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I felt pretty lucky working my way through school, as I knew what I wanted to do; join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an Armament Fitter. Armament Fitters were a specific trade that dealt with aircraft weapons, explosive demolition and aircraft ejection systems. I love military aircraft, so was constantly reading books on the subject and utilising my artistic talents to re-draw poster sized versions from books. It's ok to be passionate about your interests.

I was able to stay out of trouble and managed to enlist in the RAAF, watched every movie I could about military basic training, exercised and ran like a whippet preparing for the worst, then I went through basic and technical training at the RAAF School of Technical Training in Wagga Wagga NSW. A definite challenge, but I made top of my class for theory and second in practical. Try hard and you will get there.

I was able to choose my first posting and being an SA boy at heart, I chose Adelaide, specifically the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) which was great as it had a multitude of different aircraft types, from trainers, to a couple of F-18's and even a Huey helicopter. This then led on to the complexity and progression offered working at a dedicated F-18 squadron, as I transferred to No 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) based in Newcastle, NSW.

2OCU is a very busy unit that prepares pilots via intensive 6 month courses, upskilling them for different roles at a regular fighter squadron. I met my wife Yolande in Newcastle, got married, and was comfortable with my new state & new challenges - change is OK.

Long service came and went, then something else happened - the opportunity to work for a US military contracting company in the middle east, instructing and advising Kuwaiti Air Force technicians. I was nervous as I made the commitment to leave the security and support of life in the military, and we headed overseas to the Middle East for 2 years. Be confident in your abilities when you take a risk.

While in Kuwait I started thinking about the future, what interested me, and where Yolande and I could end up. I started taking computing courses, one after the other as they can become a form of entertainment when you are away from home, until I had 15 under my belt from various vendors, like Microsoft & Cisco. Don't forget to continue learning for your future when you can!

After a couple of years, family became a priority, so we headed back to Australia and closer to our family as we decided to begin our own. We left the Middle East on September 13, 2001 (just two days after the September 11 attacks) - timing is everything. Always be grateful for what you have.

My qualifications were enough to get me a start working for local firm Green Triangle Electronics, where my learning rapidly expanded as I put the previously theoretical knowledge to practical use working with their customers. Remember to ask questions and learn all you can from those around you.

After 5 years, the opportunity to become a member of the Tenison Woods College ICT department team arose, working alongside the manager and trainee. It was a fast learning curve as we had some difficult challenges to face less than a month after I started. Support from CESA (Catholic Education SA) and the school enabled things to get back on track as new team members and myself worked towards making some changes, and I took on the role of ICT Manager. From then on I have seen things go from strength to strength as the school's capabilities have grown to provide opportunities that were not there when I started. You can work through problems when things seem impossible and there is always support available.

Life's events suddenly add up to something bigger – something that you can hopefully feel proud of and pass your life’s learning onto the next generation.

The successes, struggles and failures in my life have made me who I am, shaped my responses in difficult times, and given me experience to teach others what I have learned. They all add up - but no single event has defined who I am as a person. No single event - such as SACE, a sport grand final, or performance – can define who you are – it is merely a stepping stone to the greatness you will achieve and the people you will touch in your life as you let your light shine.

Colin Langford  | ICT Manager

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