Exciting news: Canberra Airport gets the “David Warren Complex”

I am so happy to tell you about some exciting news… And no, it is not Australia winning a Gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

For those who have been asking for an update, thank you for your patience.

I was travelling home from my new school (St Vincent’s College Potts Point) yesterday when I checked my inbox and there was an amazing email. The email said that Canberra Airport will name a building after the great Australian inventor David Warren!

From: Michelle Knighton
Date: Friday, February 21, 2014
Subject: The David Warren – QANTAS A380
To: Eve Cogan
Cc: Adam Cogan

Good Afternoon Eve

I spoke with your Dad yesterday and he kindly provided me with your email address.

I work for Stephen Byron, who you spoke with last year regarding David Warren. Stephen travelled recently and happened to see this aircraft as he was waiting to board. He thought you might like to see this picture.

I mentioned to your father that we would be sending further information about an upcoming event. This event involves the renaming of a building within the Fairbairn Precinct at Canberra Airport to be called The David Warren Complex. The Assistant Minister for Defence, Mr Stuart Robert will be conducting the ceremony to be held on Tuesday 25 March 2014.

A formal invite will be forwarded to you shortly which will have further details regarding the event.

Please free to give me a call.

Kind regards

Michelle Knighton
Executive Assistant | Canberra Airport

Many of you will remember that I created a video documentary about David Warren and his Black Box. Over 3,000 people signed a petition agreeing with me, that David Warren should be recognized for his great invention, that has changed aviation safety for the better.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I was speechless. Yes, what I really wanted was an Australian airport named “The David Warren Airport”… but the complex at Canberra’s Airport is definitely going to help more people know his name and hopefully many will quickly google his name and find out why he’s a great Australian.

Thank you to Managing Director Stephen Byron who made this happen.

This has been a great step forward for enabling David Warren to be recognized by ordinary Australians. Maybe one day the bigger step will be taken and an Australian airport will be named after David Warren. I hear that Sydney may soon have a second airport… :-)

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. I feel like we have won a Silver medal at the Olympics. Tell your friends to vote on my petition and help us win a Gold medal for Australia’s great inventors.

-Eve

26 Comments

  1. Selwyn Garwell on 23/02/2014 at 1:18 pm

    Congratulations!! This is great news;as you say like a silver medal.However much better than nothing and it is largely thanks to you.Good thinking about a new Sydney airport—–if it ever happens! Keep up the good work.
    Regards,
    Selwyn Garwell

  2. Jim R on 23/02/2014 at 4:26 pm

    Congratulations! Thanks for your great work to honour a truly great Australian.

  3. Dave Wallace on 23/02/2014 at 7:41 pm

    Goodonyergirl! Sky’s the limit – so CAVU to you.

  4. Grant McHerron on 24/02/2014 at 7:24 am

    That’s fantastic news & well done for all your efforts to help get recognition for David’s legacy!

    • Mac on 08/03/2014 at 12:58 pm

      Hey my name is Paul and I WOD at Crossfit CDR in Redlands. I come to Merced for PhD meetings ( I am a caidndate at UC Merced) every few months. I will be passing through and was hoping to drop in. What is your drop in policy? Looking forward to seeing the box.Paul

  5. Howard on 24/02/2014 at 7:47 am

    Congratulations on your efforts, Eve!

  6. Stephanie Robertson on 24/02/2014 at 8:04 am

    Congratulations Eve! I have no doubt at all that,while you have plenty of help in your projects, you have – through your perseverance and enthusiasm – achieved more widespread recognition of David Warren. I expect his relatives and co-workers will be suitably grateful for what you have managed to do, especially as an 11 year old girl. I look forward to your further achievements, and I am so pleased that Australia is the beneficiary of your citizenship.

    I’d also like to add how much I liked your poem “From Despair”. It’s such a difficult world for young people now, because you are not protected from the depressing aspects, as we were lucky enough to be. Keep your optimism and your positive conclusions. You are making a difference already!

    Yours sincerely,

    Stephanie Robertson

  7. Peter on 24/02/2014 at 8:23 am

    Great work and although its not the whole airport I think you’ve done an amazing job at bringing awareness to Warren’s name and Australia’s heritage!

  8. Pete Smith on 24/02/2014 at 8:36 am

    I feel a bit guilty that I haven’t contributed more to this cause. Congratulations on what you have achieved thus far. The reality is that there is no reason (just excuses) for refusing to rename our national capital airport in recognition of David Warren. If the idea was conceived by someone “in authority” David Warren Airport, Canberra would have been in existence for years by now. Anyway, well done again.

  9. Brian on 24/02/2014 at 9:00 am

    Way to go!

  10. Dani Morena on 24/02/2014 at 9:25 am

    Well done, Eve! While the outcome wasn’t quite what you’d hoped, it’s nevertheless an enormous achievement. Congratulations! And thank you for bringing David Warren to light (we should have been taught this in school) and he long ago should have be honoured by the aviation industry world-wide.

  11. Anthony on 24/02/2014 at 9:36 am

    Congratulations Eve, this is a huge achievement and certainly should not be viewed as “Silver”. Highlighting the achievement of a great Aussie and getting an airport to name a building after that person…it’s absolute Gold! Well done!

  12. John Burford on 24/02/2014 at 10:03 am

    This is great news, Eve, and you’ve done a wonderful job! You deserve to feel proud!

  13. Sharon Zohar on 24/02/2014 at 10:50 am

    Well done, Eve! You’ve accomplished something quite wonderful!

  14. Keith on 24/02/2014 at 11:27 am

    Great result. Keep up the good work. Our Politicians and symbolic Australian Companies need to recognize more of our Australian Aviation heroes at all our airports and MAKE IT SO!

    Keep up the good work.

  15. brian walker on 24/02/2014 at 1:38 pm

    Awesome result Eve !

    Great result for your passion and perseverance.

  16. AntheA Parsons on 24/02/2014 at 1:38 pm

    Hi Eve,
    Awesome effort on your part, he really is an icon and your drive is making sure the rest of Australia know who, amongst many achievements, made world aviation safer. Thank you

  17. Paul on 24/02/2014 at 1:47 pm

    Congratulations Eve, what a great outcome. You are one tireless, committed and passionate young woman. Australia is the better for people like you.

    Well done!

  18. Dave Wallace on 24/02/2014 at 1:57 pm

    Eve, check out Ben Sandilands at the Planetalking blog. (he mentions you, too).

    http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/

    Dave.

  19. Michael Pilling on 24/02/2014 at 3:58 pm

    As a researcher at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation where David Warren once worked (we were called something else then), I am pleased that he is finally getting more public recognition.

    Our country undervalues our scientific heros and the great benefits science brings to our lives, and our economy.

    Thank you Eve for regognising that and making such a difference with this. Well done!

  20. Matt Hardin on 24/02/2014 at 4:09 pm

    Well done, Eve. You are inspiring figure. You should be very proud of what you have achieved.

  21. Arran on 24/02/2014 at 7:44 pm

    Well done Eve.
    Sometimes persistence and a great idea pays off. I’m sure you’ll really enjoy the historic opening at Canberra’s airport and I’m pleased to have helped you in a very small way by joining your petition.
    You should be immensely proud of your achievement and something tells me this won’t be the last time that Australia hears from Eve Cogan :)

  22. Meg Thompson on 25/02/2014 at 6:07 am

    Well done Eve! What an achievement. Your tenacity and perseverance has certainly paid off. You may be an old lady by the time Sydney actually gets another airport but I have no doubt whatsoever that no matter your age, you’ll be championing this very deserving cause. You make my teacher’s heart swell with pride, hope and joy.
    Miss T :)

  23. Abby Rae on 03/03/2014 at 2:38 pm

    Congrats Eve! I’m sure this is really exciting! Hope to see you soon,
    Abby x

  24. […] Exciting news: Canberra Airport gets the “David Warren Complex” […]

  25. Patrick on 17/04/2014 at 12:07 am

    Speaking of David Warren, I flew on VH-OQI David Warren when I went to LAX a year or two ago with my brother. A great invention.

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