Robert L. Cassidy serving ratepayers and residents as a Councillor of Central Highlands Municipality, November 2014 to Present.
Councillor Robert L. Cassidy, Central Highlands municipality Tasmania
As the old saying goes, “You cannot judge a book by its cover.” Please get to know me as a person and as a veteran Councillor of Central Highlands Municipality.
Integrity is my number one value. My word is my oath. If I say I am going to do something, I do it. I believe in doing any job right, the first time. You can depend on me to look out for your best interests, equally, without prejudice or favouritism. I am not self-serving.
My father always talked about immigrating to Australia, when I was a boy. I am living his dream come true, which became mine. Whilst overseas enjoying Crew Rest between flights, in the Inter-Continental Hotel, in Taipei, Taiwan, October 1998, I met my wife in the hotel lobby. In August 2000, I immigrated to Australia and became an Australian citizen, on 11 February 2005. My wife, Aimee, and my black Labrador, Rocco, are the centre of my universe and keep me grounded.
Aimee Butler and Robert L. Cassidy celebrating our first wedding anniversary
Rocco, my buddy, my black Labrador
When I was in year seven, my wood-shop teacher, who taught me life long carpentry and cabinetry skills, called me “Hopalong”. When I asked him why, he referred to the fictional cowboy Hopalong Cassidy. So, I was known as “Hoppie” or “Hopalong” for the remainder of my time attending the school. Everyone had a nickname, in his class. I never wanted to be a cowboy who was all hat and no cattle.
Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd)
More than two decades prior to those life-changing events, I enlisted in the US Army, when I was 20 years old, in December 1974 and did Basic Combat Training with Company C, 5th Battalion, 3rd Regiment (C-5-3) at Fort Ord, California, where many other notable people had served. I qualified as an Expert Marksman and was promoted to Private First Class. Then, I trained as an Army Medic at Fort Sam Houton, Texas and was transferred to Germany, where I was assigned to the wrong unit, located not far from the former East/West German border, with the 2nd/11th ACR, for nearly a year. Turning adversity to my advantage, I was the first Army Medic, in the unit’s history to earn “Soldier of the Month” award, before being transferred to Frankfurt, Germany assigned to the US Army 97th General Hospital Emergency Department, where I graduated second in my class as a Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician). I worked hard and received an Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service. The Hospital Commander (Colonel Robert E. Neimes) offered me the opportunity to become his Aide-de-Camp and personal driver, as a result. I drove him and his dignitaries all over Germany, for the remainder of my tour of duty.
I served as an Army Medic in the Emergency Department at the 97th US Army General Hospital Frankfurt, Germany
Less than three years after my enlistment, in September 1977, I was selected for the US Army’s Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course 78-37, but not before completing my three years tour of duty in the Federal Republic of Germany. On 27 May 1978, I began training. I wanted to be a pilot since I was eight years old, when parents had brought me to an airshow to see the USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, a month before my birthday, September 1962. I was selected as the first Candidate Class Leader and held that position longer than any of the subsequent Class Leaders. On 23 March 1979, I graduated as a newly appointed Warrant Officer 1 and pilot of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois. Unbelievably, I received my first choice assignment to the 237th Medical Detachment (Air Ambulance) as a Medevac pilot, at Fritzsche Army Air Field, Fort Ord, California.
Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Class 78-37 Graduation day was, 23 March 1979
Bell UH-1D Iroquois “Huey” at Fritzsche Army Air Field, Fort Ord, California
Then, I was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 and awarded an Army Achievement Medal, for my Planning and Emergency and Rapid Deployment Plans. They became the model EDRE Plans at Fort Ord, California, which closed in 1994, due to Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC). To rapidly advance my flying career, I left “Active Duty”, in March 1982 and joined the reserves as a Bell Iroquois pilot. I was promoted, again, to Chief Warrant Officer 3 and graduated from the Army’s Aviation Maintenance Officer and Maintenance Test Pilot Courses. Though it was announced in the ‘Army Times’ I had been promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 4, I did not accept the commission and resigned, as my international airline career became my focus. I have traveled to forty-seven countries, where I have lived or have been based, in several, for varying periods. Twenty years after graduating Army flight training, I became a Captain flying new Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets. My first trip as a new Captain was to Australia, 20 September 1999. Below is a photo of me flying an older version, Boeing 747-312 jumbo jet.
Captain Robert L. Cassidy, Boeing 747-312, Registration Number TF-ATG, S/N: 23244, c/n 23244/621 contracted to Air Atlanta Icelandic Airlines
Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-312, TF-ATG, S/N: 23244, c/n 23244/621
When I was employed as a contract captain flying Boeing 737-800 and 737-700 jets, I lived in the Chongming District of Shanghai, a city of 23 million people, where noise pollution and air pollution were oppressive 24/7, I wanted to get as far away from that hubbub as possible to peace and tranquility and beautiful scenery.
Downtown Shanghai a city of approximately 23 million people
Shanghai Airlines Boeing 737-800 with winglets also referred to as a Boeing 737NG
The scenic beauty of Tasmania captivated my interest as a photographer, when I came across a photograph by Peter Dombrovskis. I began considering where I would like to live that was breathtakingly scenic, higher altitude and cooler climate, as well as being able to purchase one acre of land with a decent sized house on it that was affordable and about one hour drive from a metropolitan centre. Bothwell’s Irish convict heritage, particularly John Mitchel, was a also lure I could not resist. November 2009, I purchased my house and property, in Bothwell and called Tasmania “home”. It is the longest I have lived anywhere.
My personal copy of “Mitchel: The Jail Journal” – Rev. Dr. Corcoran sent to me from Ireland
My aviation career that had spanned thirty-six years, I retired from, in late 2014. You elected me to represent your interests that same year. In the meantime, aside from photography, I wrote a book and have had numerous aviation-safety articles published in Australian aviation magazines. So, I have found my own way to give back to Australia and the Central Highlands. There is more to me than meets the eye. Believe that I am as dedicated and diligent to serving your needs as a Councillor of Central Highlands Municipality, as I was throughout my professional career.
Contact me using either my mobile: 0458 737 747 or my Council email address: rcassidy@centralhighlands.tas.gov.au, if you need a problem solved.
Special Note: This complies with Local Government Act 1993, Division 5, Section 278 and Central Highlands Council Media Policy 2014-20. Any information or views expressed are personal and not as a spokesperson for the Council, on this webpage or website.
Authorised by Robert L. Cassidy, 1 William Street, Bothwell, Tasmania 7030
