22 June 2009

Avondale College
Cooranbong, NSW
Brenton Stacey

Avondale's Aviation School sold

Avondale College, the Adventist church's tertiary institution in Australia, has sold its school of aviation after more than 30 years.

The buyer, Illawarra Technology Corporation, plans to keep the school running at Cessnock Airport, will continue teaching current students and has agreed to keep the current staff on the payroll.

The terms of employment are similar, including not asking staff members who are Adventists to work on Saturdays.

Avondale College President, Ray Roennfeldt said, "while the sale will mean a sustainable future for the school, it will be a sad day for Avondale. The school will no longer be part of Avondale College and the staff won't be college staff. These are our friends and colleagues and the parting is painful for all of us."

Avondale has registered a shelf company to hold the school's assets until final settlement.

More than 100 former staff members and students now work as pilots, including missionary pilots in Papua New Guinea.

One former student even holds the honour of being the first female Qantas captain.

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