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Vol. 66, No. 2

RAAF ASSOCIATION VIC DIV, 24 Camberwell Road, East Hawthorn 3123 Tel: (03) 9813 4600 Facsimile: (03) 9813 4966 Email: raafavic@raafavic.org.au

A

NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER

of the

AIR FORCE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE

ASSOCIATIONASSOCIATIONASSOCIATIONASSOCIATION

VICTORIAVICTORIAVICTORIAVICTORIA

ABN 96 091 342 304

NEW CHIEFS FOR THE

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE

FORCE

The Government announced on 1 June new command arrangements for the Australian Defence Force. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Defence Minister Stephen Smith have recommended to the Governor General in Council that:

Lieutenant General David Hur-

ley, AC, DSC to be the Chief of the

Defence Force. (Centre)

Air Marshal Mark Binskin, AO

to be the Vice Chief of the Defence

Force. (2nd from left)

Rear Admiral Ray Griggs, AM

CSC RAN to be the Chief of Navy. (2nd from the right)

Major General David Morrison,

AO to be the Chief of Army. (1st on left) Air Vice-Marshal Geoff

Brown, AM to be the Chief of Air

Force. (far right)

All appointments are to be recommended for three years and to take effect from 4 July 2011. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence expressed the deep gratitude of the Government and the Defence Organisation to the retiring Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC, AFC.

Air Chief Marshal Houston joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a cadet

pilot in 1970. He has served his country with distinction, providing exemplary leadership of the Australian Defence Force and the ADF community for the past six years. Air Chief Marshal Houston’s leadership of the ADF has spanned a period of high intensity for Australia’s armed forces, including our contribution to the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and peacekeeping roles in East Timor and Solomon Islands.

Air Chief Marshal Houston has won t h e r e sp ec t o f su c c ess i ve Governments, the men and women of the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Community.

The Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence also thanked Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane and Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, who will retire after 40 years and 43 years service, respectively.

Lieutenant General David Hurley will bring a wealth of experience to the position of the Chief of the Defence Force. He has held several senior command positions within the Australian Defence Force in-cluding as Land Commander Australia, Chief of Capability De-velopment Group and Chief of Joint Operations. Lieutenant Gen-eral Hurley is currently the Vice Chief of Defence Force.

Air Marshal Mark Binskin has

extensive operational command experience having served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Australian Theatre in 2003 and then as Director of Combined Air and Space Operations Centre responsible for the conduct of coali-tion air operations in Iraq and Af-ghanistan. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Air Marshal Mark Binskin is currently the Chief of Air Force.

Rear Admiral Griggs has broad sea going and operational experience and has helped drive Defence’s biggest reform program. He has commanded the ANZAC Class frigate HMAS ARUNTA on opera-tions in the Middle East and the Australian Amphibious Task Group. He also has extensive capability management and development experience, and held a senior position in the Defence Strategic Reform Program. Rear Admiral Griggs is currently the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations.

Major General David Morrison has wide-ranging command experience having served as the Head of Military Strategic Commitments and Deputy Chief of Army. In that position he led the review into Army's command and control structure which resulted in reform initiatives to ensure Army is able to sustain its current and future operational tempo. Major General Morrison is currently serving as Army’s first Forces Commander.

Air Vice-Marshal Geoff Brown has extensive flying experience on helicopters, F_111 and F/A-18 aircraft. Air Vice-Marshal Brown has commanded at all levels of the Air Force, including as the Com-mander Air Combat Group. During Australia’s 2003 contribution to the war in Iraq, he commanded all F/A-18 and C130 operations in Opera-tion Iraqi Freedom. Air Vice-Marshal Brown is currently the Deputy Chief Air Force.

C NTACT Winter, 2011

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RAAF ASSOCIATION VICTORIAN DIVISION PATRON

Wing Commander P. S. Isaacson AM DFC AFC DFM

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT

P. W. (Peter) Colliver: State President/National Vice President G. (Gordon) Caley: Executive Director/State Secretary

J. (John) Mc Crystal: Vice-President; N. (Nick) Leray-Meyer AM: Vice-President R. T. (Richard) Orr: State Treasurer

Directors: T. A. (Tony) Pilli; R. E. (Rob) Pollock MID M. J. (Moyna) Sands; A.R. (Alan) White P. (Peter) Finkelstein: Honorary Solicitor

P. W. (Peter) Colliver; G. (Gordon) Caley: Welfare W. J. (Bill) Belton AM: Chairman RAAFA Foundation

BRANCH SECRETARIES

Catalina Ronald Kirk (98193527); Air Training Corps Hugh Tank (9877 3424); Ballarat Stan White (5339 2003) Bendigo Glenis Gordon (54369293); Fighter Squadrons John Gauntlett (9878 1541); Geelong Jim Heyward (5278 1296)

Gippsland John Power (5174 3231); Melbourne WAAAF Gloria Welch (9727 3651); North Metropolitan Elayne Whatman (93021048); RAAF Vietnam & Associated Veterans Rick Holmes (9317 7304;

Sunderland Squadrons Ricky Hattam (9853 3595); Williams Ted Ruddle (97482271);

A Memory On the evening of 8 March 1945 a 608 Squadron Mosquito XXV, KB405 (6T-K) took off from Downham Market to raid Berlin. The pilot was FLOFF Peter Stanley Hobbs, RAF 139887 and the navigator was FLOFF Robert Methuen Dennis RAAF 439280.

These Canadian built Mos-quitos were part of the 8 Group Pathfinder Force of the Light Night Striking Force. Downham Market was a satellite field for RAF Marham. Altogether 1,726 operational sorties were to be undertaken from the formation of the Squadron on 1/8/1944, under WGCOMD R C Alabaster DSO DFC, until the end of the war. A total of 21 Mosquitos were to be lost.6T-K was des-tined to be one of them.

The aircraft crashed whilst returning to Base, apparently the victim of flak. That both of the crew survived is certain. How-ever the immediate fate of the two members is not clear. Offi-cial records indicate that they were ‘safe’. They are not re-corded a prisoners of war. However as to whether either, or both ,were injured and as to whether they were under the

care of Resistance members, or they were admitted to hospital, to be released by the Allies at the end of the war, therefore not being rec-ognized as prisoners, is un-certain. Investigation has yielded no positive answer. Dennis had been born at North Unley, South Austra-lia, but enlisted in Sydney.

Not so fortunate were the crew of KB197 Mosquito XX, 6T-A from the same Squadron, who on 5/3/1945 were killed at Brain le Comte, Belgium during an

operation to Berlin. The pilot was FLTLT Malcolm Hamilton Murray Maclean RAAF 414311 DFC and navigator, Sgt Richard Todd, RAFVR 1673062. The Mac-lean family had already lost his younger brother, FLSGT Byron V e i t c h M a c l e a n R A A F 414053 BEM of 8 Squadron RAAF in Beaufort A9-217 on 15/11/1943 near Kawlik Kawa Island adjacent to Rabaul. A third b ro th e r , H ec to r C a mp b e l l QX19009 in the Anti-Tank Regi-ment of the Ninth Division sur-vived the War, being discharged on 13/10/1944. By Tom Roberts, President Ballarat Branch

de Havilland Mosquito

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RAAF VIETNAM

VETERANS

VALE

Ballarat Branch mourns the passing of

John Brown, February 2011 and

Stanley Pilbeam, May 2011

Headquarters Branch mourns the passing of

William Jones, May 2010

Gippsland Branch mourns the passing of

Raymond Leviston, April 2011

Geelong Branch mourns the passing of

Ethel Cowdell, April 2011

Fighter Squadron and ATC Branch mourns the passing of

Norman Smithells, May 2011

Paris 1968 - Are your med-als engraved?

In November 1968, an Australian

contingent consisting of a tri-Service

guard and band, was selected to

participate in ceremonies in Paris

marking the 50th anniversary of the

World War One Armistice. The

contingent included many members

who had previously served in

Vietnam.

The Vietnam Medal was approved in

June 1968, just prior to the departure

of the contingent. To allow eligible

personnel to wear the appropriate

medals at the ceremonies, it was

decided to issue the Vietnam Medal

and the Republic of Vietnam

Campaign Medal without members’

details engraved.

A letter to the contingent commander

at the time, advised that recipients

could return their medals for

inscription on return to Australia. It

has recently come to Defence

Honours and Awards’ (DH&A) no-

tice that some members may not have

done this. It is known that 43 Austra-

lian Army and 8 New Zealand Army

members, together with an unknown

number of Royal Australian Navy

and Royal Australian Air Force

members were issued un-engraved

medals.

Members of this contingent who now wish to have their medals engraved, can return them to DH&A for engrav-

ing. Enquiries to the DH&A toll-free number 1800 111 321.

Do you need to locate

Service Records?

Requests for service records are frequently addressed to Defence Honours and Awards (DH&A). DH&A advises that service records are not held by the Department of Defence. Service records can be obtained by con-tacting the National Archives of Australia (NAA). In particular: Army World War 1 – records are digitally stored and available on the NAA’s website. Navy World War 1 to 1970 – records are digitally stored and available on the NAA’s website. Air Force and Army World War 2 – a large number of these records have now been digitised and are available on the NAA website. However, if a record does not have a digital copy available, there are two options: An online copy can be requested for $16.50 or a colour print can be obtained for a fee of $25. The NAA also holds service records for service from Korea in 1956 to Vietnam in 1968. All requests for service records should be directed to:

The National Archives of

Australia

P O Box 7425

CANBERRA ACT 2610

Phone: 1300 886 881

A Busy quarter for the RAAF Vietnam Veterans. Highlights were ANZAC Day where 50 members marched followed by lunch at Citro on St Kilda Road

A Memorial unveiling of the late Cliff Dohle DSM was attended by the President and members at Tahara Victoria on Sunday 17 April 2011. This was held in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e Warrnambool RSL and Gleneig Shire Council’s ANZAC Day tribute. A special mention goes to LAC Bryan Rowe who turned up in the uniform he was issued in 1942 (still fits him).

L to R LAC Bryan Rowe, Neil Morgan. Keith Haines, Rick

Holmes, John Kirby, Garath Davis and President Lee Scully

We are now gearing up for Vietnam Veterans Day on 18 August 2011 and Badge Week from 11—14 August 2011. Monthly lunches continue although due to the demise of Melbourne RSL Duckboaurd Club we have now relocated to the Duke of Kent Hotel in Latrobe Street Melbourne with our first lunch was held on 15 June 2011 at the Duke of Kent Hotel. Rick Holmes Secretary RAAFVVA

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Age must be catching up with me, as it just seems like I was doing the last report for Contact and we were celebrating the 90th Birthday of RAAF.

At the May meeting of Bendigo Branch we watched a DVD about the restoration of the Blenheim Bomber. This story was very interesting and sad as after the initial test flight, the plane crashed and was destroyed, but with the determination and support of the English people another was rebuilt.

Members of Bendigo Branch visited Woop Woop and had a wonderful time and true to the advertising pamphlets – if laughter is the best medicine, you’ll get a good dose of it. It is unlike any-thing you’ve ever seen before, fair dinkum! and based on our Aussie lingo. We were met at the gate by a version of ma kettle, but don’t be fooled, this “lady” was a school teacher in her former life. We have morning tea which is on tap in the nosebag noshery – hot shearer’s scones with fly bog (jam) and thick cow (cream), tea and coffee. I don’t think I have ever laughed so much. If you ever get over Har-court way drop in for a side splitting two hours. We finished the day off with lunch at Castle-maine.

Last Friday I drove a bus load of members to Maryborough to have a browse through a hangar museum at the aerodrome. Alex and a friend, David, who are both members of the Aero Club made us most welcome. After drinking our hot tea/coffee and munching on

bickies, we were escorted through the hangars receiving a very informative talk on the planes. This report comes from a woman – I have never seen such a spotless workshop – you could have eaten your lunch off the floor and no dust on any of the parts or shelves – whoever is doing the cleaning can come to my home any day. After a very enjoyable tour, we headed off to Maryborough Highland Society for lunch.

Alex, Blair and I attended the RAAFA AGM on Thursday 26th May. This was my first time at HQ, where I met a number of very friendly people. It was lovely to meet Barbara, so she is not just a voice on the phone but a fact to go with it.

Two months ago, it was suggested by a member that we should include a “joke of the month”, in our newsletter. This idea has snowballed with jokes coming in from every direction and I now know that the members are reading my newsletter, which is really good because I am no wasting my time. I will finish off this report with a short one.

‘Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, choco-late in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up and worn out, screaming “WOO

HOO! What a ride!”’ Until next time, that’s all for now…..Glenis Gordon.

BALLARAT

We seem to have missed putting in a Newsletter for last issue, so here is an update from Ballarat. At the A.G.M. in February we gained a new female member for the Executive, Anne Dimmer, with Alan Akers resigning his post. Our Guest Speaker was Mike Jennings, MBE (Ex RAF) who is a terrific speaker and gave us the history on RAF Coldislaw, including details of its final parade. Because of the flood damage, we gave $300 to Queensland RAAFA, and $300 to the Victorian Appeal.

In March we had Lambis Englezos as our Speaker on the research he did into the Fromelles Battle in WW1. He has a terrific presenta-tion, highlighting his address with WW1 photos of the area. We believe we had two top Guest Speakers to start our year, and all present agreed. Because of costs etc., we only had token representa-tion at Avalon Air Show. We believe it is preferable to go on a Tuesday as ‘special guests’, rather than battle around in the thousands. We are getting too old for that.

Also in March we had AIRCDRE Rod Luke come and give us a briefing on the 90th RAAF Ceremo-nial Flypast, which would come to Ballarat on the 30th March. Well, later in March this did happen, with 60+ aircraft flying in and the Roulettes providing a masterful display during the afternoon. To top off the day, we had 1200 school children present on the airport for the display.

April was a busy month, with Suz-anne Camm from Wesley College (Out Camp) at Clunes telling us

BENDIGO BRANCH

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NORTH METROPOLITAIN BRANCH BALLARAT

about the activities with the students during their three months in the Camp. Suzanne also showed a movie they had made last year highlighting activities on site. Interestingly, we had the original supervisor speak to us 10 years ago when the Camp first started. Big changes have been made.

Naturally ANZAC Day kept us busy also, a special Church service on the preceding Sunday, and then attendance at the various services during the day, with the March completing our duties. Guest Speaker was AI R M S H L ( R e t ’d ) J o h n Newham, AC a former Chief of Air Staff.

That women are actually taking over Australia was highlighted in May, when WGCDRE Beth Flanagan the CO of 4 Wing, A.A.F.C. was our Guest Speaker. Beth actually served in the WRAAC, before her marriage, and then became involved in Geelong A.A.F.C. through help-ing out her youngest son. She is a great believer in what can be achieved through the A.A.F.C.

In May we went to Hamilton for our Annual Reunion visit, and of course we attended the Division’s AGM in Melbourne.

Most Branches would agree that Welfare assistance to members is rapidly increasing, more and more seem to be ‘just wearing out’, puts a big strain on our Wel-fare Officer.

The year is going quickly, so get ready to celebrate Christmas very soon!

Stan White – Secretary Ballarat Branch

Contact Copy closing

2011/2012 Spring Edition

13 September 2011 Summer Edition

29 November 2011 Autumn Edition

13 February 2012

FLTLT (AAFC) Neil Spurrell, former CO of 416 Squadron AAFC, with Ray Kennedy, member of the Nth Metro Branch and WGCR Colin Styles at the Final 416 Squadron Parade on December 14,

2010. This squadron is the keeper of Ray's ex-squadron, 9RSU, banner which they proudly march each ANZAC Day

Shows the Colour Party marching past the Reviewing Officer, GPCAPT Ken Given at the AAFC Annual Parade on May 15 2011. Although the weather was not all that bright, the Cadets certainly made it a day to remember. The parade seems to improve every year and it is truly a pleasure to sit and watch

The following Photographs are from

Elayne Whatman Hon. Secretary North Metropolitan Branch

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COMING EVENTS WWII Airman buried in France

On 19 April, Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Henry ‘Lacy’ Smith was buried with full military honours at the War Graves Cemetery, at Rue des Airbornes, Ranville in Normandy.

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP and Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin AO, joined FLTLT Smith’s surviving niece and nephew and their extended families at the ceremony.

FLTLT Smith from Sans Souci, south of Sydney, NSW, was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 11 June 1944 during World War II and crashed into the River Orne, near Caen, in northern France. The Spitfire aircraft and Smith’s remains were found in November 2010.

Ceremonial elements of the funeral service were performed by members of No. 453 Squadron from RAAF Williamtown, the unit with which Smith flew, and Australia’s Federation Guard.

The first Australian squadron to go into action on 6th June 1944, 453SQN, operated from advanced bases providing tactical support for the troops landing on the Normandy beachhead.

Today 453SQN is a Joint Battlefield Airspace Control squadron, headquartered at RAAF Williamtown.

The wreckage of FLTLT Smith’s Spitfire aircraft, comprising the engine, forward fuselage and portions of the mainplanes, is to be shipped to Australia for display at the RAAF Museum, Point Cook, Victoria. Plans are for the aircraft to arrive in Australia mid year, where it will undergo conservation work.

The aircraft remains will require extensive conservation treatment in Australia before being displayed. Given the fragile nature of the wreckage the aircraft has recently been re-immersed into Caen harbour to prevent

further deterioration until transport arrangements can be finalised.

NEXT PRESIDENTS AT

HOME THURSDAY 7

JULY 2011

COMMENCING 6PM

Ms Ruth Wilkinson a Diabetes Specialist Nurse will give a 20 minute talk on the myths and truths

surrounding Diabetes.

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing health issues in Australia and greatly

impacts on the aging population.

Once again light refreshments and beverages will be served.

Please book with Barbara to assist catering.

PRESIDENTS AT HOME

THURSDAY 4 AUGUST 2011

MOVIE NIGHT Girls’ Own War Stories are the intimate recollections of young

women on how the Second World War changed their lives forever.

Each experienced new opportunities and new challenges and in doing so learnt to stand on their own two feet. By war’s end, they would no longer accept being treated as second-class

citizens.

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WAAAF/WRAAF TRIBUTE

The service of women to the RAAF over seven decades was celebrated in Brisbane earlier this year when more that 440 former and serving members of the Women’s Australian Auxil-iary Air Force (WAAAF), Women’s Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and RAAF gath-ered for the 2011 national WRAAF reunion. The celebration in Brisbane this year also marked the 60th Anni-versary of the formation of the WRAAF on January 30, 1951. Association secretary, Rosemary Coleman, said the committee had worked for more than 12 months to bring the event to fruition. “It was a fantastic weekend,” Ms Coleman said. The WAAAF was formed in March 1941 after intense lobby-ing of the government by women who wished to serve in the war and representations by the Chief of Air Staff who

wanted to release airmen to ac-tive service overseas.

A training depot was established in Malvern, Victoria, an organi-sation was established and re-cruiting started on March 15. Two days later, 19 airwomen marched into the training depot.

Initially, recruiting for the WAAAF was not hurried and by the end of 1941, only 1500 women were serving. The situa-tion changed dramatically after Japan entered the war in Decem-ber and the three services

recommended the service of women be accelerated and expanded.

By October 1944 that number had increased to 18,677, and by the time the WAAAF dis-banded in July 1947, more than 27,000 had served in 73 different musterings and spe-cialisations.

Fifty-seven died in the line of duty. In February 1950, the govern-ment announced it was intro-ducing a new Women’s Auxil-iary Air Force. In July, Cabinet approved the re-establishment of the force. The new service would be a branch of the PAF, not an aux-iliary, and would be known as

the Women’s Australian Air Force. Then, in November 1950, King George V1 ap-proved the adoption of the title Women’s Royal Australian Air Force and it came into being on January 30, 1951.

The size of the new force was limited to 30 officers and 832 air women, intended to provide a highly qualified corps nucleus that could be expanded quickly and efficiently in an emergency, but this increased to 1050 in 1965.

Initially, WRAAF’s could be posted against 21 musterings and

this had increased to 31 by 1967. However, their pay and condi-tions lagged against their male counterparts for several years, as was the case across the workforce at the time.

Partly with the basic wage and an increase to about 80 per cent of the male wage was achieved by 1970 but it was not until the WRAAF became part of the RAAF that full parity was finally achieved. Andrew Stackpool RAAF News

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VETERANS’ HEALTH SPOT

Are you getting enough sleep? Is there quality in your sleep or are you sleeping longer but waking up still not refreshed? Being unable to sleep as well we would like, or for as long as desired, is called insomnia. Insomnia is a common complaint with many different causes and, for veterans, it may be an after-effect of war service and deployments where lack of sleep, long periods without sleep or with broken sleep can have long term effects. If we are suffering from insomnia, in turn, our mental health and wellbeing will begin to suffer. Sleeping problems can affect people throughout their lives, and if insomnia is one problem you are experiencing there may be a number of causes such as pain or discomfort (e.g. restless legs syndrome or cramps). There can be other symptoms of insomnia, such as sleep apnoea; where a person regularly stops breathing for short periods while sleeping. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnoea and may be influenced by excess weight. Symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, depression, stress or trauma, and emotional problems (e.g. unhappiness, fear and anger) add to the mix, along with not switching the brain off at night. Too much thinking; and then worrying about not getting to sleep! Other things which can lead to insomnia including excessive stimulation after dinner from watching TV, working on the computer or exercising late in the evening. Having caffeine (tea, coffee, chocolate, cola drinks) may affect your sleeping patterns. Alcohol, which at first may help you to sleep, can also end up causing insomnia. There are a number of things you can do with SELF CARE: remember that your sleep pattern/needs may change over time; learn relaxation exercises to manage stress; and if you nap during the day, avoid doing so after 2.00pm. Exercise regularly so that you feel physically tired each night. Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake, and especially avoid them 2-3 hours before bedtime. DON’T SMOKE… smoking reduces the oxygen content in your blood, causing sleep issues. Always sleep in a dark, quiet and com-fortable room, and avoid heavy meals close to bedtime. If you are still having problems, then speak to your doctor. Make a list outlining your problems and take along a note of your activities over the preceding couple of days so that the GP has an idea of what you are doing on a daily basis. For additional help, the Veterans’ Counselling Service runs regular Sleeping Better Programs, which can be beneficial in helping you towards a better quality of sleep. Help may also be available on a new health promotion initiative via the ADF and Veterans’ Affairs called the Wellbeing Toolbox, which covers things like problem solving, building support and helpful thinking. The site is free and anonymous. For more information on The Wellbeing Toolbox, visit the At Ease website www.at-ease.dva.gov.au or the post-ADF portal www.touchbase.gov.au. Pass this information to your mates and, in particular, to fellow veterans you may know who are currently serving or who have been recently discharged. When we were serving ……”We stayed healthy because our life depended on it………Today it still does”

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RAAFA and Young Australians

Since 1999 the Foundation of the Royal Australian Air Force Association, together with the Royal Victo-rian Aero Club, Mobil Aviation and the 460 Bomber Squadron Trust jointly encourage young Australians to take up careers or long term recreational participation in Aviation by awarding a number of Flying Scholarships yearly. These Flying scholarships enable the successful applicants to pursue Flying training with the Royal Victorian Aero Club normally sufficient for the awardees to undertake the General Flying Training Progress test (a minimum of 20 hours Flight time). The purpose of the Scholarships is to provide opportunity for Young Australians, resident in Victoria, to achieve a start in Aviation, that they may not otherwise be able to achieve. The scholarship commemorates the contribution that young Australian Aircrew have made in the defence and in the development of our Nation and it seeks to recognise the Spirit, Determination and values shown by these young Aircrew. The foundations expectation is that Scholarship winners will have a passion for Flying and will pursue building on the knowledge that they have achieved through their own efforts whilst undergoing their Flying training and we would expect that this start in aviation will be continued through their efforts into Commercial, Military Aviation or dedicated recreational Flying.

In 2010 a further 4 Scholarships were awarded and since 1999 25 young Australians have been given the opportunity to achieve flying training to the GFPT stage, these Scholarships, each valued at about $6900.00 are financially achieved through the generous support of our principal sponsor Mobil Aviation, together with contributions from the 460 bomber squadron trust, the Royal Victorian Aero Club, the Air Force Association’s Vic Div Foundation, the Skyline Pilots Shop and Dr Greg Ellis. The four scholarship winners for 2010 are pictured below at the Royal Victorian Aero Club’s Annual Commemoration of the Battle of Britain, “The Dawn Patrol” Breakfast held in September each year, where the Sponsors present the Flying Scholarships to the awardees.

2010 winners from the left Thomas Dyke, Mukul Iyer, MrRyan Beeby and M Megan Aspinall.

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RAAFA and Young Australians (Cont)

The application forms for the Scholarships for 2011 are now available at the Royal Victorian Aero Club Moorabbin Airport or further information can be obtained through the Air Force Association’s office in Hawthorn. Applications close on 23 July 2011.

Megan has just completed her 5th year of a 6 year Aerospace Engineering/Commerce Degree Course at Monash University. As part of her degree, Megan has worked part time as an engineering intern at Aerosonde Pty Ltd who specialise in the design, testing and manufacture of Unmanned Aerial Systems. Megan has had the chance to remotely operate the control surfaces of a UAS. Megan is now, through the Mobil Aviation Flying Scholarship, able to apply her formal learning in to the practical aspects of flight as a pilot.

Mukul has just completed his VCE at Hampton Park Secondary College with good results in Mathematical Methods, Physics, Chemistry, Specialist Mathematics and English and this year commences study at Monash University for a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Mukul discovered the scholarship via the RVAC website and unlike his three fellow awardees had no hands on flying experience at the time of his application.

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Ryan was awarded one of the four Mobil Aviation Flying Scholarships made available in 2010. Ryan has completed three years at Monash University for a double degree of Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering and is specialising in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering with majors in Physics and Mathematics. Ryan commenced training under the scholarship program in October and achieved his GFPT just before Christmas 2010, which is a great example of results achieved with plenty of preparation and regular lessons. Ryan had 17 training flights in December.

Tom has just completed Year 11 at Radford College Canberra and returns to Canberra soon to complete his final year of school. Tom’s enthusiasm for aviation is clearly evident as his initiation to a light aircraft was via the Young Eagles program and he travelled from Canberra for his Young Eagle flight. It is interesting to note that Canberra has no general aviation training facilities and Tom is a clear example of the challenges facing many people who wish to learn to fly. We certainly are fortunate to have the facilities available to us via Royal Victorian Aero Club.

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90TH ANNIVERSARYOF THE RAAF HELD AT AIR FORCES’ CENTRE VICTORIA

7 APRIL 2011

Some of the recipients who received their 15, 25, 35 and 45 years of membership certificates from

Hon Hugh Delahunty, MP Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

Our thanks also to the Catalina Woodwind Quintet from the Air Force Band

Our thanks to Nicole and Alan Evered for taking

the Photos above

If you had a photo taken on the night contact Gordon or

Barbara to arrange for it to sent to you