THE FLIGHT FOR CANCER FIGHT EVENT IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATION.

General meetings are held once every 3 months.

TEAM LEADER

Pilot – Mick Sullivan (Sully)

Mick was born in Ringwood VIC 1956. Mick being part of an Army family travelled to Malaysia and Papua New Guinea as a kid. He joined the Regular Army in January 1976 and discharged from the regular Army in 2008 after 32 years having served in the Sinai with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) and in East Timor with the International Force East Timor (INTERFET). He has also served with OP Resolute in the Northern Territory. Currently he serves as a Reservist with the Personal Parachute Safety System cell (PPSS) at the Parachute Training School, Nowra. In addition is also a member of the South Nowra Rotary club. Mick received his Microlight pilots licence in 2007. He formed the Flight for Cancer Fight fundraiser in 2010.

TEAM MEMBERS

Pilot – Jonathan Kick (Footy)

Jonathan was born in Manly NSW 1976. Jonathan joined the Royal Australian Navy after completing year 12. He was posted to 817 Squadron and worked on the Sea King helicopter on and off for 12 years. Jonathan has served in East Timor and the Solomon Islands and was involved in the rescues during the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. He has been lucky enough to carry out two 3 year training / Instruction positions where he achieved a degree in Adult Education through the University of Technology Sydney. Jonathan is currently working with 808 Squadron on the MRH90 helicopter as a Senior Maintenance Coordinator. In Early 2010 he completed his training in the Hunter Valley for his Microlight pilot’s licence. Jonathan has been married for 9 years and has 3 children.

Advance Party - Anne Bushby

After leaving High school Anne studied and became a Registered Nurse for 36 Years. She now is working in the family business specialising in Wedding Expos and advertising. She is married and has 2 boys. Anne is the sister of Michael.

Photographer / Video – Michael Mariner

Michael has lived in Bankstown/Chipping Norton areas all his life. Michael did his trade as Pastry cook/Chef before joining Grace Bros as Restaurant Manager. He later changed to retail in Grace Bros/Myers where he worked for 32 years before recently retiring. He has been married for 40years and has 2 children and 2 grandchildren. He has been involved in Scouting and has been a Group Leader for Chipping Norton Scout group. One of his interests is photography and some of his photos have been made into cards for this fundraiser. Michael is a survivor of Kidney Cancer and is committed to raising funds to help find a cure for cancer. He is an original member of Flight for Cancer Fight 2010 team.

Chef – Robyn Mariner

Robyn grew up in the St George area and moved to Bankstown /Chipping Norton after marrying Michael 40 years ago. She trained as Pathology Laboratory Technician and worked at Sydney, Bankstown and Granville TAFE and later worked in high school science at Moorebank and Holsworthy for over 30 years until retiring in 2011. She has been involved in school musicals, OH&S and training Science Assistants. Robyn loves cooking and was the chef in the 2010 fundraiser where after she published a recipe book which is for sale to raise funds for FFCF 2012. Her other interests are travel, dressmaking, craft, art, music, reading and people. Robyn is the wife of Michael Mariner. She has been involved in schools, sporting and Scouting and Guide activities. Robyn is also an original member of Flight for Cancer Fight 2010 team.

Medic – Lee Rowe

Lee will be one of two medics for the Flight for Cancer Fight event. Lee has extensive medical knowledge. She has done Ambulance studies in Darwin and taught first aid throughout the aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Lee has taught at the Bomaderry TAFE for 7 years and is a volunteer with St John Ambulance. Lee is a 4 time cancer survivor and has lost both parents and grandparents to Cancer. Lee is married and has 3 children and 1 grandchild.

Medic – Tracey Reader

Tracey is the other medic for the event. She was born and grew up in the Armidale and Coffs Harbour area. She has worked for a health fund for 4 years and is a volunteer with St John Ambulance. She has the Senior and Advanced First Aid and Advanced Life Support Qualifications. She is about to do her Advanced Responder Course and is training to become a paramedic. Tracey is married and has 2 sons and 1 stepson and a menagerie of animals. Tracey’s father passed away from cancer 17 years ago.

Lionel Jackson (Blue).

I was born in Punchbowl NSW and am the youngest of 8 children.  I come from a military family. I served in the Infantry from 1952 to 1978 in Japan, Korea, Malaya-Malaysia and Papua New Guinea with a couple of postings in Australia thrown in. Blue was awarded the MBE for his service in Malaya.  After discharge I worked as a National Warehouse Manager of a major plumbing organisation, Special Constable NSW Security Officer at Nepean Hospital, Patient care ambulance driver (taking cancer patients to and from Westmead for treatment) and finally retired from the workforce in 1991.

Married to Gwen for 54 years, have 5 children, 17 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Five grandsons currently serve in the defence force, (4 in the Royal Australian Regiment and 1 in Commando’s.  Gwen and I are commonly referred to as “The Geriatric Gypsies” as we have travelled the length and breadth of Australia many times and in all directions.

Gwen Jackson (wife of Blue)

With Blue, I have travelled all over Australia and can’t wait to do it again but this time with a purpose.  I lost my brother and sister-in-law to bowel cancer and now my nephew is undergoing treatment for the same. Therefore any money raised and increased awareness can help to achieve in getting one step closer to finding a cure or better treatment for all cancers.

I am a great navigator and I always play that role when we travel as well as chief map reader. Also in my early life (before I met my husband Blue and had our family) I was a nurse and those skills come in handy when we travel the well worn Australian roads.

Kaelene Borton

I finished my Schooling in 1994, after completing my HSC in New South Wales. I was involved in Guides where I became a BP guide, later I joined the scouting movement and did Ventures and became a Cub leader @ 1^st chipping Norton then transferred to scout @ 1^st Wattle Grove Scout groups. I was a leader in the scouting movement for 10 years and achieved my advances training and completed my wood beads. In 2004 I was presented with the slivers arrow head for outstanding service work. I met my husband Frank in 1998 and we married in 2000.

In 2000, I completed my Diploma in Early Childhood (Children’s services). I started working as an Advance Child Carer worker in 2001 in Sydney at KU- Philip parks children’s centre for 1 ½ yrs. then transferred to KU- Greenacre, before we moved to Nowra. I worked at Clipper Road Children’s Centre for over 7 ½ yrs. I love working with children of all ages, and I find it very rewarding to see children achieve their individual skills. I enjoy playing netball and love swimming. In 2009 I competed in the World Master Games in Sydney for swimming and achieved 4 Personal best times and I was in the top ten in my age group for the games.

I became involved in the FFCF team in 2009 with Frank and did a lot of the fundraising in and around Nowra for the trip in 2010 and met the team over in Broome. This time I am doing the fundraising as well as the trip as a driver and taking photos.  My father Michael is a survive of kidney cancer and is also involved with the trip alone with my mother whom is the wonderful cook for the team.