NEWS

Dateline 26.08.10

THE AUSTRALIAN LONG JUMP 2010 – EVEN LONGER

The competitors in this year’s Long Jump have unanimously agreed to extend the 3 month period for making attempts by one month, through to 30^th September, due to unfavourable weather conditions. This has been approved by the ABF President, Scobie Peart. So far there have been only two short attempts due to conditions swinging directly from too wet and windy, to too calm, with little in between.

For the Flight Report Form and the Competition Rules see the LONG JUMP page

Dateline 14.08.2010

RUTH WILSON TO SERVE AS ASSISTANT COMPETITION DIRECTOR FOR
2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

ABF - New South Wales & ACT Regional Representative Ruth Wilson will act as Assistant Director, to world renowned international Competition Director Mathijs de Bruijn in organising the competition flying for the 2011 Nationals. Ruth’s expertise in organising major ballooning events and her local experience of flying in the Canowindra area over 3 decades will be of benefit to the event. Mathijs and Ruth have much work to do in the next 7 months leading up to the Nationals start date of 9^th April 2011 and deserve the support of all ABF members.

Dateline 14.08.2010

AUSTRALIAN BALLOOnING FEDERATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 2010 AGM for the ABF will be held on Thursday 9^th September at

Parkview Hotel, 131 Scotchmer Street (cnr St Georges Road), North Fitzroy VIC 3065

Start time will be 8:00 pm followed by an ABF Normal Meeting. The Balloon Association of Victoria Inc. will host the AGM.

There were no vacant positions for 2010–2011, all office holders having expressed their willingness to run for their positions again. Although nominations were called for there were none received with the exception of the NSW/ACT Regional Representative. Ruth Wilson and Martin Moroney contested this position. A postal ballot was held amongst the members in NSW and the ACT and the results reported to all regional members, with Ruth Wilson receiving 22 votes and Martin Moroney 6.

The line-up for 2010 – 2011 will be as below.

President - Scobie Peart

Vice President - Paul Gibbs

Secretary - Martin Tregale

Qld – Andrew Fewtrell

NSW/ACT – Ruth Wilson

Vic/Tas - Bob McGowan

SA/NT - Stephen Kenny

WA - Andrew Clements

All positions will be presented to the Annual General Meeting for ratification.

A copy of the audited Annual Report and a Proxy Form have been circulated to members.

17^th Australian Hot Air Balloon Championships
9^th -17^th APRIL 2011 CANOWINDRA NSW

Dateline 04.08.10

All those planning to attend please note the new dates.
The Australian National Championship dates have been brought forward 2 days from those previously announced (Monday 11^th – Wednesday 20^th April) to Saturday 9^th to Sunday 17^th April and will therefore run over two weekends in the traditional arrangement, at the start of the Easter School Holidays, finishing 4 days before Easter 2011.

There will be plenty happening in Canowindra that week with a major regional festival, the Orange F.O.O.D week (8^th-17^th April 2011), in full swing. One of the highlights of Orange FOOD Week is the 100 MILE DINNER and outdoor banquet for hundreds of diners, with live music, right in the main street of Canowindra. Diners are bussed in from around the district and others come from as far as Sydney for the dinner.

Gaskill Street in scenes from previous 100 Mile Dinners.

2011 is the twentieth anniversary of F.O.O.D week and the organisers plan to pull out all the stops to make it a memorable event.

Dinner bookings are in high demand with F.O.O.D Week members getting first priority.

More details as they come to hand, in the meantime if you would like further information or to pre-register contact Graham and Jan Kerr balloonjan@bigpond.com.

Dateline 30.07.10

MaThijs de BRUIJN accepts directorship of 2011
australian national hot air balloon championship

Good news for Australian competition ballooning as world renowned Competition Director Mathijs de Bruijn has agreed to direct next year’s Australian Balloon Championship. Mathijs was the director of very successful 2009 Nationals in Benalla, Victoria and will be coming to Canowindra, N.S.W. next April, after his tour of duty in Debrecen, Hungary early in October as this year’s World Championship Competition Director. Mathijs and his wife enjoy Australia and it will be an opportunity to visit their family in Melbourne.

Below- Mathijs briefing competitors at the 2009 Australian National Championship – Photo Jodi Tregale

Mathijs is in great demand throughout the Hot Air Ballooning World and has recently served as Director of major events in the four corners of the world, including Lithuania (1^st. European Women’s), South Africa Championship (held in Bethlehem SA in May) and Brazil. He is an active competition pilot, competing in the 2010 Dutch Nationals and flew an Australian balloon at the Balloons Over Waikato event in New Zealand in March this year. Next year’s Waikato meet ends just days before the Canowindra Nationals.

Dutchman Mathijs de Bruijn hamming it up on a ‘patriotic’ note in the
orange fancy dress street parade at 2010 Balloons over Waikato. – Photo Wendy Friezer

Mathijs entertaining young passengers at the 2010 Waikato balloon display.

Photo – Wendy Friezer

Dateline 30.07.10

“BLOWING IN THE WIND” - Australian Story
Monday July 12 featurED Balloonist KIFF SAUNDERS

The ABC Australian Story Webpage says of this program:-

Introduced by Peter Rowsthorn, 'Brett' from 'Kath and Kim'

Kiff Saunders' passion is hot air ballooning and he turned it into a highly successful business as well.But, despite all his success, something was missing, and Saunders admits to being at odds with himself. Already reeling from two major traumas, a motorcycle accident finally pushed him to the brink. During the long process of physical recovery, Saunders rediscovered important personal values. It all culminates in a stunning hot air balloon ride over Lake Eyre… For details and the full program online click here ;- http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/blowingwind/default.htm

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