Coming Home by Coplu (Coplu.com)
I am happy, honoured and surprised to have been appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia, by the Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) for “significant service to the aviation industry both nationally and internationally, particularly for flight safety, and to the community”.
Five years after QF32, I am still very proud of the positive experiences that have come from that remarkable team effort. It’s my privilege to travel and talk about personal and corporate resilience and safety in our new and future world of high tech change, risk, perfect storms and black swan events.
Nancy-Bird Walton
ICAO Headquarters, Montreal, Canada
Today Coral and I are in Montreal, Canada as guests of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). I have been asked to deliver the inaugural RAeS “Nancy-Bird Walton Lecture” as part of the Australia Day celebrations. I am very proud to present to the absolute pinnacle governing body for the World’s aviation and to talk about one of Australia’s greatest aviatrices. Australians should be proud the RAeS’s second of two named lectures is dedicated to Nancy-Bird.
Coral and I are proud to give service to the community.
We are honoured to be the Patrons of Disabled WinterSport Australia (DWA). DWA is a remarkable organisation that provides inspired programs, services and opportunities on the snow for people with disabilities to realise their full potential. With the help of thousands of volunteers and your support we hope to improve DWA’s services to help even more people.
I am also the Patron of the Uiver DC2 Memorial Community Trust that is trying to restore the Uiver DC2 and give respect to the crew of the Uiver of 1933, KLM and the people of Albury, New South Wales.
Coral and I assist the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security (AGSPS), Charles Sturt University where we discuss leadership, crisis management and post traumatic stress. We help other worthy charities.
Andy Green discussing his 1997 ThrustSSC world record.
I am also a passionate Ambassador for STEMnet UK, supporting Andy Green and his 130 percent world record breaking Bloodhound Supersonic Car.
I do not do these activities on my own. Many people in many teams help me along the way. These people deserve recognition before me. Nevertheless I feel extremely fortunate to receive this award.
Thank you Australia.
Media
QF32 
Congratulations from Montréal Captain De Crespigny! You are a true hero, one who commands respect! You really deserve this award!
Thank you Philippe. A win is a team win, so I only accept your thanks on behalf of the 8 teams that saved QF32 and the extensive teams that drive the wonderful charities I proudly support (and that need your help!): (DWA, Uiver Restoration Trust, St Vincent’s and the Centenary Institute.)
Congratulations, Richard (and Coral!)! So many of us have enjoyed your sharing of your love of aviation. And also for all the community work that you have both done since QF32.
With best wishes, Mandy
Happy Australia Day and congratulations to Richard on his Order of Australia!
Richard delivered a terrific lecture at ICAO HQ in Montreal, complete with sound effects of the alarms and screen shots of the cascading ECAMS that flooded in during The Incident.
He really brought the book alive for me. For emphasis he walked back and forth on a long, narrow ledge of the stage and for a while I was nervous he might fall off but no worries, he remained upright, just like NBW, and acknowledged a standing ovation.
Happily, Richard brought Coral with him and she kindly autographed her picture in QF32 for me before I rushed off to catch a bus back home to Ottawa.
Tom
Tom thank you for travelling so far and for just one evening. Coral and I were very pleased to meet you. We are glad you enjoyed the night. Rich
Congratulations !!
Capt Rich
Heard your interview this morning with Chris Smith – great stuff and congratulations – see you at the next Rorters lunch
Best Wishes
Fuss
Congratulations,
The honour is well deserved. And of all the people that nominated you for it I feel it would be hard to think of a better man to do it for, as well of a better man to deserve it.
I am surprised that nobody from QF did not make the step to nominate you. Perhaps it is just the sign of times as what and how QF is going throu…
Again congratulations
Peter J Cesnik
PS – Perhaps Coral should get one to for putting up with you and standing by you (holding you up) all these years (ha ha ha)
Thank you Peter. You caught the essence to a happy life.
Family life, like business life is all based around teamwork.
I could not have achieved any of these things without Coral’s help. She definitely deserves a medal!
Congratulation Richard!!!…
I have tweeted and updated my network (now up to 27,000 followers of my blog in LinkedIn).
Have a wonderful Australia Day!
Tony J. Hughes Keynote Speaker, Best Selling Author, B2B Social Selling Commentator #1 Sales Influencer in Asia-Pacific interview here: https://bit.ly/1R6pljy Follow my blog here: https://www.linkedin.com/today/posts/hughestony YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/RSVPselling/videos Phone: (+61) 0418-360-510 | Skype: RSVPtony | Twitter: rsvpselling e-mail: tony@RSVPselling.com | Website: https://rsvpselling.com/ LinkedIn: http://au.linkedin.com/in/hughestony/
Congratulations Richard. Not only for your sterling, professional efforts with QF32 but for all the educational and patronage endeavours since.
Congratulations on the AM, Richard. Dad would be so proud.
Good on you ,congratulation,Richard.
Sent from Windows Mail
Hi Richard, Big congratulations on your AM.
You’ve gone from working for one GG to receiving an Award from another. Bet you never thought that would happen.
Interesting that you’re in Canada, I have been here in Kingston On. with my wife for the last five months with a further six to go before we return home to Melbourne.
How’s you knowledge on hovercraft? I found a local who has two and doesn’t know how to fly them. They are both bigger than the one I have at home. Just random thoughts that I liked to share.
Regards Reece Isaac
Richard,
Congratulations.
Brgds
Ken
Congratulations Richard! Thoroughly deserved…