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The spirit of '36!

 
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Old 1st Mar 2002, 17:35
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Evertonian
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Unhappy The spirit of '36!

Well, I guess it's all over now. The last straw has broken & Reg's dream has gone, perhaps forever.

It's funny, I don't feel much anger at Fox & Lew. They took a punt & it didn't pay off. Whether, in the long term, their gamble would have been of benefit to the actual employees of AN is anybodys guess. They offered staff a chance to believe that AN would fly again & all seemed to embrace the spirit upon which Ansett was founded. I don't think Reg would really have minded a couple of local "sharks" having a go at getting his old girl up either. They were just playing a similar version of his business game anyway.

I think we all agree that the rot set in over 20 years ago and was cemented in place by some fools across the Tasman. They thought they could match some of the biggest home grown white pointers at their own game. They failed of course & almost killed ANZ in the process.

There are certainly plenty of people to blame for AN's demise, but there's virtually nothing that can be done now. Should we, as staff, have stood up earlier & demanded a course correction for the company? Who knows. Ansett staff were never seriously militant, and perhaps this is another reason for the failure. Blind Freddy could see some of the preposterous decisions coming from faulty towers, but, like the proles that we were, we grumbled & got on with it.

Im very saddened by the loss of my only employer since leaving school. I'm saddened by the fact that a great team will be spreading to all corners of the globe in search of work. I'm saddened for those who made decisions in the past that will now haunt them for the rest of their careers. Most of all, I'm saddened that another Australian icon lost the chance to return to Australian ownership, albeit probably a short time.

We now have another duopoly, created by market forces & inadequate management, rather than government policy. Good luck to all at the rat & the vestial. I bear no hard feelings or grudges. The travelling public have a clear choice now, especially in the catering area, your money or the box!

I've enjoyed all the sparring that has been associated with Pprune here at Dunnunda. I've enjoyed the odd "heated" argument with some of you, especially over a certain topic, but, rest assured, I'd have a drink with any of you, any time. I'll keep the old Buster active, but I might just try & get over aviation for a while now. Come Monday, if I don't get it out of my system, I'll never fit in anywhere else.

Keep smiling, fly safe & enjoy the best career in the world, in the best piece of sky.

Cheers, Buster. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
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Old 1st Mar 2002, 21:54
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I couldn't disagree more about the dream factor.. .The truth is, RM achieved his dream, and irrespective of certain issues, someone else came along and commenced to take the reality, not the dream, away from him.. .It is also a fact, that RM had a love/hiss relationship with his pilots. As much as he disliked industrial action, no one told him how to deal with it. In the end, he always walked away with an admiration for the men he knew had helped build his airline.. .I recall flying with one of RM's pre-war pilots, and he put it rather accurately. "The airline was built on the backs of pilots." He loved the company, but he also knew his worth, which is more than the current batch of pilots seem to understand.. .Self self self is the current catch-cry.. .I guess you had to be shot at in a Spitfire to understand the necessary bond of unity required in the business, whether it be in the military, or in the industrial arena in civilian life.. .Ansett is dead. The corpse was flogged for many a long year, until it simply disappeared. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
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Old 2nd Mar 2002, 01:09
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First time I've ever agreed with you "Buster".

However I'd say ANZ might have a terminal illness as well (watch this space). The "White Rat" is already to nip their balls off on short final.. .I don't think they can be saved either or the "Shakey Isle's" will go under as well.

That's not such a problem except all the "sheep shaggers" over here cluttering up the place (as if there isn't enough here now - can you imagine importing more Dereyn Hinch types?)

Yes the virus was caught 20yrs ago and developed into full blown AIDS. Now within a couple of years Ansett will just be a memory, for me good memories as I'm glad I wasn't part of the final act 12 years hence.

<img src="frown.gif" border="0">
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Old 2nd Mar 2002, 02:48
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I spent seven wonderful years at AN before leaving in 2000. Although I feel great sadness for the many, many wonderful people and the demise of Reg's baby, the industry in Australia will be a stonger one, precisely because market forces have contributed to the current situation. We are now left with two very strong businesses, which will provide a degree of stability to the industry for a time to come. Strong business=job security.

Good luck to everybody affected. One door closes, another opens.
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Old 2nd Mar 2002, 03:59
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Angel

[quote]. We are now left with two very strong businesses, which will provide a degree of stability to the industry for a time to come. Strong business=job security<hr></blockquote>

Not sure this is of much comfort to many people anymore, given the climate of the Aviation industry as a whole in this present day.

Not saying you are right or wrong, I just disagree with your analysis.

. .Regards Gogirl
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Old 2nd Mar 2002, 15:51
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Evertonian
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Talking

Hi GoGirl. How's you know who going?

Yes, I'm not too sure that there is any such thing as a strong business in this airline game anymore. It's not everyday a company with approximately 40% of the market falls over.
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Old 2nd Mar 2002, 16:25
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The demise of Ansett is a great tragedy.

It is nothing short of comical to suggest that 'market forces' caused the adjustment. Try parochial stupidity taken to a corporate level not seen before, combined with years of neglect and Liberal government intervention and bungling. Sprinkle on a little management incompetence and you have a great mix for a corporate collapse.

The remaining victors are two large corporates, one a large succesful Australian owned airline, the other an airline which is part of a privately owned multi national corporation.

The looser, .....the consumer.

Ultimately Ansetts fate was sealed the day Air New Zealand stopped SQ from buying Ansett and reversing it's fortunes, all in the name of 'Natinal Pride' for that I cannot forget or forgive.

Good luck and best wishes to all my collegues at Ansett, pre amd post 89'.
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