The Royal Australian Air Force Centenary program has concluded with a commemorative dedication of a new memorial at RAAF Base Point Cook, Victoria, accompanied by a spectacular aerial display from the Roulettes.
Bunurong Elder Uncle Shane Clarke set the scene for commemorations with a Welcome to Country for guests and the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, and Mrs Lou Hupfeld at the Point Cook parade ground.
The new memorial honours the 350,000 Australians who have served in Air Force in its first century, including 11,191 Australians who died serving their nation.
Director-General of the Air Force 2021 Branch, Air Commodore Andrew Elfverson, said the new Air Force Centenary Memorial was a special place to pause and reflect on what Air Force personnel had contributed to Australia since 1921, in times of conflict and in peace.
“This memorial is constructed at the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force, as a tribute to the generations of Australians who have proudly worn the Air Force uniform,” Air Commodore Elfverson said.
“The sandstone memorial is designed so every Air Force member, our veterans and their families, can connect with it when they visit Point Cook.”
The Air Force Roulettes conduct an aerobatic display team during the Air Force Centenary Memorial dedication ceremony. Photo: Leading Aircraftman Sam Price
On special occasions, a spotlight will point upwards from the memorial, looking forever skyward, honouring the 3143 Air Force personnel who have no known grave.
“The Centenary theme, ‘Then. Now. Always.’ is immortalised for future generations of aviators on the centrepiece of the memorial,” Air Commodore Elfverson said.
During the dedication, flypasts were conducted by a Mustang ‘warbird’ from No. 100 Squadron, and by the Roulettes, the Air Force’s aerobatic display team from Central Flying School.
As the dedication drew to a close, the Roulettes performed a spectacular display over RAAF Base Point Cook in the time-honoured tradition of conducting flypasts for special Air Force commemorations.
To view the memorial dedication ceremony, visit the Air Force official YouTube channel.
To view more photos visit the Defence image gallery.
