Moonta's own "Father of the RAAF"

A CELEBRATION like no other to recognise the special achievements of one of Moonta’s own will be held this Sunday, November 7.

The Sir Richard Williams RAAF Centenary Celebrations will mark the 100th anniversary of the formation of the modern Royal Australian Air Force and the role a Moonta local had in its establishment.

Sir Richard Williams was born to Richard and Emily Williams (nee Hodge) in Moonta on August 3, 1890, and attended Moonta Public School before working as a telegraph messenger at the Moonta Post Office, a greengrocer and for the Union Bank.

At the age of 19, Williams enlisted in the South Australian Infantry Regiment in Kadina.

On the formation of an army aviator corps he was accepted as a member of the first pilots’ course at Point Cook, Victoria.

Sir Richard, then 24, was the first student to begin flying training, and was the first to gain his wings.

He served with No. 1 Squadron (Australian Flying Corps) in World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in August 1917 for conspicuous gallantry when attacking enemy forces and rescuing a pilot behind enemy lines.

By the end of the war, Sir Richard was the AFC’s leading operational commander.

Sir Richard was instrumental in the formation of the RAAF in 1921 and was the first Chief of Air Staff for the RAAF — he would eventually rise to the rank of Air Marshal and retired after World War II.

He led the Department of Civil Aviation after leaving the armed forces and was knighted in 1954. Sir Richard died, aged 89 years, in Melbourne on February 7, 1980.

PLANNING TAKES TIME

THE Sir Richard Williams RAAF Centenary Celebrations Committee started planning a whole-town celebration in 2019.

Celebrations were initially organised to coincide with the official 100th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Australian Air Force in August but were postponed due to COVID-19.

Organisers set a goal to raise $75,000 to fund a bronze statue of Sir Richard and install it in Queen Square to mark the milestone.

Community groups, individuals, businesses and the state government all contributed money for the works, created by Tim Thomson, and installed last week.

Her Excellency, Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, will officially unveil the statue at the celebrations in Queen Square, on Sunday, November 7.

Dr Robert Black AM, president of the Air Force Association SA, will read aloud a poem written by centenary committee chairperson Robyn Knight and unveil a plaque thanking those who supported the venture.

Copper Coast Council mayor Roslyn Talbot said it was an honour to work with the RAAF, state government and local committee on such auspicious celebrations.

“Relatives, officers and state representatives have been in contact to express their gratitude for this celebration and the mountain of work that has been put into organising this celebration by everyone involved,” she said.

“The Sir Richard Williams RAAF Centenary Celebrations Committee has made this day possible through their passion to honour a Moonta hero in the heart of the town and now everyone who visits will know his achievements and contributions to aviation and the nation.

“We encourage everyone to come down, join in on the celebrations and learn about the life and times of Sir Richard Williams and his strong connections with Moonta and the RAAF.”