'JIM CAMPBELL' 45 x 61cm (18 x 36 inches) Oil on canvas Commission ~ Private collection Australia
This is Nikyla's first Portrait. Below is a very brief history on the man who is Jim Campbell In December 1953 at the age of 15 years Jim joined the Army as an Apprentice Mechanic. After finishing his trade he worked for another three years as a mechanic before learning to become a pilot. Jim gained his Private Pilots Licence in 1959 at Archerfield Aerodrome in Brisbane and in Dec 1961 started his military training with the 42 RAAF Basic Flying Training School and graduated as an Army Pilot in May 1962. In Nov and Dec of 1962, Jim served with a detachment of 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron in Irian Jaya working for the United Nations during the hand over of Dutch New Guinea to Indonesia. From Dec 1963 to May 1964 Jim went to Fort Rucker in Alabama USA to attend Helicopter instructor training with the US Army and then worked as a flying instructor at Amberley between 1964 and 1966. In Sept 1966 to Sept 1967 Jim was in Vietnam where later he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal for Bravery when he repeatedly landed in a minefield to evacuate seriously injured troops during the Vietnam War. After the war, Jim returned to Amberley where he was the Senior Flying Instructor till May 1968. In December 1979 Jim resigned from the Army after a career spaning 25 years and after flying as a volunteer during Army leave in 77,78 and 79 he became Chief Pilot and Manager of the Sunshine Helicopter Rescue Service after its inception in November 1979. Under his management the Service has grown from a small basic helicopter based at the Big Cow Tourist complex in Yandina to a community owned Service with 3 medically dedicated helicopters at two bases on the Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg. These 3 helicopters provide an invaluable service to the country communities as well as the coastal regions of south east Queensland.
Some of the awards which Jim has recieved are as follows: # In 1966 was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in the Vietnam War. # In 1979, Jim was given the honour of delivering the Bell 47 helicopter he flew in Vietnam to the Canberra War Memorial where it is on display in the Vietnam War section of the museum, along with his DFC citation. # In 2001 was awarded the Fisher Community Australia Day Award for service to the Community. # In 2003 was awarded the Prime Ministers Centenary Medal for his service to the Community. # In 2004 was nominated as a finalist in the 2005 Senior Australian of the Year Award.
Some of Jim's Achievements: Flying * 11,100 hours on helicopters * 800 hours on fixed wings * Commercial licences on helicopters and fixed wings * Gliding licence * Instrument licences on helicopters, single and twin engine fixed wings * Night flying ratings on both helicopters and fixed wings * Instructor rating on helicopters Sport # Represented Queensland in the Modern Pentathlon 1962 at Australian Titles. Queensland Resident Orienteering Champion in 1975. # Represented Queensland and the Australian Army in the 1975 Australian Orienteering Championships. # Third in the 440 yards hurdles in the 1959 Queensland State Athletics Championships. # In athletics, represented the Army in Queensland, Victoria and Malaya at inter-service events. # Held 110 metre hurdles, 400 metres and 800 metre inter-service titles in Queensland. ~~~~~~~~~~~~><~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nikyla was
honoured to be asked to paint the portrait of a man who has given so much
of himself to his country and the community in which he lives, Jim really
is a lovely man and a true gentleman.
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