Peter Daly aka O'Doodle
 

To those in the aviation world who have had the pleasure of knowing or working with Peter Daly (retired around 1999 from Canberra Tower, Australia), he is now gravely ill in Calvary Hospice, Wagga Wagga NSW. His wife Meg says he is "comfortable and mostly pain free which is a blessing". She has support there from family and says she plays Irish music to him.

Messages of support may be directed to Peter and Meg at Calvary Hospice, [email protected] or PO Box 618, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Australia.

We will shortly lose one of the few real gentlemen in our profession. We'll miss his friendship, his accent, his white hair, his copperplate writing and his good humour.

Peace, O'Doodle.

Peter Daly
 

The following, received Saturday 21st June 2008 from Noel Loaney (The Lone Arranger):


Dear All,

It is with deep regret that I have to advise that Peter passed away this morning at 7.10am as advised by Meg. Some of you may already have been notified but I'm spreading the word as before.

He will be laid to rest in Wagga Wagga (where he and Meg were married) sometime next week and Meg advised that if anyone wishes to attend they are most welcome - at a date also to be advised she expects to have a memorial service in Canberra.

If you wish to be advised of either service and to avoid ringing Meg direct, could you please advise me and I will get back to you in due course of the specifics.

Although in pain, Meg said he passed away with a smile and with an inner peace - Vale old mate, as mentor, workmate and friend you were unique as O'Doodle and will always be remembered by many.

With Regards,

Noel

God Bless you Peter. We never met but you were obviously held in extremely high regard by your work mates, and that's good enough for me.

Rest in peace +

Peter trained as an ATC in Ireland in the early 60's before emigrating to Australia. When I worked in Shannon in the early 90's, some of the supervisors there mentioned training/working with Peter.

I wonder if any of the Irish controllers reading this message might be kind enough to pass on the sad news to any of the older ex-controllers/supervisors in Ireland who may have had the honour [as did I] of knowing and working with Peter.


You go home this night to your home of winter, to your home of autumn, of spring and of summer;
You go home this night to your lasting home, to your eternal bed, to your eternal sleeping.
Sleep, oh sleep in the quiet of quietness,
Sleep, oh sleep in the way of guidance,
Sleep, oh sleep in the love of all loving.

AdrianDumsa is ainm domsa
 

We will pass that on. R.I.P

Funeral
 

The following received from good friends of Peter:
Dear family and friends



Sadly, Peter died peacefully this morning just after 7am at the Calvary Hospital in Wagga. Meg was with him and I know that was a comfort to her and support for him. In his final days he told Meg that he had ‘enjoyed 65 good years’. He maintained his sense of humour and graciousness to the very end. We will remember him for those and his other fine qualities.



It was Peter’s wish to be buried and his funeral service will be held in Wagga Wagga next Friday afternoon. The service will be at the Loreto Home of Compassion chapel (Bardia St, Ashmont, Wagga NSW 2650) about 1.30pm on Friday 27 June. This service will be followed by a graveside service at the Lawn Cemetery. Then there will be refreshments. I will confirm the times early next week when arrangements have been made. You are most welcome to these services. There will be a notice in the Canberra Times.



Meg has decided to hold a Memorial Service for Peter in Canberra, probably in July. I will let you know the details once it is organised. You are most welcome to this one too as we expect you may not be able to get to Wagga on Friday.



We are all very sad and shocked with the rapidity of Peter’s decline in health during the past weeks since his emergency surgery. As his surgery analysis showed that his cancer was melanoma, his death today may have saved him a lot of pain.



We all wish to thank each one of you for your kind and healing thoughts, prayers and good wishes. It has been sustaining and wonderful for Peter and Meg to receive all of your texts, emails, cards and other transmissions. I will be in touch with you personally in the coming days to thank you.



Slan leath Peter.



Carol

Tom and Carol Flynn

Peter Daly: 19 January 1943 - 21 June 2008
 

From Peter's sister Carol:

"Dear family and friends

Sadly, Peter died peacefully this morning just after 7am at the Calvary Hospital in Wagga. Meg was with him and I know that was a comfort to her and support for him. In his final days he told Meg that he had ‘enjoyed 65 good years’. He maintained his sense of humour and graciousness to the very end. We will remember him for those and his other fine qualities.

It was Peter’s wish to be buried and his funeral service will be held in Wagga Wagga next Friday afternoon. The service will be at the Loreto Home of Compassion chapel (Bardia St, Ashmont, Wagga NSW 2650) about 1.30pm on Friday 27 June. This service will be followed by a graveside service at the Lawn Cemetery. Then there will be refreshments. I will confirm the times early next week when arrangements have been made. You are most welcome to these services. There will be a notice in the Canberra Times.

Meg has decided to hold a Memorial Service for Peter in Canberra, probably in July. I will let you know the details once it is organised. You are most welcome to this one too as we expect you may not be able to get to Wagga on Friday.

We are all very sad and shocked with the rapidity of Peter’s decline in health during the past weeks since his emergency surgery. As his surgery analysis showed that his cancer was melanoma, his death today may have saved him a lot of pain.

We all wish to thank each one of you for your kind and healing thoughts, prayers and good wishes. It has been sustaining and wonderful for Peter and Meg to receive all of your texts, emails, cards and other transmissions. I will be in touch with you personally in the coming days to thank you.

Slan leath Peter.

Carol
Tom and Carol Flynn"

I have known Peter since our Aircraft Spotting days in EIDW back in the 1950's and 60's. His humour and laugh were always infectious. He last visited us in Swords last Summer. Little did we know it was a final "Slán Leat - Retep Ylad". Paddy

Received from Noel Loaney
 

Dear All,

To update the email sent to various contacts on Saturday (Carol Flynn is
Peter's sister who lives in Canberra) the funeral date and times are correct
and just off the phone to Meg I can confirm that the Memorial Service will
be held at the Federal Golf Club in Canberra (Red Hill) on Friday, July 25
in the early afternoon (approx. 1pm). Some of you may already have this
information, however, as promised, I am responding to those who requested
further information. I am hoping to make the July Memorial Service.

Regards,

Noel................

Late change to the Memorial Service and Wake
 

Meg has today advised a late change to the venue and date for Peter's Canberra Memorial Service and Wake. It will now be held at the Canberra Irish Club from 1pm on Wednesday 23rd July.

Hope to see as many of Pete's friends and colleagues there as possible.