Primary School for Pilots.....

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.