By Jessica Micallef
Gisborne’s James Lindsay has been recognised for his dedication to local volunteering and his
work as a pilot.
Mr Lindsay has been appointed an officer of the Order of Australia in this year’s Australia Day Honours List.
Mr Lindsay, 80, said although it was humbling to receive the Order of Australia medal, he said he wouldn’t have achieved the honour without the support from family and friends.
“I’m a small cog in a big system,” he said.
“It’s not me individually. It’s the … people that I have been working with over the years.”
Mr Lindsay spent 10 years between 1989 and 1999 as a pilot with Emirates after spending time in the air force.
“I didn’t have any other qualifications so I joined the air force and they taught me to fly,” he said. “I had six years in the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) and then I went to Papua New Guinea with Missionary Aviation.
“My time finished up there and I came back and joined TAA (Trans Australia Airlines).
“In 1989, there was a rather serious industrial ructions which I found myself in the Middle East. I had 10 years in Dubai … and I came home in 1999.
“I loved the job, I love flying. I loved working with people.”
Closer to home, Mr Lindsay was elected as a councillor in 1979 to the Gisborne Shire council where he remained until 1982.
My Lindsay was on the Board of Governors for Braemar College in Woodend. He was also involved with the 1st Gisborne Scouts and has spent time volunteering at Macedon Ranges Health.
