Keith King
Tooradin Ambassador
Keith was born in North East Victoria and moved to Melbourne in the late 60s and has for the last 40 years lived in Essendon.
Professionally Keith has achieved over 40 years of dedicated service to the Australian Aviation Industry starting in the industry when propeller aircraft were flying the main inter city routes and when Essendon Airport was Melbourne’s Airport.
Keith commenced his career with TAA, that then was relaunched as Australian Airlines and later merged with Qantas. He then crossed to Jetstar for the start up operation of the new Australian Airline and currently is flying the Jetstar network in a standards and training capacity.
Keith has seen an amazing change in Australian Aviation from The Vickers Viscount that operated services to Tasmania when he started through to the amazing twin deck 500 seat A380 aircraft that flies today on International sectors. He is now looking forward to the introduction of the revolutionary new Boeing 787 to the Jetstar fleet.
In his leisure time Keith spends most of his life helping others. He has a strong community focus and has been heavily involved coordinating major fund raising activities for animal rescue and animal welfare services
Collectively over $3.5 million has been raised through his initiatives for both Animal Rescue Services and the Royal Childrens Hospital.
Keith is very involved and supportive of today’s youth giving his time to speak and motivate students of all ages on various aspects of life in the business and customer service world.
Other Personal Achievements include
- Representing Australia, the Inaugural and still the only Australian winner of the International Customer Service Association “SOUL” award for the most outstanding individual customer service provider in the world. This award was presented in Las Vegas Nevada, USA in 2000.
- Torchbearer 2000 Olympics and Baton Bearer for 2006 Commonwealth Games.
- Listed in the “Empire Who’s Who Registry” of the World's Leading Business professionals and listed in the prestigious Millenium edition of “Lexington Who’s Who” in recognition of services to the community and customer service industry.
- Finalist for Australian Humanitarian of the Year award 1999 and judge for 2000 Humanitarian of the Year Award.
- Coordinator and founder of the Qantas Good Friday Charity Flights raising $2.1 million for the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital.
- Coordinator and founder of the Qantas sponsored RSPCA kennel Sponsorship.
- Coordinator and founder of the Annual Grand Final Charity Dinner and Auction night in Melbourne raising money for the many Animal rescue services that include the RSPCA, Lost Dogs Home, Jirrahlinga Sanctuary and Lort Smith Animal Hospital.
- “One in a Million” award for services to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
- Life Member of the Australian Customer Service Association.
- Life Member of RSPCA Victoria.
- Volunteer Counsellor for Bali emergency October 2002.
- Justice of the Peace appointed 2006.
- Appointed to National Advisory Board of International Customer Service Professionals 2009.
- Appointed Chairman of the Board of the TAA Aviation Museum 2009.
Leisure activities:
- Australian Rules Football – member of Collingwood Football Club
- Keen swimmer and maintaining at least 1km swim a day.
- Community and Fundraising.