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neilmariasmith

neilmariasmith

Indrek was always been known to me as Pancho, He and I joined No 15 Course at the RAAF Academy in January 1962. We formed our friendship during a four-day canoe trip on the Goulburn River over Easter that year. This was quite an adventure for a couple of 17 year olds. Attempting complete the course in a canvas canoe with our luggage on board without snagging one of the numerous fallen tree branches required some teamwork, which in our case developed into a strong friendship. I think we needed to make a dash for the river bank three times to carry out repairs repairs! Pancho was a good all-round sportsman, one of which was tennis. Being of similar standard in that sport, we played a lot of tennis together. During our first year, the Commandant of the Academy, Air Commodore Keith Parsons, a highly decorated WWII aviator occasionally requested our company on the tennis courts on weekends to play against him and the senior doctor on base. As first year cadets were not granted leave on the weekends, we were always available. The Air Commodore repaid us by inviting us to see the touring All Blacks play Victoria during the Winter – a rather one-sided affair as I recall, as not much rugby was played in Victoria. In our third year I went off the Sydney Uni to study Engineering, and it was during that year Pancho decided to leave the Air Force. The cost to resign of one’s own accord in third year was 300 pounds, and Pancho sold his car to do it. We lost contact with him after that, until he was ‘found’ nearly 40 years later. Pancho was upset that we did not find him early enough to attend a reunion that was held in 2002 in Canberra. He resolved to have another one in Estonia in 2004, wonderfully supported by Mari, and inviting all ex-members of 15 Course to attend. Maria and I were among the group of his former cadet mates who joined him and Mari for an unforgettable fortnight ‘grand tour’ of Estonia (including three days in St Petersburg). The effort that he and Mari put in to organising this trip was simply amazing and a demonstration of their wonderful generosity. In later years, and especially after Pancho and Mari moved to Melbourne, Pancho, always the sportsman, took a keen interest in AFL football and was an avid supporter of the Sydney Swans, retaining some allegiance to his ‘home town’. Whenever I was in Melbourne during the winter months, Pancho and I would attend a game together, although we did not get to see the Swans very often. But it didn’t really matter who played: we simply enjoyed each other’s company and the spectacle of the game at the MCG. Fond memories. Rest in peace Pancho. Smithy

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