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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 3, 2005 3:15:30 GMT 12
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0508/S00127.htmPersonally, I simply cannot see the reason to leave RNZAF Auckland. If they're finding it costly, then allow commercial airlines to operate alongside the RNZAF and their rental of hangarage and landing fees, plus customer parking and services, could all go back to the Defence Force's coffers. Instead Labour decides to close our only major strategic base left, and then threaten it's future as an airport against the locals wishes. It's a pity there's no-one in politics that uses logic over money-grubbing for the biggest buck.
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Post by Phil on Jan 23, 2006 18:57:56 GMT 12
I'm not too sure the Air Force wants it, we are all rather looking forward to our shiny new facilities as Ohakea.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 23, 2006 19:23:36 GMT 12
Yes, my recent impression from talking with mates still in the RNZAF, Whenuapai is half moved to OH already.
At least Ohakea will be safe. No property developers in their right mind would want to build a suburb in that God-forsaken wind-blown rainy hell-hole ;D
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Post by phil on Jan 23, 2006 19:26:15 GMT 12
LOL your not wrong there, although even Bulls prices are getting into the mid 200K for houses! It was only a few years ago that you could get a house for 70k-90k (like in 1998 - 2000). Not now.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 23, 2006 19:32:37 GMT 12
Crikey! Show's there's lots of insane people in the Manawatu, paying that much to live in hell.
It won't be good when all the RNZAF moves to OH, there won't be enough married quarters and civvie housing will be too expensive for airmen/WAAFs. I doubt the Govt will build more MQ's either.
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Post by phil on Jan 23, 2006 19:52:24 GMT 12
I'm not so sure about that, there are dozens of empty married quarters in Bulls, more empty then full it seems. Quite a few people from AK will probably live in Fielding or Palmy anyway.
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Post by Calum on Jan 23, 2006 21:45:55 GMT 12
The MQ in Bulls were never really that full, even when i was there a lot of singlies lived in the older 2 story places in Devon Cres (dive) I lived in 4 houses in that street over about 4 yrs :-). Just a short walk to Rathole ;D Ah the memories
If I was posted there now I'd probably live in Fielding
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Post by Bruce on Jan 23, 2006 22:45:39 GMT 12
what about "That" expensive house at ohakea......  |
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Post by corsair67 on Jan 24, 2006 8:25:39 GMT 12
Ah, "Chateau Sharpie"! ;D
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Post by phil on Jan 25, 2006 21:47:35 GMT 12
It's still the base commander's house.
Didn't they end up spending even more money removing a lot of the expensive fittings?
Nothing like throwing good money after bad.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 25, 2006 22:15:03 GMT 12
Loads of people were talking about that at Ohakea long before the press got wind of it. When i was based there I heard lots of gossip and scutlebuck about how frustrated the Base Commander was that his wife was redecorating bigtime. I was gobsmacked a couple of months later when i saw it in the newspaper in London, and he got all the blame!
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Post by phil on Jan 26, 2006 16:12:05 GMT 12
I had heard it was his wife that was mainly responsible. I also heard that she expected the baggies on the gate to salute her when she drove through, becuase she was the BCs wife and therefore should be considered to hold the same 'rank'.
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Post by corsair67 on Jan 26, 2006 16:49:10 GMT 12
She sounds like a nice woman!  Ultimately though, if she's was refurbishing the house in an out-of-control manner then Frank should of pulled her into line; and done so preferably before the media got hold of the story and helped ruin his career. Wonder what he's doing now: does anyone know? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 26, 2006 18:13:16 GMT 12
I remember the rumour about the saluting too. I never saw either of them in person, so I can't say whether either of the stories are true. But both were widespread base gossip when I was posted at OH.
Frank Sharp was given another government job shortly afterwards, as a bigwig in Civil Defence. There was a hoohaa about that too, with media saying Defence Minister Warren Cooper was giving the job to his buddy. The government then revoked that position too before he started! Poor bloke.
Sharp threatened to sue the Defence Force for wrongful dismissal but I don't know what happened there, nor do I knmow whether he was charged after the police investigation into his house budget.
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Post by Calum on Jan 28, 2006 17:02:49 GMT 12
She sounds like a nice woman! Ultimately though, if she's was refurbishing the house in an out-of-control manner then Frank should of pulled her into line; and done so preferably before the media got hold of the story and helped ruin his career. Wonder what he's doing now: does anyone know? Works at Massey Uni teaching Avaiton studies I believe. And yeah he was a f&*kwit |
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