On this day in 1989 I was experiencing my first day in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, at the General Service Training School at RNZAF Base Woodbourne, near Blenheim. It was also my first day ever in the South Island of NZ. Even now as I look back I remember that day so clearly, the mix of vibrant emotions that swirled that day, from saying goodbye to my family at the airport as a just-turned-18-year old going out into the world for the first time; meeting fellow recruits from around the country (and one from Fiji); the shock to find that Woodbourne was stinking hot and in the middle of a what was practically desert after the lush green fields of Cambridge - who knew they had hot dry conditions down south? Id been led to believe the South island was cold and wet like England! Also flooding back to me are things like meeting the General Service Instructors (my Dorm Corporal was Cpl Wayne Croz Crosswell, and A Flight also had Cpls Steve Wal Walles, Kavae Tamariki and Barbie Collins). For the first couple of hours they all seemed nice till everyone had arrived on the various flights into the base from around NZ, and then they turned into grumpy, shouty, serious arseholes (it seemed that way anyway) who made us run everywhere except NOT on the grass - I learned the hard way and got to do ten press-ups for this sin that first day. It was a thrilling, scary, fast-paced, ever-changing day in which I learned soooo much in a few short hours. The first day in a 90 day course that set me on the course for my RNZAF career. At the time full of challenges, hardships, terror, exhaustion, frustration and so much more, but coupled with - and particularly now when I look back - a fantastic environment for learning, development, achievement, and great solid friendships that continue to this day even if R1/89 course is now scattered to the four corners of the globe and beyond. Per Adua Ad Astra!!
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 05:47:16 +0000
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