ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force
ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force
ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force
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our People<br />
The Anniversary <strong>Air</strong> Show at Ohakea was put together by a hard-working committee on the<br />
base, led by WGCDR Phil Bedford. Most of the committee are seen in the attached photo. As<br />
well, personnel in <strong>Air</strong> Staff, HQ Joint <strong>Force</strong>s NZ, and at Base Auckland also played key roles;<br />
an air show on this scale is a ‘whole of <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>’ event. Two of the <strong>Air</strong> Show Committee were<br />
interviewed by Vivienne Sanders, <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> Senior Communications Adviser.<br />
THe <strong>AIR</strong> <strong>SHow</strong>—<br />
beHINdTHe SceNeS<br />
FGoFF kirsty calman applies<br />
camouflage face paint to Jacob<br />
McMillan of Feilding<br />
Fltlt lara Blackmore air show logistician<br />
on the day of the <strong>Air</strong> Show FlTlT lara blackmore wore her PR<br />
hat in the Information centre.<br />
“we had a team of <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> personnel there, ready<br />
to assist the public. I took on the role to engage with the<br />
Manawatu community about the <strong>Air</strong> Show, so that we could<br />
put on the best show possible. I have learned new skills in<br />
communications and media engagement and have really<br />
enjoyed it.<br />
“Throughout my <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> career my primary employment<br />
has been in health care management, policy development<br />
and aviation medicine. what I enjoy most is the ability to get<br />
involved in all sorts of things. Juggling roles is something I’m<br />
becoming quite good at.”<br />
originally from lower Hutt, lara joined the <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> in<br />
2003 as a civilian physiologist working in the Aviation Medicine<br />
Unit. “during my first few months in the <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> I developed<br />
a greater understanding of what the <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> did and an<br />
appreciation of our role in national security. I admired the<br />
work my military colleagues were involved in—at home and<br />
overseas. I wanted the chance to pursue all the opportunities<br />
that the <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> offers, so I went through the recruitment<br />
process and was accepted in 2004.<br />
“It’s quite difficult to keep up outside interests, there is<br />
just so much going on in the <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>. last year I started<br />
running—I completed two half marathons in 2011 and am<br />
about to sign up for them again! I’m also studying for a Masters<br />
of Strategic Studies at Victoria University. looking past the<br />
<strong>Air</strong> Show I am assisting with the development of a Professional<br />
development centre on base ohakea. The <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> provides<br />
a huge number of opportunities for its people to develop<br />
as leaders; with the development of this centre we hope to<br />
continue strengthening leadership and professionalism.”<br />
28 <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> news<br />
Among the team arranging the logistics for the visiting<br />
international aircraft was former whanganui collegiate<br />
student Flying officer kirsty calman. logistical support<br />
includes all movement of personnel and equipment,<br />
accommodation, food, resupply and anything else which needs<br />
to be organized, kirsty explained.<br />
“being a Supply officer in the RNZAF means I have been<br />
involved in a variety of areas, from <strong>Air</strong> Movements to Supply<br />
chain. The RAAF brought four types of aircraft with different<br />
crew and maintenance requirements, all of which needed<br />
to be met. but I also assisted with the arrangement of other<br />
amenities for the <strong>Air</strong> Show—and helped out at the logistics<br />
display stand on the day.<br />
“The <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> attracted me because of the variety, the<br />
opportunity to travel and work, taking part in sports, and,<br />
having my degree paid for!” said kirsty. “I’ve always been an<br />
active person and spent many years rowing at both whanganui<br />
collegiate and Union boat club. I guess this led onto my<br />
current interest in Ironman!”<br />
The 26-year-old trained for her first Ironman competition<br />
at Taupo this year. “I also decided to fundraise money for<br />
‘breath4cF’, the official charity of Ironman which supports<br />
those people who suffer from cystic Fibrosis. For that event<br />
my buddy was a young boy with the disease, lockie Jones, a<br />
12-year-old from whanganui Intermediate School.”<br />
In the event the full Ironman competition in Taupo was<br />
cancelled due to the fierce storm across the North Island that<br />
day; however kirsty competed in the Half Marathon that was<br />
run the following day. “lockie, my cF buddy, came to support<br />
me which made the day all the more special.”