THE SILENT REVIEW_SUMMER EDITION 2021_WEB

CREW IN FOCUS
Paula has been an Energiser bunny -
both on board and as a volunteer and
consistent contributor to Facebook pages
to keep our spirits up over the past year.
Whether she's dressing up for volunteering
in a sari or wearing a pretty much a scarf
and a smile, we know it's people like Paula
that make the FAAA and QF what it is.
Paula's love for her crew time on the Jumbo expresses,
what we wish we could put in words:
‘You were my other home with my crew I would regard as
family, making new friends in different ports – sometimes
not speaking the same language but our mother you
brought us together. You transported me to amazing
places: London, New York, San Francisco, Rome, Paris,
Vancouver, Honolulu, Fiji, Bombay, Bahrain just to name
a few, where I would explore, share
meals, have crew room parties, dance,
share our community spirit. The first
time when you embraced me was as a
child, travelling with my Dad Paul – a
chief steward with Qantas. I thought
he knew everyone in the whole world
as everywhere we went: airports,
hotels, planes people knew him. It was
exciting, fun... we always dressed up to
fly. You bought the world closer, crew
together. If the joy, laughter, love that
we shared within you remains you will
be just filled with LOVE.’
Her work with Orange Sky Mobile Laundry, Meals on
Wheels and QCCT has kept her motivated – especially
through the rollercoaster of 2020, garnering her National
Volunteer Week: Volunteer of the Year! ‘I’m just a worker
bee with lots of hives. I do what I do to help my amazing
co-ordinators bring joy, dignity, health, education to people
in my community, plus The Philippines and Johannesburg.’
Orange Sky provides mobile washing facilities to people
who are in emergency housing, homeless or can not afford
the cost of the laundromat. ‘I personally have found that
being of service has made it easier to navigate the
dark days.’
At 8 years of age, Paula told her dad that she decided to
become a flight attendant so she could ‘sit in bars, talk to
boys and go to Disneyland’. Goals. In her wise
closing words:
I want to thank all the amazing people I’ve been honoured
to work with.
The super heroes in the FAAA – the
team who have been working more
than any human could.
The most loving QCCT team –
particularly Manila, Joburg and
Mumbai teams that I’ve had my most
rewarding moments from flying.
Last but no means least: my crew, who
some only meet once, others many
times who have made my career one
that dreams are made of.
Shared so many adventures, memories, catastrophic
hangovers but shared one thing:
When away we are ONE.
Wearing the Qantas uniform I knew that I belonged to a
unique workforce that in spite of dramas, delays, would
pull together as one.
I always felt proud and special that I – Paula Hardwick
– was a Qantas Flight Attendant. Stay strong – more
adventures & good times in the future. Stay safe, be in the
moment, be kind to yourself.’
30 SUMMER EDITION 2021