Today, August 24th
 

Another day dawns and in many ways this day is no different to any other.

Except....this particular day offers a reminder that it behoves us all to reflect on things beyond our immediate circumstances from time to time. Things that have passed, yet cast long shadows, and things ahead, that offer great hope. Friends that have gone, fond remembrances of myriad foreign skies that offered a welcoming challenge when it seemed Australia's skies were closed to many. Continuing yet hidden sadnesses in the hearts of those who made choices whose after-effects seem to linger way beyond the immediacy of those times, yet with no way to clean the slate.

Next year will be the 25th time that this day has meant a lot to me and to others.That gives us a year to think and act on things that could, and that's could not will.....make August 24th next year a real day to remember.

Imagine....

Some form of truth and reconciliation forum to finally heal old wounds in a way that despite our best hopes, time alone has not in these 24 years, and will not.

A unified professional pilot body in Australia sending a single message on standards, safety, human factors, infrastructure etc to industry, CASA, government, IFALPA, ICAO et al

I can imagine that and I can certainly imagine that I don't want one more year to go by without decent steps forward in both areas.

So many threads here have their origins in the absence of one or both of these foundation stones for the future.... so this is not a day for snappy points scoring responses, or "get over it" rants. Such outpourings from little narrow grey minds have not served us well and will not.

An opportunity is here.....these pages can be used to build up as well as tear down. Our voices can matter, can heal and can build.

Our choice, your choice......yet if we want a decent future there really is no choice.

Captain Sherm

Huh? I'm a different generation. What?

Good post Sherm. :ok:

I'm tipping the "vague" reference is to the Australian Pilots' dispute of 1989.

Aye Sherm

As am I S701P, but you need to be not just a student of your job but the industry as a whole lest the lessons of the past be forgotten. 1989.

Concur with Capn Bloggs.:ok:

Yeah ok. I just thought it started on 18 August. Wasn't sure of what happened on 24 August.

Today, August 24th
 

I could imagine you writing that in the 'circle' on That70's Show with a big hooch hangin' out your mouth; YEAH MAAANNNN!!!

Interesting post 'Sherm' from the heart no doubt & a good read but I doubt it will have any effect although well meaning for the future of Australian aviation.
Enough water has passed under the aviation bridge now that it's a very diff landscape with an ever increasing pilot group coming into the system that had nothing to do with WW3 & it won't be too many years when pretty much all the 89's will be but just a memory in the annuls of our at times ugly aviation industry.
The Australian Govt is mostly the problem & always has been as what we have here is a dysfunctional governing system that any forward long term planing (which not only involves aviation) is simply not possible due the short tenure of any particular political party that has the reigns. Business is dirty & that includes aviation.
The unions have less & less clout these days, '89 showed what was possible with a very poisoned Govt back then. Aviation is no longer a respected industry, it's just another form of transport (always has been) that we now see is affordable to those that once caught a Grey Hound bus to Syd.
Low fares, Airlines undercutting each other (they are their worst own enemies) the 'them & us' mentality & mass transport as common as going to the local corner store to buy milk means we the aviation employees are but just tools to be used, don't like it?....them leave there will be another one around the corner to fill yr pace. I love flying, always have & I try to put in 101% into any Co I work for but it's getting harder & harder to sustain that enthusiasm.

I feel for those that lost their future, their families back then near 25 yrs ago & their hope for without hope we have nothing. It changed my direction but & adjusted like we all have to do when a major event happens like that
.
Lets all 'HOPE' that we have learnt from that mess, learnt enough for the 'new breed' to cope with an every changing & mostly unknown industry that was once a proud part of Australia's past.

Humans are very tolerant, we adapt & get on with the job & we Aussies are a tuff bunch at times:ok:

The above is just an opinion.


Wmk2

As an '89er, I find it gratifying that today is also significant in that it is only fourteen more sleeps until yet another Labor government is given the boot. :D

Why the Australian populace has its dalliance with these clowns every decade or so is beyond me.

In memory of.....
 

We can also stop to reflect on the ones who took their lives after the 89 dispute.
R.I.P

"Darty" I hear ya there. I think that Aussies tend to 4get quickly when it comes to politics & the circus that it is. As I mentioned above 3 yrs in any one term is simply not enuf time to make a difference here in Oz where we are an inherent lazy society thanks to our easy & laid back way of life.
The 'Kevin 07' lies promised lots of 'escapes' from the tyranny of the Howard regime as we paid dearly to keep this country in the black then & when good 'old Kev came along with lots of stimulus idea's the gen public fell for it hook line & sinker just to get relief from little Johnny's way of keeping us afloat in a heavy handed rules boat, we soon learned that Uncle Kev was evil underneath so once again the circus cranks up the merry-go-round for yet another 'ride' where we 'pay' for it big time :ugh:!

Thread drift I know but one thing leads to another on any subject that has a political cynical undercurrent to it.

Wmk2

Not really thread drift, Wally, the events of 'that year' were very closely linked to Llayba Pardy politics.

The three companies involved no longer exist, but many of us are still pilots, and there is a quiet little gathering being planned at a certain regional airport early next year for 'cleanskin' ex-Ansett crew; no wringing of hands or gnashing of teeth, but a fly-in, golf, catching up with old mates, food and of course 'liquid refreshment' aplenty.

redned
 

And while your all getting misty eyed about the glorious past,spare a thought about the poor buggers who were sent broke by this strike.Tourist enterprises in the north sent to the wall.Whole family businesses gone for good.The pilots dispute and the live cattle trade ban would be the two dumbest things ive seen in my entire life.

Sigh....there's always one isn't there. This was meant to be positive.

I made no reference to a glorious past....because, except for solidarity, it wasn't. My aim was to remember difficult times and try to learn lessons from them, including the need for healing. As for the length of the Dispute (no it wasn't a strike), I refer you to the late Mr. Abeles, Mr Hawke, Mr Kelty, Mr Crean and Mr Murdoch.

If the Dispute and the live cattle ban are the two worst things you've ever seen you do indeed live in a privileged little bubble. And yet it clearly brings you no joy.

I wish you well. I hope the rest of us can make some positive steps in the year ahead. I really do.

Thank goodness for that. Mind you, the AWU, the mining industry, maritime industry and not forgetting the CFMEU the bugbear of all governments State or Federal. They certainly have clout with multi-millions of $ to pay for fines...

Simple Darty, the political class need reminding every now and them for whom they work for.
Typically 2 1/2 terms creates an arrogant administration, 1 term of labour...and all is forgiven...:E

Yes, times have changed.

Its amazing how many of those unionists from that year have become managers and chief pilots that now screw down the very same wages and conditions they once fought for.

Money talks.

Sherm,i didn't say worst event in my time,i said dumbest.My family tourist business was shut down for good during the dispute.Darwin was devastated.There were a lot of innocent victims during that time,but it seems the domestic pilots are/were totally unaware of that fact.

Captain Sherm, rest assured that some of us learnt valuable lessons from the dispute. Wasn't involved, a fraction young but it certainly guided my choices, decisions when it came to aviating :ok:

Redned, any group in Australia has the right to withdraw their labour, it is a fundamental right in any democracy. I've done it myself and respect that right greatly. You are bitching at the wrong side of this argument. ;)