You’ve no doubt heard the saying, ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’.
Many times, across my professional life, I’ve been drawn in by that notion – thinking I could do it better. That mindset led me to launch several successful ventures in hospitality, comedy and consulting, all sparked by personal experiences with underwhelming offerings.
Was sustained success easy in any of these ventures? Absolutely not.
Early on, I underestimated the behind-the-scenes effort required to consistently deliver quality and had mixed results. But with persistence, tenacity and sheer bloody-mindedness, improvements came. Consistency and quality became the norm, and success eventually followed. We, the business and its leadership, hit our stride and, through it all, the hunger to be the best never faded.
At Gliding Australia (GAus), we have a small paid team supported by a vast network of volunteers, without whom our achievements and daily functions would be impossible. As many of you know, gliding at every level relies heavily on volunteers – from operations, airworthiness and safety to administration, competitions and more. These selfless individuals are the backbone of our sport.
Thanks to their contributions, gliding remains the most affordable pathway into aviation, and I’d argue that glider pilots become the best pilots. (Plus, those bucket hats are truly iconic... but that’s a conversation for another day.)
A shining example of volunteerism is the work done on the Pawnee ADs by Anthony Smith, working alongside Ben Terrell, Richard Traill and Peter Brooks. Remarkably, this comes right after Anthony stepped down as Chair of Airworthiness following five years of dedicated service, and he’s still pitching in every day.
Then there are the Regional Managers of Airworthiness (RMAs), Regional Managers of Operations (RMOs), Committees, CFIs, tug pilots, winch masters, safety officers, instructors, cooks, cleaners, annual inspectors – the list goes on. Thousands of people, from all walks of life, across five regions and 60 clubs, keeping gliding viable and affordable. Too many to name, but every single one of you matters.
So, going back to that opening phrase, is everything executed perfectly, at lightning speed and without complaint? Of course not. But it does get done – safely, with care, with consideration and with diligence. Please, at every opportunity, recognise and thank the people who make this community what it is, a place where learning, achievement and fun take flight.
Hot off the press: To further support our volunteers, GAus is developing a Volunteer Management Framework and Volunteer Action Plan Templates to help clubs and regions with volunteer recruitment, retention and recognition. These will be released shortly, alongside a new Clubhouse Tab on the GAus website, filled with useful resources. Thanks to Amanda VanderWal and Drew McKinnie for your efforts on this project.
Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback on our recently released Strategic Plan. It’s been encouraging and appreciated.
As we mark the close of another vibrant summer soaring season, I extend my congratulations to all who achieved personal milestones and competition goals during this time. Whether it was going solo, a first cross-country flight, a badge achievement, or a podium finish – well done!
A special note of recognition and support is owed to those representing Australia at the upcoming World Gliding Championships and Women’s World Gliding Championships in the Czech Republic mid-year. Congratulations and best wishes to James Nugent, Daniel Summer, David Jansen, Adam Woolley, Matthew Scutter, Allan Barnes and Sophie Curio.
Until next time, stay safe, stay connected, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our incredible sport..
Ciao and warm regards,
Doug Flockhart
Chief Executive Officer
