Quality tour

By Andrew Stackpool

Camp Quality visitor Helen tries out the fire fighting equipment during a visit to RAAF Base Tindal.

Photo by LAC Greg Pierce

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* The Camp Quality tour of RAAF Base Tindal included a fire-fighting display and a flight in the Hornet simulator.

THIRTY-four top end children who are fighting cancer have recently been given a taste of Air Force life.

Under the theme “trains, planes and automobiles”, the children, aged from 5-16, were accommodated in underground living quarters at RAAF Base Tindal as part of a Camp Quality (NT) activity.

During their visit, they saw a fire-fighting display and a movement display by the military working dogs, toured the air movements terminal and No. 75 Squadron, and took on an obstacle course at the gymnasium. Four of the oldest children also experienced life in the fast lane when they flew the Hornet simulator.

Heather Helme, the NT area manager for Camp Quality, said the children had a “fabulous time”.

“I approached Tindal at the beginning of the year and then met with them in May to put a program together,” she said.

“They were fantastic, they took over and put the program together for me, which was an enormous help.

“They were the ‘plane’ part of the theme. For the train we took the Ghan to Alice Springs, then bus (automobiles) to Tennant Creek and Tindal.”

“The obstacle course was great for them. We formed two teams and they had penalties if they knocked any of the hurdles over.

“We have a five-year-old who had never done anything on his own until then.

“Four of them flew the simulator and I had a go too. It was unbelievable, so complicated.
“We were able to take off and then they let us do rolls and loops. It was such a thrill for the children.”

The children enjoyed staying in the accommodation bunkers, voting them and the meals as the best of the trip.

“This has been a great new experience for them,” Heather said. “Air Force really turned it on for them. I know people here are very busy, but they gave us their time and it has run very smoothly.

“We’d definitely love to come back if they’d let us.”

Warrant Officer Don Kelly, the base escort officer for the visit, said the base had been delighted to host the children.

“All base personnel involved with the visit were very happy and willing to assist the group,” he said.

“Some personnel even remained well after stand-down to ensure that all of the children were given an opportunity to participate in activities.”

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