Brett Ley
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Originally a Westy from Sydney…then North Rocks, amongst poultry farms, tennis courts, with extended family, big backyards and speedway tracks. What did you want to be when you grew up and what did you become? A trade background was always on the cards, ended up 40 years with NSW Railways-electrical background and postings at Redfern, Enfield, Goulburn, Albury, Hamilton and Morisset. How did you come to be involved in the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association? Listening to locals like Vernon Hiles and Pat Henry tell stories of the Catalina Base at Rathmines and realising how many has a connection with the base. It was an easy choice to join the RCMPA. What role do you play in the RCMPA and what are the benefits of belonging to this organisation? From infrastructure maintenance and restoration site improvements. Then Catalina panel fabrication and installation. A great volunteer teamto be part of, with a common goal to present a restored Catalina to the public at a Rathmines museum. |
| Where are you from and give us a little background about you and where you grew up? Born in Cessnock and went to school there until age 16, then moved to Singleton for the next 15 years and finally moved to Morisset Park in 1982. What did you want to be when you grew up and what did you become?After leaving school I started working in the coal mines as an apprentice Fitter and Turner, then progressed to Mechanical Engineer. How did you come to be involved in the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association? I knew someone already involved in the Catalina and offered to help on the project, to see it completed. Where is your favourite place to visit, in both Australia and the World?My favourite places to visit are anywhere in Australia and overseas, Europe, UK, Canada, Alaska and the Pacific Islands. What do you do in your spare time and what are your hobbies? We like caravanning, fishing and I like to surf. We have our own caravan and enjoy trips around coastal NSW and Victoria…somewhat curtailed at present! What role do you play in the RCMPA and what are the benefits of belonging to this organisation? Mainly work on a range of mechanical projects, but I have also been involved with setting up the aircraft walkway access and weather protection covers. More recently I have helped in removing a range of internal components for cleaning and refurbishment. In 2019 I was part of a small team that removed the undercarriage assemblies. These have now been cleaned and painted and we are now ready to reinstall them. I enjoy the company of the other volunteers and giving time to a worthwhile project. |
Terry Woolard
Terry Woolard with Our Girl in Puerto Rico What role do you play in the RCMPA and what are the benefits of belonging to this organisation?
What do you do in your spare time and what are your hobbies?
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Where are you from and give us a little background about you and where you grew up?
I’m originally from near Blayney in the Central Tablelands of NSW, my parents and other family members owned several orchards in the area. My two sisters and myself attended a one teacher primary school at Moorilda, about four kilometres from our property then secondary school as boarders at Orange. It’s true what everyone says about the winters in the tablelands, they are absolutely freezing. We didn’t seem to notice, probably thought it was normal until we moved somewhere else. Life was much simpler then, when not at school, I often disappeared for the day with my .22 rifle and blue heeler dog and my parents didn’t seem to worry. I still recall my passion for reading from an early age, anything to do with flying or Australian history really interested me and that has continued all my life. What did you want to be when you grew up and what did you become?
How did you become involved in the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association?
Where is your favourite place to visit, in both Australia and the World?
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Warren Taylor
What do you do in your spare time and what are your hobbies? I don’t seem to have much spare time these days, but spend as much time as possible with Family between the Central Coast, Sydney and Canberra. I play lawn bowls and do some small woodworking projects and enjoy time in my garden. Where is your favourite place to visit, in both Australia and the World? I’ve toured a lot of Australia over the years. Standouts are north WA, around Broome and the Kimberley’s. There are so many outstanding places out there it’s really hard to favour any one though. Overseas travel has been Pacific Islands where I worked for 8 years in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, have been to New Zealand and have visited relatives in Hawaii and the USA west coast. It’s hard not to favour Hawaii. | Where are you from and give us a little background about you and where you grew up? I grew up in Cabramatta in the Sydney western suburbs, son of a hard-working market garden tomato grower and 4th child of 6. I was educated in Cabramatta and Parramatta. My family moved to the Central Coast when I was 16. Time away from there was in the 60s – 70s when I worked in the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) for 8 years. I have 4 children and 8 grand children, who keep me busy and in line. What did you want to be when you grew up and what did you become? My secondary education included business subjects and manual arts, with the thought of employment in the building or metal working trades. However, I was influenced by family to be a ‘white collar’ worker, started in accountancy (not for me) and ended up in retail appliance and LP gas sales and installation. Like most young men I played with car repairs, topped up with evening Tech courses in welding and spray painting. How did you come to be involved in the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association? My first contact was when attending the Rathmines Festival 5 years ago where I met some volunteers. Having been fascinated with planes since I was a lad, living near the Warwick Farm wartime base and watching the planes on training flights passing over our home. I have been hooked on old planes ever since. Business flights in later years on DC3’s, DC4’s & DC6B’s introduced me to the individual sound of radial engines, so the Catalina naturally attracted me. What role do you play in the RCMPA and what are the benefits of belonging to this organisation? My main role has been de-riveting, removing and replacing corroded panels, involving much face to face with rivets and related equipment. For a while I assisted our mechanic dismantling an engine. There is often a number of small tasks to help Team members with so it’s never boring. I work with a great bunch of fellows so it’s never an effort to get on the job. Involvement has introduced me to very interesting Catalina veterans and descendants, people associated withWW2 museums, Associations plus visitors who are like minded and supportive. We are included in a world of historical aviation which is very satisfying. |
