Challenger - a challenge we should never forget

Per Ardua Ad Astra - "Through adversity to the stars". That is the motto of the Royal Australian Air Force - one I was proud to wear.

25 years ago today, the Challenger shuttle exploded, killing all seven people onboard - leaving behind distraught families and colleagues and a shattered nation.

25 years on the last of the space shuttle missions is being planned.

The disaster, as bad as it was, did not stop the shuttle programme - it mearly delayed it while an answer was sought on how to make it better for future missions.

Speaking of the disaster some years later, the wife of the mission commander Dick Scobbee, June, said that he and the crew, all from different backgrounds, races and creeds, were aware of the risks involved and knew that without risks there would be no bold discovery.

17 years later - almost to the day - seven more astronauts died when the shuttle Columbia exploded on earth re-entry. Even knowing what had happened before them did not stop them from attempting to achieve the amazing.

They all had followed in the paths of others who had died in the pursuit of a dream.

Through adversity to the stars.

Recently in idyllic Queensland, Australia, we saw the shocking images of floods devastating towns and cities - of lives being lost. But we also saw images of people rallying to the needs of their fellow man - wanting to help those who had lost rebuild their future.

Mankind will always seek to rise in the face of adversity.

For from tragedy emerges triumph.

Through pain emerges strength.

Through the pursuit of a dream we achieve great things.

What dreams for you?

Per Ardua Ad Astra!