ANZAC Day 2024 Oratory - Gareth McCray OAM ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces became known as ANZACs. Anzac Day is a commemoration of the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April in 1915. Gareth provides a moving reminder of the sacrifices made by all Veterans over the years including WW1 and up to the present day.

Air Chief Marshal (retired) Mark Binskin AC is a highly decorated and respected senior executive and leader in the national security, defence and aerospace sectors. Most recently he was Chief of the Defence Force of Australia from 2014-2018, and earlier as Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011-2014) and Chief of Air Force (2008-2011). He currently has appointments to Senior Positions with many Defence related Organisations As Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin...

Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz AM, CSC, DSM, Air Commander Australia, is responsible to the Chief of Air Force for effectively preparing air combat forces. Glen joined the Australian Air Force in 1987 and went on to complete pilot training in 1991. Following lead-in-fighter training, he transferred to Amberley for F-111C conversion and joined No 1 Squadron. In 1997, Glen instructed on the PC-9 advanced trainer and Macchi lead-in-fighter and then in 2001 returned to 1 Squadron where he undertook...

23 January 1979!  I would be involved in a momentous day with a complete stranger, a compatriot aviator.  As with all momentous events, there was no inkling as to how the day would unfold.

Air Marshal Ray Funnell, AC is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1987 until 1992. A graduate of RAAF College, he began his career flying Sabre jet fighters in Australia and South East Asia in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1972 to 1975, he commanded No. 6 Squadron, during which time the General Dynamics F-111C swing-wing bomber entered Australian service. He held senior staff posts in the early 1980s. In 1986, he was promoted to...

Introducing Henry Young, a former Naval Seafire and Sea Fury pilot.  Henry served with both the Fleet Air Arms of the British and Australian navies during the last days of and after World War 2. Born in Glenelg near Adelaide, his family relocated to New Zealand where he enlisted for service as a 19-year-old in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy as war broke out. After the war, Henry transferred to the Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm, and around that time met his late wife of 72 years,...

Vern Roberts reaches 100 in October! He is possibly the oldest living person who witnessed the signing of the Surrender in Morotai with General Sir Thomas Blamey and the Japanese Generals on September 9th 1945 . He was born 25th October 1924 in Footscray in Melbourne.  At 18 he joined the RAAF in November 1942 and reported to Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne for uniforms. Vern, V.F. Roberts RAAF 120410 LAC Fitter, was stationed at East Sale air base only a matter of weeks after it first...

Introducing AIR COMMODORE (ret) JOHN ODDIE AM, CSC During over 38 years’ service with the Army Reserve and the Royal Australian Air Force, John accrued substantial experience flying helicopters, heavy transport and training jets.   He was a qualified flying instructor and commanded a range of units and operations in war, border protection, peace keeping, humanitarian disaster relief and for the protection of Australians in dire circumstances. John has served on the Defence Airworthiness Board...

Air Force Association welcomes Mr Greg Hood AO  to our Podcast Program. Greg has more than 41 years’ experience in aviation, beginning his career with almost a decade of service with the Royal Australian Air Force.  Post his Air Force time, he had a wide range of operational, training and leadership roles across the civil aviation industry. From 2016, Greg served for 5 years as Chief Commissioner and CEO of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Australia’s national transport safety...

Introducing Wing Commander Philip Eldridge.  In Phil’s words, his initial claim to fame is that he successfully navigated an interesting and (at times) exciting childhood in Sydney’s western suburbs.  A visit to the RAAF Richmond Air show in the 80’s sealed his fate. At the time he was a student of the excellent Hurlstone Agricultural High School, but had less than optimal academic focus resulting in barely scraping a pass in his HSC. Phil joined the RAAF in November 1987 as a Direct Entry...

Warrant Officer (retired) John McDougall.  John had an Air Force engineering and flying career spanning 25 years.  John completed three tours on Caribous in Vietnam between August 64 and April 68.  Also, John was deployed frequently to the difficult flying environment of Papua New Guinea.  He had many other notable deployments over his career including Kashmir, Sumatra, Sacramento and Idaho. He joined the RAAF in 1960 as Apprentice Engine Fitter.  Within a very short time after graduation...

An Oratory from Gareth McCray OAM for ANZAC Day 2023

Brian Richards, ex Australian Air Force Engine Fitter and Vietnam Veteran Caribou Loadmaster/Flight Engineer. Brian graduated from the RAAF School of Technical Training in 1959.  He signed up for 15 years when only 16 years old. By August 1963, Brian had completed 4 years in aircraft maintenance jobs and then signed on as a Loadmaster on DHC4 Caribous.  Brian departed for Toronto, Canada in March 1964 for Conversion course and to participate in ferrying the second three Caribous to Australia....

Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld AO DSC   Recent Chief of Air Force Reflects Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, AO  DSC  joined the Royal  Australian Air  Force as an Academy  Cadet in January 1980, winning the Flying Prize for his year. Mel’s early career was spent in a variety of flying positions on Mirage and F/A-18 aircraft, before qualifying as a Fighter Combat Instructor in 1989, followed by a period of executive appointments in Fighter Squadrons. In 1997, Mel attended the Royal Air Force Staff Course,...

Acknowledgement: This account by Mr Neil Lindsay was recorded by AVM  Peter Scully (retired) on 5th December 1996.   In Part 3 of this series, Neil talks about:   His time as a Prisoner of War in Germany His association with the Great Escape His forced march through Germany in bitter weather before his liberation and return home.

Acknowledgement: This account by Mr Neil Lindsay was recorded by Air Vice Marshal  Peter Scully (retired) on 5th December 1996.   In Part 2 of this series, Neil talks about: Australian aircrew on RAF stations.   83 Squadron on Lancaster Bombers 106 Squadron and operations over Europe in Lancaster Bombers.   An account of Flying with Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar  who was best known in connection with the famous Dambusters

This is a 3 part Podcast on the WW2 flying history and prisoner of war history of Flight Lieutenant Robert Neil LINDSAY.  Neil flew with Bomber Command and after being shot down was a Prisoner of War in Germany.  The story in the recordings by Neil Lindsay in this Podcast were told to Air Vice Marshal Peter Scully (retired) on 5th December 1996. Neil Lindsay was born in 1917 in Melbourne.   Joining the RAAF was an enormous change for Neil as, prior to enlisting in December 1940, he had...

Introducing Ray and Pauline James   Ray and Pauline James are a husband and wife team who collaborate marvellously to provide RSL services to Veterans.  Ray is active as an RSL Member in many appointments including President of RSL NSW.  Pauline had contributed uniquely as State Manager for RSL NSW Auxiliaries. They together produce an astounding contribution to veterans that is uniquely impactful.  The outline follows of each of their contributions to our Australian way of...

Introducing Air Commodore Tim Alsop Air Commodore Tim Alsop currently serves as Commander Air Combat Group, based at RAAF Williamtown, near Newcastle, NSW. Air Combat Group is responsible for the development and preparation of Australia’s Air Combat force for operations. It encompasses some 2000 personnel, six aircraft types and a special operations Combat Control capability. Tim joined the RAAF in 1993, after completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. He trained as a...

Welcome to Wing Commander Tim Ireland, Commanding Officer No 77 Squadron Tim was born in Bega, NSW, in 1980.  He grew up in the country towns of Cowra and Port Macquarie before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1998, graduating with distinction from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2000. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Physics) from the University of New South Wales, graduated from 190 Pilot’s Course in 2002, F/A-18A Hornet Operational Conversion in 2005,...

Introducing Brian Lawrence. ex Air Force Warrant Officer  Brian joined the Air Force in January 1961 and qualified as an Engine Mechanic and then as an Engine Fitter.  He was posted to No 2 Aircraft Depot. In July 1964, Brian was posted to 38 Squadron and then onward to Vietnam.  Besides 1ots of paperwork and passports, he was issued with a World War 2 tin hat, pocket knife and lanyard On arrival at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Brian was amazed at the number of aircraft on the ground.  In his words...

Introducing John Lindner, A Life of Adventure and Excitement as an Air Force and Commercial Transport Pilot.   John joined the RAAF as a trainee pilot in 1961.   Following graduation, he was posted to 38 Squadron on DC-3 Dakotas.   In 1964, John participated in the first ferry of the new Caribou aircraft from Canada to Australia.    He then joined the second Caribou Ferry later in 1964 but this aircraft was delivered to Vung Tau via Greenland, Iceland, and Europe.    John then joined the RAAF...

Introducing Air Commodore (retired) Kevin Henderson, Master Defence Studies. Learning to fly on Tiger Moths and Chipmunks at Newcastle Aero Club while he was still at school, Kev had his pilot’s licence 12 months before he was legally able to drive a car.  Kev completed the RAAF pilots course in 1962 after which he gained experience on the Dakota transport aircraft.  Kev was a 22 year old flying officer when he flew into Vung Tau, South Vietnam in a Caribou short field transport aircraft as...

Introducing WARRANT OFFICER RAYLEE SCOTT, AM. Warrant Officer Raylee Scott joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a Switch Board Operator in 1986 and then re-mustered to an Electronic Data Processor Operator.  Raylee later became a Communication Information Systems Controller. In 1996, Raylee was posted to the RAAF Network Operations Agency where she was a founding member of the implementation team installing what became the Defence Restricted Network and the Defence Switched Network around...