As you know, the Australian Air League had to suspend face to face activities as of 23 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) situation. Details were advised in Federal Standing Order 02/2020, dated 17 March 2020. In this Standing Order, you were also advised that the suspension would be reviewed on 20 April.

A review has now been undertaken and as Government restrictions have not been eased, the suspension of face to face activities will continue. The situation will be reviewed again on 31 May 2020, unless the situation improves markedly before this date. On undertaking any future review, the Federal staff will take into account that restrictions may be eased differently in individual states.

Units were also advised in Federal Standing Order 02/2020 that they should investigate ways to continue meeting virtually. It is pleasing to see that many squadrons with the support of their Groups have taken up this challenge and are continuing to stay in contact with each by holding virtual squadrons.

All units are encouraged to continue meeting virtually, and to explore ways that their members can stay engaged with the Air League. It is only through continued contact that we as organisation will remain strong and see out this current situation.

James Dixon MSA
Chief Commissioner
20 April 2020

Memorandum – Review of COVID-19 Suspension 20 APR 2020 77.57 KB 66 downloads

Review of Suspension of Face to Face Activities in the Australian Air League …

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On the 13^th of March 2020, the doors opened on the first ever Squadron night for the brand-new Edmondson Park Squadron of the Australian Air League.

With the support and guidance from Gp Comr. Brendan Fox, the officers of the Squadron looked forward to the night. The officers where quite surprised with the number of potential members and parents rocking up.

The Australian Air League would like to recognise and pay tribute to Mrs Senja Robey BEM, who passed away yesterday (14^th April 2020) aged 93.

Senja was an Australian aviation pioneer, having begun her flying training in 1949 on DH82 Tiger Moths at the Royal Aero Club of NSW. In that year Senja was also invited by Nancy Bird-Walton to attend a meeting of women pilots as Mascot and she became a founding member of the Australian Women Pilots Association (AWPA) twelve months later.

Senja qualified for her Commercial Pilot Licence in 1953 and the following year she married Mr Keith Robey, a fellow pilot. Keith was the son of Australian Air League founder George Robey and was also the very first cadet, enrolled in the Air League in 1934.

In 1962 Senja obtained her instructor rating and began instructing at the Illawarra Flying School at Bankstown where her husband was the Chief Flying Instructor. She later started her own charter and aerial photography company and was also a partner, flying instructor and charter pilot at Robey Air and instructor with Phoenix Aero Club located at Camden, NSW.

During her many years of flying Senja mentored thousands of pilots and accrued almost 14,000 flight hours. She was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 1976, was inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2014 and last year was awarded the Col Pay Award for a Lifetime of Service to General Aviation.

More information about Senja’s remarkable career can be found at the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame.

ANZAC Day 2020 will be different to ANZAC Days of years past. The current world situation prevents gatherings at services or marches, but it cannot stop the ANZAC Spirit.

We ask members to take a photo or record themselves in reciting The Ode at dawn in uniform, and submit now in the lead up to the day, to be compiled into a video for Anzac Day Dawn.

Photos and videos, and any questions can be sent to anzacday@airleague.com.au Be sure to include your name and membership number in your email.

Please have your submissions in by Sunday 19th April to allow time to finalise this project.

Attention all Junior Cadets!

Over the coming weeks we’ll be holding a series of competitions just for our Junior Cadets – that is cadets aged 11 and under. The first colouring sheet is the Supermarine Spitfire MkVIII which you can download here. 

There are two categories for the competition;

• 8 – 9 years old
• 10 – 11 years old

The only condition is you must be a Junior Cadet who current member of the Australian Air League.

Please include your name and membership number on you entry, you can ask mum or dad to post them on the Air League Facebook page, or email them to us competition@airleague.com.au.

The winner of each category will receive a 1/72 scale model aircraft. Entries will close at 9pm on Sunday 26th April and winners will be chosen by the Chief Commissioner.