“Dad had a very full life and lived it well. He passed away after a very short illness and prior to that was living independently at his home. He would have been happy with that!”— Sue Waddell-Wood
CMDR Rowley Alan Waddell-Wood GLEX (P) DFC RAN (Ret'd) passed away in Canberra ACT on Friday, 15 August 2025, aged 93 years.
Rowley was born in Moree, NSW on 30 July 1932 and moved to a property on the Darling Downs at an early age. He attended Esk State School followed by two years at Toowoomba Grammar School (1946-47). After completing his schooling, he worked on the family property and then as a Trainee Executive at Coles in Brisbane.
Always fascinated by flying and the Fleet Air Arm, Rowley signed up for a short service engagement in March 1954, aged 22. After completing basic training at HMAS Cerberus, he was rated as a Provisional Naval Airman (Aircrew) and commenced flying training on No.19 RAAF Pilots Course, flying Tiger Moths and Wirraways at Archerfield, Uranquinty and Point Cook, graduating with his Navy Wings and a commission as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant.
Throughout his distinguished naval career, Rowley flew Sea Furys, Sea Venoms and helicopters, serving with 724, 805, 808 and 723 Squadrons both ashore at NAS Nowra and embarked in HMAS Melbourne. While on 724 Squadron, he was the leader of the Checkmates aerobatic team at the time of the famous mid-air collision over Sydney Harbour in October 1962.
After completing a Helicopter Instructors Course in the United Kingdom, he joined 705 Squadron Royal Navy for an exchange posting as a Qualified Helicopter Instructor. From 1966–67, Rowley served as Flight Deck Officer in HMAS Melbourne, followed by a brief posting as CO HS817 from October 1967 to January 1968. During this period, he completed at least one trip to Vietnam embarked in HMAS Sydney flying Wessex helicopters.
After pre-Vietnam training flying Iroquois with 5 Squadron RAAF in Canberra, Rowley served with 9 Squadron RAAF in Vietnam from May 1968 to May 1969 as a Flight Commander and Detachment Commander for the RAN FAA pilots posted to that unit. For his leadership, courage and service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Promoted to Commander, Rowley served as Naval Attaché in Manila during the early to mid-1970s and remained in RAN service until 1976. After retirement, he and his wife Elaine purchased a property called "Bonanza" halfway between Boorowa and Cowra in New South Wales. They later retired to Aranda in Canberra, where they travelled widely in their motorhome. Rowley was hospitalised with influenza a few weeks before his death.
Rowley is survived by his wife Elaine, his children Peter, Sue, Dianne and Gaye, and grandchildren Pen, Claire, Georgia, Rose, Tilly, Percy and Milton.
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