Newcastle Hang Gliding Club Meeting Minutes 25 th January 2023
Location: Bar Beach Bowlo, start ~7:45pm
Attendees: Craig Hand, Tony Barton, Craig Flanagan, Harry Daniels, Joel, Gary Herman, Ken Harris,
Jamie Oorschot, JOD, Brad Patfield, Kieran Black, Courtney, Glen Selmes.
No Zoom
Apologies: Adriaan Mulder, Billo, Ian Ladyman, Donney and Dustin.
Previous Minutes approved: Gary & Ken
Flying – Lots! Plenty of coastal by all the regulars plus lots off the Watagans led by Conrad.
Incidents – Joel (novice) landed club’s F1 190 in rockpool at the bottom of Bombala. Light wind and
flying too far out of lift put him there. He avoided a couple on the beach which meant he overshot
the landing zone and landed knee deep in a shallow rock pool. Fortunately he was quick to respond
by getting up and out of the water before the next wave. Glider only a little wet. Fully washed with
fresh water that day. Courtney now has the club’s F1 190 glider.
Joel crashed in the trees 100m to the right of Bombala launch. He was too engrossed in getting
prone in his harness immediately after launch and forgot his first priority to fly the glider. Before he
realized he was turned towards the trees and had too little speed to turn away. Fortunately it was a
soft landing in the tree tops with no damage to glider or harm to pilot. This was in Joel’s glider, not
the club’s.
Craig Hand had a bad landing in Empire Park and suffered a concussion and bruises and broken
uprights on his Sting 3. He went too deep into the park on approach, miss-judged final and tried
avoid landing between the fence and rockwall.
Sites
Hooley Dooleys is open again. Neil, Patto and Jamie met with the landowner, Forrest ~ 2 weeks ago
to discuss the incidents that occurred at Hooley Dooleys first big open day about a month prior. To
recap, on this day approximately 30 pilots attended. Unfortunately two pilots (PG from Sydney) did
not adhere to the site guide for walking up the hill and wandered into one landowners backyard just
as they were getting into their spa with a glass of wine. In the process they were rude and offended
the landowner. That landowner spoke to the landowner at the bottom of the hill and now we have
lost the good landing paddock next to the cattle yards and also the walking path up the hill. Forrest
has been very reasonable and understands there is always gonna be one dickhead in the group. He
is still ok for us to fly there. Future flying is going to be more focused on locals only and smaller
groups, ie less than 30 people!
Newcastle Paragliding Club are planning a Hooley Dooley working bee there very soon.
Weather stations update – Hooley Dooleys has been fixed and Lake St Claire finally built. Jamie and
Patto plan to install in the next week or so. Dixon Park Holfuy is still not fixed. Jamie has new Davis
Anemometer but having difficulty getting it running again. Overly complicated procedure finding
network frequencies and APN. If can’t get running will ask for help at the next meeting.
Watagans – Kieran has a friend happy to do an environmental report needed for weather station
approvals. Royce and Kieran organizing a meeting with this person and Forrestry representative on
site.
Comps – If we don’t get 15 pilots paid up for Manilla State Comp by 14 th February Adriaan will be
cancelling the competition. So far we have 7 (5 paid).
Denman Aerotow weekend 18 th February. If your interested in attending please let John Harriot
(0412442705) know. Tony Barton is going.
Treasurers Report
Main Account $16,828.62
Secondary Account $170.35
Paypal $2,122.08 (5 comp entry fees)
Total $19,121.05
Some recent purchase in the past 6 months inclide Insta360 camera, Presidents laptop and club
glider (F1 190).
End of Meeting ~9pm
