Toto has recently joined the Australian Air League. It is an organisation open to boys and girls from 8 years of age onwards who are passionate about flying as a career or as a hobby.
Toto has known that he wanted to be a pilot from the time that he could talk. In fact, his very first word, after Dadda and Mumma, was "ANE!" with finger pointed excitedly towards the sky. My Dad was a Navigator during WWII, and has encouraged Toto by allowing him to use his sophisticated Flight Simulator software from a very early age. Toto has enough simulated real-time flying hours under his belt to have his pilots' licence already!
One of the best things about the Air League for Toto is that it gives him an opportunity to actually have his pilots' licence before he is of age to get his drivers' licence. The Air League owns a flying school just outside Sydney where the Air League members can learn to fly for a fraction of the cost of non-members. At the Air League meetings, he will gain his Navigation and Aviation Theory certificates, as well as other qualifications required to gain his pilots' licence.
The Air League members are highly regarded by the Australian Air Force and the Qantas Pilot Cadet programme... both of which are notoriously difficult to get into. Toto has his heart set on entering the Qantas Cadet Programme when he finishes school.
Toto's Squadron (he's on the far left)Yesterday was a parade through Sydney to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Australian Air League. Toto belongs to the very first Air League Squadron, and was therefore marching at the front of the entire parade. I've got to say that I never EVER thought I'd see my child marching in uniform through the city, and I was pretty blase about the whole thing. Especially when I was up late the night before ironing and sewing patches on his uniform. The reality of the experience, and knowing how much it meant to him, changed all of that for me on the day.
They marched from Martin Place along George Street and then down to Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, where they stood on full Parade, in the blaring late Autumn sun, while the ceremonial aspects of the day were carried out.The Governor General of NSW, Marie Bashir, was there to hand out awards to Squadrons and individuals. It took a loooong time.
And proved to be too much for many of the children. Toto included.
Re-hydrating in the shade, before marching back out onto Parade.When the whole thing had finished, Toto and I had a celebratory late lunch in Chinatown before being picked up by the friend who was looking after Boo, and driven home. Exhausted. And very proud.
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11 comments:
That all sounds wonderful. How lovely to have such an opportunity to follow his chosen career path at such a young age -well, to even have one is something that I never managed to achieve (a chosen career as opposed to just a job that is). I can only hope my boys are so driven to know what they want out of their futures.
I can't tell you how huge it is for him to know so early in life what he wants to do when he grows up; to have a goal to reach for. Huge.
I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up until...well, until long after I grew up. And even then I just stumbled into it by accident.
Huge. Good for him.
So awesome.
I love that's so passionate about something.
And I especially love how you are so supportive and encouraging towards him!!
That's fantastic that he has an opportunity to get ahead in his chosen career so early in life. Gosh, I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up!
That is so cool. I know how much he wants to fly from the time I have spent with him. Some kids just know what they want to be early (unlike those of us who still don't know - lol). Tell him from me that he looked quite the young flying ace in his uniform. You must just be so darn proud! Okay, it is a uniform, but not a military one. You are going to be beating the girls off with a stick once he gets his Qantas cadet uniform. Will you get free flights if he gets a Qantas position?
What a fantastic opportunity for him and so wonderful that he has a passion at such a young age,
LOVE the photos, especially the first one of him - and love your processing too. :)
Oh my God, Fe, that first photo took my breath away! My Hamish (yes, "my") looks sooooooo handsome and grown up! And I know what it's like for you to see your son outfitted and participating in something so impressive as a military parade. I've been there.
Please give my love to Hamish.
Thanks everyone!
I, too, think it's wonderful that he has such a passion. He knows more about planes (can spot the exact model and knows which airline uses which etc) than I thought was possible, and my Dad says that he is AMAZING on the flight simulator.
Boo is more like I was.. interested in lots of things, passionate about none of them!
Wen: I'm sure that by the time he's a Qantas pilot they will be earning so little (because of fare-cutting and the economy) that most of the perks like free travel for family members will have disappeared. I can always hope though!
Thanks Guera! I didn't do too much with the pics. Just "vintaged" the first one a bit and boosted and dark-edged the others. My photoshop keeps crashing, so I'm pretty restricted.
Wen and Joan: I'll pass on your comments to Toto! He'll be thrilled (underneath his facade of embarrassement!)
Oh my gosh, how handsome does he look! And very grown up, too.
That is very cool. He looks nice in his uniform. Rhubarb is a scout and I find that it is a fabulous way for him to make friends outside of school. How fabulous that he has such a passion for something.
Fabulous pictures and how exciting.
I still don't know what I want to be either !
You must have been so proud of him. Gosh he is a handsome lad.What an achievement already to know your path in life.
Ps Awesome news about your new lawyer - hope she brings light to the end of the tunnel and puts a spring in your step.
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