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Ken Broomhead OAM, MAP, FRAeS
Present
Awarded the OAM for His Services to the Aviation Industry
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Family History
Ken was brought up on his parents coffee plantation in the New Guinea Highlands.
His father had been there in the RAAF in World War Two, and was a member of MING (Masons In New Guinea).
Education at boarding schools was only negative aspect of life in New Guinea.
He married in 1968 and took his wife Annette (a medical practitioner) back to New Guinea. She became a medical officer there- a job not without its challenges. They had two daughters and four grandchildren.
Ken and his family moved to Australia to further his airline career, initially moving to Brisbane and then Melbourne in 1980 to take up the
opportunity of a command. Subsequently International Flying involved moving to Singapore. Regretfully the romance of International Flying has a downside, which was an almost constant time away from home.
He moved to Wangaratta upon his retirement from flying and wife’s illness, joining the Wangaratta lodge of St John at the first opportunity.
His partner Lili, who is with him today, cared for Annette late in her life.
Ken’s family have A long involvement with Freemasonry.
His great grandfather was a Mason and a ships Master on the UK Australia run in the 1850s and settled upon retirement in Geelong.
His Grandfather, also a Mason was Mayor of Glenelg during World War One. His two uncles were very involved, both spending time in Grand Lodge.
His uncle Ted was captured at Tobruk and subsequently wrote to book “Barbed Wire in the Sunset” which was used as informative material post war by the Atrocities Commission.
His other uncle (Doug) was a bomber pilot, who was shot down in August 1942 and spent nearly three years in the infamous Stalag Luft 3. A couple a points of interest are that he shared a room with Squadron Leader Kirby Green who was deputy chief of the “Great Escape” and was subsequently shot. a number of the navigators also in the camp, sparked an interest in the law in Doug which resulted in him becoming a successful Barrister after the war.
Masonic History
New Guinea had a large masonic community and Ken was Initiated Passed and Raised in Mount Hagen New Guinea Lodge number 508 of the Queensland constitution in 1968, the year his father was Worshipful Master. Ken is to this day a Life Member of that Lodge.
When possible he still visits New Guinea regularly to assist with the Installations.
He was Installed as Worshipful Master of Tamborine Lodge number 356 Queensland Constitution in 1980. His father being the Installing Master. Of interest, the Grand Lodge representative, Right Worshipful Brother Catt was a Judge in the Queensland judicial system.
Ken was Perfected in the 18th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in 1978, this being in the English Constitution. His international
Flying provided great opportunities of visiting Chapters and Councils, the ritual being almost identical worldwide. He took up an almost full time involvement in Freemasonry after his working retirement and was granted 33rd degree rank upon taking up a 5 year commitment as District Commander NSW South Coast. This was completed recently and he is mightily looking forward to returning to the joys and challenges of Craft Masonry.
Work History
New Guinea was built on gold, coconut and coffee plantations and was very much a country built by aeroplanes. Ken commenced flying THERE in the 1960s in Missionary then Charter operations before flying the mighty DC3 around New Guinea as a co-pilot to war time captains, and to this day speaks of this as a highlight in his career.
He moved to Australia to further his airline career, initially based in Brisbane, then moving to Melbourne in 1980 to take up a command.
He flew most of the aircraft types in Ansett rising to Fleet Manager of the Boeing 747 aircraft, then moving to Singapore Airlines on the Boeing 777.
He was seconded to South America and Air New Zealand International during this period as part of management training.
He has maintained a life time interest in Flying Instruction and many happy years were had as a voluntary flying instructor with the RAAF Air Cadets mainly at Amberley in Queensland.
Ken was awarded the OAM for Services to the Aviation Industry. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and A Master Air Pilot