“Buffs and Pigs”

the official members newsletter of

HONORARY PATRON : WING COMMANDER (Rtd) EDWIN PLENTY

JUNE 2016
AHSNT COMMITTEE & OFFICE BEARERS / IMPORTANT DIARY DATES
PRESIDENT
Tony Simons
0427 187 356
8931 2576 (H)

VICE-PRESIDENT
Craig Bellamy
0403 872 205
8985 4881 (H)

SECRETARY
Julie Mastin
8946 6835 (W)

TREASURER
Richard Spillett
0409 057 128

WEB MASTER
Ron Ninnis
/ CURATOR
Ken Lai
0401 148 672

PUBLIC OFFICER
Ron Ninnis

ARCHIVIST
Craig Bellamy
0403 872 205
8985 4881 (H)

GENERAL MEMBER
Alan Cairncross
8927 3273 (H)

MEMBERSHIP LIAISON
Richard Spillett
0409 057 128
/ Tuesday 28/6/16
Members Meeting – AAHC 1800
Friday 1/7/16
Members subscriptions due for 2016/17
Tuesday 12/7/16
AHSNT Committee Meeting
Tuesday 9/8/16
AHSNT Committee Meeting
Sunday 4/9/16
Father’s Day Open Cockpit event
Tuesday 6/9/16
Annual General Meeting – AAHC 1800
Tuesday 13/9/16
AHSNT Committee Meeting
Tuesday 6th December 2016
Combined Christmas and 40th Anniversary Dinner – venue TBA
THE EDITOR’S OBSERVATIONS
MEMBERS MEETINGS

THE NEXT MEMBER’S MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY 28TH JUNE AT THE AVIATION HERITAGE CENTRE COMMENCING AT 1800 HRS.

ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

Don’t forget that the Christmas Dinner this year will coincide with the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Society, so the Committee has agreed to have a special function. If any member knows of a suitable venue that can accommodate our needs for a screened off or separate dining area then please let one of the Committee members know.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

Financial results for May were quite promising, with increased visitor numbers driving sales receipts over the $70,000 mark, making this year to date result better than the last year.

The Heritage Centre Manager took the opportunity to purchase a significant amount of stock to ensure we had sufficient stock for the shop for the coming months of high turnover, and this resulted in the financials showing a small overall loss of $8,000 for May.

Results to the 15th June have shown receipts of over $49,000, putting us some $10,000 ahead of the position for the same time last year, and should see us return a small profit again for the 2015/16 year.

MOMENTS IN HISTORY

Scrolling back through some old papers I was reminded that it was three years ago this month that our F-111 arrived at the AAHC. How time flies !

AHSNT LOGO
In the last newsletter I raised the idea of updating the AHSNT logo.
Not much commentary came back from the members, so I thought it might be worth presenting a couple of options that have been proposed.
THE AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY

OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INC
ABN: 11 170 657 354
557 Stuart Highway Winnellie
Postal Address : PO Box 37621 Winnellie NT Australia 0821
Tel: (08) 8947 2145
Fax: (08) 8947 1000 / Email:
Web: www.darwinsairwar.com.au
THE AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INC
ABN: 11 170 657 354
557 Stuart Highway Winnellie
Postal Address : PO Box 37621 Winnellie NT Australia 0821 /
Email: Web: www.darwinsairwar.com.au Facebook: Darwinaviation
Perhaps if members have some observations or suggestions to make regarding an updated logo they could contact one of the Committee members.
HERITAGE CENTRE NEWS
HERITAGE CENTRE UPGRADES
Replacement of the old roof skylights has been completed, and such is the improvement in natural light coming through that the Museum Staff have been able to turn off the internal lighting.
The museum hangar doors have been repainted and the B-52 mural restored and a new mural of our F-111 has been painted on the right hand door.
The painting of the interior and exterior of the toilet and storeroom block has also been completed. /
LOAN OF ARTEFACT

The Society has been advised by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra that it is not going to proceed with the proposed loan of the drop tank from Toyoshima’s Mitsubishi Zero citing logistical problems and the lack of a suitable space to display the drop tank.

On a more positive note, we were contacted recently by a representative from Tiwi Enterprises in relation to an old propeller resting against the radio shack at Wurrumiyanga (formerly known as Nguiu) on Bathurst Island. The radio shack in question was the one used to warn Darwin of the impending attack by the Japanese on 19 February 1942.
Our noted historian, Bob Alford, has researched the propeller, and indications are that it could well be from Toyoshima’s Zero, the airframe of which is in the AAHC. Mark Muller from Tiwi Enterprises has spoken with interested groups on the Tiwi and it was agreed that the propeller should come to the AHSNT for preservation and display. Bob Alford is conducting further research for us to confirm that the prop is from Toyoshima’s Aero.
We have advised NTG’s Heritage Branch that the propeller is coming to the AAHC so that it can be included with the aircraft airframe in the heritage assessment and a conservator will be approached to assist in the development of a conservation plan /
ADMISSION PRICE CHANGES

At its last meeting, the Committee approved an increase in admission process for the Heritage Centre. New process are adult: $15 (was $14.50), Seniors: $10 (unchanged), Students and children 5 and over: $7.50 (was $7), families: $35 (was $30).

These price changes come into effect on 1 January 2017.

Interstate and international tourism companies require a lead time for changes to pre-booked tours (cruise ships especially) hence the reason for the delay in implementing price changes.

It should be noted that our admission prices are still lower than competitor facilities.

HERITAGE CENTRE EXTENSION

We received notification from the Department of the Chief Minister that our application for a grant to extend the hangar has been declined by the Department of Arts and Museums noting that we did not provide a compelling argument to support the level of funding required. The Chief Minister has personally asked to meet with me to discuss some of the points we made in our application, particularly around the bombing of Darwin exhibition.

They have also committed to make available a representative from the Department of Arts and Museums to assist us in development of a long term strategic and facility management plan.

More news to come on this.

GENERAL SOCIETY BUSINESS
WORKSHOP HAPPENINGS

The Workshop Crew continue on their collective efforts on the restoration of the B-24 Liberator Sperry ball turret.

The 50 calibre machine guns have been bead blasted and painted and the display frame sanded and prep-coated.

John Scrutton spent hours cleaning up the ammunition belts and they have been fitted to the external ammunition canisters.

Thanks to some intuitive scrounging from Bill Allom, we now have the brackets to attach the oxygen tank to the support pole.

Richard Spillett undertook some investigative work and managed to find patterns for the 14 locating pins which secure the turret to the internal fuselage, as well as a supply of bearings that are key to the rotation mechanisms. The bearings have been put in place and the locating pins are being replicated ready for installation.

Ken Lai’s detective work paid handsome dividends, with the discovery of the turret’s internal gun sight in the Archives Container, and our newest member, Jake Lamont, has also been actively involved in the project.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

Would members please note that annual membership fees are due and payable at the 1st of July.

MEMBERS ARE REMINDED THAT THE CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION IS $30.

Members who have joined the Society since May this year will not be liable for renewal of subs until 2017.

GRANT FUNDING

Craig Bellamy and Ken Lai have been active in preparing grant funding applications.

We have been successful in receiving a grant to prepare a booklet about RAAF airfields in the NT used during WWII. Ed Plenty, Owen Veal, Craig and Ken are actively involved in this project.

Another grant application is pending to enable us to replace the old pedestal fans in the Heritage Centre with ten more energy efficient fans to improve visitor comfort.

Two further applications have been lodged which will enable us to fund specific memorial displays to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin.

More news as and when we hear back from the grant assessors.

Tony Simons

Editor

*F-111 photograph Courtesy of the RAAF and Mick Raftery

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