It is my sincere belief that the TAC should remain where it is at the Tamworth aerodrome, alongside the terminal where it has been since 1956, and not be kicked out by the council to a distant location on the pretence the council wants

the land for possible future

development.

Firstly, the TAC has a proud history and if it isn’t the longest-running aero club in Australia, then it runs a close second to Launceston in Tasmania. If not for the unselfish dedication to aviation by early members of the aero club, Tamworth would not have the airport it has today.

Basil Brown (Curley), the club’s chief flying instructor, started East West Airlines and brought about the erection of the large hangars and the old control tower. The other hangars were transported from the old aerodrome, some by aero cub members.

Many prominent Tamworth citizens who have been members come to mind: John Henry, Jimmy Packer, John Penrose, Bill Upjohn, Keith Singh, Frank Dengate, George King, Harold Joseph, John Neuss, Chris Braund, Max Cathcart, Pat Carter, George Cohen and many, many more.

The aerodrome has developed around the aero club.

Over the years a huge number of people have treasured memories of the Tamworth Aero Club, both flying and social. In its hay day on social evenings it used to be packed to the rafters. The specially-built sprung dance floor would resonate until the early hours of the morning.

An important thing to keep in mind is that today the aero club continues to provide an important service for the defence flying school students, plus the foreign students who are away from their homes and family life. They enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at the aero club and take a break from the rigours of military life.

The club has trained many hundreds of pilots and many have made very successful careers out of flying and are now scattered around the world.

The club has conducted pilot training at Gunnedah, Coonabarabran, Quirindi, Barraba, Walcha and, of course, Tamworth.

Only a few months after spending many thousands of dollars on the erection of a building and obtaining approvals required by council to recommence flying training, we are told it has to go.

The real culprit for this shemozzle are local government officials with a total disregard for the history and social benefits of the aero club.

We expect our officials to act in a dignified way rather than with a juvenile show of force. One would think that with council having current and non-current liabilities of more than $114 million, it would curb unnecessary and wasteful expenditure.

I wonder why during a security upgrade, the terminal floor space has to be doubled to include a Qantas lounge, huge covered walkways and covered pick-up and drop-off areas. To me it looks like a gigantic overkill.

One of the reasons given by the council for its eviction of the club from its carpark – which without any doubt is nothing less than a death sentence – is that it plans to build in conjunction with the grandiose extension to the terminal a very dubious covered drop-off and pick-up plaza.

This will extend from the terminal to about 50m west, right in front of the aero club’s clubhouse. I can recall no evidence of any public interest in this kind of facility.

At the public meeting at the club recently to discuss the council’s decision, what impressed me the most was the display of honesty, kindness and genuine concern expressed by those associated with the board and the running of the club.

All passionate volunteers, they – particularly the women – spoke quite differently to the council officials who raised things like strategic financial plans and lost financial opportunities at the aerodrome.

They spoke only of money matters and for the corporation, which marches to the beat of a drum

that leads to the kingdom of

nothingness.

To kick the aero club out and knock it down, to humiliate and ridicule it, rather than give it praise and encouragement – isn’t that

bullying?

The Tamworth Aero Club is a very special place, a place with a heart and soul which with minor adjustments to council plans could be given a long-term lease and allowed to stay where it is.

The current Tamworth Regional Council is starting to look as though it has been there too long.

John Wakefield

Tamworth