Obituaries

Vale: Fred Verna

Late last year, the pipeline industry lost a legend. Fernando (Fred) Verna sadly passed away on 26 November 2025 after a long struggle with emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis. Read More

Vale Mark Twycross

The APGA has shared the sad news of the passing of another industry legend in 2025. Life Member Mark Twycross passed away last Sunday. Read More

Vale Peter Rees

The Australian pipeline industry has been deeply saddened by the passing of industry legend Peter Rees.
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Vale Matt Zema

Australia’s energy industry is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) Managing Director and CEO Matt Zema.
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Vale: Craig Bentley

In March 2014 the pipeline industry has lost one of its leading engineering practitioners with the sad passing of Craig Bentley, due to illness.
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Gerald Minson

Gerald graduated from Melbourne University in 1965, the same year that gas was discovered in Bass Strait.
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Vale Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman was born in Marrickville, New South Wales, on 16 April 1919. He started work as a youth during the depression in November 1933. Tom joined the army at the end of 1939 and served in the Western Desert and Syria with the Sixth Division. Returning to Australia in 1942 he transferred to the RAAF, served out the rest of the Second World War in England and was demobilised in February 1946.
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Vale: Bruce Wolfe

Bruce Wolfe started in the pipeline business with William Press on a water line in the United Kingdom in 1963, then went on to work on gas lines with CJB in the mid-1960s, where he worked with the likes of Jeff Shepherd, Geoff Wells and Alf Lilley.
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Vale: Raymond R. Fessler

It is with great sadness and loss that we mark the passing of Raymond (Ray) Fessler, known to many as the father of pipeline stress corrosion cracking.
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Vale: Jeff Shepherd

Jeff Shepherd was truly one of the legends of the Australian pipeline industry, and arguably the best pipeline construction manager Australia has produced.
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Vale: Brian Brenac

It is with considerable regret we advise the passing of Brian Brenac, aged 77, in Sydney on 20 November 2014 after a relatively brief illness.
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Vale: Vin Pollock

Vin Pollock passed away on 14 June 2013. Vin spent his lifetime in the gas and pipeline industry and was highly respected by all who he came into contact with.
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Vale: Robert Fraser

Bob Fraser passed away on 13 December 2009 after a short illness. He was 79 years old. Vin Pollock provides this tribute to his friend and colleague.
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Vale: Ronald John Black

It is with regret that yet another "˜old Pipeliner' has passed away. Ron Black lost his battle with cancer on 23 January 2010. Joe Ashton provided this insight into the life of his mate.
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