By JO HARRISON
THE highland town of Guyra has not forgotten the loss of two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, who died when their F-111 aircraft tragically crashed in a solitary field west of the township while conducting a routine night training mission on 13 September, 1993.
A moving 20th anniversary memorial service took place last Sunday in Guyra attended by family members of Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Jeremy (“Jez”) McNess and FLTLT Mark (“CC”) Cairns-Cowan, members of the Guyra community and Royal Australian Air Force officers from No 1 Squadron (the oldest in the RAAF).
Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Shannon McGuckin from No 1 Squadron paid tribute to the community of Guyra who have kept alive the memory of two of the Royal Australian Air Force’s finest airmen.
“This was a tragic loss of two very talented aviators who had a bright future ahead of them,” FLTLT Shannon McGuckin said.
“It is important that we remember their sacrifice and service and I thank the Guyra community for their ongoing support.”
Mother of Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Jeremy (“Jez”) McNess, Jan McNess expressed her gratitude to Guyra for its ongoing support. Despite the passing of 20 years, she remains aggrieved and emotional but said her grief had always been lessened when she sees how it is shared by the community of Guyra.
Father of FLTLT Mark (“CC”) Cairns-Cowan, Jim recalled what it was like to be flown up to the crash site by the RAAF and the utter devastation he witnessed.
“When we were taken to the crash site it was completely desolate, you could see the wreckage of the plane scattered for about five square kilometres,” Mr Cairns-Cowan said.
“For many years after the crash when we travelled through Guyra I could feel the pain of loss and just couldn’t wait until we got further up the highway. I never thought I could go back to the town.
“Finally we had a memorial dedication in 2000 and the way we were looked after just made us realise the love and support we had from the Guyra community and from then on we were really at ease with coming back to the town.”
A memorial service and dedication of two plaques, one in front of the Guyra Shire Council building, and the other at the actual crash site was held on 16-17 May 2000.
The crash site memorial is beneath a large gumtree in a cleared grazing paddock off Neewarra Road. The memorials were organised by the Guyra Shire Council.
The RAAF No. 1 Squadron’s Wing Commander Murray Jones said the memorialising and remembrance efforts of those in the Guyra community had been greatly appreciated by the air force. He gave the example of the two local police officers and local business people who recently pitched in to restore the crash site memorial, which had gotten overgrown and weathered. “What we see here in Guyra means a great deal to those serving with us today,” Wing Commander Jones said.
The memorial service concluded with a low-level fly-over by an FA-18 Hornet, with many in the crowd lining the streets finding the solitary roar emotionally stirring.
