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?

As I grew up, aviation continued to interest me but so did all things mechanical. My parents sold their property when I was in my early teens and bought a service station in the same area. This is where I was exposed to road transport and heavy equipment. This led to an apprenticeship with a transport company in Sydney where I lived for about six years. Until I retired several years ago, my entire working life involved heavy equipment and mining machinery maintenance. However, my interest in aviation was always there.

How did you become involved in the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association?

A job transfer led to a move to Toronto in 1975, by this stage I was married with two young children. My new job plus a young family kept me very busy for quite a few years until I eventually had time to research the local area, Rathmines in particular. It was also about this time that I actively engaged in learning to fly, firstly in gliders which is a fabulous experience and then light aircraft at a local flying school. My first solo in VH-UGG, a Cessna 152 is still a great memory. All this gradually took me to Rathmines where the Catalina Festival was in it’s infancy and I became a member of the organising committee. It was through the Festival that I learnt about the RCMPA, back then it was still the RCMPT.

Where is your favourite place to visit, in both Australia and the World?

Linda and I have probably ticked most of our travelling boxes, we have had a great time doing it. We both would like some more time in Tasmania, I also found rural England really beautiful and the WW1 battle fields in France and Belgium a very sobering experience.

Where are you from and give us a little background about you and where you grew up?

I was born in the small country town of Beaudesert in South East Queensland, about 60km south of Brisbane. The eldest of eight boys and a girl (a twin). I had part time jobs in my father’s sport/hardware store, a local soft drink factory and barman work in Brisbane. After school at 17 and a half, I joined the Air Force. Then initial military training at Adelaide, it was off to Wagga for aircraft trade training. I graduated as an Airframe Fitter and sent to Williamtown (NSW). Over the next 25 years, I was trained and worked on numerous aircraft (Macchi, Winjeel, Iroquois helicopter, Mirage F111 and FA18 Hornet) and had postings to Williamtown, Butterworth Malaysia, Amberley, Middle East (Peace Keeping operations) and Townsville (ARMY support). I left the Air Force in 1999 having achieved the rank of Flight Sergeant and had roles of logistic and engineering management, aircraft component workshop manager, technical and personnel section head, training coordinator, unit driving instructor and aircraft maintenance coordinator. Upon retirement in 2017, I had been a driving instructor for a few years and worked as an aircraft logistical and technical engineering officer for the FA18 Hornet engine and airframe components. I also stayed with defence in the Reserves until 2020. I got the nickname “Crash” after an end-of-season Rugby trip to Cobar.

What did you want to be when you grew up and what did you become?

My air force career took to places I had never dreamed of and went with the flow. Met a lot of different and interesting people on the way and enjoyed every minute. Now settled in Newcastle with wife, Robyn, two boys, one granddaughter and one on the way.

How did you come to be involved in the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association?

My father was in the Air Force during the Second World War. Initially trained as an engine fitter, he later retrained and become a Flight Engineer flying on the B24 Liberators, Catalinas, Mariners and Sunderlands. I have most of Dad’s service history, log books and personal military documents. My brother, who was in the Air Force at the time contacted me to put together a background piece of our father’s WWII history for an ANZAC Day presentation he was involved in. Weirdly enough, at the same time while doing this research, my wife (Robyn) saw a post on Face Book about the Catalina restoration project. I had recently finished restoring a vintage 1953 Norton and then got an opportunity to help with the Catalina and having my father’s connection with the Catalina and Rathmines, it seemed to fit.

What role do you play in the RCMPA and what are the benefits of belonging to this organisation?

I am currently helping with the replacement of corroded airframe structures. I’m not a metal worker by trade but am getting expert advise and repair techniques from Steve and Chris. Being actively involved in the restoration and seeing the progress gives me a sense of immense job satisfaction, and the smoko / lunchtime chats with the other volunteers are always interesting and sometimes quite comical.

What do you do in your spare time and what are your hobbies?

My spare time is taken up with the Catalina, golf, home brewing, motorcycle rides, grandkid/s, home upkeep, catching up with my old air force and rugby mates, watching my son play for a local Rugby team and short holiday trips with the family.

Where is your favourite place to visit, in both Australia and the World?

During my Air Force career I travelled to numerous places, both with work and privately with our travelling friends, mainly South East Asia (New Guinea, Thailand, Borneo, Philipines, Malaysia, Singapore, Loas, Cambodia,Vietnam), India, Sri Lanka, western USA, Egypt, Israel and a couple of trips to Europe. Favourite international destination is south east asia – not too far to travel, food, people, culture, ancient architecture and history, and value for money. Would really like to go back to Egypt some day and also see Turkey and Jordan. Favourite Australian place is Forster. Still a quiet and laid back area with beaches and golf courses.