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Monthly BBQ'sPlease feel free to join us at the monthly BBQ's held at the Goulburn Aviation Hanger on the first Saturday each month at midday. Lets get on with itThe local council have been on and off with the Airport sale for a few years now and this has created a mood of uncertainty within the flying population of the area. The Southern Highlands Aero Club was formed to bring like minded people together to enjoy the sport, not to create nervous nellies waiting for the hammer to fall. Lets get on with the business of having fun and enjoying ourselves and let's not rely on what might or might not happen.
Goulburn Airport Future still hangs in the lurch. 20 November 2008As many will be aware Council tried to sell the Airport at auction several weeks ago. Three bids were made - one of $800,000, one of $1million and the vendors bid (Council) of $2million. The site was passed in. Since this the Council has been negotiating with a Mr George Tovaras for the sale of the site.
Goulburn Airport Remains a Community Asset!Some of you may have heard by now that Council voted against the sale of the airport at its meeting of 18 March 2008. This is the end of the sale process (for now). So if anyone out there would like to give any of the Councillors a pat on the back (or a big sloppy kiss) for doing the right thing please do! A very big thankyou must also be expressed to all those who provided support in any form in getting the sale knocked back! With this decision comes an opportunity for the club and other users of the airport to remove once and for all the option of selling the airport at any time in the future. Several of the Councillors at the meeting of 18 March talked of involving the users of the airport in the airports future. The Club had made several representations regarding assistance with lawn mowing, toilet cleaning, minor maintenance and the airport inspections prior to the Council meeting. We want an airport of which we would be proud to call our own and which the ratepayers of Goulburn need not be burdened with. We need ideas for the future of the Goulburn Airport (and the prosperity of the Aero Club!). The facility has had a very political past however now is the time we need to commit to its future. So start rallying support - let one and all know that Goulburn Airport is open for business! Throw on those thinking caps - fundraising ideas and simple methods we can employ to assist Council in lowering their cost of running the facility are needed! We will be holding a meeting after the BBQ of 5th April. Please bring your ideas and as much enthusiasm as you can muster. Following this meeting we will try and meet with Councillors to present them with the clubs ideas. If you cannot make it to the meeting but would be willing to be included on a roster to assist with maintenance/lawn mowing/toilet cleaning etc. please reply to this email. Councillor Sturgiss has asked that any representations from the club include dollar figures and lists of members willing to donate their time. Many people make light work. Once again thank you and well done. Request for Trip Reports, Flying Tales and Photos of your planesDo you have an interesting story to tell, or a good photo of your plane? If you do, please send an email to with the details and I'll add them to the site as soon as possible. Annual General MeetingOn Sunday the 4th of November the Club held its inaugural general meeting. Gordon Wade nominated Peter Lloyd as club Patron, and he was elected unanimously. Nominations and elections were then held for all executive positions, with Teraya Miller being returned as President, Gordon Wade elected as Vice President, Maynard Robinson as Treasurer, Tim Allen as Secretary and Public officer and Greg Tomkins as a non executive committee member. It was decided that the club's membership fee would be increased to $30 to cover the cost of insurance, if the club obtains permission to use the rooms above the flying school as a clubhouse. The club also decided to continue to oppose the Sale of Goulburn Airport, and to engage the services of the Environment Defenders Office (http://www.edo.org.au) to assist us in this matter Goulburn Airport Sale?Goulburn Mulwaree Council decided some months ago that it would be in the best interests of Goulburn to sell the airport. Their main issues have been the cost of running the airport, that they don't know how to run an airport and that the community of Goulburn wants the airport sold. The Southern Highlands Aero Club is opposed to the sale of Goulburn Airport, as we believe it is an important asset to the community. As well as providing jobs and bringing money into the local economy from areas such as Canberra and Sydney, the airport supports some important emergency services. These include Fire Fighting and Fire Spotting operations, Search and Rescue and Air Ambulance operations. The Airport also provides support to the community during important events, such as the recent Big Merino move when several News helicopters covering the event operated out of Goulburn Airport. If anyone out there could help us to save our airport through writing a short letter in support of retaining the airport in Council hands it would be very much appreciated. Any ideas on how the Council could make the airport more financially viable would also help.
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