 |
|
The
march past at Arromanches, led by WGCDR Ernie Walsh. Flag
bearer is FLTLT James Parton. Other Air Force personnel
participating were SQNLDRs Dave Banham, Garry McKee, Nev
O’Donnell, Jim Pattel, Andy Rees, and Dave Riddel; FLTLTs
Sean Ahern, Chris Anderson, Mark Carleton, Warren Haynes,
Paul Fournier, Patrick Greentree, Troy Hudson, Melissa Livingstone,
Rob Telford and Richard Wolf, and SGT Shaun Healy.
|
Backstage
with the beautiful dancers of the Moulin Rouge in Paris – that’s
every young flyer’s dream of a visit to France. And it came true
for Air Force veterans Charles Turner and Collin Wheatley, but
not until 60 years after they flew over occupied Europe during
the great landings at Normandy on D-Day, 1944.
Mr Turner and Mr Wheatley couldn’t make it to Paris that day,
but they returned to France during last month’s commemorations
to receive France’s highest award, the Legion of Honour, from
President Jacques Chirac.
Mr Turner was a Dakota navigator and Mr Wheatley a gunner in a
Lancaster.
Two other Australian World War II veterans received the honour
from President Chirac: Commodore Dacre Smyth, then a young gunnery
officer in one of Her Majesty’s ships bombarding the Normandy
coast, and Military Cross winner Bill Robertson, an officer in
Army divisional headquarters.
They were among veterans of 14 countries to be presented with
the coveted medal.
In the main ceremony at Arromanches, 33 ADF members serving in
Britain and France took part in celebrations culminating in a
march-past before the leaders of 22 countries, including for the
first time, Germany.
The contingent included 19 Air Force personnel who are currently
serving in the UK, France and Belgium. The majority of the contingent
were drawn from the Air Force because the overwhelming majority
of Australians who participated in the liberation of Europe were
Air Force personnel.
England
recruits instructor
 |
|
Sergeant
Bill Lowrie is spending four months in England.
|
The
English don’t do things so differently, according to Sergeant
Bill Lowrie, who is the latest instructor to join RAF Halton’s
Recruit Training Squadron in the United Kingdom.
SGT Lowrie, who is usually based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South
Australia, did his first Recruits Pass-out parade on June 29.
“My initial thoughts were that things are done very differently
here, but during the parade everything fitted into place and
the day flew past and felt very comfortable,” he said.
He is impressed that the standard of instruction is so high. “I
have learned a lot and have a lot of ideas to exchange.” He certainly
has a rich tradition to draw on.
“Everything is history,” he said. “Everything is so old and what
we think of as old in Australia really isn’t.”
SGT Lowrie will stay with the Squadron for four months.
East
Timor success
Ten
East Timorese Defence Force soldiers have graduated from the English
Learning Program sponsored by the ADF’s Defence Cooperation Program,
the latest in a string of achievements since the program was established
in East Timor three years ago.
Breaking with tradition, the graduates conducted the ceremony
in English and translated speeches into their native language
for the audience. The students paid tribute to their Australian
teachers, dedicating an enthusiastic rendition of Waltzing Matilda
to them.
They completed threefour years’ work in just 16 months and can
now take advantage of training opportunities in English-speaking
countries.
Already six graduates are preparing to travel overseas to take
up further studies: five to Australia and one to the United States.
Other achievements for the Defence Cooperation Program since it
was established in East Timor in February 2001 include the construction
of a major training facility at Metinaro (40km east of Dili),
the provision of specialist advisors, the installation of a communications
network and the conduct of various training courses.
Twenty-seven Defence personnel are in East Timor assisting in
the East Timorese Defence Force development. The DCP also has
a number of projects operating throughout the South Pacific and
South East Asia regions.
The program was originally established in the 1960s to promote
greater security and stability within the South Pacific region
and to provide strategic assistance to less developed countries.
Positions on DCP projects vary with individual project requirements.
Members interested in deploying on DCP projects should approach
their career managers to see if posting opportunities exist. Postings
last 6-12 months.
