105th Anniversary Celebration of the Royal Australian Air Force

Member for Ipswich, Ms Jennifer Howard MP and Member for Scenic Rim, Mr Jon Krause MP; Ipswich City Council Mayor, Councillor Teresa Harding and Councillors; Senior commanders of the Australian Defence Force, including Commander Combat Support Group, Air Commodore Andrew McHugh CSM, representing the Commander 11th Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel William Morrison; Brigadier Mark Smith, representing the Commander 7th Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Emlyn Mordike, and representing the Commanding Officer HMAS Moreton, Lieutenant Commander Andrew Gabbott; Amberley Senior Australian Defence Force Officer and Commanding Officer of Number 23 Squadron, Wing Commander Ashleigh Gomba and all other Australian Defence Force personnel; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I, too, begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands on which we are gathered, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here today. 

I am honoured to be joining you this morning to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force, and to acknowledge the immense contributions its servicemen and women have made to the safety and security of our island nation.   

As Governor and Honorary Air Commodore of Number 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron, I am proud to reflect on a history marked by profound transformations in the RAAF’s capabilities, from its fledgling days when the Avro 504 biplane was considered a highperformance aircraft!  

For aviators of that era, it would have been difficult to imagine a future in which airtoair refuelling was routine, navigation was satellitebased, and aircraft routinely broke the sound barrier or even flew unmanned. Now, high-tech electronic attack Growlers take to the skies, along with Super Hornets and Lighting IIs—part of a fleet that offers crucial versatility, enabling the RAAF to be both primed for combat and ready to assist in times of humanitarian need.  

What has not changed since the RAAF was formed—on this very day in 1921—is the courage, expertise and professionalism of its people, and the esteem in which we, as Queenslanders, hold them.  

Today, we celebrate 105 years of service our country, and a steadfast preparedness to protect our nation’s interests and to help in times of need.  

We remember those in the RAAF who have lost their lives in active service, and the veterans who, through their service, have experienced physical and mental health challenges.  

We reflect on the bravery of all who have been involved in major international campaigns in the quest for peace and stability…and the compassion of those who have fought fires, conducted search and rescue missions, performed evacuations, or delivered vital disaster relief. 

And we are reminded that a life in the Air Force requires intense discipline and focus, and that such duty often involves relocation, or separation brought by deployment, both of which have a significant impact on the lives of countless families.  

I know that here at Amberley–the ADF’s largest operational air base—there is a deep connection to the community. Just as the RAAF has helped shape the prosperity of this region by supporting local business and industry, and through involvement in civic life, so too has the City of Ipswich embraced and supported its service families. 

I am deeply grateful for this valuable bond you share, and I extend this same gratitude to the people of North Queensland, who have shared a long and productive association with RAAF Base Townsville.   

Today we celebrate a milestone that is built on the efforts of many—across myriad roles and responsibilities, from aviation to the law, electronics, food preparation, mechanics and medicine, to name a few.  

On behalf of Queenslanders, I thank each and every one of you for your unwavering determination to uphold the values of our nation, and to safeguard our freedoms. As we look ahead to fast-moving and uncertain future, the ADF’s people will as always be its greatest asset.  

I congratulate the Royal Australian Air Force, and its incredible personnel—past and present—for 105 years of outstanding service, and wish you all a very Happy Birthday!