THE FOUR OLD SCHOLARS IN WHOSE MEMORY THE TENISON WOODS COLLEGE FLYERS AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED

• Lt. Anthony (Tony) Casadio (2018 Tenison Woods College Shining Light Award Recipient) 

Tony had already proved himself as a leader during his school years as captain of sports teams, being captain of the First X1 cricket team. He was also Senior Athletics Champion and had done well in his academic studies. Tony was a highly decorated pilot of the Vietnam War. He was in the unique position of flying helicopters in a combined Australian American Group. For his heroic efforts on surviving a helicopter crash landing after being shot down in enemy territory, earned him an American citation. However, Tony and his crew did not survive the second crash landing and he and his crew of three were killed in action in August 1968, when Tony was 23 years of age. Tony has numerous awards including his own monument in the Washington Aeronautical and Space Museum, USA plus honoured in numerous other locations. Tony was the second highest Australia RAN casualty in Vietnam. Tony was buried here in Mount Gambier with full military honours.

• John David Friedrichs RAAF

John left Marist Brothers College in the early 1960s. He trained to become a priest, prior to becoming a jet fighter pilot and after time flying, including a tour of Vietnam, he became a member of the legendary Roulettes team, flying Mirage Jets. Tragically, John died in February 1974, aged 26 years, flying a French Mirage Jet whilst practising a manoeuvre for the Roulettes. Twnety-three of Australia’s Mirage Jets crashed with John being the ninth pilot to be killed. John was buried in Mount Gambier with full military honours, with a flyover by the Roulettes with his number three position left unfilled. (Sadly his younger brother also died whilst flying and both boys left a pregnant wife.)

• Reginald Van Leuven

Reg was a boy from Naracoorte, and was a boarder at Marist Brothers College, attending a year level below Anthony Casadio. On leaving school, Reg worked in a bank for 12 months prior to joining the Air Force. Reg obtained his flying licence before he could drive a motor vehicle. Tragically, Reg died in a helicopter accident while doing rescue work in the 1974 Queensland floods. The Naracoorte Aerodrome was named after him, along with a dedication plaque.

• Captain Errol Kavanagh RANEM

Errol attended Marist Brothers College, with the leaving class being 1960. He was a pilot with 20 years’ experience including tours of Vietnam war and was naval captain of several Australian Naval vessels. Leaving the service, he flew jumbo jets which he described as flying an armchair. Missing the thrill of speed, he then started flying a privately owned MIG fighter at charity events. In 1993 in Canberra he crashed shortly after take-off and he and his passenger were killed. Errol was aged 48 years. On the adjacent oval where perhaps he could have landed 2000 people were playing sport that day. Witnesses say he altered height to keep away from the oval. The extra time in the air caused the plane to catch fire. Many newspaper reports of the day called him a hero. This oval is now named the Errol Kavanagh Memorial Oval in remembrance of his heroic efforts.