Air Force and industry members teamed up with the community to create a new centrepiece for Lilli Pilli Public School’s Anzac Memorial Garden for this year’s Anzac Day commemoration.

The new centrepiece of the garden is an AP-3C Orion propeller blade, which represents Air Force’s 207 Radar Station that neighboured the school during WWII and was manned by about 60 Royal Australian Air Force and Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel. These personnel were housed in accommodation nearby, as was recently identified by the local Shire Military History Club.

The radar station was a feature of the Fortress Shire and, in 1943, helped to detect and direct aircraft flying in the Sydney area.

The propeller blade was donated by Standard Aero and refurbished by the History and Heritage – Air Force team. 

Warrant Officer David Dowe from History and Heritage – Air Force said: “The project enabled our team of dedicated reservists the opportunity to trial new products in the successful restoration of the blade.”

He added that it was erected to represent “a worthy piece of history”.

Personnel from 22 Squadron Mechanical Equipment Operational Maintenance Section (MEOMS) created a custom mount for the blade, erected with assistance from the school groundsman as part of the squadron’s Multi-Role Aviator initiative. The initiative promotes skill development while strengthening partnerships between Defence, industry and the local community through meaningful, low-risk collaborative projects. 

MEOMS project leader Corporal Luke O’Brien said: “The team really enjoyed the opportunity to design and produce a product for use outside of normal RAAF daily operational scope with this collaborative community project.”