Presidents Report – September 2025
Thank you to everyone that attended our RFDS fundraiser at Murray Bridge on the 23rd of August. We are making a donation of $256 to the RFDS – thanks to Councillor Greg Holland for coordinating this important charity event. Keeping with the BBQ theme, our next Bunnings fundraiser is on Saturday the 18th of October. Please consider volunteering for either a morning or afternoon shift and let Greg Holland know via the email system on the Club website. The Bunnings events support our scholarship programme and your assistance is a great way to advance our Club.
In February we spent some time on surveying our members on the future direction of the Club. In addition, Secretary Barry Windle undertook an electronic survey of members that weren’t at the February meeting. Your Council has been analysing your inputs and our assessment shows that you are most interested in the following activities:
· Guest Speakers
· Overnight trips
· Breakfast/Lunch day trips
· RFDS Fundraising
We are currently building the 2026 programme and will incorporate your inputs into the schedule.
David and Sherri Pocock are hosting the flyin/drive to Loxton on the 12th and 13th of September. The plan is for pizza at their home on Friday night and then a drive on Saturday to Renmark to look at an aircraft recently completed. Saturday night dinner will be at David and Sherri’s for a small charge. Ground transport is being coordinated by David – please let him know your overnight dates on the 12/13 for pickups: email davidrpocock@gmail.com (0428473455). I plan to fly in on Friday ETA 1530 local. Accommodation is available at the Loxton Community Hotel (8584 7266) and aboard the Murray Queen.
Another visit in September is to the gliding museum/workshop owned by Emilis Prelgauskas at Monarto on the 20th. The details and access map will be available at the Club meeting this coming Wednesday the 10th. Thank you to Councillor Rob Wintulich for coordinating with Emilis.
In October we plan to have a flyin/drive to Woodside airstrip to visit Jim McDowell and Jim Whalley’s hangars and aeroplanes. This will be followed by a lunch in Woodside. This will be on Friday the 10th of October.
In closing, Spring is upon us and flying weather should be more frequent. Please review the emergency procedures literature and get in some important practice. I know that I need to brush up on forced landings and cross winds!
Safe Flying
John Siebert
