Ben+Walmsley

Class of 2006

Ben Walmsley > 2000 – LOTE, English, Maths > 2001 – Science, Maths, Health & PE, LOTE > 2002 – English, Science, LOTE, Maths > 2003 – English, Science, Maths, SOSE __Further Education__
 * Key Learning Area (KLA) Achievement Awards for excellence in:
 * Junior boy school athletics champion (2000 & 2001),
 * Interschool under 15 boys athletics champion (2002),
 * Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Medallion (2002),
 * Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallion (2003),
 * South West Waste Award (2003) for assisting the schools Waste Wise program.
 * Clarke’s Pies Award (2005) for a student who displays a conscientious and diligent attitude in all aspects of college life.
 * Barwon South West Enterprise Award (2005) for an outstanding enterprise project as part of VCE Agriculture.
 * VCAL intermediate certificate (2005).
 * Sports House Captain 2005 and 2006
 * The “You Can Do It” award (2006) for a student demonstrating positive habits of the mind throughout the year.
 * Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE, 2006)

Certificate II in Building and Construction at TAFE.  Rotary Youth Exchange to Germany in 2004  Commercial Pilots Licence  Airline Transport Pilots Licence __Work History__ After completing my pilot training I began working with Sharp Airlines. I performed a whole number of different roles involved with the aviation industry. I spent 80% of my time flying as a First Officer on their Metroliner aircraft on the scheduled passenger airline service between Portland-Hamilton-Essendon and Portland-Avalon. This effectively means I was second in charge of the aircraft behind the captain. I would take it in turns with the captain to fly the aircraft, flying every second leg. If I wasn't the pilot flying then I would be the person operating the radios and reading the checklist items, talking to the passengers etc. The other 20% of the time I'd be flying a mix of single engine or small twin engined aircraft on either private chartered flights or doing aerial work such as aerial photography, firespotting or specialist services depending on the requirements of the client. Apart from hands on flying I also was responsible for liaising with the passengers to service their needs, checking them and their baggage in for the flight, and loading their baggage into the aircraft. I was also responsible for cleaning the aircraft to ensure it was presentable to the passengers. This involved washing, drying and polishing the aircraft by hand (that includes the wings!), cleaning the interior and caring for the leather seats. Current position: In February in 2009 I left Sharp and began working with Brindabella Airlines in Canberra. I have been with them now for over 17 months and fly almost entirely on their scheduled airline flights as a First Officer on their Metroliner aircraft. Occasionally we will fly charter flights wherever a client desires. Recently I have flown several international DJs between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, or tour groups around the country from Sydney to Darwin, Broome, Alice Springs, Ayres Rock and more.

__Career Ambitions__ My ambitions at this stage are to enjoy flying more regional routes for the next few years and to then move to one of the major airlines flying either domestically or internationally. I would love to live and work out of Europe or America for a few years at some point. Then again, if I was offered a position flying with the Royal Flying Doctors Service I think I'd enjoy that challenge too.

__Mortlake College Reflections__ My school memories are generally happy ones (except around exam times ;-) Getting involved in the school band for the yearly stage productions was one of the most fun and fond memories. I'd be happy to have any budding pilots or other interested students contact me. My email is wormza_03@hotmail.com