Branch - Ballarat
The Air Force Association’s Ballarat Branch was established in 1945.
Meetings
All meetings are held at our rooms at Airport Hut 48, Airport Drive, Mitchell Park (ie Ballarat Aerodrome).
Monthly Social Meetings
Our Social Luncheon Meetings are held on the SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH, (except January), with arrival time by 11.45 am for a 12 Noon commencement.
Monthly Business Meetings
Our Business Meetings, open to all members, are held at 3 pm on the SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH. These meetings immediately follow a monthly Committee meeting.
Where Are We?
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - January 2023
From the Editor:
As most of you know, our President Noel Hutchins has moved to Maryborough in Queensland and will be spending around the next 12 months in Thailand prior to locating permanently in Queensland........
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Ballarat Branch Newsletter - August/September 2022
From the Editor:
Having needed to cancel both our 2020 and 2021 Services due to Covid restrictions, things were looking good for a successful holding of our Service this year. The City of Ballarat were very much on board with us and ready to set-out areas for the marquees and other things on the Friday afternoon before the event...
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Ballarat Branch Newsletter - April/May 2022
From the Editor:
AIR FORCE CENTENARY MEMORIAL : Branch President Noel Hutchins and Immediate Past President Tom Roberts OAM were honoured with invitations to attend the unveiling and dedication of the new Air Force Centenary Memorial at RAAF Base Point Cook on 30th March.........
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Ballarat Branch Newsletter - February/March2022
From the Editor:
Thanks to Secretary/Treasurer Peter Dowling for looking after all matters relating to our March Social Luncheon meeting and for conducting the meeting in my absence. While many members were unable to attend the meeting due to illness or isolation requirements, I am aware that a smaller than normal attendance experienced a most enjoyable meeting. Thank you Peter.
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - December/January 2021-2022
From the Editor:
I am optimistic that the coming 2022 year will see us get to the other side of Covid-19 and I look forward to a time when we get back to a fully open economy where there are no more restrictions on anyone and we are ALL able to gather together and get back to the gatherings and activities that our Branch of the Air Force Association is all about.............
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - October/November 2021
From the Editor:
It had looked as though we may have needed to have members required to “book” to attend our upcoming November Social Luncheon Meeting so at to control the numbers to a maximum of 30 attendees which is the maximum allowed for our rooms at the 70% phase of the Covid road map. However, with the State Government announcing our 80% double-dose easing of restrictions from 6pm on Friday 29 October, there will be no problem in being able to fit everybody in while meeting the DQ4 density requirements.
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - August/September 2021
From the Editor:
THE GOOD NEWS IS : since our June/July newsletter, we were able to have both our July and August Social Luncheon Meetings.............
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - June/July 2021
From the Editor:
Our July meeting this coming Tuesday 6th July is all okay to go ahead. Please arrive by no later than 11.45 am, Remember your mask, a savoury item for your lunch, your own mug or cup for your tea or coffee. Our guest speaker will be Victoria Police Senior Sergeant Barry Jenks who will have interesting things to tell us about his involvement with the Kokoda Track.......
Mrs Margaret Wood and the Birdham Girls of the Women’s Royal Naval Service in WWII
The incredible story of the of the late Mrs Margaret Wood – as told to Noel Hutchins, President of the Air Association Victoria’s Ballarat Branch.
Read more...Ballarat Branch Newsletter - April/May 2021
From the Editor:
Well done to the Ballarat RSL for persisting, under diffculties, with Anzac Day arrangements which subsequently enabled full
Anzac Day Services in Ballarat for 2021 including the Dawn Service, the March and Morning Service, followed by camaraderie at the Midland-Ballarat RSL Sports & Services Club...........
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - March 2021
ANZAC DAY 2021
Ballarat RSL President Alan Douglas has advised that approval has now been given for the 2021 ANZAC DAY SERVICES TO BE HELD AT THE CENOTAPH IN STURT STREET.
Timings are as follows :
5:45 AM DAWN SERVICE after which GUNFIRE BREAKFAST will be held at Midlands-Ballarat RSL Sports and Services Club. Buses will be provided from the Cenotaph to Midlands and then return for the 10:00 AM MARCH ASSEMBLY in Lyons Street South. MARCH MOVES OFF AT 10.30 AM for the 10.45 AM SERVICE. Refreshments and camaraderie will follow at Midlands - Ballarat RSL Sports and Services Club , with TWO-UP AND CAMARADERIE TO COMMENCE AT 1 PM.
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - February 2021
YOUR 2021 EXECUTIVE AND GENERAL COMMITTEE
At our 2021 Annual General Meeting Mr Peter Dowling RFD was elected as the new Branch Secretary to replace Rob Petty who was not able to make himself available to continue in the role. I thank Rob for his service as Secretary and also for his Runway’s Dance initiative......
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - Dec 2020 - Jan 2021
Well the time is nearing for us to put a most difficult 2020 year behind us. I don't need to list here the problems that we have faced during the year, we all faced difficulties associated with the COVID-19 situation throughout 2020. But locally, we have fared very well in comparison to other communities around our own country and the much more serious situations that developed around the World and that are still wreaking havoc with peoples lives..........
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - October 2020
From the Editor:
In just a few days, (from the time of writing), a commemorative service marking the 50th anniversary of the loss of these two RAAF officers will be held at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum, 25 Veterans Drive, Newhaven, Phillip Island, on Tuesday 3rd November at 1100 hours.
ARE YOU ABLE TO ATTEND?
It has been confirmed that Melbourne metropolitan residents will not be permitted to travel to this Commemorative event which will likely result in a very disappointing very small attendance. Regional Victoria residents are permitted to travel through Melbourne. I will be leaving my Wallace address at 0700 hours on the day and at this stage Leigh Harvey and Rob Petty will be travelling with me. I have room for one more passenger who can be at my place before 0700 hours on the day..contact me ASAP.
ARE YOU ABLE TO ATTEND AND PROVIDE TRANSPORT FOR OTHERS ? Please let me know ASAP. (Noel, 0439 929 322)..........
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - September 2020
From the Editor:
Thank you to all who provided photographs for this newsletter. Would other members with military service
please get some photos to me.
RELAUNCHED AFA NATIONAL WEBSITE : Our National President Carl Schiller has relaunched an updated National Air Force Association website. It was intended to include an article from myself relating to the establishment of the 1wags website but I was a bit tardy in submitting my article to him, but this has now been done and it will be included after it has been restructured to suit the website. The site looks great ~ have a look : the url remains the old raafa.org.au ......... while your at it have a look at our State AFAVic website at : afavic.org.au
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - August 2020
REQUEST FROM EDITOR:
GET OUT THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS : In coming issues of the newsletter I would like to feature some (1) MEMBERS IN UNIFORM and (2) MEMBERS SERVICE TIME PHOTOS.
So will members with military service please send me some photos, say, 3 or 4 of yourself in uniform and/or photographs from your time in the service with a bit of a story to go with them.
President Update 2 August 2020
SUSPENSION OF ALL ACTIVITIES OF BALLARAT BRANCH OF THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION
Following the declaration by the Victorian Premier this afternoon of a State of Disaster for Victoria and strengthening of restrictions including the imposition of Stage 3 Covid-19 restrictions covering our area, ALL MEETING AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES of our Branch of the Air Force Association are SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...........
Ballarat Branch Newsletter - July 2020
In this edition:
The Restricted Number openings of our rooms continue to provide members with four opportunities each week to have somewhere to gather for some chatter and some music to listen to and opportunities for members to exercise or dance, (with their own partner only), or to sit and watch others dance while enjoying the great music and while others gather and chat
in the committee room.......
Official Opening of Historic Airport Hut 48, Ballarat
The Ballarat Branch hosted an official opening of their newly allocated rooms in the recently restored Airport Hut 48 at the Ballarat Aerodrome on Thursday 28 March, with guest speaker WWII veteran, Mr Jack Bell, 101.
Read more...Eleanor & Margaret - Two Women, Two Continents and a Wedding Dress
What could two ladies from opposite ends of the world - one dominant in American society, the other a humble English woman – have in common? The answer? Generosity.
Read more...75th Anniversary of Hell Fire Pass and Thai-Burma Railway
A national commemorative service to mark the 75th anniversary of Hellfire Pass and the completion of the Thai–Burma Railway will be held on 16 October 2018 at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Ballarat.
Read more...Saved from the Rubbish Bin – The Boys of Hut 15
Some time ago, a builder, who was demolishing an old suburban house in Melbourne, noticed an envelope with faded snapshots dumped in a rubbish bin. Here is the story behind some more of those old photos.
Read more...Ballarat Branch Newsletter - June 2020
In this edition:
I am pleased to be able to say that members attending these openings have been adhering to the requirements of use of hand sanitiser on arrival and during their stay, observing appropriate social distancing, absolutely no physical contact between any persons other than between a member and his or her own partner. This has allowed members who wish to dance to the provided music being able to do so with their partner and with some occasions of members dancing or exercising to the music on their own. Also pleasing to see some members moving to the music area to sit and enjoy the music and watch others dancing.....
Ballarat Commemorates 79th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
The 79th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain commemorated at Sebastopol Cenotaph on 15th September.
Read more...Ballarat Branch Newsletter - August 2019
In this edition: We were privileged to have as guest speaker for the first half of our July Social Meeting, Mr Alan Crute and Best Friend and Companion “Mave”. Alan spoke of the joys as well as the trials and tribulations of taking on the training of a Seeing Eye Dog puppy...
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