Mayoral honour

Claremont RSLA President Peter Burke, Leading Aircraftwoman Tracey McCarthy, Hobart Lord Mayor Hobart Rob Valentine, 29SQN CO Wing Commander Geoff O'Hara and Flight Sergeant Rita Barker at the reception.

THE newest Air Force Squadron has celebrated its first birthday in style.

Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine hosted a Mayoral Reception at the Hobart Town Hall on September 2 to celebrate the first anniversary of No 29 (City of Hobart) Squadron.

At the reception, Alderman Rob Valentine acknowledged the efforts of many to establish the squadron and said it was a source of pride for the Hobart City Council to have the squadron named after the city and for the Arms of the City to be incorporated into the proposed squadron badge.

29SQN Commanding Officer Wing Commander Geoff O’Hara said he hoped the squadron would develop close ties to the city.

The celebration had been more than 20 years in the making with calls for the establishment of a Mobile Base Squadron first made in 1979.

No progress was made until 1999, with ADF involvement in East Timor allowing the proposal to gain momentum because of political decisions to bolster reserve forces.

Working weekends and training activities have been conducted since early this year with 32 members and another 12 soon to become active.

29SQN Executive Officer Squadron Leader Alan Robertson said the squadron aimed to achieve its target of 100 members by December 2003.

“The interest levels from the Tasmanian community have been very high,” he said.

Guests at the reception included Air Commodore Doug Chipman, Wing Commanders Bill Dixon and Maurice Deards (both past Senior Air Force Officers - Tasmania) and RSLA Claremont Sub-Branch President Peter Burke.

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