It is with regret that we advise of the passing, on Wednesday 27h November 2019, of Mrs. Ilma Nicholson, OAM, LM in her 100th year .

Mrs Nicholson became an Associate Member of NSW Girls Group in early 1987 after beginning and association through the WAAAF Association and in April the same year became Patron of NSW Girls Group.

The Australia Day Honours List of 2002 conferred the award of the Order of Australia Medal upon Mrs. Nicholson “For service to the welfare of veterans and their families through the NSW Division of the RAAF Association and the Ex-Servicewomen’s Association and to young women through the NSW Girls Group of the Australian Air League.

Funeral Arrangements and Period of Mourning can be found in the Federal Routine Order below.

Federal Routine Order 15/2019 86.03 KB 44 downloads

VALE – Mrs. Ilma Nicholson, OAM, LM …

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It is with regret that w advise of the passing of Group Lieutenant [Retd] Norman (Norm) Minton MSA.

Norm served in the Australian Air League for over 32 years, joining the Newcastle Squadron in 1987.

His dedication and passion for the League and assisting our younger members was paramount and he would often jump in the car to assist other Squadrons like Tamworth, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Taree, Rathmines, Maitland, Belmont and Toronto. Without Norm’s efforts many of our upper Hunter Squadrons and North Western Squadrons would not have flourished as they did without his watchful eye.

A period of mourning will be held, details can be found in the Group Routine Order NW/GRO/06/19 below.

Members of Doncaster Squadron in Victoria recently had the privilege of a tour of the QANTAS flight crew training facility in Airport West, Melbourne.

The day started with a brief outline to the Cadets, Officers and parents of the training involved for the various levels of flight crew and pilots. 

Following this they were taken on a tour of the facilities that even included a pool, used to train for water rescue, ditching procedures and raft handling. The raft used in the pool is for the Boeing 787 and can hold 78 people! The cadets also got to see a Boeing 747 emergency slide as well as emergency slides from various other aircraft.

The tour group then had a look at the cabin door training units, used for training as well as annual requalification. They saw doors from both Airbus and Boeing aircraft and no two doors worked the same way. A completely decked out aircraft cabin is used for training in safety demonstrations as well as courses for people who have a fear of flying.

Final stop was a look at the simulator area, unfortunately these were all in operation on the day but the members were able to watch from the mezzanine level.

Our thanks go to staff of the QANTAS flight crew training facility for taking the time to show our Squadron the facilities. 

A fantastic day was recently held at the Central Coast Soaring Club, Mangrove Mountain when the Ilma Nicholson Wing of the Australian Air League held a Gliding Day.

19 Cadets and Officers from Doyalson, Gosford and Toukley Squadrons had flights for their Air Activities – Gliding 3 and 2 badges as well as their Air Experience badges.

Special thanks go to the hard working members of the Club for making the day a tremendous success with 24 flights during the day.

Thursday evening saw the opening of the Australian Air League’s newest Squadron at Geelong, Victoria with the Squadron holding its first meeting night at the Geelong Football Umpires League club rooms at Kardinia Park, Geelong.

A number of prospective cadets came along and all were very keen to join. They were joined by cadets and parents from the nearby Point Cook Squadron who helped out on the night, speaking to parents and cadets about the Air League.

The Air League has a long history in the Geelong area, the first Squadron there opened in October 1939 with gliding camps held on the Belmont Commons and we are pleased to be back and serving the local community.

If you would like to learn more about the Australian Air League, contact;

Malcolm Angus (Geelong Sqn)
oc.geelong@airleague.com.au
m. 0448 229 900
or
Greg O’Brien (Victoria Group)
operations.vic@airleague.com.au