The Master's Trophy for the Australian Region
awarded to
Captain John Graham Eacott
John Eacott was born in Walthamstow, north east London, and brought up in Chingford, Essex. His father was a Second World War RAF Beaufighter pilot. An early recollection of John's was sitting in a Spitfire cockpit at North Weald, repeated at Duxford 50+ years later when he managed to fly one, so aviation featured heavily as a youngster for John.
John achieved his glider certificate at 16, a PPL at 17, was a Queen's Scout and won a Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award, all of which helped him get to Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth in October 1967.
After eight years as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot, flying ASW Sea Kings from carriers for 5 of those years, John had various jobs around the world on offshore oil support, including the North Sea in its ‘formative years’ as well as Nigeria, NZ, India and Eire and a year in the Victoria Police Air Wing before setting up his own business, Helicopter Service Australia.
His Company operated throughout the eastern states of Australia on a variety of tasks, including traffic reporting (fixed and rotary wing), fire fighting, ambulance, sling loads, frost protection, filming, photography, VIP and general charter and offshore support. He spent many a fire season in NSW helping protect property around the state and assisting with film work on local and international productions
After selling his business and all aircraft in 2007 he slipped into a semi retirement state. Subsequently, a working trip to Antarctica flying off a very small ice breaker in support of the French, he found he was flying in a unique and stunning environment. He still does occasional flying for Channel Ten News in a Bell Jet Ranger, some retirement! He holds a number of aviation licences, including UK and Australian ATPL’s, Nigerian, Dutch, Canadian and NZ CPLs, and has about 15,000 flying hours.
John is also an active motorcycle enthusiast being President of the BMW Motorcycle Club and Chairman of the Victorian Motorcycle Association.
He has been a member of the Honourable Company since 1978 and Treasurer of the Australian Region for the last 5 years. In that role he has given outstanding service to the Australian Region.
For his meritorious service to the Honourable Company and the aviation industry in many countries, John is awarded the Master’s Australian Trophy 2016.