Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 2, 2010 23:50:53 GMT 12
www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/northland/local-news/dargaville-districts/4078097/An-air-force-adventure
An air force adventure
VIV TROUNSON - Dargaville News Last updated 05:00 01/09/2010.
HIGH flyer Rosanne Crawford has her sights set on a career in the air force.
And she's already part way there after completing an international air cadet exchange scheme in the United Kingdom.
Roseanne is one of the two New Zealanders who've just returned home after taking part in the 19-day scheme.
The 20-year-old has spent five years in Dargaville's 57 ATC squadron, rising to the rank of under-officer and receiving a number of awards including a memorial leadership trophy in 2009.
"I've loved planes since I was given a flight on my fifth birthday and have dreamed about joining the air force," she says.
Her ambitions got a boost during a 10-day flying course in 2008 and she has chalked up 15 and a half hours air time.
Roseanne was chosen for the United Kingdom exchange on her commander's recommendation.
She had to raise about $2000 with help from service clubs and her Methodist church.
The trip has left her with some wonderful memories and two overriding impressions.
"How tiny our air force is by comparison and the great sense of history over there. It gets to you and you want to see more and more."
Rosanne got a close look at the three air force bases she lived on including Fort Blockhouse at Portsmouth – "a former naval base where it was a funny feeling to be surrounded by ships instead of planes".
Special features included an air show with the aerobatic Red Arrows, visiting aviation museums and a communications centre handling Royal Air Force communications worldwide.
There were also flights in powered and nonpowered Viking gliders in which Roseanne took over the controls.
"It feels a bit strange with no engine but it's wonderful up there with just the sound of the wind."
Tourist activity included the must-see changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. The cadets were given special treatment and taken through the gates and up to the palace's front door.
"The guardsmen talked to us and I'm sure I saw Charles through a window," Roseanne says.
"It certainly looked like him."
Other memorable places included Churchill's wartime bunker under the Uxbridge air base, Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, an extensive cruise on the River Thames and the giant London Eye wheel.
"It was my first time out of New Zealand but there was so much to do I didn't have time to get homesick," Roseanne says.
"And yes, I'd love to go back."
Roseanne also represented Northern Wairoa at a Rotary Youth Leadership Awareness scheme. The programme offers promising 18 to 24-year-olds a week of personal challenges, physical activites, team building and lectures from keynote speakers.
This year's event was at Whenuapai airbase and introduced Roseanne to the physical side of air force life, including running 5km in 42 minutes carrying 20kg of extra weight or crawling over mud flats.
A career in the air force beckons and Roseanne is applying for an aeronautical metal or avionics mechanic position with hopes of being accepted in the June 2011 intake.
"Engineering is possibly still looked at as a man's job but I feel I am just as capable of doing a good job.
"If I wasn't I wouldn't be doing it." She is now keen to join a gym and get trim for the 14-week air force training.
57 Squadron unit commander Flight Lieutenant Barbara Gillatt says Roseanne is a great achiever.
"We gave her the framework and she grabbed every opportunity offered.
"It's been great to see her grow."
An air force adventure
VIV TROUNSON - Dargaville News Last updated 05:00 01/09/2010.
HIGH flyer Rosanne Crawford has her sights set on a career in the air force.
And she's already part way there after completing an international air cadet exchange scheme in the United Kingdom.
Roseanne is one of the two New Zealanders who've just returned home after taking part in the 19-day scheme.
The 20-year-old has spent five years in Dargaville's 57 ATC squadron, rising to the rank of under-officer and receiving a number of awards including a memorial leadership trophy in 2009.
"I've loved planes since I was given a flight on my fifth birthday and have dreamed about joining the air force," she says.
Her ambitions got a boost during a 10-day flying course in 2008 and she has chalked up 15 and a half hours air time.
Roseanne was chosen for the United Kingdom exchange on her commander's recommendation.
She had to raise about $2000 with help from service clubs and her Methodist church.
The trip has left her with some wonderful memories and two overriding impressions.
"How tiny our air force is by comparison and the great sense of history over there. It gets to you and you want to see more and more."
Rosanne got a close look at the three air force bases she lived on including Fort Blockhouse at Portsmouth – "a former naval base where it was a funny feeling to be surrounded by ships instead of planes".
Special features included an air show with the aerobatic Red Arrows, visiting aviation museums and a communications centre handling Royal Air Force communications worldwide.
There were also flights in powered and nonpowered Viking gliders in which Roseanne took over the controls.
"It feels a bit strange with no engine but it's wonderful up there with just the sound of the wind."
Tourist activity included the must-see changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. The cadets were given special treatment and taken through the gates and up to the palace's front door.
"The guardsmen talked to us and I'm sure I saw Charles through a window," Roseanne says.
"It certainly looked like him."
Other memorable places included Churchill's wartime bunker under the Uxbridge air base, Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, an extensive cruise on the River Thames and the giant London Eye wheel.
"It was my first time out of New Zealand but there was so much to do I didn't have time to get homesick," Roseanne says.
"And yes, I'd love to go back."
Roseanne also represented Northern Wairoa at a Rotary Youth Leadership Awareness scheme. The programme offers promising 18 to 24-year-olds a week of personal challenges, physical activites, team building and lectures from keynote speakers.
This year's event was at Whenuapai airbase and introduced Roseanne to the physical side of air force life, including running 5km in 42 minutes carrying 20kg of extra weight or crawling over mud flats.
A career in the air force beckons and Roseanne is applying for an aeronautical metal or avionics mechanic position with hopes of being accepted in the June 2011 intake.
"Engineering is possibly still looked at as a man's job but I feel I am just as capable of doing a good job.
"If I wasn't I wouldn't be doing it." She is now keen to join a gym and get trim for the 14-week air force training.
57 Squadron unit commander Flight Lieutenant Barbara Gillatt says Roseanne is a great achiever.
"We gave her the framework and she grabbed every opportunity offered.
"It's been great to see her grow."
