SQUADRON LEADER RALPH WILFRED DRIES

A FINE AIRMAN AND OFFICER

Remembrances By

Group Captain Nick Barneveld and All His RAAF Mates

Family, friends and colleagues of Ralph,

On this sad day I have been given the honour of paying tribute to the impressive career of Squadron Leader Ralph Dries in the Royal Australian Air Force.  For more than half his life, a life way too short, Ralph served the RAAF and his country with distinction and we should remember that today.

Two days ago I was asked to say some words on Ralph’s career.  I knew him for 30 years, our paths crossed many times.  But I feared I could not do his career justice.  But through the power of modern Defence communications, communications Ralph helped build, I was flooded with emails from Ralph’s many mates within the Defence community.  The common theme was the shock of his untimely passing, but then the memories of a highly successful airman, but also memories of the good times, the camaraderie and the man that was Ralph Dries.

Ralph’s career in the RAAF started way back in 1966 as a young, 16 year old he enlisted in the RAAF as an Apprentice Radio technician.  At RAAF Laverton and RMIT he would learn his trade. Ralph would graduate as dux of his course, and the only apprentice that year to achieve a distinction. This excellence would be publicly recognised as Ralph received the Apprentice of the Year Award from His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh in a ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall in May 1968.

His high academic achievement was to be a feature of his RAAF career, but he was by no means merely an academic.

In his first year as an apprentice Ralph used some of his hard earned salary (about $300 PER YEAR) to purchase an electric guitar and amplifier.  I am told Ralph and three other apprentices formed a rock group which played at many apprentice functions at Laverton.  Ralph’s love of music was well known – he seemed to be able to pick up almost any instrument, but especially the guitar and play a tune by ear.  Many of us were to experience this talent over the years, particularly on trips we did as officer cadets.

Upon graduating in August 1968 it was time for Ralph to start his professional career. 

He worked primarily on aircraft electronic systems for a year and a half at East Sale in Victoria until he was posted to RAAF Butterworth in Malaysia.  Here he would work on Radars and other systems of the RAAF’s front line fighters in the steamy tropics of Asia.

I am reliably informed that in Malaysia Ralph shared a house with an apprentice from his course.  I have no doubt they were the model of RAAF airmen, apparently the house was known for ‘Parties that legends are made of’.  Ralph was 21 and enjoying his youth.

His sporting prowess was on display as he successfully competed in rallying and motor-cross dirt bike riding.   Ralph, as in his career, was always looking for better ways to do things, so it was no surprise that he was the first person to import a Japanese dirt bike which was far superior to the British bikes being used in Butterworth.  Success followed.

Ralph was promoted to corporal in Butterworth and returned to RAAF Richmond in late 1972.  After working on Hercules aircraft he was selected for the demanding six month Precision Equipment Measuring Laboratory Course.  No surprise, He duxed that course and was posted then to East Sale to be the Senior NCO in charge of the Base Calibration Centre.

As a Sergeant, the RAAF expected Ralph to lead, to influence and to inspire his men.  Ralph was up to the challenge.  

While at East Sale he must have decided it was time to make some changes.  He was an excellent technician, but he wanted more – he wanted to be an engineer.  He chose to go to night school while at Sale to complete his HSC.  His hard work, passion and drive inspired two other airmen to set sail upon the same course. 

With his two protégés, Ralph was selected to undergo four year’s civil schooling at Engineer Cadet Squadron, which he started in January 1978.  Ralph was the most senior of five mature airmen thrown into the midst of nearly 50 teenage cadets straight from school.  I was privileged to be one of those kids. 

We must have all had potential, but the Air Force needed that potential realised.  And while the RAAF had given Ralph an opportunity to get an Engineering degree he was expected to guide and mentor his very immature teenage course mates.

The RAAF had given us an outstanding role model in Ralph and he never let us down.  He showed us what hard work could achieve, he demonstrated compassion and kindness.  He displayed humility and for all his success academically and in other fields, Ralph was never arrogant or aloof. 

I recall in our first year a visit to South Australia.  There we did the mandatory winery tour.  On return to Edinburgh two of the kids were well under the weather, incapable of attending the mess for dinner and a few more refreshments.  Quietly, without fuss or attention, Ralph and one other senior ex-airmen arranged a meal in the accommodation blocks for the two over-indulgers, made sure they ate, ensured plenty of water and put the two to bed.  Ralph would never let a mate down.

As a role model, Ralph was well rounded – he showed us it was possible to be academic, work hard, play hard and be extremely sociable.  On reflection, Ralph was everything we in the military expect of a leader.    Ralph’s efforts at Frognall were to influence a whole class of Air Force Engineers.

In amongst blitzing the course, Ralph collecting prizes for excellence every year, he always had time to help us and found time for himself.  In amongst his demanding schedule he was to meet his future wife, Jenny.

After four years of study the course mates was posted to the four winds.  Ralph had won the prestigious Rockwell prize for excellence in competition with all RMIT engineer graduates – military and civilian.  The prize was a year’s secondment to Rockwell in the United States.  Ralph was off to Texas for a sabbatical from the RAAF.  There he was exposed to many leading edge military technologies.  This may have been where Ralph became fascinated by space and its opportunities for Defence, because it would be in this field he would later make his mark in Defence and leave an ongoing legacy for those of us who continue to serve.

In 1983 Ralph was back from the USA and took up an engineering role in RAAF Support Command.  He was involved in a number of projects and development tasks including long range communications and preparing the RAAF for the challenges and its transition into the digital age. 

In mid 1986 Ralph was posted to a technical intelligence unit in Western Australia.  This was a high security facility with a unique role in the intelligence community.  It required highly capable, independent thinking engineers to ensure that the facility functioned.  Again he mentored and guided junior officers and airman operating in a stressful environment.  Those who knew him there were always impressed by his abilities and his capacity to remain calm under pressure.

In mid 1989 Ralph left Australia to attend the United States Air Force Institute of Technology to undertake a Masters of Science in Space Operations.  Again he powered through the course, but found time to balance his academic and social obligations, a role expected of an officer in a representational position.

On his return to Australia in 1991, Ralph went to work in Force Development where the future capabilities of the Air Force and Defence are planned.  Ralph was instrumental in making sure that the ADF addressed its future needs in the Space arena that he was making his own. 

In 1994 Ralph returned to the USA to represent his Air Force and Australia.  This time he would be the first Australian to work in an exchange position within the Headquarters of US Space Command at Petersen Air Force Station in Colorado Springs.  Working in the Strategic Missile Warning operations area of the headquarters, he was a trailblazer ensuring Australia’s future access to US Space knowledge.  I have it on good authority that he impressed our ally as to the quality of Australian military officers.  Ralph was accepted and well respected in the US Space community for his skills and capabilities. His efforts in Colorado had a significant, impact on Australia’s growing partnership with the US in the field of space.

In mid 1997 Ralph returned to Australia.  For the next three and a half years he worked in a number of force development jobs where he helped shape the future capabilities of the Defence Force in the areas of long range communications, intelligence and surveillance systems and in his much loved domain of Space.

Ralph left the permanent Air Force in January 2001, but continued to serve his country and Defence in a civilian capacity until the end.

Ralph had arrived as a sixteen year old, bright eyed apprentice with more potential than any of the recruiters could have imagined, and 35 years later he left as a highly respected squadron leader with a degree in engineering, a masters in science and the enduring respect of his colleagues.  He had set in train future capabilities that are now being realised and touched the lives of many of his comrades in arms.  The RAAF had asked much of Ralph; he had delivered what was asked and much more.

The Air Force is a demanding life.  Its pursuit of excellence and its critical role in securing our nation makes unending demands on those who serve.  I know that Ralph loved the Air Force, he loved being in the Air Force and that Air Force recognised his vast talents and strengths.  I am here today to pay tribute to his dedicated service on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force.

But Ralph could not have achieved what he did in the Air Force without the support of his family.  It was they that let him pursue his goals in the RAAF and allowed him to achieve so much personally and for the organisation.

So from a very grateful Air Force and particularly all of us who were privileged to serve with Ralph, I ask his wife, Jenny, and his children Travis, David, Danielle and Ben to accept our heartfelt thanks.  Though it can be of little consolation in this time of great personal tragedy and shock, I assure you that around Australia, and abroad his RAAF family are deeply saddened by his passing.

And to Ralph:  - the influence you had on many of us, and the example you set continues on in the many of us in uniform who were privileged to know you and to serve with you.

So to a fine Air Force Airman and Officer and to a really ‘nice bloke’ – Thank you for everything you brought to us

We will remember you!