Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre uERffAGE CENTRA Annual Report 2013 Anson W23S4. No,67 Squadron Laverton 1943, NHILL AVIATION HERITAGE CENTRE INC. Statement of Purpose 1. To highlight the significant role of aviation in the ongoing development of Nhill 2. To research and record the history of the RAAF Air School in Nhill from 1941 - 1946 within the broader context of Nhill's aviation and aerodrome history 3. To collect Air School artefacts to display in secure premises 4. To acquire and restore an Avro Anson aeroplane, leaving it as a legacy to this and future generations. Management Committee 2012-13 President: Rob Lynch Vice President: Len Creek Secretary: Joan Bennett* Treasurer: Trevor Borgelt * Max Garland John Deckert* Graham Drage* Mick Kingwill Merv Schneider* Nathan Wheeler Allen Scott * Brian Creek * Denotes Board members retiring and eligible for re-election. All photographs used in this publication are from Joan Bennett or John Deckert unless otherwise acknowledged. Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre Inc P.O Box 42 NHILL Vic 3418 12th September 2013 Dear Association Member/s, I am pleased to forward the formal Notice and Agenda for the Annual General Meeting of the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre to be held on Thursday 10th October 2013, at the Nhill Uniting Church Hall Victoria Street Nhill at 7.30 pm This is an important meeting and we value your attendance. There will be a Guest Speaker, and time for a chat over supper. Retiring Board members who are eligible for re-election are: Joan Bennett, Trevor Borgelt, John Deckert, Graham Drage, Mervyn Schneider, and Allen Scott. Nomination forms are available from the Secretary Joan Bennett, phone 03 53911206. Completed forms may be posted to NAHC PO Box 42, Nhill 3418 or delivered to 2 Rockley Street, Nhill and must be received before 5.30 pm on Thursday 3rd October 2013. Late nominations cannot be accepted. The Board will welcome your attendance and invites you to celebrate the substantial achievements of NAHC Inc through 2013. Yours sincerely, Rob Lynch President - • •"• "- Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre Incorporated P.OBox42 NHILL Vic 3418 ith 12in September 2013 Notice of the Annual General Meeting to be held in the Nhill Uniting Church Hall, Victoria Street Nhill, on Thursday 10th October 2013- 7.30pm AGENDA 1. Welcome 2. President opens the meeting 3. Apologies 4. Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting, held 1st November 2012 5. Presentation of Annual Report- Rob Lynch, President 6. Presentation of Financial Report - Trevor Borgelt, Treasurer 7. Election of six members of the Board of Management 8. Appointment of Auditor 9. Guest Speaker- 10.Close of meeting 11.Supper and time for a talk NHILL AVIATION HERITAGE CENTRE INC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES Thursday 1st November 2012 at 7.30pm in the Soldiers' Lounge. Nhill. Present: Rob Lynch, Trevor Borgelt, Joan Bennett, Mayor Gersch, Len Creek, Jenny Creek, Max Garland, Nathan Wheeler, John Deckert, John Millington, Rene O'Reilly, Alan Shaloo, Mick Kingwill, Wimpey Reichelt, Kay Scott, Allen Scott, Marie McClure, Alf Sanders, Ian Cramer, Daryl Zanker, Graham Drage, Wes Dean, Dean Miller, Ian Wheeler, Max Hamlyn, Janine Grover, Janet Rowe, Ellis Dart, Ian McRae, Rob McRae, Brian Creek, Roger McKenna, Lee McKenna. The President Rob Lynch extended a warm welcome to all present, members and friends, Guest Speaker Ian McRae and his son Rob, and former RAAF pilot Alan Shaloo from Melbourne. Apologies: from Stephen Schneider and Kevin O'Reilly were received on the motion of Nathan Wheeler and Len Creek. Carried. Minutes of previous AGM 17th November 2011 were read by the Secretary Joan Bennett. Ian Wheeler moved 'that the Minutes as read be confirmed', seconded by Kay Scott and carried. President's Report July 1st 2011 -June 3oth 2012 was presented by Rob Lynch. John Millington moved 'that the President's Report be received', and in so doing said that the Report reflected the large amount of work done by the Board, and the professionalism shown reflected on the President's leadership, and extended congratulations to him. John Deckert seconded the motion, remarking that he feels privileged to work under Rob's leadership. This was carried with acclamation. Financial Report: The Treasurer Trevor Borgelt presented the Report, showing a loss of $741.81. Trevor said that the NAHC operated on a shoestring and the report particularly shows prudent expenditure on the Avro Anson restoration by Mick Kingwill, who has achieved much on a very careful budget. Motion -'that the Treasurer's Report be received', moved by Trevor Borgelt and seconded by Janet Rowe and carried. As earlier reported by the President, Janet Rowe had given valuable assistance to Len Creek in his role as Treasurer immediately following Lesley Stephen's resignation last year. Rob then presented Janet with a small gift and expressed our appreciation for her work. Appointment of Auditor: Trevor Borgelt moved, Nathan Wheeler seconded 'that Peter Clohesy be appointed Auditor for 2012-13', carried. Rule Change: Amendments were presented as recommended by the NAHC Board of Management. These amendments to our Rules/Constitution are required by the Australian Taxation Office for the NAHC application for Taxable Deduction Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Joan Bennett provided the background, following which Trevor Borgelt moved (a) 'that as recommended by the Board under Section 19 Board of Management point 3, a new clause (c) be added a majority of people, who have a degree of responsibility to the community as a whole due to their occupation or role in the community, and (b) 'that a new clause be inserted at Section 3 Alteration of Rules point 2 the Australian Taxation Office is to be notified of any changes to the Rules and Statement of Purpose of the Association'. The motion was seconded by Allen Scott and carried unanimously. Election of six members of the Board of Management: President Rob Lynch invited Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor Gersch to take the Chair for this Agenda item. Mayor Gersch thanked Rob for the invitation and congratulated the NAHC on their success. He said that the Nhill Aerodrome is very important to residents not only in Nhill but in the Hindmarsh Shire. The Mayor drew attention to the success of the Fly In on 20th October 2012-that it made Nhill look different as it brought many visitors to the Shire, and these visitors had made a financial contribution to our economy. Mayor Gersch commended the group for the time and patience that it took to accomplish their aims. He said that the Council was very supportive of the project, mentioning the early assistance given by Andrew Bainbridge (Engineer) and currently Doug Gowans Director of Infrastructure, and Janine Grover Co-ordinator of Community Development and also the previous Mayor, Cr Cliff Linger. The Mayor added that although the NAHC Board is a small group, they show no fear of the big task ahead. He feels that the task we've embarked upon is a live project, that it will be ongoing and probably never finished. The Mayor then proceeded to read six nominations for the Board of Management. Nominations were received from Max Garland, Len Creek, Rob Lynch, Nathan Wheeler, Brian Creek and Mick Kingwill. As the nominations were no greater than the numbers required, Mayor Gersch endorsed them as members of the Board of Management. He returned the Chair to Rob Lynch. Guest Speaker: Ian McRae was introduced by the President who informed the meeting that Ian McRae had actually piloted an Avro Anson which landed at Nhill Aerodrome while serving in the RAAF during the Second World War. Ian is ninety (90) years old, and has resided in Dimboola since his retirement from farming at Wallup. He went on to talk about his schooling background, his great desire to be a pilot, and his wartime experiences firstly as a ground crew mechanic and later as a pilot. Ian served at Pt. Cook, Tocumwal, and Mt Gambier RAAF Bases. He notably brought an Avro Anson aircraft safely back to Nhill from near Warracknabeal with one engine only, landing without mishap to the crew, but some damage to the aircraft which was repaired overnight. He spent 400 hours in the Avro Ansons, mainly training navigators and crew. He remembers his four years in the RAAF as a wonderful experience, and after the War returned to the family farm at Wallup, enabling his brother to leave the farm for career training. In conclusion Ian then congratulated the NAHC on their work. Board member Merv Schneider, a WW2 RAAF veteran, expressed the thanks of all present to Ian for spending the evening with us. Merv managed to inject some further wartime experiences into his speech, sharing some special moments with Ian much to the delight of all present. President Rob Lynch presented Ian with the latest Kevin O'Reilly book-Flyers of Time-an appropriate gift for former RAAF pilot Ian McRae. Rob thanked everyone for sharing the evening with us, and invited all present to have a cup of tea and further conversation. The meeting closed at 8.50pm. 1. Board members Trevor Borgelt, Joan Bennett and Rob Lynch (right) discuss options for the proposed NAHC building with Bob Ahrens and Doug Gowans. 2. Max Carland and Merv Schneider (right) show John Forrest progress of the Avro Anson restoration. PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2012-2013 I am pleased to present my report for the year ending 30th June 2013 INTRODUCTION: This report reveals another great year of progress with outstanding community support by volunteers, generous donors, the Hindmarsh Shire Council and local organizations. NAHC membership base has grown from ninety-five to one hundred and twenty- five in this reporting year, with membership fees remaining at $30.