allcare Client Spotlight: Bob’s lifelong love for aviation

Born in 1948 at Paddington Women’s Hospital, Sydney, Bob developed a fascination with planes early on.

Growing up in Richmond, he would gaze up at the few planes that flew overhead, dreaming of one day piloting his own. Even as a child, Bob had an eye for detail, building model planes and collecting aviation memorabilia. 

In 1966 at age 18, Bob turned his love of aviation into a career by joining the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as a Flying Officer, stationed in Australia and Malaysia, where he flew C-47 Dakota transport planes, a predecessor to the Hercules. His years in the Air Force from 1966 to 1972 were transformative. He recalls a memorable test flight when the plane’s compass malfunctioned, forcing him to navigate back using only landmarks below, “I changed my underwear when I got back!” he jokes. Bob says these experiences only deepened his love for the skies and the challenges of flight. 

After his Air Force service, Bob’s career spanned a range of fields, from radio communications with Cobar Mines to specialised work with Smorgon Glass Containers, where he demonstrated his innovative spirit. There, he designed a palletizer system, a critical piece of machinery for handling and organising glass products. He then took on the role of Maintenance Manager at Coca-Cola, where he leveraged his technological expertise to connect the entire plant to a network that he could manage from his computer, demonstrating his versatility beyond his time in the cockpit. Later, he joined an American chemical company and eventually served as a payroll clerk in the Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care, contributing his skills across industries as diverse as mining, manufacturing, and public service. 

Bob’s connection to aviation remained unwavering. In 1995, he earned his civil pilot’s licence, and in 2002 he bought his own Cessna (pictured top right), fulfilling a dream that had started in childhood. For years, he explored the skies on his own terms, relishing the freedom of private flight. Today, his shelves are lined with model planes. For Bob, each model is more than decor – it’s a tribute to the planes he’s flown, those he’s admired, and his enduring passion for flight.

From a boy with dreams of the sky to an accomplished pilot and inventor, Bob’s journey highlights a lifetime of innovation, dedication, and the thrill of turning dreams into reality, both on the ground and in the air.