Flying Officer achieves goal

By Peter Johnson

High point ... Flying Officer Fiona Harris celebrates her graduation with Air Vice-Marshal Julie Hammer and her family members: father Chris, sister Julia and mother Helene.

Photo by SGT Dave Grant

By Peter Johnson FLYING Officer Fiona Harris, a former top basketballer, has switched to a new playing surface by graduating from No. 7 of 2003 Initial Officer Course at RAAF Williams on February 13.

Fiona, who also has a strong Air Force family background, joined the Air Force after playing basketball at a high level in the US and Australia.

She enlisted to be an administrative officer after attending the Townsville Cup racing carnival in 2002 where a friend, an Army major, convinced her she would make a great officer.

“I remembered how I wanted to go to ADFA and join the Air Force after school, however I received a scholarship to study and play basketball in the US and I couldn’t let the opportunity pass by,” she said.

Fiona trained for 20 hours a week then played competition at the weekend.

She played in the largest basketball conference in the US, which included states stretching from Hawaii to Wyoming. The highlight was winning the conference championship in Las Vegas. After that she fulfilled a dream by returning to Australia to play in the Women’s National Basketball League.

“My motivation for joining the Air Force stems back to my childhood,” FLGOFF Harris said.

“Both my parents were in the Air Force and during my upbringing I became accustomed to frequent postings around Australia and overseas.”

Her schooling ranged from the RAAF school at Butterworth in Malaysia through to university in the US, and now Officers’ Training School.

Her father Chris was a RADTECH (G) from 1977 to 1986, moving from Leading Aircraftman to Corporal. Before his Air Force career he was a member of the Navy. Her mother Helene, a Corporal transport driver, left the Air Force in 1977 after 11 years.

After the graduation parade on the Point Cook parade ground, Helene said, “We are very proud parents today.” Parade reviewing officer Air Vice- Marshal Julie Hammer, Deputy Chief Information Officer, told the graduates that they must live up to their uniform and, as officers, set an example.

“You will need to lead with strength, compassion, fairness and integrity,” AVM Hammer said.

She said that in today’s Air Force the team would not necessarily comprise only Air Force but Army, Navy or Public Service members, too.

She noted that much unrest existed in the world and our own region but said the ADF could meet the challenge however tough. “I am sure you will do Australia proud,” AVM Hammer said.

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