By Corporal Simone Liebelt
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ACM
Angus Houston is aided by AM Geoff Shepherd’s wife
Anne, right, and mother Margaret during his promotion ceremony,
held during the dining-out for ACM Houston in the Great
Hall of Parliament House, on July 2.
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Photos
by CPL Craig Eager
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ACM
Houston enjoys AM Geoff Shepherd’s speech.
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CAF
Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd was promoted during
the dining out.
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Air
Chief Marshal Angus Houston formally handed
command of Air Force over to Air Marshal Shepherd.
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The
decision to relocate 33SQN to Amberley was made
based on the A330’s requirement for a longer
runway
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HE’S
no Aussie bushman, but Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd is well known
for his cooees. It is his calling card, after all.
So it seemed fitting that he used it to sign off his first official
speech as CAF after assuming command during Air Chief Marshal
Angus Houston’s dining-out night on July 2.
In a formal handover-of-command ceremony, he received his new
rank slides from wife, Anne, mother, Margaret, and predecessor,
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston.
His audience was more than 600 guests, most of whom were now under
his command.
Upon taking the stand, he was humble in accepting the great honour
of being CAF, summing it up with, “to be promoted in front
of this large assembly of current and past serving members and
their partners is a singular honour. I am among friends.”
He paid special mention to one of those friends, Air Commodore
Poodle Wood, retired, who had saved his life in an aircraft crash
29 years ago.
He then thanked Air Chief Marshal Houston for “the wonderful
Air Force and impressive legacy” which he had left him and
for doing him proud through his support and friendship.
He noted the historic and vital legacies left by past chiefs,
some of whom were present that night, including Air Chief Marshal
Sir Neville McNamara, retired, and acknowledged the special support
and qualities of his wife, Anne, and mother, Margaret.
But it was his final words that captured the essence of the moment.
“On my watch as Chief, we will, as ever, be an Air Force
focused on achieving operational and governance excellence. We
will be the best that we can be, with what we have, here and now.
“We will, as now, be a values-based Air Force, with people
at the core of our capabilities and our concern. Above all else,
we will value our values.
“We will, as we must, keep an eye, a close eye, on our vision,
and seek innovative means to achieve that, and, we will, because
we can, join together in the pursuit of exciting, enjoyable professionalism
– having a good time will be mandatory.
“It’s a privilege to be your chief.”
Oh, and let’s not forget, “Cooee”.
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