Our People in NSW
Scott Whinfield - Tumbarumba
Tumbarumba’s Scott Whinfield credits local hero Kenneth “Kas” Mann for inspiring him to join the RAAF after he met the World War II fighter pilot in his youth.
These days Scott is a Sergeant and now commands the mobility section of 1st Air Field Defence Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland. They are part of the RAAF’s very own ground forces. Their primary role is defending RAAF people and aircraft from ground-based threats at home and overseas.
Scott, a graduate of Tumbarumba High School, remembers the war veteran and Tumbarumba Gliding Club president as a formative influence.
“I always wanted to be in the military,” he said. “Initially I didn’t really expect that the RAAF would have a ground component, so I was quite pleased to find it and jump in — it is a bit of both worlds, which is very interesting.
Scott is a self-confessed “gypsy”, whose career has taken him to Cambodia, Malaysia, Timor and Afghanistan, yet he still remembers the Tumbarumba veteran.
“He was a World War II fighter pilot and he used to fly at the glider club so he obviously loved the Air Force and he just put me on to it,” Scott said. “He said, ‘you should give this a bash’, so I did.”
That was two decades ago, and Scott is still going strong.
“We handle weapons, ammunition and explosives, I don’t know too many jobs that will do that and still pay you pretty well,” he said.