August 2021

Halfway through our great year as I put this newsletter together and we are still looking forward to more big activities. What a great year it has been.. The Cadets and Staff are still doing their best to overcome the Covid-19 limitations. We have seen many of the Squadron parades limited to online activities and now with the midyear promotion courses underway, Cadets are responding in true cadet style, head down and working through the online promotion courses. It may not be ideal, but we are achieving. Flying has been returning in a limited level of activity and many of those National Competitions have been cancelled as we are limited with the interstate travel. 

Thanks to our usual contributors we have some articles to keep you up to date with what our Cadets are doing. Paul Rosenzweig has again updated us with our cadet flying activities.  We have some letters from our readers, one of which interested me as it had a photograph of my old Flight Commander from 16 Flight Victorian Squadron Air Training Corps in 1962. Yes, I am getting old and looking for a replacement bringing in new ideas to the alumni. A few of our readers may recognize a couple of the faces, including an incredibly young Albert Lindner. You may remember from our previous Newsletter, we farewelled two of our long-standing members of the AAFC Foundation, (Formerly the AAFC National Council) Gordon French and Ken Broomhead. If you haven’t read all the Queens Birthday Honours list, Ken Broomhead was awarded the OAM for his services to the Aviation Community.

You may remember we have had some discussion regarding a quiz, do we return to the quiz or not? Well, with very little interest shown with the May Newsletter, I have given the quiz one last try. Remember, there is no pressing need to read all our newsletter, just read what you would like to read, when you would like to read it. The cost is the same. Once again totally Free. 

Interested in repaying some of that great experience you received from Cadets? The AAFC is looking out for the Right Stuff. Are you interested in sharing your experience and help encourage today’s youth?

Remember, if you like what you read in your magazine, you are most welcome to share and invite your friends who are ex Cadet or Staff members to join.  If you don’t like what you are reading please tell us, AlumniDirector@aircadetsalumni.org.au  We love to receive your letters. We hope that our magazine can remind you of your time in our great organization. We are always on the lookout for articles and photographs that you may like to share. 

Please update your email address when you change providers Perhaps it may change when you go to NBN. We understand that you may be accessing the newsletter from the web site, but sometimes we just might like to contact you direct. In particular, those who have a Cadetnet or Defence email address may have trouble with our emails. There are still plenty of Defence email accounts in our database. You might like to check with your friends to see if they have been getting our emails. Our regular Newsletter is sent by email at 1000 on 1 November, 1 February, 1 May and 1 August. Registration is FREE and is open to all ex Cadets, ex Staff, current Staff, both uniform and civilian. We also invite our friends from likeminded organizations. 

There is some great reading again and all the material is just one click away from the Contents page. We have a few stories that may remind you of your past glories and stories from some of our alumni. 

If you think you have missed out on some of the earlier Alumni Newsletters, the good news is you haven’t! They are available on the Air Cadets Alumni website, www.aircadetsalumni.org.au and go to the Bulletin Board.

We have an Interactive Contents Page. To access any article that you would be interested in, hit Control and Left Click on the Mouse and you will go direct to your selected article. You don’t need to scroll through material that doesn’t interest you.

Honouring His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, 
Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM AK GCVO GBE AC(Mil) (1921-2021)

Towards the end of last year, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Australia sought nominations to celebrate Award Leaders, “who have gone above and beyond in helping their Award Participants achieve the Award during COVID-19”. 

Twenty Survival First Aid Kits were on offer. One of the recipients chosen was our regular contributor Flying Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig from Adelaide. Paul is the Public Affairs & Communication Officer for Aviation Operations Wing, and also Deputy Flight Commander of Balaklava Glider Training Flight of the Gliding Training School (GTS). 

He is also an Award Leader and Squadron Coordinator for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award–Australia said on their Facebook page: “One of the common themes through all the nominations was how much time and effort you all put into making sure your Award Participants have each and every opportunity to achieve the Award. Your Participants, their parents and your colleagues all recognise how amazing you are. Your dedication does not go unnoticed”.

Following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh on 9 April this year, the National Office of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Australia launched a program to mark what would have been Prince Philip’s 100th Birthday on 10 June – “Wear your Duke of Ed Badge Day”. 

For this occasion, Award recipients and current participants from No 608 (Town of Gawler) Squadron, Australian Air Force Cadets assembled to honour the Duke of Edinburgh. We wish them well in completing their Award.
 
Award recipients and current participants from No 608 (Town of Gawler) Squadron, AAFC assembled on Friday 4 June to honour His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM AK GCVO GBE AC(Mil) (1921-2021), to mark what would have been the Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th Birthday on 10 June 2021. 

Rear (left to right): CSGT Timothy Cox (Bronze and Silver Award recipient; Gold Award participant); FLGOFF(AAFC) Paul A Rosenzweig OAM JP, Award Leader; CWOFF Chevvy Dolan (Bronze and Silver Award recipient).

Front: CDT Sarah Cowburn (Bronze Award participant); CDT Anna Cowburn (Bronze Award participant); CCPL Lana Nguyen (Silver Award participant), Assistant Squadron Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinator, No 608 (Town of Gawler) Squadron.

Absent: CFSGT Lucy Tassell (Bronze and Silver Award recipient).
 
Flying Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig was recognised late last year by the National Office of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for his efforts in supporting Award participants during COVID-19 pandemic.

Until November, 

Fly Safe

John Griffiths, MBE    
Alumni Director