite a clear picture of this because we were waiting for the captain to enter and I looked around at shoulder height to see him and I was rather surprised".
Sir Stanley: "It was because of this conduct that you thought he was under the influence of alcohol?"
Vasey: "That conduct and from what I subsequently observed. He was unsteady on his feet. He did not have a great deal to say and what he did say he did not say clearly.
"He seemed to have lost his balance to some extent from time to time and behaved in the fashion that one generally concludes when one is under the influence of alcohol".
The hearing will resume on Friday.

Published 10 April 2017 Sydney Morning Herald
VASEY, Thomas Russell
(Russ) CMDR, RFD, VRD*, FAIN, RANR (Ret)

Late of North Turramurra formerly from Newcastle and West Pymble.

Loving husband of Pam (deceased). Loved Father and Father in law of Jocelyn and Dennis, Peter and Lindy, Pru and Peter and loved grandfather to their children, foster father to Susan Hall and Peter Hall and much loved husband of Judy.

19.06.1924 to 01.04.2016

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; and the wheel's kick and the wind's song and white sails shaking, and a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, and quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

A memorial service will be held for Russ at 11am on Wednesday April 5, 2017, at St Swithun's Telegraph Road Pymble.

Hamilton Funerals
9449 5544

Thomas married Pamela Margot MILLINGTON [11837] [MRIN: 4027] about 1949. (Pamela Margot MILLINGTON [11837] died on 3 Jan 1996.)