VALE - Noel Watson

[ubeaut]

NOEL WATSON
1942 - 2013
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UyF2H7nagmI/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/yOZ7AQv_sj8/s176-c-k/photo.jpg http://www.woodworkforums.com/image.php?u=12852&type=profile&dateline=1158929030

It is with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye that I announce the sad passing of Noel Watson.


Administrator on Woodwork Forums
Head Administrator Renovate Forums
Major Royal Australian Army, Signals Corps
Vietnam Veteran
Songster
TV personality
50's Rock n Roll star
All round great guy, friend and helper to all who wanted or needed him, enemy of those who didn't do the right thing.


He will be sorely missed by many people.

Condolences to Ren and family.

Neil :no:

Noel's farewell Que Sera Sera (http://www.woodworkforums.com/vbtube_show.php?tubeid=4&sti=Que-Sera-Sera)

[tea lady]

:oo::C:tears:

How sad. He was such a nice person, and all round great bloke.

Condolences from me too.

[A Duke]

R.I.P.
and condolences to his nearest and dearest.

[Jim Carroll]

One of life's true gentlemen

RIP

Condolences Jim & Irene

[dai sensei]

Ah crap :C

[Chesand]

I echo and endorse the thoughts expressed above. I always remember his rendition of Waltzing Matilda.

[jimbur]

A loss to us all. Commiserations to his family at this difficult time.

[BobL]

I don't know if this have every been posted before but take a mo to look at this.
Australian Rules Football 1988 VFL (Now AFL) Grand Final Noel Watson Waltzing Matilda - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5cyPtwOskw)

EDIT I also see it here
Waltzing Matilda - 1988 VFL (Now AFL) Grand Final (http://www.woodworkforums.com/vbtube_show.php?tubeid=9&sti=Waltzing-Matilda-1988-VFL-Now-AFL-Grand-Final)

[Mulgabill]

Oh buggar!:weeping: As Jim has already said "One on natures Gentlemen!"
There are some people that you pass in life's journey that leave an impression upon you and Noel was certainly one of those.
Condolences to Noels' family.

[Big Shed]

Mate you will be missed, especially your wicked humour.:2tsup:

I'll have a snort or two in your memory tonight, I hope for you that wherever you are they will allow you to have a still.

Condolensces to Ren and family.

[joe greiner]

Sad news. One of the best.

(without) cheers,
Joe

[Sturdee]

I'm saddened that a true gentleman and friend has passed away, the world and the forums in particular are worse of now.

I'll especially will miss his private comments when I erred on the forums. Rest in peace my friend.


Peter.

[Sir Stinkalot]

Sorry to hear of Noel's passing. He certainly contributed a lot of time to keep the forums running smoothly.

Condolences to his family and close friends in this difficult time.

Michael

[wolften]

...condolences and respect for a gentleman who obviously was a true aussie.

[DJ’s Timber]

Damn, he will be missed, have shared a beer or two with Noel whenever I was in the area.

Condolences to his family

[Christos]

My condolence for the passing of Noel.

[springwater]

:C Oh no

Rest in peace good man

[RETIRED]

All the above.

[Ironwood]

I'm saddened to hear that news.

RIP old Mate.

[wheelinround]

:C condolences to the family

[Cliff Rogers]

Bugger.

[Cliff Rogers]

More here.

Noel Watson - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/noelwatsonfromavoca)

[Handyjack]

So sad to here.

[Allan at Wallan]

I have very happy memories of Noel, it was always a pleasure
to meet up with him at various events.

My niece lives next door to Noel's house and I frequently joked
with him that she was keeping an eye on him to keep him on
the "straight and narrow".

Apart from the Forum activities over the years he was very
involved with the Mens' Shed at Avoca in more recent times.

R.I.P. mate.

Allan

[Chesand]

There were notices for Noel in this mornings Herald-Sun.
"In accordance with Noel's wishes there was a private cremation"

[Bob38S]

Never knew him personally, however, I classed him as a forum mate.

Condolences to all his family.

Bob

[crowie]

Only every had contact with Noel in the early days of me joining the forum were he showed me great generosity.
As then, thank you sir, Rest in Peace and may your family always remember the goods times with much love.
Cheers, crowie

[Allan at Wallan]

I notice that Noel is still showing as "Moderator" for the
Renovator entries. May be time to amend it when possible?

Allan

[CAG]

Never had the opportunity to meet Noel but I can still remember seeing his wonderful rendition of Waltzing Matilda as a kid (we didn't even watch VFL in Newcastle.)

Que Sera Sera was a fitting tribute at the top of this thread. Watch it if you haven't yet.

[Clinton1]

ahh... bugger.

In 2006 Noel sniffed out that I wanted to buy some Ironbark timbers he had, PM'd me and that led to a phone conversation.
I never managed to buy the timber from him, but in the conversation he, like a gentleman, got me talking about myself and found out that I was a soldier and was off to war again.

Noel used the saying 'use your third eye' as a reminder to me to not only watch out for my physical safety, but to also look out for my mental health.
I adopted that as my forum signature.

I ended up working with veterans of a nasty civil conflict and used Noel's saying to promote an awareness of the need to look after their mental health. The rude joke crossed cultural divides and 5 years later we still remind each other to 'use the third eye'. (Imagine lying behind your rifle.. looking foward over the sights... where is that third eye? :D )

Over the 2 years I spent in that conflict zone, Noel would email and phone me with a 'how are you'... a much needed life line in a situation of many very disturbing and deeply saddening events.

So, from pm to conversation to many contacts checking in on my situation in some of the darkest periods of my life... to a gentle nudging to seek support for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). His caring and lack of judgement is something I rarely experience.

A gentle man and a gentleman... while I will miss him, I'll follow his example and ask 'how are you?"... and follow through on the caring.

Vale mate.
I've shed a tear or two hearing of your passing, and I look forward to seeing you again.
Thank you Noel.