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LIVES
OF SERVICE
Airmen die in road smash
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Corporal
Douglas Frederiksen.
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Leading
Aircraftman Matthew Martin
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You
make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.
If the words of Winston Churchill are right, Freddo and Marty were
more than just good blokes who loved their footy – they were
men who made a difference.
They had only just met, brought together as volunteers, eager to
contribute as proud members of the Air Force.
The two were killed on Friday, November 1, in a car accident on
their way to the field in support of a training exercise at Wide
Bay in Queensland.
Corporal Douglas “Freddo” Frederiksen had served for 25
years, while his travelling companion, Leading Aircraftman Matthew
“Marty” Martin, was only 18 months out of recruit school.
The dedicated airmen, who were both a little disappointed with the
NRL results this year, lived as men who believed in getting involved.
LAC Martin, a member of 2AFDS, was a keen Broncos supporter and
a talented player in his local touch footy team.
CPL Frederiksen was about to be posted to RAAF Base Tindal and promoted
to Sergeant.
The pair had volunteered to provide support to a joint basic sniper-training
course and had left Enoggera Barracks for Wide Bay when the accident
occurred. The military land rover in which they were travelling
crashed on the Bruce Highway, near Black Mountain on a notorious
section of the Sunshine Coast.
The vehicle was part of a convoy when it veered off the road and
down a steep embankment.
CPL Frederiksen, a cook, had served at Williamtown, Edinburgh, Richmond
and Butterworth. Working with CSIG at RAAF Base Richmond, with a
wartime establishment position at No. 386 Expeditionary Combat Support
Squadron, he was a member of the Base Reaction Flight and a popular
figure working in the Officer’s Mess.
The Newcastle Knights fan was a qualified rugby league referee who
volunteered his time as manager for the footy team of his 15-year-old
son Dallas. He also gave up his own time to work as the groundkeeper
at nearby Quaker Hill.
386ECSS Flight Lieutenant Shane Hellmann said CPL Frederiksen was
a well-known and much-liked member at Richmond.
“Freddo was full of energy and an extremely likeable bloke,”
he said.
CPL Frederiksen completed his Cooks Advanced Course in 1987.
LAC Martin, an ADG, had recently completed his Tactical Communications
Course and was to work as a communications specialist for the activity.
RAAF Base Amberley mate Warrant Officer Colin Mears said LAC Martin
was a passionate sportsman and a great bloke.
“Marty was fanatical about the Broncos – he was highly
skilled, motivated and extremely well liked,” he said.
Both men were passionate individuals who left their mark proudly
with the contributions they made both on and off their bases.
More than 300 people attended the funeral of LAC Martin, held at
Sumner’s Park near Brisbane. He is survived by his wife Tracy.
A large number of civilian and RAAF friends and colleagues travelled
by C-130 and road to Tamworth for CPL Frederiksen’s funeral.
Police and the Air Force are conducting investigations into the
accident that claimed the lives of the two committed airmen.
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