Chris Chmiel

"Teachers at Yarra take pride in what they do. They are invested in it."

Years after leaving Yarra, Chris Chmiel saw the School from a very different and unusual perspective. He flew a fighter jet over the grounds of the School before speaking at an assembly. Chris was only seven-years-old when he knew he wanted to fly.

“I always wanted to be a pilot and towards the end of high school I wanted to be a fighter pilot. I’m lucky. I knew what I wanted to do from when I was at school and I had something to strive for,” says Chris.

Chris enjoyed most subject areas at Yarra and made lasting friendships. Many of his good friends today are friends from the classrooms and sports fields at School.

“I also have a great appreciation for the work, commitment and enthusiasm of my teachers at Yarra. When I last visited the School I walked around and realised how lucky my friends and I were to have been there. Yarra has a lot to offer,” he says.

After graduating, Chris joined the RAAF and completed rigorous training and testing to eventually become a fighter pilot. He has taken part in operations in Iraq and Syria and is currently teaching newer pilots how to become better fighter pilots.

The amount of preparation required on the ground before a fighter pilot takes to the skies is extensive and complex, but Chris has never lost his passion for what he does.

“For every hour in the plane you do eight or nine hours of groundwork for a flight. You have to know everything about your aircraft, about its weapons and systems and develop tactics to counter any threats,” he explains.

Chris says the routine debriefings and self-reflection that are part of the job are useful ways to keep improving and he carries that over into anything he does.

“We pick apart a mission minute-by-minute and look at how we can improve. Always looking for ways to do things better is ingrained in me,” he says.

“But success has changed for me since my school days. When I left School success would have been getting my wings and becoming a qualified pilot. Now my main goal is to have a happy family and happy, healthy children and to help set them up for a satisfying life.”

The school motto has also remained with Chris since he left Yarra.

“Always look upwards and forwards, take a positive view and always find ways to improve,” he says.