Wing Commander (ret) John Landale AFC: Maths Teacher. Top Shelf Helicopter Pilot. Systems Analyst

Introducing Wing Commander John Landale AFC. John started his working life as a maths/science teacher at Gulargambone Central School but after 18 months, applied for RAAF pilot training, graduated to fly helicopters and was soon with 9 Sqn Huey Helicopters in Vietnam where he served for 12 months. He then had a change of pace and after a Search and Recuse stint, took up flying instructional duties in both Australia and Singapore.  He then continued his service with choppers at 5 and 9 Sqns in Senior Squadron positions. After attending the RAAF Staff College in 1980, he was posted to Defence in Canberra as managing Operational Requirements for Helicopters before a posting to the Sinai Desert in 1984 as Australian Contingent Commander. Another change of pace took him to Central Studies Establishment in Defence Central where he also completed his BSc majoring in Computing Science. In another significant change,  he joined the Commonwealth Public Service in a middle management systems analysis role and served in a number of Departments before finishing with the Health Insurance Commission leading teams to restructure claims processing systems for Medibank Private and Pharmaceutical Benefits. Retired in 2001 and moved back to Coffs Harbour to become a 'tree hugger' and mediocre golfer.