Desert Air - 18. DA Ch 18 -- Official Opening

“Looking smart there Jex,” came a voice over the communicator, realising that I had forgotten about the snipers, “Very funny guys, and I forgot that you were watching,” I replied, as I stowed the clothes I was wearing into the suit bag and stashed in into the old jeep, before walking back to the front of the building, just as the Governor General and his wife approached the building.

“There you are, now I see you are better dressed, how about introducing me to your siblings,” the Governor General said, and I heard my parents chuckling. “Sorry about that you’re Excellency. May I introduce my youngest brother Wynn, youngest sister Julia, my middle brother, Rhodes, and the middle sister Mary,” I said making the introductions.

“Your Excellency, these are our neighbours and good friends at Corunna Downs Station, Mr Hedley and Mrs Joyce Parkinson, and the other guests are District Police Superintendent Erik Langley, East Pilbara Shire President Bill Porter, and their driver Sergeant Brooks” Dad said making the last of the introductions.

I saw the frown that Sergeant Brooks made with how he was introduced, and the big smile that Dad gave me, and I smiled back, as I held back from laughing. I now noticed a covered plaque attached the wall near the door of the Operations Room, and the Governor General made his way towards it as did the rest of the distinguished visitors and myself, with the family and friends staying put.

“It is my great pleasure to be here today, to officially open the restored Corunna WW2 Airbase, and I would like to congratulate the property owner Mr Jexon Kendrik, his family and friends and all the crews who made this possible today, and that includes the original restoration team of the B24 Liberator, that sits on the runway now.

It stands here, as a permanent reminder of what aircraft were used for the secret missions that took place from this base, and we must remember those who did not return from those missions. I declare this restored airbase open,” the Governor General announced, as he removed the cover from the plaque, and we all applauded.

Suddenly the sound of the first bars of our National Anthem started, and I snapped to attention, as did all the Airforce and army personnel around the base, and we sang together. “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age will not weary them, or the years condemn; At the going down of the sun, and in the morning. We will remember them,” Tim said as I heard his words nearby and through the communicator, as we repeated the last four words of the Ode of Remembrance.

Suddenly from in the hills behind us, a bugle began to play the last post, and I now saw the flag lowered at half mast, with a soldier standing at the flag post.

The sound of the bugle being played echoing through the hills was very haunting, as we thought of all the men and women who had lost their lives in the Great and 2^nd World Wars. We stood for a minute in silence, before the bugle played the reveille.

Once the official ceremony was over, I began the official tour of the base, with the help of the two Hawkei’s to transport the VIP’s around the base, stopping at most of the key buildings, as wells as the Liberator and my plane, and some of the aircraft pits, of which two of them are now covered with a desert camouflaged netting.

“Where did these come from?” I asked Major Hill, “Compliments of the Australian Army, along with a few other items,” Major Hill replied, as he pointed towards one of the gun pits located about fifty metres away, “They are anchored down by a concrete block, so they can’t be stolen,” Major Hill said as we all walked over that way to have a look at the Gun pit, which included a number of empty magazine boxes.

“That reminds me sir, the owner of the property has requested that we leave behind one of the Hawkei’s for his use, once this event is over,” Tim said to the Major, “Oh he did, did he,” the Chief of Army said as he stood nearby, and heard what Tim had said.

“Brigadier, I think that is a good idea. Consider the Hawkei to be on loan from the Army for maintaining security of the base, but it is to be used only by Army personnel, which means that Private Kendrik here would be the only one to use it, except when other Defence personnel may drop in,” the Defence Minister said as he looked over towards Tim, who smiled.

“Sir, let me understand this, you are authorising this base to be used as a training facility for the SAS Regiment?” Tim asked the Minister, “Yes Captain, that is exactly what I am proposing, but it will not be listed in any documents or any other way as being a training base, meaning that this will remain a secret airbase, for training, but will also be open to the public for viewing of the base,” the minister announced.

“I think that is an excellent idea, and I highly approve, being a former SAS solider myself,” the Governor General stated. “Thankyou very much to you all for your support in this project, it means a lot to me and my Dad, as our grandfather served as a mechanic at this airbase during WW 2,” I said, just now noticing two people were missing.

“Dad where is…” I began to say and Dad indicated to not say any more, “Your Excellency, I invite you to our new base home, just a few kilometres away for some refreshments and a chance to cool down a little,” Dad said to the Governor General, who looked to the Major.

“Mrs Parkinson has put together some morning tea for us all at the Kendrik’s new home in the corner of the base,” Major Hill explained, as Dad told my siblings to go to my Land Rover. Less than six minutes later, we arrived at our new family home which I was seeing for the first time.

“Wow, this looks great Dad,” I said as we all climbed out of my Land Rover, and Headed for the main stairs and front verandah, and through a breezeway between the buildings till we arrived in the main outdoor deck area. “Very impressive, I like it very much,” I said to Dad.

“We are glad that you approve. Until two days ago, Hedley and Joyce have been looking after the kids here, but when the new security measures came into place, they moved back to the Parkinson’s homestead,” Dad informed me.

“I presume that you will not be attending ADFA now?” Major Hill asked me when he approached, “If you don’t mind sir, I would prefer to remain in my home state and help the family to run our new museum business, in between lectures at university in Perth,” I replied.

“Yes that is fine, and it is probably a better option, so you can keep a close eye on things here, but I do expect you to come and visit us every year or two, as we have enjoyed you staying with us,” Major Hill said to me.

With two dozen men stationed around our new home, our distinguished guests enjoyed morning tea and chatting with us, and Dad informed me that all of my personal and army luggage have been offloaded from the jet, and are in the operations shed.

“Where are you off to from here, your Excellency?” I asked the Governor General, “We are heading for Perth for a few days of events, Major and Mrs Hill and Smash as you call him, will be joining us for most of it, before we all fly back to Canberra,” the GG - Governor General replied.

“Well sir, it has been an honour to meet you, and thankyou for spending some time at our airbase and new home, which I have seen for the first time today,” I replied. “Where is your old home?” the GG’S wife asked.

“Unfortunately a few months ago, a prison escapee turned up in the region and while on a standoff with Police at our homestead, he fled the area, but not before creating havoc to our home. “Our oldest was in his plane, the Tiger moth that you saw on the runway, helping the police to track him, and he alerted us when escapee started heading for the homestead, so I grabbed the younger children and fled to our outstation.

We were already considering putting the place on the market, before all of this happened, and after seeing the mess this escapee left in our home we decided not to return, so we had a holiday in Port Hedland, while all of this was being constructed and Jex was away doing his Army basic training,” Dad explained.

“I see, and where is your station from here?” the GG asked, “The homestead is just over 50 kilometres due south-west of here,” Dad replied. “And the outstation?” the GG asked, “A bit over 70 kilometres slightly west of due south of here sir,” I replied.

“That is quite some distances,” the GG’s wife commented, “It is Ma’am, but we are used to travelling long distances, especially to check all the water points and the stock, and although Marble Bar is a manageable drive away, we do most of our shopping etc in South Hedland,” Mum replied.

After saying farewell to our guests, the two Hawkei’s took them back to the VIP jet, and we watched from the verandah as they took off, as the two vehicle returned to the house. “I believe this is your ride back to the car park, gentlemen, have a safe journey home,” I commented to the Superintendent, Shire President and Sergeant Brooks.

Superintendent Langley and the Shire President thanked us for our hospitality and allowing us to attend the event, while Sergeant Brooks just grunted and walked towards the vehicle. “What is happening with you lot?” I asked Tim and the Group Captain, after the last of the guests had left.

“We have one more day to enjoy your airbase, before an Airforce Globemaster comes to take us all back to Pearce Airbase,” the Group Captain replied. “Minus one vehicle of course,” Tim replied smiling, and I took out the ear piece, wiped it clean on my shirt and handed it back to Tim, “Thanks for the use of that, an awesome piece of equipment but hard to get used to,” I commented, and Tim laughed.

After the soldiers and airmen had left the area, I went inside the main house for the first time. “Wow, I like what you have done with the place Mum,” I said as I looked around the living and dining area, and approached the kitchen.

“Yes, so much more open than the old homestead, which was a little pokey,” Mum replied. “So, it doesn’t look to be a five bedroom house,” I commented.

“No son, it only has three bedrooms and a study, the girls each have a bedroom, and there is a second living space for the kids to run amuck, and the other two boys share one of the corner two bedroom cabins, and you have the other one, with the middle cabin being the administration building,” Dad replied.

I spent the next fifteen minutes having a good look around the home complex, and I was impressed with the administration building, with the bedrooms made into two offices, the dining room is a conference area, and the lounge room is a small entry lounge.

After I had a good look around, I headed off back to the operations building to collect all of my luggage, including the suit bag, and I unpacked everything into my new quarters, which was very comfortable, with my very own kitchen, lounge room, and small dining area for breakfasts when I don’t eat with the family.

The boys had made their dining area into a games area, to play video games, and their lounge room has a television, as does mine. With all of us having to return to school or university in four days time, Dad informed me that he wanted to sit down and have a quiet chat with me, so we headed to the admin building.