John McVeigh (Groom, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Friday night my wife, Anita, and I were honoured to be guests at the Rotary Wing Aircraft Maintenance School, or RAMS, official dining-in night at the Swartz Barracks, Oakey, Army Aviation Centre. Held at the Australian Army Flying Museum, this was a tremendous opportunity to catch up with trainees, staff, their families and to welcome many first-time and some returning visitors to the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region.

RAMS trains all Army helicopter aircraft mechanic and avionic trades, as well as Navy personnel on the multirole helicopter. They also train the unmanned aerial vehicle trade. Their mission is to graduate operationally focused, technically competent and certified personnel, ready to serve with a focus on developing the whole soldier or sailor in technical trades, demanding military training and professional education. It was a pleasure to speak of our proud military history in the Darling Downs, including Swartz Barracks and Cabarlah's Borneo Barracks. On behalf of all of us here in this parliament, I expressed our appreciation of the ADF Parliamentary Program that we get to engage in.

My sincere thanks go to Lieutenant Colonel Miles Irving, the commanding officer, and his wife for their hospitality. My very best wishes to them, to all involved and to all trainees in particular.