“BuffsandPigs”

the official members newsletter of

/ DECEMBER 2014
AHSNT 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

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
/ Tuesday 10/2/15
AHSNT Committee Meeting
Tuesday 10/3/15
AHSNT Committee Meeting
Tuesday 24/3/14
Members meeting Gardens Hill Cres 1800 hrs
Tuesday 14/4/15
AHSNT Committee Meeting
Sunday 3/5/15
AAHC Legacy Open Cockpit Day
Tuesday 2/6/15
25th Anniversary of AAHC Opening
December 2016
40th Anniversary of the AHSNT
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE EDITOR
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER

By all accounts the annual dinner was a success with seventeen members attending and three late apologies due to illnesses.

My apologies for my own non-attendance but I had urgent family business to attend to in Adelaide.

On behalf of myself and the Committee I extend the warmest of greetings for the festive season ahead.

For those who are not in the best of health please accept best wishes for a speedy recovery.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

For the quarter ending the 31st October the Museumhas run at a year to date profit of $69,500 compared to $58,500 last year. After including Society income and expenses, year to date net surplus is $67,800 compared to $55,300 in 2013, an improvement of $12,500.

The report for month ending November was as expected, with a noticeable down turn in trading. The quarterly GST payment has also depleted funds, however we still remain in a stronger financial position than at the same time last year.

Continued controls over advertising expenditure and a considerable reduction in required workshop expenses will also aid our stronger position. The donation of a large quantity of melamine panelling and timber framework will enable us to construct the new display panels at minimal cost. The two panels constructed to date have cost under $200.

IMPORTANT DIARY DATES

It has come to our attention that there are two very important anniversaries on the horizon.

June 2nd 2015 is the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre (then the Darwin Aviation Museum).

2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Society – we are unsure as to the appropriate date to use for the anniversary; our only clue is that the first Constitution of the Society is dated December 1976. If any members are able to shed more light on this then please let one of the Committee know.

Suitable celebratory functions will be arranged to celebrate both of these auspicious occasions.

HERITAGE CENTRE OPERATIONS
HERITAGE CENTRE UPGRADES
The Workshop Crew have now completed two of the new floor display panels.
Next step will be to identify which of the existing displays is best transferred to the new boards.
Candidates at this stage are the Catalina display or the Beaufighter, although the second project may be best left until our new Beaufighter cockpit section arrives. /
AAHC PROMOTIONS

The Heritage Centre Manager recently attended some promotional seminars run by Tourism NT and also met with representative from tourist companies in China.

It would seem that Angie’s efforts have paid dividends as we continue to sit at number two on the must see list for things to do in Darwin.

We have also received some feedback form recent Chinese visitors that we are the number one recommended destination in Darwin on several Chinese tourism websites.

Well done Ange !

With the price of petrol continuing to fall, along with the lower value of the dollar, it would seem that conditions are ripe for an upsurge in tourism from both overseas and within Australia.

We will continue to enhance and upgrade exhibits at the AAHC to ensure we present an attractive and positive visitor experience.

WORKSHOP NEWS

After a year of hard work, the Workshop Crew will be having a well-earned break over the Christmas New Year period.

I will be starting work on the dismantling of the existing Catalina display in readiness for the construction of the new display using our new panels and incorporating some additional Catalina material held in the Workshop.

After that, the Crew will review our strategic planning document and plot our activities for the coming year.

The panels from the existing Catalina display that will be dismantled also incorporates material dedicated to the loss of Beaufighter pilots Gaunt and Wackettas well as the missing B-24 ‘Beautiful Betsy’ and her crew. There is also a panel reflecting on war dead and the Adelaide River War Cemetery.

Early thoughts are that we could perhaps erect a display dedicated to missing airmen from WW2. I am aware that we have some white gravestones from Adelaide River in the workshop; they are broken but are still substantial pieces. There is also a rudimentary concrete cross which is believed to have come from a war grave; the body being re-interred at Adelaide River.

We would ensure as a matter of course that all sensitivities regarding old headstones are observed.

I will be discussing protocol matters with the RSL before any final decision is made about the display.

Member’s thoughts and suggestions on this proposal are welcomed.

Tony Simons

Editor

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

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