2 January 2025
On a visit to RAAF Base Edinburgh in November last year, the Governor of South Australia Frances Adamson and her husband, Rod Bunten, engaged with personnel, met with units and saw places of significance.
As an honorary Air Commodore of 24 (City of Adelaide) Airbase Operations Squadron, Ms Adamson, along with Mr Bunten, has a close relationship with Air Force in South Australia and the couple regularly attend Air Force commemorations throughout the year.
Ms Adamson visited the new RAAF Base Edinburgh Keeping Place, which was opened during NAIDOC Week last year. She and her husband also laid a wreath at the Indigenous War Memorial, visited the military working dogs and saw a weapons display and firing by 24 Squadron Security Flight.
Commanding Officer 24 Squadron Wing Commander Craig Keane presented Ms Adamson with a new 24 Squadron cap and patch for her general purpose uniform.
Ms Adamson was a special guest at a RAAF Base Edinburgh Women’s Integrated Networking Groups (WINGS) session where she spoke to female aviators about her experiences navigating leadership and career progression in traditionally male-dominated fields, overcoming challenges and representing Australia in the diplomatic service.
As the daughter of South Australia’s third female state Member of Parliament, a former Ambassador to China and Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ms Adamson offered invaluable lessons and observations to the group.
RAAF Base Edinburgh WINGS Coordinator Flight Lieutenant Louise Glendon gave Ms Adamson a copy of a recent Air Force publication about women in the Air Force – Changing Altitudes.
“It was an incredible experience sitting down with Her Excellency and speaking firsthand about her experiences and how she overcame challenges to become one of Australia’s most respected public servants. She was so inspiring,” Flight Lieutenant Glendon said.
At the Air Warfare Centre, Ms Adamson announced Flight Sergeant Kristy Nichols, of the Tactics and Training Directorate, as the inaugural winner of the Air Warfare Centre Warfighter of the Year Award.
The award is named after Squadron Leader David Shannon, a South Australian Bomber Command veteran who completed 69 missions in Bomber Command including flying in the famous Dambusters Raid.
Being present for the announcement and providing part of the prize was resonant for Mr Bunten, whose father was a wireless operator/air gunner in the Royal Air Force flying Short Stirling and Lancaster bombers in Bomber Command in WW2.
Ms Adamson ended the day by participating in a town hall meeting with 150 RAAF Base Edinburgh executives, sharing and discussing her experiences as a diplomat in Asia and Europe and the role of the ADF in national security strategy.
