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Children’s
farewell gift straight from the heart
A
GIFT from a child can often have the greatest meaning.
That was the case when a bright bunch of flowers arrived at the
front gate of RAAF Base Edinburgh as a farewell present for deploying
members of No. 92 Wing from the children and teachers of Mount Gambier’s
Acacia Kindergarten.
Acacia Kindergarten has the youngest P-3 Orion fan club in the world,
with members aged from three to five.
“The older kids understand that many of their friends are going
away overseas and we all wanted to send our best wishes,” Acacia
Kindergarten Coordinator Judith Jones said.
“We use many symbols to help us talk with the children about
what they see happening in the news. We have a rainbow flag, autographed
by many Air Force visitors, that symbolises that things can always
be worked out and that we need never be alone. We encourage the
children to look at the rainbow and think about their many friends,
including our Orion friends out there helping to take care of the
world, wherever they are.”
The kindergarten’s students started corresponding with the
wing’s No. 10 Squadron in 1996 after they spotted an unfamiliar
aircraft pass over Mount Gambier.
After some investigation, the kindergarten discovered it was a P-3
Orion and the children wrote a letter to 10SQN.
“Soon after we received a letter back from Wing Commander Peter
Weir and since that time our friendship with the Air Force has grown,”
Ms Jones said.
“We now have friends throughout No. 92 Wing and the entire
Air Force as personnel have been posted to different places across
the country and around the world.”
The children are experts at spotting Orions and even know how to
communicate with the aircrew by using small mirrors to reflect the
sun. The youngsters also listen to the aircrew’s transmissions
as they conduct training flights overhead.
Ms Jones said her kids knew the sound of the Orion engines and as
soon as they heard it they were out in the yard with their mirrors
signalling to the people on board. She said it was wonderful to
watch the plane wave its wings and flash its lights in reply.
“The positive effect this relationship has had on the children
and their formal education is truly amazing.”
Letters and drawings of aircraft and submarines adorn the walls
and unit history books at 92WG.
In fact, whenever Orion crews conduct training in the south-east,
they try to visit the kindergarten and chat with the children. Some
of the children have even made visits to RAAF Base Edinburgh.
There is certainly a possibility that some of the children will
consider joining the Air Force and end up flying Orions.
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