It's been more than 20 years since former Parkes man Air Vice Marshall Leigh Gordon AO, CSM has stepped foot in Parkes.
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And over the weekend he was the town's special guest speaker for Anzac Day, an invitation he said was a great opportunity, especially given the year.
2021 marks centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force and with Air Vice Marshall Gordon's background, it was very fitting he was our special guest.
Air Vice Marshall Gordon took the opportunity to visit his old stomping ground Parkes High School on Friday with his wife Adele, where he spoke to students.
He also visited the Parkes Radio Telescope and, upon his request, the Parkes HARS Aviation Museum at the Parkes Airport on Saturday.
Following his talk with students on Friday, members of the SRC escorted Air Vice Marshall Gordon and Adele on a tour of the grounds, which they enjoyed sharing some memories and yarns, and how the school looked when he attended.
"It's changed a little but a lot is the same," he said.
Air Vice Marshall Gordon attended Parkes High from 1976 to 79 when he graduated in Year 12.
He joined the air force in 1982 after his time as a cadet civil engineer with Goobang Shire Council and then Parkes Shire Council after its amalgamation.
Air Vice Marshall Gordon's father and his job at the DMR, Department of Main Roads - now known as the Roads and Maritime Services - was what brought him and his brother Mark to Parkes.
The last time Air Vice Marshall Gordon was in Parkes, he said, was for a school reunion in 1999.
"It's good to see you've got a lot of pride in your school," he said to the students at the end of the tour.
"Parkes has a very strong aviation heritage... It's a great opportunity to be here."
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