Farewell, old England

SQNLDR Garry McKee, SQNLDR Paul Connor and wife Mel, WGCDR Fiona Dowse, Jody and MAJ Terry Wood and GPCAPT Andy Dowse.

AUSTRALIAN and Canadian Air Force officers and their families serving with the United Kingdom’s Defence Logistics Organisation have held their traditional farewell barbecue for probably the last time. About 100 guests attended the event at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire, in late June.

The exchange officers and their families have contributed to station and local groups, including being involved in the village cricket club, the nursery, the school, and a tae kwon do club.

Although keen to return home to warm summers, the Australians will miss the many friends they have made – and some other special qualities, according to Squadron Leader Garry McKee.

“The things I shall miss most about the UK is the variety of the landscape, the accessibility to its history, the friendliness of the people and the fact that practically nothing bites or is poisonous,” he said.

A realignment of RAF, Canadian and Australian Air Force objectives means exchange officers serving with the UK’s Ministry of Defence will be returning home at the end this year.

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