BENDIGO BASED PILOT IS AN ANGEL FOR WODONGA BOY
On Wednesday 30th March, Bendigo Based Angel Flight Pilot Jack Moore made history when he flew out of Bendigo on a mercy mission.

Not only was this Jack’s first Angel Flight Mission, it was also the first Angel Flight Mission flown by a local pilot.

The purpose of this very special flight was to take seven-year-old Aden from Wodonga and his mother Faye home to Albury following another round of chemotherapy for Aden at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia last June, Aden and his mother Faye have spent the last nine months in Melbourne enabling Aden to receive life-saving but gruelling treatment.

“It all started about the end of April last year when Aden became unwell,” Faye said.

“After a number of trips to the doctor a blood test eventually revealed there was something seriously wrong and then we had to make a dash by road to the Royal Children’s Hospital.”

Unfortunately, Aden experienced severe reactions to the initial treatment requiring him to be hospitalised most of the time and his mother was advised to stay close to the hospital.

“It has been quite difficult as I also have a nine-year-old daughter, Darci, who I had to leave behind with her grandfather so that she could continue with her schooling,” Faye said

“It was more than three months before we could go back to Wodonga for a visit, but as I had to give up our rental house I had no home of my own to go home to. Darci was brought to see us in Melbourne once a month and I suppose Aden and I have only been home for about a week-and-a-half since last June.”

However, life is starting to improve with Aden now being more energetic than he’s been since the day he was diagnosed.

“We’ve also now got a rental home to go to in Wodonga but Aden still has to have chemotherapy once a month for the next 16 months,” Faye said.

“But whilst all this is positive, I wasn’t looking forward to the long drive to and from the hospital as it’s really hard on Aden who naturally isn’t very strong at the moment. So it’s a real relief knowing that I don’t have to do it especially as I have a very old and unreliable car and never know when I might get stuck on the side of the highway.”

Faye said that Aden was really excited about being flown to and from the hospital as it was quite a new experience for him and with something for him to look forward to it takes his mind off going to the hospital.

“It’s made the whole situation much more pleasurable and it’s just wonderful to think that people like Jack Moore give their time and the use of their plane to do this for people like us,” Faye said, obviously touched by the support she is receiving from Angel Flight.

As for Jack, he was only too pleased to fly his first Angel Flight Mission.

This story appearing in the Bendigo Advertiser, 30/03/05 page 12, The Border Mail 31/03/05 and
The Post 7/04/05.

Peter Longton - Pilot
2nd mission

Arthur Perdios - Earth Angel
(Arthur's 2nd mission)

Angel flight 1 by Peter Longton
Previous mission for Peter - M269 AF1.

Comment by Peter

"The trip went well for both Aden and Faye (his mother). Unfortunately he left his Easter Egg in the plane at Essendon, but hopefully we can give him something else to make up for that, on another mission."

Jack Moore - Pilot
1st mission

Earth Angel duties performed by Leukaemia Foundation Volunteer Drivers
(LF's 25th mission)

Angel flight 2 by Jack Moore
First mission for Jack.

Owner and Managing Director of Rivergum Marketing in Bendigo, Jack said since he joined Angel Flight in January 2005 he has been looking forward to using his Twin Comanche aircraft to make life a little easier for someone else.

“I use my plane to get to see clients throughout Victoria and interstate, and have derived a huge amount of benefit out of aviation,” he said.

“I’ve been able to do lots of things, go to lots of places and have experiences that have only been possible because of being able to fly. Business has also been very kind to me over the years so being a member of Angel Flight is going to give me a real opportunity to give something back,” he said.

Whilst Jack had heard about a similar concept to Angel Flight in the United States, he said his sixteen-year-old daughter, Stephanie, really brought it to his attention here in Australia.

“Stephanie saw an advertisement on television last year and said ‘you should do that Dad’. She obviously thought it was something worthwhile doing and so did I. She’s now really pleased that I’m involved in this way,” he said.

“It’s also significant to me that my first passenger is a single Mum because sadly my first wife died of cancer when our four children were aged between 4 and 10 years and I was left to look after them, so I have an understanding of what it’s like to raise children on your own.”

"The pictures show the level of media interest upon our arrival at Albury, and the enjoyment Aden got from playing pilot in the left hand seat while the circus milled around the aircraft.

The flight went smoothly and uneventfully. Take-off was from 17 at Essendon. ATC provided vectors which afforded a magnificent view of the city during the turn to track back over the Melbourne VOR. Such departure procedures from Essendon are not uncommon but the turn back occurred further south than normal. I had a strong feeling that the departure controller entered into the spirit of Angel flying and gave us the most scenic route. If so, many thanks.

It was a smooth ride at 7000 with Aden in the front right hand seat and showing a lot of interest. But his eyes grew heavier and he was sound asleep as we passed over Strathbogie. He slept through the approach and woke up as we touched down - I hasten to add this wasn't a reflection of the landing. Not quite a"10" but okay for a Twin Comanche!

Aden showed great patience as two television crews and a team from the local newspaper had him pose repeatedly.

Kids don't miss much. While sitting in the pilot's seat he opened the storm window and called 'clear prop'."