TOO
COOL FOR SCHOOL IN PARKES
14
September was an unforgettable day for delighted Year 1 and 2 children
from Parkes East Public School.
THAT'S
WHO I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP!
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A HART-FELT SEND-OFF
Dear Mr. Breust,
On Tuesday, 4th April Rex arranged a Special flight, ZL 866 from
Sydney to Broken Hill to carry special guests and family members
to the State Funeral of the City's best known Son, Pro Hart.
The
aircraft departed at 8.30am and included
among the passengers were State and Federal
members of Parliament, representing the
NSW Premier and Kim Beasley, together with
other dignitaries and Family members. The
scheduled flight time was 2 hours 5 minutes,
putting us on the ground at 10.05am Central
time. This allowed some 55 minutes
to get from the airport to the Entertainment
Centre, the only venue large enough to
carry the estimated large crowd wishing
to celebrate Pro's life.
As we climbed to cruising altitude the Captain came onto the PA
with the disconcerting news that there were major headwinds of close
to a hundred knots, and these would significantly affect our arrival
time. Instead of the estimated landing time of 10.05am, the amended
time would be 11.30am, half an hour after the commencement of the
State Funeral at 11.00am central time. There were hurried discussions
in the cabin as those who had a role in the Service considered options,
and a request was made to the Captain to radio ahead to alert the
Mayor's Office of the situation. Unfortunately the range to Broken
Hill was too great but the Captain radioed a message to Rex in Sydney,
who then contacted the Mayor's Secretary. Arrangements were made
to ensure vehicles were waiting at the airport, but we settled down
to the likely possibility that those on board would miss at least
half the service, as radio and TV commitments meant it was virtually
impossible to delay the service.
The Saab Crew, Captain Greg Yeates, First Officer Emily Walker and
Flight Attendant Libbie Roy Williams realised the gravity of the
situation and responded heroically. Unbeknown to those in the cabin
they virtually pulled all stops out, or more probably pushed throttles
forward to make up time and they succeeded in touching down at 10.50am,
forty minutes before the 11.30am amended time.
Flight Attendant Libby had organised those passengers not attending
the funeral to remain seated as we rapidly left the aircraft and
literally sprinted for the taxis. We pulled up at the barriers outside
the Entertainment Centre at two minutes to eleven am. and were asked
by the Seating Officer from the Protocol Section of the Premier's
Department to follow the Hart Family as they began moving into the
auditorium. Quite literally we arrived and entered the service with
no more than a minute to spare. Those on board the aircraft, the
Hart Family, and those involved in the organisation of the Service
are all deeply indebted to a wonderful crew, and a caring Airline
that worked so efficiently and with unfailing good humour to turn
a potentially disastrous situation into a triumph of problem management
For my own part, I am especially appreciative of what your Organisation
did for me personally. As members of Broken Hill's Brushmen of the
Bush, Pro and I had many years of friendship and collaboration,including
taking exhibitions overseas. When the logistics of flying from my
home in Mackay to attend the funeral appeared almost impossible,
Mayor of Broken Hill Ron Page contacted Rex, explaining the situation
that I was one of the two remaining Brushmen, out of the five original
members. I was contacted soon after by a Rex Executive advising of
the special flight and inviting me to join it as guest of the Company.
I cannot begin to tell you how much that generous action affected
me, as it now became possible to say farewell to my friend of forty
four years as the City he loved so much prepared to send him off
in great style. A State Funeral it may have been, but it also became
a moving, joyous, and at times very humorous celebration of Pro's
life.
Pro
died of Motor Neurone Disease, and on the return flight that afternoon
the thought occurred to me that his passing could be the
catalyst for the establishment of the Pro
Hart Foundation for research into Motor Neurone Disease. I have
since discussed the possibility
with Pro's eldest son John, who reacted very
favourably and is to discuss it with other Family members and professional
advisers to
the Family. Who knows what may come from these
quiet reflections on the return flight.
I
know I speak for all on board flight ZL
866 when I say you have an outstanding
and caring group of employees in the ever
cheerful and efficient Captain Greg Yeates,
lovely First Officer Emily Walker and ever helpful
Flight Attendant Libby Roy- Williams for
their very satisfactory resolution of o major problem.-Please
consider appending this letter to their
personal files so that their efforts may
be remembered in the future. Heartfelt thanks
also to those involved on the ground and
to the staff members who made my own participation
possible, whose names I unfortunately failed
to record. Also feel free to use these
comments in any way you consider appropriate,
such as in "Out There", your inflight magazine. I personally
thanked Rex Regional Express in several radio
and newspaper interviews I did immediately
after the Funeral.
Well Done All,
May you continue to have a caring, well run and prosperous Airline.
Sincerely
John W. Pickup
Brushmen of the Bush
YOUNG
ELLIOT FROM CROYDON DROPS US A FRIENDLY
NOTE!