Speech given by Roxarne Moon after unveiling the sign for Tom Moon Avenue.
I would like to thank the Mayor, Peter Speirs and the Temora Council, David, Kenny and everyone at the Museum involved in the naming of ‘Tom Moon Avenue’, for me it was very unexpected
and I have no idea how you change the name of a street, but I do know Tom would be extremely honored.
Tom’s relationship with Temora started about 15-16 years ago when he landed here. He was looking for an airfield and a town that would welcome aerobatic pilots who wanted to practice aerobatic
frequently, which of course means a lot of noise. He said he landed here, taxied up, opened the canopy and was welcomed by Graham Williams, who helped him re-fuel and gave him a sandwich – Tom
was sold and from that day Temora became home to Tom and David, the New South Wales Aerobatic Club and ultimately the Temora Aviation Museum.
The Council through Gary Lavelle allowed us to establish a permanent aerobatic box on the land here at the airfield and once that happened there was no getting rid of us. We came for weekends, we
came for whole weeks, and we held competitions here. Tom and David brought Aerobatic World Champions Xavier de Lapparent and Nikolai Nikitiuk here for training camps. The Aero Club, with Geoff King,
Rosie Blachut and Rob Maslin hosted the Australian Aerobatic team in 1994, 1996 and 1998 as the guys and Bonnie trained for the World Championships.
And it really was like the circus coming to town, we created enormous chaos, yet we were always made so very welcome here and this was unusual, we had been asked to leave many towns at that this.
I think Kari & Marjatta (Piilonen) particularly deserve a mention. They owned the Goldtera Motel at this time – we use to ring up and book rooms, 3 rooms and 10 people would turn up, 6 rooms and 2 people
would turn up, Marjatta use to look at me with wide eyes. We’d book for Friday night and turn up on Saturday because there was bad weather in Sydney, we’d book for Saturday night and stay Sunday
because there was bad weather in Termora. I have no idea how they every put up with us – but they did and today Kari is a volunteer here at the Museum, which is fantastic.
We use to eat and drink at the ‘Termo’ and one Friday night Tom got thrown out of the bar because it wouldn’t stop singing ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ with Gail Glynn at the top of his voice – after the
12th or 13th rendition no one could cope - he was particularly proud of this of course.
He loved being here, and would come here at the drop of a hat, I use to tease him that most wives would be nervous of a husband who keeps a packed bag in the spare room, but he was always
on standby, just in case he needed to come to Temora at a moments notice, just in case something needed flying.
I could never make plans for our year until the Museum flying calendar had been published. Tom’s commitment to the Museum was unfaltering and he thoroughly embraced all facets of his involvement.
His role on the Governing Committee, display pilot of any aircraft they’d give him to fly, his involvement with the volunteers and his work with Kenny, Pete and all the staff. The Temora Aviation Museum
is a world class and world recognized facility and Tom valued the opportunity he had to contribute to the growth and success of the Museum. He believed in the work that the Museum is doing in collecting
and preserving Australia’s flying history and most importantly making that history available to people in such a unique way.
And over the years incredibly Tom commitment and passion for the Museum only increased, I often thought in the last few years that Temora and the Museum had become part of his being; it was part
of who Tom Moon was.
The naming of this street is an incredible acknowledgement of Tom’s connection and commitment to the town and the Museum, I want to thank everyone involved, I believe Tom would be very humbled
by this gesture and very proud. Thank-you.
