I left "Warship Darwin" in April '86, being posted to HMAS Cook for a short stint before being posted to HMAS Watson. 15 months later I was back at Cerberus and found out that I got married sometime in April of '88.

I was back at sea on HMAS Sydney in Feb '89 and swapped off for a trip up top to stay home and be there for the birth of my son in Sep of the same year. I remained on Sydney until the completion of the world deployment, and then swapped onto HMAS Canberra just prior to the first gulf war. (Not by choice either)

I foregoed my shore time to remain at sea and once again I was on Sydney for several months before being posted back on Canberra in august of '92. Just prior to Canberra deploying to the gulf for it's first stint I was more or less ordered to go ashore in October of '92. Reluctantly I went to Cerberus until another opportunity to go to sea came up. And it did in Feb '95, Canberra needed a cook ASAP and I was there virtually the next day.

Whilst on Canberra I was eventually promoted to LSCK (3 badge ABCK) the same day my daughter was born, and subsequently posted to HMAS Kanimbla to help de-store and decommission it prior to it being re built. I was then posted to HMAS Brisbane and spent the rest of my Navy days.

Whilst on Brisbane I was divorced and on my way back from up top we stopped in Adelaide, where I met my current wife in Nov '96. We have been together since then. I decided then it was time to go and was discharged in Feb '97 and moved to Adelaide to be with my new wife after 14 years and 9months service. It was a mere stroke of the pen when I left, no piss up, no fan fare, and no fare well. It was that quick…it goes to show that anything is possible…even in the puss!

I found it hard after I got out to get a job ANYWHERE. I applied for over a hundred jobs and nothing. 5 months later I landed one, albeit in a school canteen but it was work. I had the greatest most rewarding time in my working years there and it was a sad day when I left. I got my foot in the door at Ansett airlines catering section, and worked in the scullery there for a while and then worked my way up to loading the catering on the aircraft.

I left there for a brief stint to work as head chef in the Sergents Mess at RAAF Edinbrough. It didn't last long as the executive chef and I didn't see things eye to eye and I was ready to head but him when the catering manager walked in and sacked me…and 4 other chefs who were a little out spoken like me! So it was back to Ansett catering, but now it was known as Gate Gourmet. I applied for a supervisor position in August 2000 and got it.

I was now an Airline Services Co-ordinator (much to the dismay of the former Ansett workers) Virgin Blue was now flying in Australia and soon they were flying to Adelaide. My position was upgraded to Customer Service Co-ordinator and I was given the responsibility to set up the catering for Virgin Blue in Adelaide. After some training in Brisbane and meetings in Sydney, Adelaide was ready for Virgin Blue. Not only was I looking after Virgin, but also Ansett was still our number one client and I had to co-ordinate all their requirements from Adelaide as well. I had other hats as well; I was Project Officer, Environmental Officer, and Roster Clerk. They gave me a phone, and a desk with a computer. When I asked for a laptop they told me not to push my luck, so I said, "I take it a car is out of the question then?"

Then one day a bunch of Kiwi's killed Ansett and I found myself out of work. Our company was placed in receivership with debts of $75M. For the next 3 months I worked for an employment agency doing different jobs here and there until one day I got a call out of the blue asking me to be manager of an operation here in Adelaide catering for Virgin Blue. I had made a name for myself within the industry as the director of this company had herd about me on the grape vine and signed me up on the spot.

We were in the process of setting up to take over the Virgin Blue contract when Virgin announced that they were pulling out of the contract. The directors subsequently took Virgin to court for expenses paid in the process of setting up. Fortunately though I was still employed and was advised that we were applying for the Ansett MK 2 contract. While we were waiting for conformation of the deal I shot overseas to my ill father to be with before he died. On my return to Australia I had no job as another company called Alpha flight services got the contract. A week later I was working for that company albeit back on the floor but it was work and still in the industry.

In the space of a week Ansett was sunk, my father died, my son had moved in with us and I was again unemployed. I started work with the employment agency again until they placed me in a job at a pillow factory for three days…boy was that exciting…anyway 6 months later, I was still there and hating it, until I got a call from my old boss asking me back to Alpha to cater for a new regional Airline called REX. (Regional Express).

This is where I remain 8 months later and we are poised to get some huge international contracts nationally, which will mean lots of work!! I live in Hahndorf SA with my wife stepdaughter and son, and my daughter lives with her mother in Carrum Downs in VIC. After my stint at the RAAF base, I now refuse to work as a chef anywhere…in case you were wondering. If you would like to contact me feel free…