By CPL Simone Liebelt
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CAF
AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd shares a laugh with GPCAPT Bill Malkin
after presenting his certificate of service and the Federation
Star.
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Photo
by CPL Simone Liebelt
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AFTER
more than 40 years of service, GPCAPT Bill Malkin has called it
a day.
He not only retired with the Federation Star and the Order of
Australia medal for his outstanding contribution to Defence, but
a lifetime of experience and memories.
“My initial enlistment was for 15 years, and I never envisaged
staying for 40, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,”
GPCAPT Malkin said. “I’m Air Force through and through
and have been very fortunate in my career… I wouldn’t
change a thing.”
Joining as a radio apprentice in 1966, he reached SGT as a radio
technician before applying for a commission as an electronics
engineer in 1981.
His appointments have included Officer in Charge of the Hornet
Avionics Workshops at Williamtown and Tindal, Hornet Avionics
Liaison Officer in San Diego, Project Manager for the development
of the Hornet Integrated Avionics Software Support Facility and
Commanding Officer of the Tactical Fighter Logistics Management
Squadron.
Career highlights have included a posting in 2000 to Washington
DC as the Hornet Senior Technical Liaison Officer and his last
position as the Director of the Tactical Fighter Systems Program
Office Project Management Unit at Williamtown.
A personal highlight of his career, he said, was reviewing his
son Jason’s recruit training graduation parade in 1997.
“It’s an honour to review a parade anyway, but to have
your son in it was excellent; it was the proudest day of my life,”
he said.
Just as proud was his son, CISCON SGT Jason Malkin, who was so
nervous on the day that he accidentally damaged his dress shoes
in an effort to make them perfect for the parade.
“I know Jason didn’t want me to, but I had to stop and
talk to him on parade,” GPCAPT Malkin recalled. “I just
said ‘nice shoes, well turned out’.”
SGT Malkin said realising his dad would no longer be serving with
him was “very, very weird”.
“I believe the Defence Force has lost something extremely
special and valuable when dad got out, and while it’s good
for him, it was a very sad day,” SGT Malkin said.
“Being in the Air Force myself, I know what all his achievements
really mean and it makes me very proud.”
GPCAPT Malkin was awarded the Federation Star for 40 years service
by Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd on Februrary 2.
He paid special thanks to his wife Gitta, son Jason and daughters
Monique and Michelle, for their dedication and support.
“If it wasn’t for my wife and family, I wouldn’t
have achieved what I have; I’ve dragged them all over the
world,” he said.
“I’ve lived the Air Force for 40 years, so what I’ve
experienced will never go away.
“They say the best thing about the Service is the people
you meet and the people you serve with, and it’s so true.
It’s been a real honour working with them.”
