David Gardner spent 30 years with the Royal Australian Air Force before settling in Werribee and running the Point Cook RAAF Museum.
He talks to Charlene Macaulay.
What’s your connection to the Wyndham area?
I was born in Mareeba, north Queensland, and we moved to Cairns and then Townsville, where I joined the air force.
I’ve lived in Werribee since 1994.
I was posted to Point Cook in 1984 and then to the museum in 1986 as a uniform member.
When they civilianised it, I transferred to the public service because by then I’d done 30 years in the air force.
Why did you join the air force?
For a life of excitement and adventure, which it was. I had a ball, it was a great life.
I saw a lot of the world, did a lot of things.
I was an aircraft technician and was always with a squadron working on an aircraft.
I was in Darwin immediately after Cyclone Tracy hit; it was interesting being up there.
The standout has been coming to the RAAF Museum.
What does your role as museum director involve?
My job is to make sure we collect and preserve our history.
We’re putting together a display at the moment about Middle East air operations.
The beauty of the museum is that we’re not just telling the story of the aeroplanes … it’s the people, what they did, their logbooks, their uniforms.
I hope to be able to stay here until 2021; that’s the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force, which was formed here at Point Cook.
Prior to that, it was the Australian Flying Corp.
It’s surprising the number of people who don’t realise the importance of Point Cook in military history and Australian history.
Tell me about your family.
My wife Jean was a nurse.
We met at my brother’s wedding in Townsville; I was best man, she was chief bridesmaid.
We’ve been married 46 years this year.
We have two kids – my daughter’s still in Melbourne, son’s in Orange, New South Wales – and three grandkids.
Where do you like to go for a coffee or bite to eat?
Wyndham Cache or the Coffee Club at the Point Cook Town Centre.
We’ve got about 10 spots within five or seven minutes of here, and we direct museum-goers there.
We try to foster the areas close to us.
What are your hobbies outside work?
My three grandkids, gardening, trying to keep my daughter’s Combi going, reading, and collecting walking sticks.
Apart from the RAAF Museum, what is your favourite Wyndham tourist attraction?
The Werribee Open Range Zoo. Love the zoo, it’s great.
