Rev Kevin Stow to commemorate Anzac Day

Rev Kevin Stow will perform the duties of reviewing officer at Warwick ANZAC Day services on April 25.
Rev Stow, a native of Melbourne, joined the RAAF as an apprentice tradesman after attending Technical College.
Following his training at the RAAF Base at Wagga NSW, he served in major aircraft repair depots in both Victoria and Queensland.
During this time he accepted into service the last 10 Sabre jets built for the RAAF.
Following his service he joined Trans-Australia Airlines and was involved in the overhaul of various passenger aircraft then in airline use.
Re-enlisting in the RAAF as a tradesman, he served at various bases throughout Australia and Malaysia.
During this time he climbed steadily through the ranks, serving in maintenance, fighter and bomber squadrons and was eventually commissioned as an engineering officer.
As well as his Air Force duties, FltLt Stow also attended the University of Queensland where he graduated in 1981.
Retirement from the RAAF beckoned in 1984 and he joined a large engineering firm in Brisbane, remaining with them until recalled for a further three years Air Force service.
During this stint he served at an engineering base in Sydney and then became the engineering officer at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Victoria.
Rev Stow says he finds it difficult to pinpoint highlights of his RAAF service as “it was all a great time”, however considers his time at the museum one of his most enjoyable times of service.
“My time in the museum was interesting and the work varied and it fitted well with my interest in history,” he said.
The one thing he laments now, however, is that all of the aircraft types he worked on are now museum pieces.
After completion of his RAAF service, Rev Stow served as a minister at two churches on the Darling Downs until he joined Flight West Airlines.
In 1999 he moved to the United States with his wife to take up a position as a maintenance planner with a San Antonio aerospace company.
He also served with aircraft overhaul companies in both Phoenix, AZ, and Dallas, TX, until the events of 9/11.
Following this, he worked as a security consultant until he and his wife returned to Australia in 2006. Whilst in the USA he furthered his education and graduated with a Masters degree in Ministry.
After their return to Australia, Rev Stow was minister in a Presbyterian church in South Australia until he retired to Yangan in October 2010.
Since his retirement he retains a keen interest in aviation, having built himself a flight simulator.
“Boys and their toys,” he jokes.
Rev Stow has continued his church involvement and for fun enjoys an involvement in the local country music scene.
He and his wife Sandra are also kept busy with six grandchildren just down the road at Ipswich.
Southern Downs Regional Mayor Ron Bellingham said that Rev Stow will join officials outside the Town Hall at 10.55am to take the salute from servicemen and women, before proceeding to the Cenotaph where he will be guest speaker at the 11am service.