Scott Egan wins Queen’s honour

It’s not every day a local family receives news that one of their members has been awarded an honour from the Queen, but Tabilk’s Peter and Robyn Egan were delighted with the news that their son Scott was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

‘‘The award was well deserved recognition of his hard work over many years,’’ Peter said.

Scott received his award for ‘‘Outstanding leadership in establishing the foundation for the successful and rapid introduction of the C-27J Spartan aircraft capability, and his exceptional devotion to duty as the Number 35 Squadron Detachment Commander in the United States of America being of the Highest order.’’

The C-27J aircraft is replacing the old Caribou transport aircraft.

The C-27J will improve the Royal Australian Air Force’s ability to move people, equipment and supplies and has the capacity to carry significant loads and still land on remote airstrips.

Scott is currently a Wing Commander based in Alabama, United States, studying at the US Air Force Command and Staff College in Montgomery on a two-year assignment.

Scott was previously seconded to the US Air Force for two years and saw service in two deployments to Iraq.

Scott, his wife Amanda and their three children visited Peter and Robyn at their Tabilk property recently and returned to America last weekend.

Scott will complete his Masters studies over the next year and return to Australia in late 2018.

Congratulations to Scott on his worthy award for service to the Royal Australian Air Force and his country.

— Diane Grant