Since the GFA ACM in September when the decision was made to give GFA Life Membership to Harry Schneider, the official handover has awaited a suitable date. The award recognises the lifetime contribution by Edmund Snr and Harry to gliding inm Australia.
This was done on 9th January, in the middle of the national vintage glider rally at Stonefield, the home of the Barossa Valley Gliding Club. Harry & Margaret spent the afternoon observing activities, and had dinner with the rally participants plus visitors for this event. Before dinner Martin Simons mc'd the event with a review of Schneiders and gliding from the beginning. Harry was able to add in additional detail from personal experience during the presentation. This opened up the relaxed feel of the evening after dinner which went on till late in the night. In effect we got an oral history of gliding from someone who normally responds monosyllible to specific questions. The participants soaked up every word. We realised we were getting a once in a lifetime experience. Martin gave Harry a German edition of his latest book, Martin had hung up a display of his 3 view drawings of most of the Schneider glider types. The Life Membership certificate and a SAGA appreciation certificate were presented as part of the evening. The fact that it came together is a credit to lots of people who contributed to the thing coming together, and having the right feel; which made the whole thing go off as well as anyone could ever have hoped. Another part of the vintage rally was a field trip to the Monarto gliding museum. 6 carloads went. Numerous partipants came away with replacement components, literature or loan materials for various vintage glider types. -- Emilis Prelgauskas B.ARCH ARAIA [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- * You are subscribed to the aus-soaring mailing list. * To Unsubscribe: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] * with "unsubscribe aus-soaring" in the body of the message * or with "help" in the body of the message for more information.
