It is with regret that we advise of the death, on Friday 20th February 2009, of Squadron Captain Michael Perinich, LM., MSA.

Parramatta Squadron will re-commences operations on Wednesday night 25th February 2009 from 7:30pm at the Parramatta Squadron Hall at Jubilee Park, off Marion Street Parramatta.

Squadron Captain Charles Majarian looks forward to welcoming new and interested former members on the 25th. One of the original squadrons of the League, Parramatta Squadron is re-opening to once again serve the youth of the community.

On Sunday 8th February 2009 Senior Cadets and Officers attended the fifth anniversary service of the Ex POW memorial in Ballarat.

The ceremony was conducted with many mixed emotions, the Victoria Group were delighted to have been invited to participate in the very moving ceremony, having also provided Senior Cadets at the inaugural dedication ceremony in 2004, but we were also very mindful that Victoria was suffering through some of the highest temperature in living history and the devastating bush fires that are racing out of control in many many areas of the state.

On Sunday 9th November the Bendigo and Ballarat Squadrons of McCormack Group held a flying fun day at Bendigo Airport. To help promote the Australian Air League the day was turned into an Open Day for the public and was supported by Victoria Group, who with family and friends travelled from Melton, Niddrie, Oakleigh, Cranbourne, Berwick, Waverley and Ferntree Gully.

The weather was perfect on the day and the cadets and Officers enjoyed joyflights, a BBQ lunch and other fun activities. Paper planes, balsa wood gliders and kite making kept the cadets andother members of the public busy during the day. The joyflights for the day for cadets and Officers were organised through  Bendigo Aviation Services.

Another highlight of the day was a display of 5 warbird aircraft – 3Nanchangs and 2 Yak 52s. For those that were interested, three of these aircraft were available to inspect and joyflights for the public were also available.

For those who  took the opportunity to fly for the first time, it was an experience they will remember and cherish.

The 70th anniversary Commemoration service for the “Kyeema” air crash was held Saturday 25th October at the site of the disaster in Mt. Dandenong.

The service was conducted jointly by the Australian Air League Victoria Group, and the Mt. Dandenong Historical society. The function attracted well over 500 people of which the Victoria Group had approximately 40 Officer and Cadets from Lilydale, Ringwood, Doncaster, Berwick Girls Berwick Boys, Cranbourne and Waverley Squadrons.  The Group was also pleased to have the Chief Commissioner in attendance.

Amongst the many guests attending were Sir James Hardy OAM, members of Parliament and other notable guests from the families in the wine growing industry of South Australia – many being descendants of the 2 Crew and 16 Passengers that were lost in the Kyeema disaster in 1938.  Sir James Hardy cut short his trip to Los Angles to attend this commemoration service.  The disaster,  in 1938 was not only Australia’s worst airline disaster but the worst that had occurred anywhere in the world.

Today, in general, the public are not aware of the historic crash but also its importance in aviation history and how it helped to transform the Air safety regulations in Australia.

An application was made to the Australian Government- Civil Aviation Authority by the Australian Air League to fly the Civil Air Ensign, permission was granted and the ensign fly along side the National, State and Victoria Group Flags.

Two Cadet were invited to lay a wreath for the two Pilots and a further two Cadets also laid a wreath for the two crew and passengers, this very moving and memorable day concluded with a “fly over” by a vintage DC3 [VH-JES] at exactly 1330 Hrs, the time of the crash.