The recent unexpected death at an early age of LCDR Neil Gilmour has deprived Navy and Australia of a fine naval officer.

While the loss is felt most immediately by his family and friends, especially at the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell, Neil will also be missed by all members of the Navy Training Systems branch, to which he devoted much of his naval career.

Neil was born in Middlesborough, Great Britain, in 1958, and emigrated with his family to Australia in 1959. He was educated at Primbee State School and Port Kembla High where he performed with distinction, achieving high grades in every subject.

He attended Wollongong University where he graduated with honours in psychology, and also took a keen interest in rugby union, which led to a two-year Graduate Diploma in Sports Science. For some time, he trained the first grade union side for the area.

His work prior to naval service saw him working as a professional lifeguard and in a number of fitness-related areas. He travelled to Canada where he worked as an instructor to surf lifesavers in Novia Scotia.

In 1987 he took up a Navy commission working at Cerberus.

His 1990 marriage to Jan Osborne - also a Navy member - saw them settle in Toowoomba while Neil worked at Cabarlah in electronic warfare training.

He then served at Moreton before leaving PNF service in 1993 for a short time. The family then moved to Canberra with Neil undertaking a civilian position within staff development at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Returning to the PNF in 1995, Neil was appointed an instructor at the Naval College. Later he became Head of the Training Support Cell at the College, where he was instrumental in the total redevelopment of the training continuum for junior officers.

This saw a revolutionary change in educating officers not only in academic terms but in its philosophical approach as well.

He once said that "the real issue in training was not which values were included, but working out how to 'unpack' the values so they became meaningful and real for people".

His enthusiasm and expertise in this area saw him receive a commendation. Neil was regularly visited by ship's company members seeking his intuitive advice not just on training matters, but aspects of leadership, personnel management and administrative matters.

He was seen as a man of high moral integrity by colleagues and those he trained. Neil's easy-going nature, positive attitude and non-judgemental approach towards all made him a popular figure at Creswell.

Neil always retained his keen interest in sport, which included snorkelling, kayaking and touch football. As his family grew these activities were subsumed by his commitments but he continued to participate in his ship's sporting program.

In 2001 Neil undertook six months of study into organisational training and development as part of his Master's degree.

In early 2002 he was posted as research officer at the Centre for Defence Command, Leadership and Management Studies at the Australian Defence College. His vast knowledge of leadership theory and education was therefore able to be fully utilised and appreciated by the broader Defence community.

Neil Gilmour died unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, February 26. He is survived by Jan and his four young daughters Lauren, Sarah, Keeley and Sian.

A trust has been established for his children's education. Donations (in lieu of flowers) may be addressed to Tony Osborn, 14 Lindsay Parade, Paradise Point 4216. O408 763 663.

By LEUT Tom Lewis, RAN College