Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've had the privilege of helping Air Force pilot Jock Cassels celebrate his 100th birthday, which falls on 11 August, at RAAF Base Richmond. Ninety seconds isn't enough to capture Cunningham Norman McIntyre Cassels's 37 years of combined RAAF and World War II RAF service. Jock joined up in Glasgow at the age of 18, in 1941. He flew Spitfires out of Italy, but he crashed in May 1944 and was taken prisoner until the end of the war. Given his service there and his post-war work, it's pretty amazing that, at the age of 43, having just retired, he joined the RAAF and moved to Australia, serving in Vietnam in No. 35 Squadron, carrying personnel and supplies. He served in many capacities back in Australia, and his contribution deserves this parliament's recognition.

Richmond became his home, along with his wife, Maureen, and his children, Carol, Anne and Charles. We're very lucky that, in his early 90s, Jock wrote down his story. Two Air Forces, it's called. It's available online, and I highly recommend it as a superb insight into an incredible man's life. To be able to mark his 100th at Richmond base, with a big contingent of serving air men and women and the local state MP, Robyn Preston, was a real honour. Happy birthday, Jock.