Battle for Australia Commemoration
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AIR MAIL OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 PRINT POST APPROVED PP100017557 Dont forget to keep up to date with what’s happening at RAAFA WA and check out our Facebook page. Battle for Australia Commemoration Battle for Australia Day RAAFA was proud to join forces is commemorated on the first with the staff and students of All Wednesday in September to mark Saints’ College this year with year the first defeat of Japanese forces in 10 students, Kaile Hong and Dante the Battle of Milne Bay. Barrett, making the presentation and the year 12 students laying It recognises all those who served crosses in remembrance. on the home front in Australia, in towns that were attacked by the It was a pleasure to be entertained enemy and those who fought on by the talented All Saints Choir and land, air and sea in battles in the Band before and after the ceremony Coral Sea, New Guinea, including whilst enjoying an opportunity to Milne Bay and Pacific Islands mingle over refreshments. between 1942 and 1945. Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 9 Page 10 Double time Per Ardua 80 candles Pedal to Volunteering and at 99 Ad Astra for Viv the metal activity focus President’s view Implemented to replace the Korean War Memorial Pilot graduation previous Bombing of Darwin I have accepted an invitation to I attended the No 256 Advanced commemoration, the aim was represent the Air Force Association Pilots graduation at Pearce on 6 to encompass a much wider on a committee called to consider a September to present the RAAFA knowledge of the impact the war in proposal to build a State Memorial Trophy. The RAAFA award for ‘the the Pacific had on Australia. in King’s Park to commemorate the graduate who has shown the most We were delighted that students war in Korea. improvement’ went to Pilot Officer William Sanders. from year 10 and 12 from nearby The location, construction design All Saints’ College attended and budget is part of the discussion William was raised in Perth, and participated in the service. at this point. I would like to hear attending Trinity College. He joined The College Brass Band and from any RAAF members who the Australian Defence Force Choir provided beautiful musical may have been part of the Korean Academy and completed a degree entertainment before and following conflict, or people with historical in Business. the ceremony. Two year 10 students, information on the involvement of Dante Barrett and Kaile Hong the Australian Air Force in Korea. William has been posted to 79 provided the Memorial Address. Squadron here at RAAF Base Pearce to fly Hawk jet aircraft. Year 12 students laid crosses in Division Council By Clive Robartson AM remembrance of the many who died Various Division Council during the conflict in the Pacific and Committees have been working Bowling clubs How are you enjoying Spring? a very stirring rendition of the Last on setting strategic objectives and I understand the Bowling Season August was such a busy month Post was played. I think we all had developing frameworks to match. is about to commence. It was my with most of our Branches holding goose bumps as the acoustics in the delight to bowl the first bowl at their AGM’s. I managed to get to Museum are surprisingly good. The Planning and Development the AFME Club on Saturday, 7 four of them and members of the Committee have been looking at September and share lunch with Division Council kindly picked up A member of the Bull Creek the various development projects the members. I wish you all a very the remainder on my behalf. community in attendance referred underway at Bull Creek and Two successful season. to the ceremony as “a community Rocks with discussions taking place I am amazed at the extent of the triumph”. I do hope this will become with the Wanneroo City Council for activities that take place across Air Force Centenary an annual event. the Two Rocks project addressing our villages and the work our As you may all know 2021 is the initial groundworks and drainage. service Branches do. The level of Perhaps some of our other Villages centenary of the Australian Air volunteering and creative thinking might like to consider also holding At Bull Creek rapid progress has Force (AF2021). that goes into the many events this event in future years. taken place with the structural work held is wonderful and adds to the As part of the celebrations and in for Cirrus Apartments and the Club conjunction with RAAFA an oral excitement and wellbeing of living Branches forum on the ground floor completed. on a RAAFA estate. Thank you so history program is underway. much for your efforts. It was a delight to have lunch with As I write, the concrete pour of the all of the Branch representatives on If you served in Korea, Malaysia fourth floor is underway and the or Vietnam and would like to Wednesday, 4 September following project is proceeding to schedule. Commemorations the Battle for Australia Ceremony at participate in this program, RAAFA The Battle for Australia Day Bull Creek. It was an informal event The Clear Skies Committee was they would like to hear from you. ceremony held at the Aviation to enable everyone to do some delighted to host a visit by the Heritage Museum in Bull Creek on Please contact Callee on 9288 8418 networking whilst enjoying a casual Australian Air Force 2021 committee for more information. Wednesday, 4 September was an meal together. The Branches are a and general agreement was that outstanding success with over 150 very important part of the Air Force the museum could be the centre for people in attendance. Association structure and I am keen some of their centenary celebrations to see them grow. in 2021. Annual General Meeting The 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Air Force Association (WA Division) Inc. this year will be at the MERRIWA ESTATE 9.30am on Saturday 26 October 2019 Prior to the AGM, at 9.25am a 2. Fallen Comrades 8. Financial Report and 11. Declaration for the vacant wreath will be laid in memory of Statement Division Council positions fallen comrades. 3. Table the Notice of Meeting Brent Naughton, Chief Financial The Division Council position Officer, will present the annual of State Vice President 4. Affirmation of Loyalty Chairperson financial report. received one nomination, 5. Confirmation of Minutes Patrick Hall and the position of The Chairperson will be the State The State Executive confirmed 9. Correspondence State Secretary received one President, Clive Robartson. A letter has been received the Minutes of the 24th AGM nomination, Ron Onions, hence from Buckingham Palace held on 28 October 2018. Pat Hall and Ron Onions will Programme acknowledging the Affirmation resume the respective positions 9.25am Wreath Laying 6. State Presidents’ Report of Loyalty declared at the 2018 unopposed for a further two 9.30am AGM commences State President Clive Robartson AGM. year term. will deliver his report. 10. Motion 12. Close of AGM Agenda 7. CEO’s Report There are no motions to be 1. Declare the 2019 AGM open considered. John Murray, CEO, will deliver Clive Robartson, State President. his report. Air Force Association 18 Bowman Street, South Perth WA 6151 E [email protected] Air Mail (WA Division) Inc. T (08) 9288 8400 W www.raafawa.org.au Enquiries Julie Stearne Trading as RAAFA F (08) 9288 8441 RAAFA WA E [email protected] Air Mail story 1 November for December / January 3 January for February / March Please email articles to [email protected] (preferred) deadlines 28 February for April / May or post to Julie Stearne, 18 Bowman Street, South Perth WA 6151. Page 2 AIR MAIL October / November 2019 CEO’s perspective across Australia has been that the residential aged care, retirement the larger numbers of Australians team at RAAFA has indeed been living, and community-based entering into retirement, we are busy ensuring our organisation is services are collapsing - with a facing increased levels of reporting sustainable. number of notable organisations on quality and compliance, plus going into administration recently. increasing costs of insurance. The challenge for all of us has been And with that in mind, I want to the need to refocus on the purpose assure all of the RAAFA community RAAFA has to respond to these of RAAFA, whilst making sure we that the work of the Division changes to remain sustainable and define the needs and the cost of Council and executive leadership to be able to successfully service providing the services that our team is focused very clearly on the the needs of future generations. Our customers expect. development of a sustainable future quality standards have again proved for our much-loved organisation. to be not only meeting, but also This means we have to juggle the exceeding, the standards required. demands required of our charitable The increasing level of compliance This is a true reflection of our staff, purpose to support veterans and driven by both State and Federal who have responded to the changes their families, with the expectations legislation to protect the interests needed - showing that we are an of our customers in the estates, of the consumer has, for some organisation that can stand proud. our aged care homes and our organisations, had unintended By John Murray community. As you can imagine, Indeed, RAAFA can stand proud consequences. However the good this means that the financial, of our past, knowing that we are In recent discussions with our news is that, because RAAFA has compliance and governance focused on our future to ensure we executive leadership team, we were always been a consumer and a expectations we need to balance reflect the culture and history of our reflecting on ‘how busy’ we have member-focused organisation, been over the past few years.