CREIGHTON'S Creek resident Mark Carr attended Euroa's late morning ANZAC Day service for only a few a seconds, but his presence was well–noticed – he was up far above in his Winjeel, a 1959 Australian military training plane, performing a tributary flyover that has been his tradition for the last five years.
Ceremony attendees heard the plane's loud, deep burble during the wreath laying and raised their heads to see the yellow tipped and winged warbird over VC Memorial Park.
That deep burble, described by Mr Carr as a "throaty roar", is something the 65–year–old former military and commercial pilot loves about the Winjeel, one of two functioning vintage military planes he owns.
He keeps the Winjeel and his other plane, a 1939 de Havilland Moth Minor, at the Benalla Aviation Museum and Men's Shed where he is vice president.
Mr Carr said the Winjeel, named from an Indigenous word meaning "young eagle", has a particular resonance on ANZAC Day.
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"These were in service from the 1960s right through to the mid–1980s, so they trained hundreds and hundreds, possibly thousands of army air force and navy pilots," he said.
This included pilots who defended Australia during the Cold War.
"The Cold War was a significant period in world history and these aircraft were part of it," he said.
"They're our heritage."
As an Australian designed and manufactured plane, the Winjeel also serves as a record of Australia's once thriving aircraft manufacturing industry.
"That's all finished," Mr Carr said somewhat sadly.
"We sell each other Maccas and dig up iron ore and that's all we do – we don't make anything anymore."
Mr Carr is happier when the discussion turns to his background as a pilot.
"I built my first model aeroplane when I was about eight and I just got addicted to aviation," he said.
At 18 he joined the navy, at 21 he was flying planes and at 24 he was a jet instructor.
After eight years in the navy and three years in the air force, he worked for 28 years as a commercial pilot at Cathay Pacific Airlines, 16 of which he spent living in Hong Kong before moving to Victoria.
Mr Carr explained living and working overseas for 16 years is how he was able to afford his planes, which needed "deep pockets" to purchase.
"I just can't get it out of my system," he said.
"You know, I've devoted a lot of money and time to this and it's just a pleasure – I just don't see myself doing anything else."
Pending the weather and the condition of his aircraft, Mr Carr plans to continue his ANZAC Day flyover for many years to come.
So, next year on ANZAC Day, do not be alarmed at hearing the Winjeel's throaty roar or seeing its bright yellow colour – remember it is just Mr Carr, doing what he was born to do.
