Beyond the fun ceremony of a ‘specially decorated cake, wheeled in – complete with an accompanying bagpiper, and escorted by one of the most long-standing and one of the newest volunteers at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum; those gathered to mark the museum’s 30th anniversary were reminded of, likely, the most important part of the museum’s success.
Major Allan Baillie, with 14 Wing Greenwood’s Deputy Wing Commander Branch, worked as the wing’s heritage officer for five years, from a museum office.
“Talk about job satisfaction, and what always comes to mind with this place was the people here (the gathered volunteers and museum staff), but also the people who come in to visit,” he said. “There would be days I’d be leaving, and there’d be a family in the parking lot. I’d be in no rush, so I’d go back in and get the keys, let the kids crawl through the Hercules and up into the cockpit….
“Don’t forget the people who come through the doors.”
14 Wing Honorary Colonel Bill Ricketts, with time spent at both 405 (Long Range Patrol) Squadron and as wing operations officer during the 1980s and 1990s, was the co-chair of the museum committee as it was growing out of its space in the former wing library (now VP International).
“It’s all grown since, all very impressive, and it was my pleasure to work with the museum,” he said, “and to see all the people here today and rekindle friendships.”
Major-General (retired) Ian Patrick, the chairman of the museum society, has been with the museum beyond this 30-year anniversary, as it was first registered with Joint Stocks 32 years ago as the Maritime Military Aviation Museum Society. The Royal Canadian Air Force Association membership then had a large role in getting the momentum going and, the first museum – 1,100 square feet in the now-VPI building opened in 1995, quickly outgrew its space and was able to move down the hill into freed-up Canex Mall space. The outdoor display airpark, a commemorative garden, a museum annex; plus workspace for restorations and display development, acquisitions storage, expanded interior displays, a library and a gift shop have all been added since.
“We all know why we have a museum – history and heritage is so important, and so easy to forget,” Patrick said. “Younger people need to know where we came from.”
He thanked volunteers who have all had a hand in archiving, educational tours, restoration work, fundraising, special events, project development – “so dedicated, so important, and so critical. People like you, and your predecessors, everyone came here with an interest, did the work, and something was accomplished – no matter what they did.
“We all became part of a much larger family, and this is why I’m still here – because of you. I hope you’ve all had the joy I’ve had.”
