MUJA Power Station’s first fire and emergency response officer, Ronald John Bratt, was to rest in a funeral service today at Fremantle.
Ron is remembered by his Muja colleagues as a great trainer and team leader who became involved in mine rescue competitions, many of which were won by his team.
He was known as a good listener, jovial, good spirited and a pleasure to work with.
He came to Collie after more than 20 years of service with the Royal Australian Navy, retiring with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Born in Perth in 1946, Ron’s specialty in the navy was marine engineering. As an engine room mechanic, his position was known in the early days as a stoker.
Ron saw service during the Vietnam War, when he was a member of the crew on board the destroyer HMAS Vampire.
Vampire was an escort of the troopship HMAS Sydney, which carried troops to Vung Tau, Vietnam.
The Sydney, on its 14th trip to Vietnam from Australia when under escort by Vampire, was fondly known by soldiers as the “Vung Tau ferry”.
With a service number of R65463, Ron was a member of the Collie-Cardiff RSL, and will be remembered always there, and by the many friends he made in Collie.