Student takes trifecta
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006

High flier: Cfn Craig Hartnett gets an inside view of an aircraft cockpit during trade training at RAAF Base Wagga Wagga.

A TOWNSVILLE-based tradesman recently returned from the USA to find he was the recipient of a trifecta of military and academic accolades.

Cfn Craig Hartnett, 5 Avn Regt, had just completed a Chinook aircraft technicians’ course at the Boeing facility in Philadelphia when he learnt he had won the JR Bartram and RA Kee Sword of Honour as RAAF School of Technical Training Technical Graduate of the Year 2005.

“I am certainly very honoured to receive the Sword of Honour,” Cfn Hartnett said.

“But, I realise I am very junior to the trade and I am a long way from being a properly qualified tradesman.
“There’s certainly a lot of hard still work ahead.”

The Sword of Honour came hot on the heels of two other awards previously presented at the TAFE NSW Riverina Institute’s Annual Awards for Excellence in Wagga Wagga where Cfn Hartnett won the NATCOE Campus Outstanding Student Achievement Award and was also joint Student of the Year.

Cfn Hartnett served five years as a gunner with 4 Fd Regt before transferring to RAEME.

CAF Air-Mshl Geoffrey Shepherd, who presented the Sword of Honour, said Cfn Hartnett was an excellent representative of the Australian Army and an exceptional graduate of the RAAF School of Technical Training.

“Your maturity, leadership skills and personal integrity were apparent immediately upon your commencement of training in 2004,” Air-Mshl Shepherd said.

“Your selflessness and highly developed interpersonal skills were amply demonstrated by your willingness and ability to assist other members of your course.”

Air-Mshl Shepherd said the tradesman’s position as dux of the 12/2004 Aircraft Technicians’ Course was assured with marks averaging in the high 90s across 86 formal assessments.

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