For Better, For Worse
Sun Herald
Sunday January 6, 2008
The relationship of Jane Hoiting, 43, a project director, and helicopter pilot Allardes Hoiting, 47, has survived his passion for flying, despite the scarcity of employment and a serious crash.
Jane says "We met in 1987 while we were working for the same adventure travel company in London - me in sales, him in operations. He had a boyish, friendly face and still has. He was quiet but self-assured and had a funny [Dutch] accent, a funny name and a warped sense of humour. We married in 1989 in Holland and returned to Australia. I knew about Allardes's desire to fly helicopters. We financed his licence while living off my wage from working in film and television production. Once he was licensed, pilot jobs were scarce. After four years of sacrifice, the situation was bleak. We had given our all for Allardes's passion but had nothing to show for it. He was working odd jobs and I was working for a publisher as a general assistant. Allardes got a pilot's job in Holland but shortly after had an accident. The helicopter's engine failed and he had to make an emergency landing. I was visiting my parents in NSW when it happened. The trip to Europe was hell. But, typical of Allardes, he was walking in three weeks, even though he had broken his back. It didn't put him off flying, though. In 2004, he got a job as a full-time pilot. We have always stuck by each other's decisions, to be true to ourselves. Allardes has supported me, too, encouraging me not to look at the obstacles, just how to make it happen."Allardes says "When I met Jane, I thought she was very attractive, not just physically. She was very intelligent. We also shared a passion for geography and history. I've been smitten with the idea of being a helicopter pilot since I first flew in one in 1980. It's been tough for us financially, though, not knowing whether I would work. We invested so much time and emotion in my training as well as money - more than $75,000. But Jane always believed I would fly. Even when we were living off her wage, she never resented it. She showed me she could appreciate my passion. She never said, 'Go get a job.' She knew my dream was important to me. When I broke my back, the hardest thing was to ring her from the hospital bed. It was difficult to decide how much I would tell her - I didn't want to paint too black a picture. But I remember being able to move my toes after the accident and knew I would be fine. All I needed was time to heal and I would be back flying again."
© 2008 Sun Herald