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ServingServing Faithfully Faithfully Newsletter of the Diocese of the Australian Defence Force September 2014 Published by the Diocesan Curia. Editor: Peter O'Keefe Issue # 18 Message from the

CATHOLIC OF AUSTRALIA DIOCESAN STATEMENT

An allegation has been made to the police that in 1969 Bishop Max Davis abused a student at St. Benedict's College in New Norcia Western Australia where he was teaching at the time.

As a result a charge has been laid by the WA Police.

At that time - 45 years ago - the bishop was not ordained. The bishop emphatically denies the allegation and the charge will be defended. In the circumstances the bishop has decided to stand aside while the matter is dealt with by the court.

No further comment will be made while the legal process is underway. In the meantime the Vicar General is responsible for the administration of the Diocese. God is present in the Darkness as well as in the Light

ost of you are aware of the fact that Bishop his welfare. The often celebrate Mass at 7am, MMax voluntarily stood aside from his again pray morning prayer with their Chaplains from ministry as Bishop of the Military Diocese of the Australian varying faith groups close to 9am, and Midday Mass is Defence on 28 June 2014. The circumstances that resulted celebrated in some Chapels throughout the week. I invite in this action are outlined in the Diocesan you and your families, together with Statement above friends, to join with us at these times in Late on 28 June the Chaplains brief prayer as part of this crusade of were notified of the Bishop's action and, prayer. The Lord will hear the prayers of as expected, the news was received with his people! deep shock and sadness for the Bishop. At We all acknowledge that this is a the same time the Australian Catholic most difficult and anxious time for the Bishops along with the Apostolic Bishop as the legal process commences. were officially informed. Letters were sent There is no knowledge of how long this with the Diocesan Statement to the process will take. The Bishop whilst Minister of Defence and the Chief of the humanly distressed is endeavouring to Defence Force. abandon himself to the Lord's Will in the Subsequent to this action, the Bishop has received knowledge that He is our strength and refuge in every way. messages of genuine concern and the promise of prayers. The Book of Isaiah Ch 45:3 states: This response has comforted him greatly at this time. I have I will give you the treasure of darkness, riches travelled to several of our Chapel communities over the hidden in secret places, so you will know it is I, Sundays of July joining with the Chaplains and their The God of Israel, who call you by name. Communities. The overwhelming support and the genuine Whilst our society in general has given an evil affection for Bishop Max has been palpable and, as connotation to darkness, there is a long biblical history of expected, the Chaplains are very focussed on supporting God working through people in the dark. Thankfully we their people and going about their duties with dedication. know this from our own experience, that periods of The Bishop has received many emails and cards from darkness can, if used appropriately, be places where we people across the Diocese and from within Defence and eventually discover enlightenment in and through its very beyond it, from across various dioceses and from people struggle. We see this exemplified in the Word of God. The known to him in the past with words of support and care. Exodus Event of the Old Testament People took place at I have asked wherever I have gone, that as a night, the Manna of old fell from the heavens at night and Diocesan Family, we be intentional in our prayer support for much about the Wisdom of God is cloaked in mystery. Bishop Max. I invite you all to join in our prayer crusade for Continued page 2 MH17: The outcome of a trail of human evil ‘These are matters we can all attend to with the aid But God's grace enables Christ's resurrection to shine forth of God's grace and a simple trust in him who created us, so in good actions that our lives may become examples to others to see.’ s our nation mourns the tragic and senseless ‘Today we pray for the gentle and eternal repose of Aloss of life resulting from the terrorist attack the 298 innocent lives lost in the downing of MH17, on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, we again confront the especially commending to God the Australians killed … We seemingly never-ending saga of evil in our world. We also pray for the conversion of heart of the perpetrators of remember the service of the AFP and ADF personnel who this terrible evil that they, and all who are tempted to hide had to confront firsthand the results of this evil. under the darkness of human corruption, will now walk on At a Mass of Remembrance celebrated in St Mary's a path that upholds the dignity of every human person.’ Cathedral, Sydney on 20 July for those who died, for ‘And finally, let us pray for ourselves, that we may be families, friends and colleagues, the Apostolic Administrator people who courageously and humbly seek to live our lives for the Archdiocese of Sydney, Bishop Peter Comensoli, said under the good, true and beautiful light of the Risen Lord, the downing of MH17 was not an accident; ‘… it was the “who will always come to help us in our weakness”.’ (Rom outcome of a trail of human evil.’ 8:26) ‘Consider how blame and buck-passing is the current In confronting evil at a global and personal level, we state of those responsible. The subversion of truth is also pray that we will never lose hope in the Risen Christ and the happening in other places in the world, wherever human Light that is present in the lives of good people, including dignity lies blanketed under violent hatred, ancient and those who serve in the ADF. new. Evil will have its way when vigilance and transparency are allowed to wane.’ All those who enter the military in service to their country ‘Evil will try to hide, obfuscate, deny. But by the light should look upon themselves as guardians of the security of day the true picture will be seen. And it is under the light and freedom of their fellow countrymen, and in carrying out of the Resurrection Day, that the Risen Lord calls us to this duty properly, they too contribute to the establishment walk.’ of peace. ( )

Military Chaplains Fundraising Dinner AO, DSC ( Ret'd) (the PM's Special Envoy for Operation The Canberra branch of the of the Southern Sovereign Borders). Cross invites friends of the Military Diocese to attend a fundraising dinner at the Holy Centre, Tickets are $50 per person, for a three-course hot Strangways St, Curtin on Saturday, 22 November 2014, buffet meal. Envelopes for Tax Deductible donations to the 7.00pm for 7.30 pm start. Armed Services Catholic Diocesan Revenue Fund will be This event will support the training and support of available on each table. Bookings can be made by Chaplains for the Australian Defence Force. contacting Bob Perkins 02 6247 2977 or The Guest Speaker will be Major General Jim Molan Doug Gaudencio 02 6169 6866

Continued from page 1 faith that God is near to us, wherever we are, and in all St Luke gives us his Gospel account of how Jesus abandoned circumstances in which we find ourselves. himself to his Father on the cross for our sakes as darkness Bishop Max has continually asks that we remember came over the whole land between the sixth and ninth hour. in prayer the person who has brought the allegation against In this present darkness, the Bishop is struggling in him. Not knowing the unfortunate circumstances that led to faith, reaching out believing in God's promise that He is near this action, the Bishop is very mindful that we too keep him to him. This Promise is found especially in the darkness of in our prayers. the tomb as the Resurrected Lord breaks forth to go before I thank especially the chaplains and our chapel us. This is our encouragement: Go forth into the night, communities, the Members of our Finance Council who have trusting in Him who beckons us forth into light through faith. assisted in so many ways, Mrs Bruna Catanzariti, our As a Diocese we pray earnestly for our Bishop and secretary at the Chancery and the many others who are ourselves that this dark time will be a time for witnessing striving to support the diocese at the present time. THANK powerfully to Christ's presence through unity and with trust YOU. in the Lord's promise. We pray that our Bishop will return to us quickly so as to lead us in his ministry as chief shepherd of Monsignor Peter O'Keefe this diocese. In the meantime our chief shepherd Max is Vicar General praying for us in his present situation. God is in the darkness as well as in the light of day. May we also realise through

2 VOCATIONS PRAYER National Vocation Awareness Week The call to foster all vocations in the church Creator God, The Church in Australia recently celebrated ‘National Vocations Life is your gift to me. Awareness Week’ (3-10 August 2104). This week is dedicated by the Church to Through recognise and promote the distinct calling everyone has received as God's gift you invite me to grow of love. into a very real, full and loving The Church calls for the promotion of all vocations: married life, religious person, life, priesthood, permanent deaconate and the single state though baptism; and to share the gift of my life in their interconnectedness advances the Kingdom of God in the world. Each service to others. vocation is a gift to the other, one enhancing and contributing to the fulfilment of the other. Be with me The family is the seedbed of vocations to the priesthood, and we hear as I choose each day to show your presence often the observation that there has been a long-standing crisis of vocations to in our world. the priesthood and religious life in the Church throughout many parts of the world. Give me Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York says: ‘When only the courage and generosity to half of our Catholic people are getting married, no wonder we have a crisis in respond to Your love, Your call. the number of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life!’ For the Cardinal, the biggest vocations crisis in the Church is in the vocation to married I pray especially and family life, which is significantly impacting the numbers of vocations to the for those who serve you priesthood and religious life. as Priests, , Brothers and Sisters. Keep them close to you. Married Life is beautiful and must be protected Open the minds and hearts of The plan inherent in marriage is truly beautiful! It is expressed in the many others, simplicity, and also in the fragility of the human condition. We are all aware of to accept the challenge the many difficulties and trials there may be in the life of a married couple. And to build Your Kingdom. Amen. the secret is that love is stronger than the moments in which we argue, and I Mary, Help of Christians, therefore always advise married couples never to let the day draw to an end Pray for us without making peace … Married life is beautiful and must be protected. ( Francis, Catechesis on the Sacrament of Marriage, 2 April 2014)

Pope Francis has focussed the attention of the Church around the world on the vocation of marriage and family life in the calling of the Extraordinary General Assembly (First family Synod), which will take place in Rome 5-19 October 2014. The results of this Assembly will then be used as preparation for the Ordinary General Synod 4-25 October 2015.

Serving Faithfully is a newsletter of the Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force. It is published quarterly by the Catholic Military Ordinariate. The Diocese is composed of members of the Australian Defence Force and their families wherever they may be serving. Its people are scattered widely across Australia and overseas. Serving Faithfully aims to be a means of sharing events and experiences from across the whole Diocese. Articles are welcome to be submitted for publication and should be addressed to The Chancery, Catholic Military Ordinariate of Australia PO Box 63, CAMPBELL, ACT 2612 Telephone: (02) 6248 0511 Fax: (02) 6247 0898 e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.military.catholic.org.au Any opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Catholic Military Ordinariate.

3 Happenings around the Diocese

Completion of full-time service ather John Healy retired from full-time chaplaincy in July, having completed six years service in Fthe Permanent Air Force. John elected to return to the Archdiocese of Melbourne at the end of his contract and we wish him every blessing as he resumes priestly ministry there. John transferred from the Specialist Reserve and was posted to Amberley, Tindal and the No1 Recruit Training School at RAAF Wagga over these years. After taking a holiday and a three-month renewal course in Rome, Fr John will commence his ministry in Melbourne later this year. Thanks go to John for his ministry, not only on our bases, but also for his diligent service in support of our chaplains as the Diocesan Director of Life and Ministry.

eacon John Lim completed his six years of Catholic Defence ministry in July this year and will Dreturn to ministry in the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn. John served the entire time of his full-time service as the Catholic at the Royal Military College and, undoubtedly, in this time became known to well over a thousand graduates from RMC. He and his wife Anne gave many years of devoted service to the Catholic community at St. Paul's Chapel. Deacon John has taken up a ministry with the Queanbeyan Mission and is resident in the Parish of Bungendore NSW. We wish him and Anne every blessing and thank them for their devoted service.

Exercises and deployments haplain Jean Johns, our Catholic Lay Pastoral Associate, 10 Squadron Padre, at RAAF CBase Edinburgh was the Air Force Chaplain to 'Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014' (RIMPAC 14) over the July period. This is probably the largest maritime exercise in the world involving 22 countries. She was deployed with the squadron to Oahu, Hawaii. This certainly allowed her to understand better the operations of 10 Squadron and to appreciate the work of the squadron and be a pastoral presence. She flew on several missions with P3 crews appreciating the long hours in flight. eacon Leo Orreal was recently deployed to Shoalwater Bay Training Area with 6 RAR during a culmination of a Dseries of exercises 'Ex Blue Dog', which was part of the Battalion’s readiness preparation. He reports that this was a most rewarding experience. He was particularly impressed with the professionalism of the soldiers and their attitude to training. There were many occasions for chaplaincy - the bread-and-butter pastoral issues are not much different from any others over time as soldiers deal with various personal, domestic and spiritual issues. eacon Garth Mayger recently deployed with 8/9 RAR to Canungra and Shoalwater Bay during the yearly training Dcycle. This was Garth's first experience with the unit as a chaplain, having completed his formation for chaplaincy in 2013. He described it as ‘a steep learning curve about the scope and range of issues facing the members and their families’. He is very appreciative of the experience, dealing with several challenging pastoral issues, and is convinced that many soldiers are 'open and wanting the possibility of a deeper and more authentic relationship with God.' haplain Kevin O'Sullivan, our Lay Pastoral Associate, has recently completed a three-week deployment with C36 Squadron RAAF Amberley to the Netherlands with 'Operation: Bring Them Home' in response to the MH17 disaster. The C17s, together with the Dutch Defence Force, were tasked to transport the human remains of those aboard MH17 from the crash site in the Ukraine to the Netherlands for forensic identification. Kevin describes the time working with the air crew as a particularly valuable pastoral experience and he subsequently met up with several Dutch and Australian support personnel over his three-week deployment. A valuable part of this deployment was gaining an understanding of how the Dutch Chaplains work as he was stationed at a Dutch Air Force Base for the duration.

4 Happenings around the Diocese

Sacraments at HMAS Cerberus On Sunday 17 August the Rite of Christian Initiation and the Sacrament of Confirmation were celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Memorial Chapel, HMAS Cerberus. Fr Paul Stuart had prepared three recruits for the Rite of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation) with an additional five for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Unfortunately two members were not present at the ceremony. Monsignor Peter and Father Paul conducted the rites as part of the 0930 Sunday Mass.

Our Lady Star of the Sea Chapel; Recipients of Sacraments with Monsignor Peter O”Keefe;

Centenary of World War I – 4 August 2014

Images below are from www.abc.net.au of 4 August 2014

Wreaths are laid by diplomatic representatives during the Australian Army cadets stand inside Hall of Memory at Last Post Ceremony at the the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney Australian War Memorial in Canberra

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and school children stop and Poppies placed next to names on the Roll of Honour at the look at the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra Australian War Memorial in Canberra

5 Priest, Chaplain and – 50 years of Christian Service ev Monsignor Anthony K Toms has, this year, retired as President, Victorian RCommandery, Hospitaller of Lazarus of Jerusalem, finishing his six-year term. The of the Order recently awarded him the Order's Ecclesiastical (EGCLJ), which is the highest that a chaplain may receive. He had previously been made a Knight in the Order. Monsignor Toms is a former Army chaplain, having commenced his service with 1st Armoured Regiment at Puckapunyal in 1978. Later service included as Senior Chaplain with Headquarters of Army’s Logistic Command. He was Principal Army Chaplain in the 1990s before returning to parish life in 1996. Since then he has been Parish Priest of Seymour, where he has served for longer than any of his predecessors going back to 1890! In Canberra, his friend, the late Major General Duncan Francis, persuaded him to join the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem as the ACT Chaplain, which led to his long association with this ecumenical Order. The Order dates back to the 4th Century AD with the founding of a leper hospital by Saint Basil outside the North wall of Jerusalem. One of the Order’s key roles is to serve the sick and those who are unable to help themselves. Since the establishment of the Order in Australia in 1979, the organisation has grown in membership and in the scope of its charitable works. In particular, it provides help to the homeless, those in need of palliative care, and support for medical research. Last financial year, the Order raised over $185,000 toward the support of almost 30 charitable and hospitaller works across Australia. This reflects the Christian spirit of the Order – founded on the ideals of living a full life of ‘simplicity, strength and charity’. In 1994, during his time as the Army’s Principal Chaplain, Monsignor Toms organised a military pilgrimage to Lourdes, the Western Front and Rome. The late Bishop Mayne, with a group of 21 Service personnel, participated successfully in this first-ever effort. In July of this year, Monsignor Toms visited Our Lady's Shrine at Walsingham in the UK (www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk) before taking part in the Grand Master's Pilgrimage. He was able then to spend time with his sister, Jennie, in Cambridge before returning to Seymour to celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of his Ordination on 25 July.

John Guy’s blog Looking at what is happening with the Islamic State committing genocide and what is going on in hot spots elsewhere; we can see a very dark side of human nature. I do not just mean what murdering is being done in the name of religion but what others are not doing and this sometimes also in the name of religion and or in the name of economic and political self interest. About millennia ago, stepping out of the Dark Ages and into the medieval era, there was a theme that showed that some forms of Christian values were permeating certain areas of Northern Europe. We call this ‘’. This has all changed in today’s world but it is useful to hearken to where these men and women stood with regards to what would be acceptable and civilized behaviour and what was not. It all started with King Arthur in the Fifth Century with the collapse of the Roman Empire and the genocide in the Saxon invasions of England which almost wiped out Roman and Celtic Christianity and literacy. A few Christians faced what minority groups in Iraq are facing today. They came up with the code of Chivalry which seems way ahead of where we are at today. They agreed that Christianity came down to the command to ‘love and forgive one another’. John Guy is a Vietnam veteran and former regular Army officer and SAS trooper who gave distinguished military service. On leaving the Army, he set up a bush retreat training facility for disadvantaged and troubled young people, which continues today at Mt Barney, near Rathdowney, Queensland. There John and his wife, Micheline, and others provide hospitality and conduct leadership courses. Along the way, John qualified as a psychologist and worked in Queensland prisons. John is a man of faith who follows in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi. He writes a thoughtful blog based on his life experiences and has agreed to them being a regular contribution to readers of Serving Faithfully. For more on John see: http://bushventure.com.au

From the Serving Faithfully Editorial Team In May 2007, on the feast of our Patron Lady, Mary, Help of Christians, Serving Faithfully, was launched as a Diocesan newsletter, designed to help the Bishop reach out to Catholic members of the Australian Defence Force and their families. At that time, we also invited some 600 ex-service men and women and other supporters to join its mailing list and we are grateful that many remain with us. It was never more important than now that we continue the outreach of Serving Faithfully. Seven years on, Dear Readers, we have two special pleas for you: 1. Please give us some feedback. Any comments or criticism would be most welcome; and 2. Please let us know if we don’t have your mailing address correct. Responses, please, to the Bishop’s secretary: Bruna Catanzariti, 30 White Crescent, Campbell, ACT 2612 Telephone: 02 6248 0511, Email: [email protected]

6 Monsignor John White MBE—The life and death of each other has its influence on others t Paul in his Letter to the Romans states, ‘The life and death of each other has its influence on Sothers; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord.’ (Romans 14: 7) Nothing could be truer when we reflect upon the life and death of Monsignor John White MBE. In life he had a significant influence upon such communities as the Military Diocese, the Diocese of Sandhurst, RAAF Chaplaincy and upon the many friends, both Defence and civilian, with whom he came into contact. That influence will continue in death for goodness is perennial. For John White knew himself as a man of faith with feet of clay. John knew of me before I came to appreciate him. Whilst stationed as an Air Force chaplain at Wagga, he was present at my ordination in Wagga in 1972. It was in 1982 that I came to know John when I joined the RAAF as a chaplain. Over the years a strong friendship was to flourish, whereby he became good friend, mentor and guide, and on whom I largely modelled my priestly ministry in the ADF. His influence on me was quite profound for he was a 'man's man'; he took people for where they were and how he found them; he was non-judgemental, wise in terms of human nature and the ways of God. He loved good company, a glass of red and certainly enjoyed Service life and its people. What I admired about John, and I believe many others also liked, was his transparent struggle in faith but his profound love of the Lord, exemplified in his life of commitment to his priestly ministry, which flowed through to people. John understood the mix of the human and the spiritual and its inherent struggle at times. John White was very happy in the priesthood and would have been content to serve for a lifetime his home Diocese of Sandhurst. He was asked to join the RAAF by his bishop and four months into his Defence chaplaincy he was deployed to Vietnam for twelve months. He once told me that this was a defining experience, which shaped both his character and his outlook on life. John was a 'man for all seasons', always the same, a fine human and a good priest who served for over 51 years as a priest, both in the Military and in his home Diocese of Sandhurst. May his soul rest in peace. Monsignor Peter O’Keefe Monsignor White was ordained for the Diocese of Sandhurst on 21 July 1962. He served at; RAAF Laverton, Vung Tau Vietnam, RAAF Wagga, RAAF Richmond, RAAF Darwin, Air Command Glenbrook and Air Force Office Canberra. He retired from active duty on 31 January 1995 as Principal Air Chaplain Roman Catholic and Staff Chaplain RAAF. His MBE was awarded for service in Vietnam 1958-69. His final appointment in the Diocese of Sandhurst was as Vicar General from 1996 until 2010.

World Youth Day Project, Krakow 2016 Experience has shown that young people (18-35 years) who pilgrimage to an international World Youth Day encounter a powerful presence that can often change their lives. This is the past experience of many ADF members as well. The Military Diocese hosted many international military pilgrims to Canberra and Sydney for WYD 2008 and a number of Australian Defence pilgrims travelled to Madrid in 2011 and Rio in 2013. The WYD Krakow 16 Project was officially launched at a gathering in Sydney under the auspices of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in mid-August. The Administrator represented the Military Diocese at this meeting together with WYD Diocesan Coordinators from across Australia. It is intended that our Military Diocese will take a contingent to Krakow in July 2016, the hometown of St. John Paul II, which will be an unique experience. The theme of WYD Krakow 2016 will be Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. (Matthew 5:7) For those interested in the ADF Pilgrimage, further information will be available on the Diocesan website, through future editions of Serving Faithfully, at our chapels and through our chaplains. In the meantime, anyone who is interested please Monsignor Peter O'Keefe at the Chancery on 02 6248 0511.

A gift in your Will Making a gift to the Catholic Military Ordinariate is a meaningful way to fund the education of future priests and deacons and to support our clergy in providing spiritual guidance to our service men and women and their families. It also enables you to make a significant gift that you may not find possible during your lifetime. You could: leave a specific cash amount or property; leave a percentage of your estate; or leave all or a portion of what remains of your estate after other bequests are distributed. To make a bequest, you should consult your solicitor or trustee company. It may be sufficient to make an addition or amendment to an existing will by adding a codicil.

7 The Strong Presence of a Quiet Man Eulogy for Neville McNamara KBE, AC, AFC (Ret’d)

s recorded in the May edition, Air Chief Marshal future wife Joan, who had served with the Navy during the ASir Neville McNamara died on 7 May at the age War. They found much in common, got on famously and of 91. His Requiem Mass in St Christopher’s Cathedral married in 1950, having a happy life together raising two Canberra was celebrated on 15 May 2014 by Monsignor Peter beautiful daughters. O’Keefe in the presence of His Excellency the Promoted to in 1952 after a Governor-General Sir , Defence stint with the Central Flying School, he was Minister David Johnston, the Chief of Defence posted to No. 77 Squadron in Korea flying Force General and a large Gloster Meteors. He returned to Australia in representative congregation. 1954 as a staff officer, and later commanding Geoff Brown AO, Chief of Air Force, delivered No 2 Operational Conversion Unit where, the eulogy, excerpts from which follow. during the introduction of the CAC Sabre in Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara, 1961, his outstanding performance earned him or Sir Nev as he was affectionately known, was the award of the Air Force Cross. an enigma, a modest man who did not seek Following postings and promotions in promotion and was popular and well liked Australia and overseas, he was appointed to across all ranks, said Air Marshal Brown. His Vietnam as Deputy of the career spanned World War II, Korea and Australian Force and Commander of the RAAF Vietnam and, from the rank of sergeant, he rose to the Forces Vietnam and promoted to the rank of Air Commodore. highest levels, commanding the Air Force and subsequently Having completed an Iroquois and Caribou conversion course, the Australian Defence Force. Throughout that career, he was he flew missions with No. 9 and No. 35 Squadrons, admired by all for his strength of character, his quiet accumulating two hundred operational flying hours in unassuming manner and the respect he showed to all people. Vietnam. He described the helicopter flying as one of the Neville Patrick McNamara was born in April 1923 at most enjoyable and rewarding periods of his service career Toogoolawah, a country town in Queensland. He attended making the point of ‘how rewarding it was to go in and lift out Toogoolawah State School and subsequently Christian a bunch of diggers who had been through the mill on Brothers School in Warwick and later St Joseph’s Nudgee operations and how they would be dirty and smelly, but the College in Brisbane. During his school years he excelled at happiest bunch of you ever saw’. Subsequently he sports yet his spiritual values were always uppermost in his spent nearly three years as the Air Attaché in Washington and mind. In his autobiography, The Quiet Man, he on return was involved in the implementation recalls ‘My Catholic upbringing had an abiding of the Tange Defence reorganisation when he influence in my life and gave me a strong sense served as Deputy Chief and then Chief of the of moral values. Its teachings also gave me Air Staff, and finally, Chief of the Defence Force tolerance, patience, understanding, the need Staff. Here he was promoted to Air Chief to control anger and the importance of giving Marshal, only the second RAAF officer to hold everybody a fair go. These values stood me in that rank and was appointed Knight good stead as I advanced through my career’ Commander of the Order of the British Empire he reflected. He enlisted in the Royal (KBE) in December 1980, the last Air Force Australian Air Force in October 1941, Chief to be knighted under the Imperial completed pilot training and received his honours. He retired in April 1984. Wings at Point Cook. After graduation, he His Christian values gave him great joined No. 13 Squadron of the United States strength to survive not only through multiple Army Air Corps, on B-25D Mitchell bombers at conflicts, but also through the demands of the Towers in Queensland and later in highest positions in the Australian Defence New Guinea. Returning home, he trained as a Force. As recently as February this year, he flying instructor, where he found ‘there was nothing like a wrote to Air Marshal Brown expressing his regrets in being pupil to teach you how to fly’. unable to attend the Air Power Conference that was held in In early 1945, he finally got his wish to be a fighter March and asked him to extend his congratulations to the pilot and was posted to No. 75 Squadron in the South-West men and women of the Air Force on their ‘response to duty Pacific. He had always wanted to remain in the Air Force, and particularly in their support to all the members of the saying his ambition was to remain a squadron pilot ‘forever’, ADF.’ and after the war his wish was granted when he was posted Air Marshal Brown concluded: ‘Sir Neville was a man to Japan to fly Mustangs as part of the Occupation Force. who was an inspiration to others, one of our finest who will After nearly three years in Japan, he returned home and in be greatly missed and who leaves an outstanding legacy.’ 1949 was awarded a permanent commission. During his Following the conclusion of the Mass, the cortege subsequent ground tour as an air traffic controller he met his left with full military panoply for Woden Cemetery.

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