Arthur R. Birch
5A Mawson Court
Werrington County NSW 2747 1 St
June 2020.
Melissa McIntosh MP,
Federal Member for Lindsay
331 High Street,
Penrith NSW 2750
Reference: Nomination for Australia’s highest civilian Bravery Award ‘Cross of Valour’
Dear Melissa,
I refer to the above nomination for a ‘Cross of Valour’ Award as per the attached hard copy of the official nomination forms submitted electronically.
I have been asked by Fuzzy Maiava, a flight attendant (and citizen of New Zealand) on this flight who was severely injured to take up the challenge for recognition for Qantas Captain Kevin ‘Sully’ Sullivan (Ret.), First Officer Peter Lipsett, Second Officer Ross Hales, Customer Service Manager Diana Casey and also the petition.
Fuzzy Maiava has asked me to do so because of personal reasons and underlying medical conditions which prevent him from maintaining his challenge, also looking after his daughter who was severely injured in a motor vehicle accident some years ago.
Fuzzy Maiava posted up an update on his petition page at Change.org, (in which I now control on behalf of Fuzzy Maiava) where the PM’s assistant Minister Ben Morton MP says,
“...with regards to the possibility of review or reconsideration by the Australian Bravery Awards Council. I understand that this would only occur where new evidence is able to be provided. If Mr. Maiava has any new evidence that was not included in his original nomination, he may like to send it to the Official Secretary.”
I would insist that you share this letter and the official Australian Bravery Awards nomination forms I have personally completed with the PM’s assistant Minister Hon Ben Morton MP, Prime Minister of Australia, Hon Scott Morrison MP, and Official Secretary to the Governor General’s office as specified by Mr. Ben Morton.
I would ask you as my elected member of the Federal seat of Lindsay, NSW and a long-time resident of 60 years, in the Penrith area to ask the PM’s assistant minister Hon Mr. Ben Morton MP, what new evidence does he need?
Does he know of, or is he aware of the REAL safety record to which I have alluded to in my comments, and does he want to be assistant minister to the PM if and when a real incident does occur, and I would hope he says, the same as I would expect him to and that would be, “Not" in my lifetime thank you”.
Is this sufficient to show NEW EVIDENCE to which the assistant Minister has alluded to or do we need to wait ‘till after the horse has bolted before we shut the gate,’ now is the time to act M/s McIntosh and I would expect your acknowledgment letter of this request to be forwarded to me at your earliest convenience.
If my comments regarding the history of QANTAS, since 1920 and its REAL Safety Record are alarming to you then they should be, and if anyone of the Ministers in this Parliament who fly on Qantas regularly, they should all be ashamed not to recognise Captain Sullivan and his crew, including Off Duty Qantas Customer Service Manager Diana Mary Casey for a ‘Cross of Valour’ award for their actions on October 7th 2008 in which 315 passengers and crews lives were saved. 119 passengers and crew were injured with 12 seriously injured.
I would ask this of you Melissa, do we really need to wait till there is a disaster and a loss of up to 300 – 400 lives on modern-day large jet aircraft in this day and age, just to satisfy the traveling public that all the hype surrounding the loss of life in a jet incident was only a myth.
Don’t just pass this letter onto the appropriate offices' Melissa, read it all, including my comments before doing so and next time you fly on a Qantas aircraft think about my comments, (...that the next time I personally get onboard a Qantas Aircraft or flight, that I personally want to know that the crew flying the aircraft have everyone’s best interest onboard in their ability to fly and land safely.)
https://www.change.org/p/qantas-forgotten-heroes-of-qantas-flight-qf72
Sincerely I await your reply.
Arthur R. Birch
June 1, 2020