It is with deep regret and a very sad heart, that I announce the passing on to Higher Service in the early hours of this morning (4th October 2016) of Moth Michael James O’Brien (ID No. 4112165126086).
Moth Mike was diagnosed with cancer in April of this year and fought a very brave fight through 4 major operations until succumbing to this dreaded disease this morning. Truly a very tough man!
Moth Mike joined the MOTH Order in 1978 in Wankie, Rhodesia, at Black Diamond Shellhole. He then left Rhodesia in 1981, moved to RSA and joined Springbok Shellhole and then transferred to Crater Shellhole when Springbok Shellhole closed. He moved to Phalaborwa in 1999 and after 5 years only found out that there was a Shellhole in Phalaborwa. He immediately joined Minefield Shellhole in June 2005 and became a stalwart at Minefield. Total service to the Moth Order 33 years.
Mike was a Moth of very good standing and on his own bat, started Minefield’s very successful bi-weekly chicken raffle which generated a good and constant source of income for the Shellhole. This initiative he started in about 2011 and tirelessly purchased the chickens and ran the now famous bi-weekly, “Mike O’Brien Chicken Raffle” until just recently when he became too ill.
Moth Mike was also Minefield’s very active handy man and saw to all our plumbing problems and mister fix-it jobs at the Shellhole and also on numerous occasion, at Members houses.
Mike was a very likeable character, dearly loved by all who knew him and will be sorely missed.
“AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING, WE WILL REMEMBER HIM!”