Died England '05/09/1980 Crem. Launceston Tas.
Denis and I apprenticed at Wagga Wagga together and played a fair
bit of sport together. He was a sinewy fit person and it was a real shock
to hear of his death as one tends to think that he had his build and
constitution on his side. Last I had to do with him was at Williamtown and
then heard of his demise in England. Miss you mate but it was great
knowing you for the time.
Regards Ken Kane.
Dennis Cooper A61108
Dennis Cooper - 1957
I recall that Dennis came from Tasmania and that he was one of the tallest
in our intake.
Another thing that I remember from Wagga about Dennis was that he was a
very good tennis player. Someone complained that he was too good, so he
said that he would play left handed. The problem was that he was
ambidextrous and was just as good left handed as he was right. Before he
joined up, he was one of the best juniors in Tasmania, if not Australia.
I again met up with Dennis at Williamtown in 1966. He played in the RAAF
Williamtown Australian Rules team at centre half back. He had bad eyesight
and wore glasses with a strap around his head. The team won the local
premiership and had some very good players and some had played at the top
level in Victoria and Western Australia. Dennis was selected and played in
a Newcastle District side which defeated Collingwood in a practice match.
He was one of the best players, and I have no doubt that Dennis could have
played very successfully at the highest level.
He was promoted in 1967 and again in 1970. Dennis was commissioned as an
Armament Officer in 1974 and attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Dennis collapsed and died on 5 September 1980, on a railway station in the
UK while on posting. He was cremated in Launceston, Tasmania
RIP Dennis John Cooper
Kevin Kirk
Member of 11th Apprentice Intake (1957)
