Ozflyboy
That must have been a heart wrenching decision, and yes everything happens for a reason. I have said this before, in the aviation industry things tend to go in circles so hopefully one day things will turn around and you can be assured that the FAAA International Division and long haul crew will be fighting to ensure more off-shore bases are not opened, this is evident from their website.
Qantas are more than happy to give the media information on their plans for off-shore crew to gain public and shareholder support, so I suggest all you guys write to the papers and tell them of your treatment. Qantas hate any negative publicity, QF staff that have done Exceptional will know what I am talking about. So write and tell the papers that your jobs are now going off-shore and the best QF can offer to Australians is an 11 months contract. The papers would really sit up and take notice if they get hundreds of letters from all the people on the short list that have been shafted.