By PEACE IJIYERA
IT’S not a matter of if, but when.
The Latrobe Valley Model Aircraft Club (LVMAC) is looking for a new home, as housing developments in Newborough are posing a threat to its flying field.
Housing developments of two estates, Narracan Lakes and North Quarter, are rapidly evolving, and it’s only a matter of time before the land around Lake Narracan becomes residential.
In a proactive approach, the club has toured more than 65 sites, but are yet to find the perfect field.
The club’s field specifications includes one that faces south, with an east/west strip, nothing to fly over and a good distance away from homes.
Club stalwart Wayne Lewis said they first heard word of the developments about 10 years ago, and although they have not been explicitly told they’ll have to move, it’s proving to be obvious.
“The problem is, we can’t fly over houses or anything like that. We’ll have to move,” he conceded.
“If we can find something now, it’s better than waiting till we have to be kicked out.”
The aero club has been in operation since 1972, and has since served as a place for model aeroplane lovers to passionately fly their planes, but more than that, create friendships.
This is seen through the members who have consistently shown up over the years flying at different sites. At the moment, the club has 45 members, ranging from ages 13 to 90.
Club members are not opposed to the developments, as progress needs to happen.
“It’s got to happen, its unfortunately the way life goes,” Mr Lewis said.
Members get together midweek on a Thursday, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am 12pm to fly, weather permitting.
Member Steve Loft has been flying at the club since he was a teenager.
“I was in the club for a year in 1982, that’s when I learnt to fly. I went off and did other things, came back in 2017 and got with the new radios and new electric planes … it was a good time to come back. This is the place that I fly,” he said.
“It’ll be a real shame to leave.”
Fellow member, Ivan Walker said it’s a “good friendly club”.
“We like to have a good chats and have conversations about different things … it’s a good
social club that’s close to home,” he added.
Another problem the LVMAC is facing is the lack of junior members.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of junior members come into the club. We’d love to have junior members, they’re the fliers of the future. Because we haven’t got too many junior members, who knows how long the club is going to survive,” Mr Lewis said.
A come and try day will be held on March 1 (weather permitting). Bookings are essential and can be done via the club’s Facebook page.
Club meetings were previously held at Barry Felmingham’s Panel Works in Traralgon, and all types of flying were at the club’s field at ‘Cairnbrook’ via Glengarry.
This field was around 20km from Traralgon on a property owned by Ron McColl. The local gliding club was also doing car tows off this 200 acre paddock, about two km long and one km wide.
