Volume 48, No. 22, November 30, 2006
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FINE
FORMATION: One of Denis Hersey’s Roulette aerobatic
shots, taken off the coast of Victoria when he was on duty
as an Air Force photographer in the early 1990s.
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DRAMATIC:
A photo taken by Denis for Veterans’ Affairs in Sabah,
Malaysia, in 1999.
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Denis
Hersey 1941–2006
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“RELIABLE, gregarious, good-humoured,
a genuinely nice bloke and a very good family man with an irreverent
sense of humour. Always ready to help, always ready to contribute.”
These were some of the qualities attributed to former Air Force
photographer and Victorian Public Affairs Officer Denis Hersey,
who recently died of a heart attack at his home at Bruthen, Victoria.
He had given a combined total of 40 years’ service in the
Air Force and Defence Public Affairs, and is recognised as one
of Australia’s foremost aviation photographers.
He joined the Air Force in 1958 as an apprentice motor transport
fitter, graduating from the course known as the Wombats [apprentice
courses were given titles in those days]. He remustered as a photographer
in 1966 and was posted to the Central Photographic Establishment
(CPE) at the end of 1966.
He served in Vietnam with 2SQN from mid-1969 until mid-1970 before
a posting to RAAF Base Fairbairn until 1972, followed by three
years in Defence Public Relations in Canberra.
This was followed by three years at Butterworth in Malaysia and
then a posting back to CPE, after which he discharged from the
Air Force in April 1979 to become the civilian Air Force PR photographer
in Melbourne.
He retired in 1999 but kept his hand in by supplying photographs
to Melbourne and local publications, and was involved in a range
of other organisations, including the Country Fire Authority and
St Mary’s Catholic Church at Bairnsdale.
Regional Manager Public Affairs Victoria Peter Johnson said that
on his departure from Defence Public Affairs in 1999, Denis could
claim to have flown in every Air Force aircraft except the F-111.
Denis did much of his best work in the air, spending many hours
in the back seats of aircraft photographing mainly military aircraft
ranging from vintage warbirds to front-line jets.
Many of his images supported the public appearances of the Roulettes,
and some said he virtually qualified as an honorary member of
the team.
His imagery appeared in a range of publications from mass-circulation
Australian newspapers, the RAAF Museum calendar and AIR FORCE
News through to aviation magazines and international books. They
also appeared in his own book, Images from the Back Seat, published
in 1999.
His two bosses in Public Affairs, Peter Johnson and Ken Llewelyn,
were unanimous in voting him the best all-round public affairs
photographer with whom they had worked.
“You could always rely on Denis; his images were never out
of focus, and when the pressure was on he never failed,”
Peter Johnson said.
More than 350 people attended his funeral in Bairnsdale on November
3 – a fitting reflection of the way he had reached out to
the people and organisations he had served.
Denis is survived by his wife Cheryl, his five children Damian,
Kayne, Katrina, Martine and Matthew, and grandchildren Kyle, Eithan,
Emily, Jake, Charlotte, Ruby and Coby.
See
ya mate
It’s not easy saying farewell to a bloody good mate!
Denis was an achiever. His photographs and exploits are legendary.
I think he got more flight time with the famous Roulettes than
some of the pilots.
Denis spent a large part of his time trying to make life a little
easier for people through his work with Legacy and Lions. He had
the knack of being able to make people happy – always ready
with that big grin and who could ever forget that infectious laugh
of his.
Den’s sudden passing came as a tremendous shock to us all.
Well mate, it’s been a privilege knowing you and I’m
sure I speak for all your fellow Wombats in wishing you God-speed
and farewell.
Ken Moore
