But it wasn’t always clear that the School would survive. In the early days after a few years operation when student numbers were growing but still small, there was a meeting of very wise Deans and Deputy Vice Chancellors (they are always wise). The existence of the School was discussed. Greg Clynick was asked what he would do if the School was to be disestablished and would he help do that?. Greg immediately said he would have his office cleaned out by the end of the day, and that he was a builder not a wrecker. I was asked the same question and paused for thought. I responded that I couldn’t possible do what Greg would do, and received smiles.  I then said that I would need the rest of the week to clear my office because it was such a mess.  Colin Sutherland, then Dean of Science laughed and said he would look after us in the Science Faculty.  Shortly after he supported the purchase of 3 used Piper Warriors for our first fleet. Later in 2010 under Dean Merlin Crossley and VC Fred Hilmer,  we purchased a new training fleet of Diamonds, and this year, under Dean Sven Rogge and VC Attila Brungs, the fleet has been upgraded yet again, to ensure the School is operating the latest possible technology.

As graduates went off to various employers including Qantas, Virgin, Airservices, CASA etc, the quality of their education and training became evident and our reputation grew. Obviously it was the syllabi that I personally drew up that did the trick! But in fact I knew nothing of aviation management, and only knew a little about GA operations from my early days flying charter ex Moorabbin. The secret ingredients were added by Rodger Robertson, John Faulkner and Greg Clynick, with ample support from many casual academic staff (who in real life were senior employees of the aviation industry). Following up, Ian Douglas and Brian Horton further pursued goals of excellence, leaving a foundation for the present leadership. David Forsyth led our Industry Advisory Committee for over 15 years, providing connections and sage advice which were invaluable to our strategic development. David’s contributions and those of the IAC were I think crucial to our success. Andrew Drysdale who spent many years on the IAC is here tonight. 

I did have some amusing interactions with UNSW managers over the years. A few anecdotes are perhaps amusing. 

We struggled for funding early on, and Greg remembers that our entire asset register in early 1995 was 2 coffee cups.

At one stage, UNSW teaching management stepped in to ask serious questions about whether our casual academic staff were qualified to teach; I replied none had any training in teaching;  “A serious problem”, said management. Upon collating the anonymous student surveys, I was able to show that in fact our casual academic staff had a higher satisfaction ranking than the Faculty average. Case Closed.

I had the Faculty Safety Manager once ask that I obtain documentation that all Refuelers at Bankstown were qualified. I immediately agreed, subject to UNSW obtaining qualifications of all those selling fuel at the service stations throughout Australia for UNSW vehicles. Case Closed.

A notable student was Ron Houghton, former RAF WW2 pilot (DFC in May 1945) and Qantas Captain. Ron came to me in his late 80’s and asked to do the Master of Aviation Management. Ron had previously done a PhD at Sydney University and was remarkably sharp, so I approved and he proceeded, course by course, to do very well academically.  At one stage he came to me in 2014 asking that he do an exam early because some pesky defence people wanted his time for something, so I agreed.  A couple of weeks later, watching the ABC news, I saw Ron receive the Legion of Honour from the French President Francois Holland. Ron flew Halifax bombers and later, flying Spitfires and Hurricanes, taught bomber pilots how to defend against attacking German fighters. Ron once mentioned his Hurricane endorsement was a 10 min briefing standing on the wing, followed by a 30 minute solo flight. RIP Ron, one of the finest men I have met, and I think our oldest student

Then there was Len sales, ex RAF WW2 Navigator, Qantas navigator and pilot who taught ATPL theory for us. When asked by a junior instructor whether he had seen the Rhine, Len responded “No, it was night when I was there, but I did bomb it.

In the early days when interviewing prospective flying students, we were amazed to find one student who knew every Qantas aircraft registration and another who knew details about FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control). However, there were other interviewees who advised that Qantas flew Jumbo Jets.

I could go on with anecdotes all night, but I want to talk briefly about Ann Williamson. Ann’s involvement with the school began in the early 2000s when I recruited her to be Professor of Aviation Safety and encouraged her to establish the Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research Centre within the School of Aviation. Ann led TARS for over 15 years, and I want to thank her for her energetic leadership which created a world reputation for the School’s research in safety.  

Back briefly to Flight Ops... There was a recent CASA audit of Flight Ops, and CASA found ZERO items to be non-compliant. This is an astounding outcome, and Malcolm Good, Rodney Hyde, Mick Demanincor, Peter Arnold and Andrew Young are to be congratulated for their leadership and attention to detail.

To you Graduates: You are all making your own mark and creating history, as you go out and do interesting and challenging things. I am both pleased and proud if I may have contributed in a small way.  But in any case; Well Done to you all.

My personal thanks to all Deans to date, Professor Sven Rogge being the 11th since Harry Hyland when we first enrolled students. Vice Chancellors have also played an important role in continuity, so I also thank Professor Attila Brungs, the 5th VC since John Niland.  Their ongoing support and wisdom has been vital.

My lovely and patient wife Robyn (and sons Brent and Leigh) deserve a very special thank you for supporting a work focussed, and sometimes inattentive partner (father) for too many years. 

I wish the best of luck to Brett Molesworth and Malcolm Good and their teams; the School is now in great hands.

I hope to get around to each of you here tonight to have a few words and shake your hands.

Jason Middleton AO 

19th June, 2025