CASA Media Release - 17 December 1999
CASA farewells Coffs Harbour staff
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority today officially said goodbye to staff from its former Coffs Harbour office.
CASA's Coffs Harbour office closed for business earlier this year as a result of an organisational restructuring.
CASA's Director of Aviation Safety, Mick Toller, today formally thanked the Coffs Harbour staff for the hard work they put in over many years.
"I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Coffs Harbour staff and express my thanks to the District Airworthiness Manager, Bob Hoy, District Administrator, Denise Tonkin and Meryl Holt for their professionalism, integrity and perseverance over a number of turbulent years," Mr Toller said.
"Unfortunately, due the personal difficulties of relocation they have all elected to accept involuntary redundancy and so will conclude their careers with CASA today.
"On behalf of the CASA Executive and Board, I thank Bob, Denise and Meryl for all their contributions and wish them well for the future.
"Coffs Harbour office staff were previously subject to much media, political and public scrutiny through their involvement in the Commission of Inquiry into the Seaview Air crash.
"The District Manager, Bob Hoy was the key figure in identifying significant safety concerns and the 'organisational timidity' that existed in some parts of CASA in regard to errant operators, at the time of the crash, in October 1994.
"Bob has always been a person with the strength of character and principles to speak out on safety related issues regardless of any past management or industry opposition.
"Bob is a man of integrity and leaves the Authority with an unblemished record."
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Peter Gibson
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Ref: ME9957PR