Trying Edinburgh on for size

Volume 48, No. 19, October 19, 2006

KITTED UP: Ken Ticehurst, MP, ready for his PC-9 ride with SQNLDR Robert Denney, from AOSG. Photo by LAC Casey Smith

A MEMBER of Federal Parliament has discovered what boot camp really is.

Mr Ken Ticehurst, MP, Member for Dobell, recently spent a week at RAAF Base Edinburgh under the ADF’s Parliamentary Program. He had previously spent a week at RAAF Base Pearce.

During his visit to Edinburgh, he joined a 1RTU course and participated in the recruits’ activities, including quarters and uniform inspection, weapon handling and marching drill.

He also got to experience the blisters that come with wearing-in new GP boots, and can attest to the good treatment offered by the medical staff; an added extra on his program.

Mr Ticehurst visited AOSG and “was very impressed with the management processes being developed there, which are similar to one’s I have experienced in other areas in my role as managing director of an Australian operation of a British multinational company,” he said.

“I also flew in a PC-9 to the Woomera Range and, after flying around the range with SQNLDR Rob Denney, was hosted on a ground tour of the range by Dr Doug Gerrie.”
A highlight of his visit was an AP-3C mission over the Southern Ocean, under 10SQN’s FLTLT John Grimes.

“I was very impressed with the mission,” he said. “We conducted a survival exercise on the flight and the pilot, ‘Grimmo’, was training and developing a couple of the crew members. He was very professional [about it], providing clear guidance and good feedback to them.

“I enjoyed being able to talk to the crew members ... and their latest navigation kit is brilliant.”

Mr Ticehurst was particularly impressed with the electrical systems. He is an electrical engineer and first developed his passion for electronics in the 1960s when he made and sold crystal radio sets.

He was also impressed with his base welcome and the organisation of the program by Base Commander WGCDR Dave Flood, and Manager Base Command Post, Kim Gibbons.

He was given an opportunity to mix-it at all levels, from the recruits to the officers. “I was made very welcome in the Sergeants’ Mess, where I was met by WOFFs Craig Wiggins and Sean Judge; everyone was very supportive and helpful,” he said.

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