Speeches
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Farewell and welcome to Senior Air Force Representatives
As patron of the Air Force Association South Australia branch, it is my great pleasure and Rod’s to join you on this occasion.
I thank the association for organising today’s event and bringing together stakeholders and friends across defence, veterans, government, aerospace and other fields.
Today we mark the transition of the Senior Air Force Representative, and in particular, we thank Air Commodore Maso for his service in this role over the past two years.
Air Commodore Maso has served as Commander Air Warfare Centre, Senior ADF Officer Edinburgh Defence Precinct, and Senior Air Force Representative South Australia, balancing these roles with great skill.
He has focused the Air Warfare Centre into a more operationally oriented unit, ready for the challenges of Australia’s geostrategic environment and the evolving threats to our national security – a ‘secret sauce’ for our Air Force, if you will!
Under Air Commodore Maso’s leadership, the Air Force has maintained a strong focus on community engagement, particularly with respect to commemorations, indigenous engagement, community support and veteran support in the Adelaide area.
As Governor it has been my great pleasure to get to know Air Commodore Maso through his attendance at Government House, Rod’s and my attendance at defence events, and other community activities.
Rod and I in my role as Honorary Air Commodore of the City of Adelaide No. 24 Squadron are appreciative of the warm welcome we always receive from him at Air Force events, most recently during Rod’s and my recent visit to RAAF Edinburgh in November, where we were grateful to be shown the new Keeping Place and Indigenous War Memorial.
It has been my pleasure to welcome Air Commodore Maso as a guest at the Government House investiture ceremonies for defence recipients of Australian Honours.
It has been Rod’s pleasure to get to know you personally, Adrian, and be able to vouch for your barbecuing skills.
Air Commodore Maso, I congratulate you on your many achievements over the past two years.
Your astute nature, skill with people, and capacity to see how your work fits into the bigger picture are admired by many in the defence community, and beyond.
I thank you for your contribution to our state and Rod and I wish you, Kylie and your children all the best as you head to Canberra for a new role in Defence Intelligence.
Air Commodore Fifield, welcome to the role of Senior Air Force Representative.
I trust you will perform the role with distinction, as Air Commodore Maso has done, and I look forward to working with you during your posting.