Dick,
I have looked at the logbook, I have flown Sydney to Brisbane, or Brisbane to Sydney, 8 times in the last 7 months, during day and night. I have been diverted out to Scone 2 times in those, and cleared directly over Williamtown 6 times, and only one of those required any holding (less than 40 seconds) at all. I am pretty sure that turning 360 degrees at 8000ft + or - 100 feet isn't beyond the skill level required of an appropriately qualified pilot (like the PIC was). You seem to think that such a manoeuvre is the stuff of legend?! Are you saying that if we put you in a 210 at night in CAVOK, 5 miles from the coast and 8000ft high, you wouldn't be able to conduct one orbit?
The RAAF are not even remotely to blame for any of this.