WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
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This page is intended as a repository for biographical information on Adastra staff for whom the available data is insufficient for a dedicated biography page.
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NAME
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REMARKS
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ADDED
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| Barth, Dave | I was employed by Adastra from 1967 to 1969 as a camera operator. After my employment with Adastra I worked for Bond Color in Sydney, travelled and worked in Europe, returned to Australia and worked for three other survey companies, Tasmania Lands Dept. and for the past twenty five years Qld.Dept. of Natural Resources and Mines producing aerial photos in the lab. |
10SEP05
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| Brennan, David | Sadly,
recent research has established that David Brennan was killed in the
crash of Piaggio 166 VH-GOC, on 22nd February 1977. David had departed
Bankstown for Warracknabeal, Vic at 0715 with a load of day-old chickens.
Thirty minutes later he reported that he was diverting to Camden because
of bad weather. The wreckage of the aircraft was later discovered
on a ridge in high country 20km NNE of Marulan, NSW. Subsequently,
a death notice appeared in "The Sydney Morning Herald" for
David Brendan Brennan A.F.C. (ex Flt Lt RAAF) married with four daughters
and residing at 40 Edward St, Baulkham Hills. (Researched by Chris O'Neill, Roger McDonald and Geoff Goodall). |
21NOV04
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| Clark, Darryl | Now runs a business called Geo Spectrum. (Contributed by John Wilson) |
22JUN04
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| Craigie, Alan | I was engaged in free lance charter ops until 1977 when I was invited by the then DCA to step in as CFI at the Peninsula Aero Club in Tyabb Victoria. After 12 months I returned to Moorabbin and was engaged in Instrument Rating training, until in 1984, I was invited to join the DCA in PNG as an Examiner of Airmen. Arriving in PNG in March 1985, and after serving an apprenticeship of how to stay alive in the most hostile aviation climate on earth, went to Senior Examiner, and finally Superintendent of Flying Operations. My wife Ruth and I returned to Australia in 2001, and after 12 months training Qantas cadets in the intricacies of multi crew and heavy jet operations, decided to retire to of all places, Melbourne. |
28FEB16
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| Ide, Warren and Madeline | I started my working career as a cadet survey draftsman at the NSW Lands Department in 1951. Shortly afterwards I was invited to train as a Photogrammetrist in the newly formed section of the Lands Dept. I spent 5 years learning the ins and outs of producing topographic maps using aerial photography on a Wild A6 stereoplotter. In 1956 I decided to move on and obtained employment in the mapping section of Adastra Aerial Surveys. I spent almost 20 years with Adastra rising to the Mapping Manager. In 1976 when Adastra shut their doors John McCarthy and myself were among the last few to leave. Because there was a mapping contract still unfinished, John and I leased the mapping equipment from East-West to complete the work then split the proceeds between us. Shortly afterwards I joined BHP's Land Technology Dept in Wollongong and was there until I retired in 1996 and moved to Queensland's Sunshine Coast. I'll be 90 years old this year and my wife Madeline (also an Adastrian) and I live in a Retirement Resort and loving it. |
21MAR24
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| Kerr, Peter | Joined TAA and finished with Australian Airlines as a Boeing 737-300 Check Captain in 1987. Served with Singapore Airlines until October 2002, retiring as a Boeing 747-400 Captain . Now retired and living in Melbourne. (Contributed by his son Stuart) |
12JUN04
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| MacNeill, Ian | I
was a Pilot with Adastra Aerial Surveys recruited from Melbourne to
base in Sydney at Hangar 13 by Operations Manager Mike Wood and was
line checked in the C185A VH-AGE by Chief Pilot Lionel Van Praag on
3rd November 1973. I remained with Adastra until their flight operations
cessation. My last flight with Adastra was out of Moorabbin Airport
in C320E VH-DRK on 26th August 1976. Aircraft that I flew with Adastra were C185A/VH-AGE, CTU206A/VH-DGD, AC500A/VH-AGA, B35TC/VH-CFV, C205A/VH-KMF, BA23A/VH-CTR, C320E/VH-DRK and AC680F/VH-KRA. In all a quick scan of my log book reveals that 60% of my flying with Adastra was in the tail dragger C185A/VH-AGE. Post Adastra I worked as a Pilot for various commuter carriers and following a loss of licence on medical grounds in September of 1977 worked with TAA/Australian Airlines as a DC-9 and B737 Simulator Instructor. In 1993 I switched jobs to become a B747-400 and Airbus A330/A340 Simulator Instructor with Cathay Pacific Airways based in Hong Kong. At 65 years of age I took my retirement from Cathay Pacific and now reside on the Queensland Gold Coast with occasional trips and short stays back in Hong Kong. (Contact Ian via the Webmaster) |
03MAY10
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| Richards, Dave | Dave was a geophysicist with Hunting Geology and Geophysics in the UK. He was seconded to Adastra in 1972. He moved to Australia in 1980, and is now an Australian citizen, living with his wife Pat in Perth, WA. |
06OCT04
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| Wilson, John | Now runs his own business, Aerographic Survey Lab at Woolgoolga, near Coffs Harbour. (Contributed by John Wilson) |
22JUN04
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