John joined the Army Aviation Corps in 1968, however as there was a delay in starting flying training he spent 9 months as Chief Engineer on the Army Ship John Monash. After completing flying training he was posted to 1 Aviation Regiment flying Pilatus Porter and Queenair aircraft throughout Australia, Indonesia and South Vietnam.
John completed a Flying Instructor’s course with the RAF in England and returned to instruct at the School of Army Aviation Oakey and No1 Flying Training School RAAF Point Cook. He was also involved with the introduction of Nomad aircraft into Army Aviation. He took 5 months ‘leave with out pay’ to fly a ski equiped Pilatus Porter in the Antarctic in support of the Antarctic Division’s summer scientific research programme around the Mawson Base and was seconded to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force for 3 years to be an instructor on their Nomad aircraft
After leaving the Army John joined QANTAS to fly the Boeing 747-400 internationally for the next 18 years as a First Officer. He was also involved with a group of locals in Pyrmont to establish a Community Bank Branch of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.
John is now retired but happily involved with the Kirribilli Ex-Service Club Sub-branch. The Friendliest sub-branch in Sydney.
