HELICOPTER flights have been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons but this particular trip to the Border was well worth the taxpayer expense.
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Navy Lieutenant Alan Dickenson made the two-hour flight from Nowra to Thurgoona this week to surprise his sister, niece and nephews as well as inspire Trinity Anglican College students to consider a career in the defence force.
Georgia, 8, Max, 6, Nate, 6, and Jye Pigdon, 11, were the envy of all their classmates when their uncle, Lieutenant Dickenson, landed the chopper on the school’s soccer field and welcomed them with a hug.
Mother Renee Pigdon said her children only saw Lieutenant Dickenson once or twice a year.
“It was nice they were able to recognise their uncle and his achievements within the defence force in their own environment,” Ms Pigdon said.
“It was so special for my kids to see him and they saw me walking towards the helicopter and they ran from all different spots to meet him before all the other kids swarmed Alan.
“My kids were just over the moon.
“It was the best experience my kids and myself have had at the school and it really breaks up the term and stimulates the kids.
“It’s one of those occasions we will never forget.”
It was the third time Lieutenant Dickenson attempted to fly to the school as he had to cancel trips due to bad weather but his landing surprised students and they described it as the “best day ever”.
Lieutenant Dickenson grew up in Yackandandah but has been serving in the Navy for 15 years.
He said when he was in senior school he never imagined he would have the career he did now and believed it was important to educate young people about defence.
“Our youth are the ones who are going to take up the baton so we want to get them motivated,” he said.
"It's amazing what you can achieve with hard work and dedication.”
After training at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, Lieutenant Dickenson joined a Navy boat for navigation training and travelled around Australia and New Zealand but he eventually found a passion for flying.
